Thoughticus Accumalotis

Mini note pages accumulate when all one does is jot and put them aside, with tons of intent on expanding all those individual thoughts.  The act of admonishment shall begin when I find myself in front of a mirror, as that is where we'll discover the birth of most fault. 
My notes consist of random thoughts that most of us think about and, in forgetting to write them, they are lost.  Some are what I would have enjoyed if Andy Rooney had explored and expanded on them.  The others?  YOU decide..................................
Without further ado, or is it further I didn't?

Separated at birth #1: On-field baseball commentator Ken Rosenthal and Pee Wee Herman
                                #2: Bosox pitcher Alfredo Aceves and Actor Tommy Lee Jones
                                #3: Bosox pitcher John Lester and any EWOK
                                #4: Dave Letterman and sports talk show host Bruce Drennan

Achieve happiness by giving---neither expecting nor demanding same

You never know---until you find out

Baseball is the only sport wherein umpires have the ability to walk on water.  Their 1st commandment being, "Thou shalt NOT question me."  I wonder how they can position themselves between the batter and the catcher and successfully see the outside edge of home plate.  Have you noticed that they often are on the opposite side of the runner when a steal is attempted and are able to "see" if a tag is made or not?  Hmmm

TeeVee commercials are introducing new, improved drugs, telling us to take it if "such and such" drug isn't working.  I wonder if they have new, improved side effects.  I also "like" the new vitamins for kids who won't eat real food.  Does mommy give dressed up princess just the vitamin?  My children had supplemental vitamins...not replacements!

Great read for summer...or any other time: Wayne Dyer's, "Gifts from Eykis"

If a clock used hay bales instead of numerals, would you call it "Hour Fodder?"

Chugging Vernor's Ginger Ale is not an easy task

C'mon...can Shaq O'Neal really drive that Buick???

When someone says, "Have good one"...are we expected to know what it means???

Will the marketing geniasses ever realize that the incessant drumming during commercials and other announcements is about as captivating as a bucket of spit

Speaking of spit, I lie awake wondering how much is generated during a baseball game

The longer you're in solitary confinement, the less likely you'll run into someone you know

And, as Carmen says.................CIAO!

Wednesday is not Monday

             

For those of you in the unemployment lines...there's GOTTA be an opening for film and fashion critics.  Hurry and apply NOW! 1. History has proven to me that if I viewed a movie that got "panned," I liked it a lot.  I'm sure many of you might feel the same...so, go for it! 2. I'm not one for perusing the local rag's entertainment section, officially named, "Style & Fashion," but since rain has been falling all day, I gave it a shot.  Yikes!  Of the Oscars' Red Carpet, the critic-ette penned, "No, my shallow darlings, the topic du jour on morning gab fests, quasi-news shows and the endless maw that is the blogosphere was Anne Hathaway's pink Prada dress and its placement of two darts-prominent little tentlike protrusions that, in the mind of many a critic, too closely resembled nipples."  I'm so glad she cleared THAT up for me.  Incidentally, the photo of the aforementioned's article makes her appear to be maybe 9 or 10, so, there's room for improvement.  Hopefully a lot---and soon.  She then continued on, telling us what all the other "experts" called the darts on Anne's dress.  I'd like to read one of her "What I did on summer vacation" reports. Obviously, I was misinformed on the Pope's retirement.  A week ago, it was thought that his excellency had hit the Irish Sweepstakes and left town.  As of this morning, there are more distinct facts mentioned, although I doubt we'll ever know the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  So be it.  According to what I've read and heard, the last time a pope said, "Sono fuori di qua" ("I'm outta here!") was in 1415, even prior to the birth of Chris Columbus.  Benedict XVI was quite the corporate man though, as witnessed by his submission of a 2 week notice.  Wotta guy, huh?  Although, I wonder if they made him sign a non-compete clause.                                                                                               Onward, Christian Soldiers!

Ironic irony or "The department of HMMM..."

Last night's news on ABC... There's a whacked out Korean rapper who's going to "perform" in Warshington, D. C. real soon.  Previously, one of his songs(?) pleaded that a lot of murders be committed because America didn't agree with a religious(?) organization.  There were protests issued asking that this PSY...cho character not be allowed.  The current resident of the egg-shaped office said, "I have no control over who is in the show."  Hmmm.  Can he explain why nearly 5000 people have died Over There? Sad news it is that the nurse in the British hospital died.  Word is she committed suicide as a result of the prank played by an Australian morning show radio team.  If it WERE a suicide, one has to wonder if that were the only impetus.  Seems a bit strange that a relatively isolated prank would be the only cause of such a dire reaction.  However, many people are screaming that an ultimate in punishment be put upon the radio duet. Hmmm.  bernie madoff knowingly stole BILLIONS out of American retirement funds, etc., yet he spends his time laughing about it while relaxing at a taxpayer funded almost royal estate that's called a white collar prison! I'm certain you can illustrate many other examples.  These just popped into my head while waiting for the Folgers.  Incidentally, please don't chastise me for the lack of name capitalization.  Those who don't receive it, no longer deserve it.

When David Muir talks, Bob listens.....sometimes

ABC Evening News...Wednesday...11-28-12
David Muir did a nice feature on how buying American at Christmas time can create American jobs.  His take was, if everyone spent $64 of their Christmas shopping budget, a large quantity of jobs would be created in the USA.  Forgive me, as I can't recall the exact number, but it was substantial.  KUDOS, Dave!
I spend a fair number of hours throughout the year attending moving sales, downsizing sales, garage sales, estate sales, garage sales that are advertised as estate sales, swap meets, flea markets, antique malls, thrift shops and whatever other titles humans conjure up in their attempt to separate you from your dollars.  Nothing wrong with any of them.  After all, that's how many a company began.   It's also the basic form of social media, which means, you actually can look someone in the eyes, forming complete words that they'll understand, make new friends, exchange referrals, and....have some fun!  Sadly, the current economy has forced many sellers to depart with personal goods, including heirlooms, in hopes of paying a mortgage, utility, insurance or grocery bills.   But I digress.

What I saw at those aforementioned sales was an IMMENSE amount of non-USA manufactured goods.  Folks, I'm talking TONS!!!  One needn't be an alum of Wharton or MIT to see/understand what has been happening.  Not in any particular sequence...Greed caused facilities to close as manufacturing headed out of the country and Americans lost jobs.  Shareholders quickly made increased profits.  (Keep in mind that snowballs don't go uphill.)  One money person saw how rich another was becoming, so HE sold HIS company and had those goods produced in a lower labor market outside of the USA.  HE made higher and quicker profits.  More Americans lost jobs.  (Can you see the snowball now?)  As more snowballs are grown, more Americans are losing jobs.  A handful of money people are making more money and in a very short period of time.  In time, a great many Americans will not have jobs, causing the inability to afford the cheaply made products that now fill the racks and bins of American stores.  Are you getting the picture?
Back to the sales venues mentioned above.  The seller needs to raise money and has little room to haggle.  The prospective buyer has little money and wants a bargain.  The twain are having difficulty reaching an agreeable price.  The buyer moves along.  The seller makes no sale, but must pay rent if he is at a privately owned facility.  The facility owner has less vendors than in years past.  To make up, he raises the rental fees.  The sellers have to raise prices to pay the rent, but the buyers are still short on funds.  The sellers pull their wares because sales are dwindling.  The privately owned venue closes when the dwindled rental income is not enough to cover the overhead.  The local municipality loses tax revenues.  Safety and fire forces are cut.  Public assistance is pared.  Unemployment payments run out.  Less jobs are available.  Food lines increase.  More Americans are having garage sales and are setting up at flea markets.  No one has money to spend.  The sellers paid rent, but made no sales.  The venue owner didn't make enough to cover overhead and shuts down his property.  He has a garage sale the following week but no one came because there was no spendable money.  Remaining "professional" vendors are overstocked with imported items and complain to each other about the lack of sales.  I asked why they didn't sell American made goods.  They told me that the costs were too high.  I suggested they combine and buy American after negotiating better prices.  They gave me weird looks.  I asked if they were to go to a garage sale in China, might they see items made in America?  More weird looks.

SO...great advice from David Muir.  However, when the Christmas season is over, what then?  Well, I'LL tell you what then!  Go to your local establishments.  Trust me...when you look, you'll find many.  Explain how you'd love to keep them in business by purchasing their American made goods, but because your income is shaky at best, you'll need a discount.  If he can understand that he'll stay in business by allowing an equitable discount, as opposed to closing down from zero sales, it can catch on!  Ask your friends to do the same.  Know ye this: You MUST CONTINUE the practice to make it successful.  You can actually do without something once in awhile.  In a recent interview, I heard a man ask, "If you had to leave your home in 30 minutes, what would you take?"  That's a good start.  In time, jobs CAN return!  I fully realize I'll be branded insane, but the collective stance is what got this country going in the first place and made it a success for more than 200 years!  Don't let the power driven take what is yours. 

The rich are rich partly due to the risks they took and the long range sight they had and continue to have.  They shouldn't have to pay for everything.  After all, it was their money that made a lot possible.  Our government must look inside the monstrous house they allowed to grow and begin trimming therein.  With a computer driven world, the government keeps adding people to the payroll, making it the largest employer in the land.  Stop voting for people who truly don't care about you.  Vote for those with proven financial success.  I could go on, but don't wish to veer too far off track.

Hey Buddy, "Kudzu Paradigm?"

An idle coal truck on Upper Second Creek Road, just outside of Hazard, Kentucky

Covered in Kudzu.  Paradigm Shift = Work truck but No work for truck

Black Friday is history.  Many stores continue their sales in hopes of a successful year.  I'm now treating that hectic shopping fiasco as I do New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day...I stay home.

I just double-checked the local newspaper from the past few days.  Thursday, in addition to the stuff till you puff day of Thanksgiving, was anniversary No. 49 of JFK's assassination.  No mention of it.  Perhaps "they" forgot/moved on/stopped caring.

In any event, you may now spin the old radio dial and officially start your holiday spirit by listening to the repeated playing of the same 20-some songs until you consider a self-inflicted round of water boarding.  2 years back, I contacted the local FM's Program Manager about there being many more tunes available.  His response is permanently filed under, "Canned answers containing zero sense"

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Near Lake Erie, the temperature is a "torrid 31", with a slight breeze and a bit of snow flurries.  Somewhere, people are setting up the Christmas tree while, "It's a Wonderful Life" spins in the CD player; Moms are teaching daughters the art of cookie baking; Dads are joining sons with hopes of watching their favorite college football team win a berth in a holiday bowl game. I wonder if anyone still strings pop corn.  Somewhere else, there are battles being fought in foreign lands while others are trying to rebuild after losing homes and loved ones during the tragic storm called, "Sandy."

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For some unexplained reason, I spot and hear oddities or coincidences that I am compelled to share.  Whether the "excitement" is shared or not depends upon reader mood.  I know SOMEbody reads them, because there are those willing to recommend something to do with couches.

Moving on...while watching a college football game, I noticed that Dustin Fox, current ABC commentator and former Ohio State defensive back, bears a resemblance to Joey Tribiani, from "Friends."  At any moment, I expected Dustin to utter the famous, "How YOU doin?"  Another birth separation is baseball announcer Ken Rosenthal and Pee Wee Herman...not to be outdone by the pairing of San Francisco Giant right fielder, Hunter Pence and comedian, Chris Elliott.

I'm drawn to reading the mini disclaimers at the bottom of teevee commercials.  Progressive Insurance displays a "no kidding" by telling us that, "Prices vary based on how you buy."  Okaaaay.  Not to be outdone, Ford shows a vehicle soaring off a cliff as the disclaimer informs us, "Professional driver, closed course, do not attempt, cars can't fly."  THANK YOU!!!  (WAY too many lawyers these days)

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What you don't see anymore: Burma Shave signs; Sign that cautions, "Quiet-Hospital Zone."  Remember when people would stick their tongue out when they disagreed with you?

There IS a morning after!

You win a few...You lose a few...or maybe just one

It seemed like the campaigns lasted 500 days or more. Oh, wait.....they DID!!!
I was right about one thing. I wrote that I had filled my gas tank because the local price in northeast Ohio was $3.069 per gallon. I predicted that the prices would hold until the election was over, because no one wanted to be blamed for any increase. TA DAH! While driving today, through several communities, the post-vote prices were anywhere from $3.22 up to $3.49 for the regular grade. My money says the increase isn't over. Funny, that last night's computer check showed that crude was on the way down. Explain, please? By the way, if you didn't know, you can check local prices by merely typing in gas prices and your zip code into the top address block on your screen.
What really irked me is the northeast rape. I checked prices in New Jersey and they were listed as high as $4.69 at some stations. Our current/new officials need to stem the tide on this non-consensual screwing tossed upon the storm victims. If you like getting involved, phone YOUR reps and get the ball rolling!
Honest to Godness, I just did see this while on my way home. On the tree lawn front of the local post office, was a table with a person bearing a placard that stated, "Impeach Obama." Holy Moley, Batman...talk about impatience!
I truly hope dems and reps can reach across that aisle and get this country on the road to recovery. Hey Guys/Ladies...that aisle isn't all that wide! Another stalemate as referred to last Sunday on "60 Minutes" will tell me that parties are holding party lines. If all they're going to do is a bunch of nya-nya, get the hell out of Washington and let someone in there who gives a damn! Congress and Senate members are elected to represent what the constituents need. Not what 400 plus individuals want for their own pockets. YOU WORK FOR US, SO, GET TO WORK!!!
On a "lighter" note, a convicted murderer in Ohio has been given the death penalty. He's been claiming that it would be inhumane, as he weighs 480 pounds and the gurney would collapse, causing pain. The man has been on death row for approximately 10 years. What the ---- are they feeding him?!? Meanwhile, the warden said he tested the gurney with a corrections officer who closely matched the convict and the gurney held up. What the ---- is that guard eating and why are we paying his medical?!?

Finally.....
The election is over. Tomorrow is Thursday, signifying the traditional start of weekly garage sales. Please eliminate unnecessary driving and guesswork by removing all election signs. A good way to increase revenue is to levy a $5 fin for each sign still up at 6 AM, local time on Thursday.
Thanks for voting! If you didn't vote, trust me from experience...your local bartender doesn't care to hear your gripes. If you could make it to Joe's Chug-n-Hurl, you could have made it to the voting booth. (My local is at an elementary school and the PTU Moms always have yummy cookies and fudge for sale. So, THERE!)
We now return to some new and less boring commercials..................

You still have time!!!

On my honor, I will not attempt asking you to vote for anyone in particular.  Please keep in mind that 11-06-12 means electing more than a president.  It means you will be voting for practically a whole new set of people in congress.  Those are the representatives elected to carry out the wishes of those whom they represent, which, of course, is why I chose to overuse the word, representative.  It's rather obvious they aren't, nor have they been, listening to us.  If you care about your country and if you weren't able to see "60 Minutes" last night, you can see it on your computer, for free.  Therein, you'll get to watch some fine interviews.  I'm not referring to the one with a football player.  Steve Kroft tried to elicit some intelligence from both Demorat Harry Reid and Revulsivecan Mitch McConnell as to why compromises could not be made.  Their answers combined might have reached 40 on an I.Q test.  The two of them couldn't even look into each other's eyes!  I now officially love Olithia Snow, Republican Moderate from Maine, who announced that she will not seek re-election.  Why?  She's had it with those who won't even consider playing nice.  I challenge all the voters in Maine to write her in and keep her intelligence at the forefront.  There were other notables with equally good comments.  I recommend you watch that episode in hopes you vote and vote with a clear conscience.  Those chambers need a good housecleaning, and, tomorrow is a good time to begin, by not re-electing those who are in it for the money or a high paying job when they retire.  Kindly keep in mind that there are independents running for many of those seats and you are allowed to vote for them.  Shoot, I'd vote for my Gramma, if she were alive...she couldn't do any worse than some of those money-mongers currently occupying a nice leather chair!

I couldn't come up with a "fitting" word...

Today was a pretty nice day. A week of nearly steady cloud wringing came to an end. The spare sump pump was unplugged. The sun struggled and managed to pop out for a bit. (Near Lake Erie, we get a lot of gray skies this time of year.) I solved most of the New York Times crossword puzzle...Saturdays are toughies! Got a great book at a garage sale for 25 cents and found a nearly new keyboard to replace the one onto which I spilled water and had my desktop doing things Bill Gates never could imagine. In the past 11 years, very few events have had a continuing pull on my attention: The Twin Towers, 2 Tsunamis and Sandy Storm. So much damage and so many lives lost/affected in such a short amount of time. When mass tragedy strikes, Americans pull together...without any prompting whatsoever. They just do it! It's who we are. Income, political persuasion, ethnicity, team loyalty, schooling, etc., matter not. People merely grab anything that will help and take it to those who lost out. There are no introductions and no prejudices. There are no language barriers. The eyes tell the stories. The eyes display the loss. They eyes convey the need. In turmoil, there are the sufferers and the bringers. No borders. Just helpers. Life must go on. It will. It always does. I could quickly fill several pages, but don't need to. You know of what I speak. At one time in your lives, you needed and received, no matter how small or large. At one time in your lives, you gave, no matter how small or large. Possessions were/are not always exchanged. Times such as this tells us why God invented hugs.........yep, 'nuff said there, eh? All that in mind, I caught a portion of the ABC news on my local affiliate. That particular segment centered on the New York Marathon's cancellation. Mayor Bloomberg, in my opinion, made the correct call. Few, if any, residents were involved in the running. They were busy in their own races against shock of loss, wet, hunger, cold, missing family and all that accompanies tragedy. Yet, the camera happened to focus on what appeared to be a nice looking blond lady that I guessed might have been in her early thirties. Her words were very close to, "We're upset, we're extremely mad that the race was called off. We traveled many miles, brought families and reserved hotel rooms." She was upset and vehement in her delivery of those words. (Here's where I couldn't come up with a "fitting word" to describe her audacity). In lieu of that, I will stifle the urge to introduce her neck to my knuckles. One wonders what could be done to satisfy this obviously self-entitled ------, ------, ------, ------. Even if the race COULD have been, the entrants would all have to run over, around and through the rubble. Did she consider that? I have to stop here, as I could go on for pages, but don't need to. All I can suggest is that she sue God and may she hope to never experience what she was so put out by. God bless America.

Be afraid...Be Very, VERY Afraid

Call me Ishmael, call me paranoid, but I feel it must be said...


I don't know who said this post's title. The source, for the moment, is irrelevant, but, the statement makes a ton of sense.

It matters not if you're republican, democrat, independent, left, right or whatever the buzz word of the day might be. Our nation is being molded into a "machine" that will produce enormous wealth for the very few. That they already have more than they or their ensuing progeny will be able to spend is not the point. Money and the power it brings has become the "drug of choice" for the greedy. They will step on whomever and whatever gets in the way, namely, our middle class.

Pensions have been eradicated, speculators raise gasoline prices at will, no bankers were jailed for fleecing your savings, there are no penalties for outsourcing, to name just a few.

We have been gifted with an overflow of devices that have "changed our lives forever." Social media and instant access to movies, music and the like fills our needs to be entertained. Newspapers and books are the new dinosaurs. Radio is losing local content, being replaced by the streaming of repetitious tunes ad infinitum and ad nauseum. Where there was banter about local politics and current events, there is now a robotic voice telling us the title of the song just played...as if we were too incapable of remembiering the past 2 minutes and 37 seconds. Talk shows fill our brains as would an auctioneer, thus keeping us way too occupied to sort the barrage of words and make a wise decision. These radio heads all began innocently and caring, but with endorsements, TV appearances and a carpetbagger style of road trips, they've fallen under the spell of what money can do to a person. (Thankfully, subscription radio offers an intelligent selection of airwave entertainment and enlightenment)

Electronic games, social media and a plethora of brain-sucking reality(?) TV shows, coupled with sodium and fat filled foods that are programmed to weld us to the sofa, keep us occupied while the uber-riche devour whatever might remain of our ability to protest. All these "gifts" are, in a way, a reminder of gun control in Europe's pre World War 2 days. The probable thinking is...since so many Americans own guns...if they're too fat to assemble and fight, the rest will be easy! Ergo, "The Girth of a Nation."

For those who are fit, the current game of war will keep selected economies growing.

Does anyone track the percentage of campaign promises that are fulfilled? Doesn't it bother you that people such as bernie madoff laughs in his letters how he bilked so many of you? Doesn't it bother you that he's not in a hard labor federal prison? Doesn't it bother you that the Nevada congressman, when confronted about the subsidized airline flying vacant planes, dismisses the reporter? Doesn't the arrogance of dick cheney and his new millions piss you off? (Incidentally, upper case in the names of some people is no longer deserved) Doesn't it bother you that Malia Obama took an entourage of her friends to Oaxaca, Mexico, using 2 planes and 25 secret service agents for her spring break? And, doesn't it bother you that the story was kept from the media, save for 2 foreign reports? I wrote the local newspaper, TV investigative reporter and my hopefully former congressman regarding the issue and, you guessed it, no reply.
By the way, it's not the first incident of no replies or condescending responses.

I could go on and on, but even the American attention span might be too short for this diatribe. I implore any and all to read, "The Betrayal of the American Dream." Should the thought of reading a book scare the hell out of you, at LEAST read the below noted site for an abridged portion. If the site won't open, please Google the title.

Have a nice day...........they might be numbered.

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inq_BarlettSteelePart1.html

Once A Leg Man..............

Once a "leg" man.....



I try to stay away from political commentary because it negates the chuckles I read in the daily comic section of my newspaper, but, some are SO "ignernt" that you have to stop and wonder.


WHUTT?!? 1.  Our local, (loco?), lawmakers just enacted the Teen Text Law.  I guess they figure texting drivers older than 18 don't get bigger boo-boos. Has anyone contacted the wacko gecko actuaries?
WHUTT?!? 2.  The since deposed Cuyahoga County sheriff was convicted for using election money to bolster his campaign via using his deputies. In short, he "retired" and there followed some of that good ole boy taking care of another and he then used campaign funds to pay the fine. A judge simply blew it off with words to the effect, "These things happen" and that was the end of that!  As an untrained CPA, I'd venture to say he'd have to claim that money as income, dontcha think.........IRS?
WHUTT? 3.  Last week marked the opening of a gambling casino in Cleveland. In an effort to empty wallets without delay, an extension to East 9th Street is being constructed. In the meantime, 2 local hospitals were closed, thereby increasing response times for EMS personnel.

Didja Know? Dept: While visiting some of my favorite Kentucky people earlier this month, I was told that some schools no longer teach cursive writing. AUGH!


As parents, we can oh so easily upset the kids with "put the foot down" directives. My 2 sons, not the old teevee show, grew to be close to self-inflicting eclipse makers. Well, not THAT huge, but big enough to scare some wash machines. When they asked to play football, I absolutely refused, reason being that the human body was not designed to run into each other, at a high rate of speed, from opposite directions. I suggested meteorology broadcasting, as they tend to earn a lot while being wrong more often than Homer Simpson. A recent news item is telling us that Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is more pronounced than anyone had envisioned. In short, concussions are to be taken seriously, as shown in studies conducted on brains of former football stars. In fact, the possibilities exist in virtually ALL sports having body contact. (You're welcome, M & M)


Can't recall if I mentioned this in an earlier missive, but, since we're being schooled to sneeze or cough into our elbows, don't we then pass the germs when we put that same arm around our companion at the local cineplex?


Have you seen that commercial where a speed dater is caught for saying, "until I met you?" Closely watch the girl. Right after he hears that, her lower back snaps as if someone zapped her with a cattle prod.....Jussayin


Separated at birth 1: Los Angeles Angels pitcher, Irvin Santana and Detroit Tigers shortstop, Jhonny Peralta
Separated at birth 2: Most political candidates and nobody smart


Just for kicks: When you quickly move your index finger in an up-and-down motion on your lips as you hum, you'll hear a staccato sound. Go ahead...try it! Got it? Good! The sound you heard explains why your butt crack isn't horizontal when you scoot down the sliding board!


Given a choice, what music do you suppose a dog would choose?


If it totally passed you by, this month, Friday the 13th was on a Sunday.


Drum Roll Super News Dept: Son of a great lady I know just graduated from med school...a feat unto itself. I think he opted for pediatrics. May he someday soon find a cure for an illness or two.

Invest Wisely Every Now and Zen

For many a year, I've not liked carrying change in my pocket. Upon getting home, I always toss the coins into a container of some sort. THIS year, it has been a thick plastic jar, of unknown origin, albeit quite clean, thank you! It no longer makes any sense to roll coins, because, if your bank resembles mine, they open the rolls and and empty them into a coin counter. Not feeling industrious enough to drive to my institute of higher(?) earning, I posted the following on craigslist.


"5-1/2" High X 5" diameter jar, filled with late model nickels, dimes, quarters and some half-dollars. It weighs approximately 10 pounds. Of late, it has become a burden to carry the container from one location to another. Swimming/Diving lessons begin soon and I'd rather not be burdened when that gets going. I am willing to sacrifice this collection for an equal weight of early or late USA Mint paper money. Denomination is not important. Wrinkles and folds are acceptable. Although not formally schooled in gold, I'd entertain trading for the same weight in that commodity and I suppose a mix of both would also be considered. Your offers must contain 100% legal goods. Counterfeit and photo copies not eligible. Phone numbers must be submitted for consideration. Spammers must show certification papers from a local, accredited psychiatric facility with legible signature of the director.

Things I Think About When I'm Not Thinking...

Imagine a conversation between Ducky, the Medical Examiner on "NCIS" and Cliffie, the Mailman from "Cheers."

He said WHAT?!? On yesterday's news, (11-30-11), Congressman Trakas from Ohio said he was not going to back Mr. Cain's run for president. Reason? He opined, "If Cain lied about an affair, who knows what else he might have lied about?" Now, ain't THAT a hoot!

Ever so slowly, our communication skills are becoming extinct. There's talk of eliminating longhand penmanship lessons from schools. I always marvel at some styles of handwriting that unintentionally resemble calligraphy. Gone will be that beauty. Texting, Twitter, Tweet and God knows what else has abridged most words...no wt ahm sayn? We're losing words because humans are more lazy. Example: classified ads and craigslist say, "Needs moved." I think they mean, "Needs to be moved." Needs fixed, needs cleaned, ad nauseum. As short as it is, et cetera is now being typed "ect."

While I'm on that rant, "And also" is effing redundant! Seems as if there's a new "tag" with each season. The current cutie is to end many sentences with, "as well." Did the schools move English and Composition to the tailgate parties?

Remember when you'd be on a date or a family trip and get lost? Remember dad's refusal to ask for directions? Remember the ensuing arguments? Remember how they became table topics of laughter after filling up on the Sunday supper? As Bobbie in Sebastopol says, "You're making memories." Well, you can kiss THOSE memories good-bye in a generation or two...GPS has pulled the trump card. Robotics eliminate emotion, people!

Whose 3 watt idea was it to build white collar prisons? When I get to be king, right after outlawing stairs, amongst other things that rile most people with common sense, we'll cancel the IRS; every lobbyist will be drafted to manually dredge the Panama Canal; limit political commercials to 15 seconds that may be aired no sooner that 30 days prior to the election; all elected officials and appointees with terms of 2 years or more MUST undergo an annual performance review. I could go on and on...couldn't I? Seems we've allowed the dumbocrats and repulsivecans too much leeway.

I like to read the comics section in the morning. Odds are something will strike the giggle bone and get your socks on the right feet for whatever slams you during the day. Some comics aren't funny. It's just that they're on the same page and that's not a bad thing. They're a lot like Aesop, fast forwarded. One question though...is there anyone more nosy than Mary Worth? She just can't leave anyone or anything alone!

Can anyone exhale more profoundly than Tom Selleck? God, he does that so well!

By the way, all these entries and photos on all my blogs and emails are copyrighted, so, you may not use them without my explicit, written authorization and approval.

Gotta run...people to see and things to do...."as well." (SHEESH!)