It's time for some more weird news.
There's a seagull in Minnesota who tapps on the front door of the lobby of a Super 8 Motel until staffers give him a doughnut. The bird, Steven Seagull, has for years shown up at the Duluth motel to do his tap routine and chase other gulls away so he can get his daily doughnut.
That reminds me of Knute, the polar bear in Germany. When he was born, his mother refused to take care of him so the employees of the zoo raised him. He's no longer the cute little cub, he's now a full sized polar bear who makes all sorts of sounds unless there's a crowd of people watching him. He wants the limelight and gets upset when it isn't there.
Members of India's Olympic shooting team are threatening to boycott the Beiing Games. They want their government to end a shortage of ammo for training. The government recently stopped providing the National Rifle Association of India with bullets. This team was the best hope for a medal for India.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Spring Planting
Spring is in the air. It's still fairly cool, but I can see some buds on the trees. So today I decided to visit the local nursery to see if they had any herbs for sale.
They did, so I bought some basil, dill, oregano, parsley. I really enjoy growing these herbs, and have been moderately successful doing so indoors. I have one basil plant left from two years ago, but it has just a few leaves left.
Last year I bought basil from the local hardware store's nursery. It did beautifully for a few weeks, then it slowly died. This is why I decided to go back to the nursery from two years ago. Hopefully, all my plants will do well and I can have some delicious salads and sauces.
I also bought another houseplant. This time I bought a coleus. Let's hope Burnie doesn't decide to eat or knock down any of my new plants.
They did, so I bought some basil, dill, oregano, parsley. I really enjoy growing these herbs, and have been moderately successful doing so indoors. I have one basil plant left from two years ago, but it has just a few leaves left.
Last year I bought basil from the local hardware store's nursery. It did beautifully for a few weeks, then it slowly died. This is why I decided to go back to the nursery from two years ago. Hopefully, all my plants will do well and I can have some delicious salads and sauces.
I also bought another houseplant. This time I bought a coleus. Let's hope Burnie doesn't decide to eat or knock down any of my new plants.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Old Papers
Today as part of my cleaning/organizing program I decided to tackle the office. I started with my file cabinet. I cleaned the bottom drawer and found some envelopes I didn't know were there. Then, I went to work on the top of the cabinet.
It seems that whenever I empty one box, I put whatever I want to save on top of the cabinet without really looking at it. Today, I went through those old envelopes, and learned a lot. My house in Woodhaven was assessed for $5,100.00 in 1929 resulting in a tax bill of $135.66 which at that time I'm sure was a huge amount. I also found some old funeral bills. When my father's father died in 1926, the cost was only $356.00. The letterhead of the bill had a logo of a horse-drawn coach. Nineteen years later, in 1945, the cost had risen to $433.50 with a sales tax of $3.50. They used the same funeral director, but this time theyincluded the services of a lady director. Now it would cost about $10,000.00 and they probably wouldn't use the services of a lady director to prepare a woman.
I also learned a lot more. For one thing, I always thought my father's middle name was Charles, but according to his Baptismal certificate his name was Frederick. I also found my grandmother's death certificate. I don't remember much about her, she died when I was six years old and all I can remember of her is the little old lady laying on a bed in my aunt's dining room. The day she went into the hospital for the last time, my cousin wanted me to say good-bye, but I guess I was scared so I ran away. Unfortunately, I couldn't cross the street, so I hid behind a very small tree on Rockaway Blvd., but that's a story for another day.
Because my father's mother is the only grandmother I ever met, I've always felt that my family started with my parents. I've always envied people who could trace the family back for three or more generations. But today, I learned more about my grandmother and I may be able to trace the family back to their roots in Germany. Another project to keep me busy - tracing my family tree.
It seems that whenever I empty one box, I put whatever I want to save on top of the cabinet without really looking at it. Today, I went through those old envelopes, and learned a lot. My house in Woodhaven was assessed for $5,100.00 in 1929 resulting in a tax bill of $135.66 which at that time I'm sure was a huge amount. I also found some old funeral bills. When my father's father died in 1926, the cost was only $356.00. The letterhead of the bill had a logo of a horse-drawn coach. Nineteen years later, in 1945, the cost had risen to $433.50 with a sales tax of $3.50. They used the same funeral director, but this time theyincluded the services of a lady director. Now it would cost about $10,000.00 and they probably wouldn't use the services of a lady director to prepare a woman.
I also learned a lot more. For one thing, I always thought my father's middle name was Charles, but according to his Baptismal certificate his name was Frederick. I also found my grandmother's death certificate. I don't remember much about her, she died when I was six years old and all I can remember of her is the little old lady laying on a bed in my aunt's dining room. The day she went into the hospital for the last time, my cousin wanted me to say good-bye, but I guess I was scared so I ran away. Unfortunately, I couldn't cross the street, so I hid behind a very small tree on Rockaway Blvd., but that's a story for another day.
Because my father's mother is the only grandmother I ever met, I've always felt that my family started with my parents. I've always envied people who could trace the family back for three or more generations. But today, I learned more about my grandmother and I may be able to trace the family back to their roots in Germany. Another project to keep me busy - tracing my family tree.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Burnie
Tonight was my regular canasta night. We had a very good time tonight, lots of laughs and not much concentration on the cards.
I got home very close to my usual bedtime, but I decided to unwind a bid and play a game or two of Letter Linker. I was just getting relaxed when I heard a loud bang. Burnie knocked a plant down, the same one he knocked down last week.
All this would not have happened if I had just gone to bed as soon as I got home. Now the cats are all wound up and they'll probably decide to fight as soon as I get to bed. It looks like it will be a long night.
I got home very close to my usual bedtime, but I decided to unwind a bid and play a game or two of Letter Linker. I was just getting relaxed when I heard a loud bang. Burnie knocked a plant down, the same one he knocked down last week.
All this would not have happened if I had just gone to bed as soon as I got home. Now the cats are all wound up and they'll probably decide to fight as soon as I get to bed. It looks like it will be a long night.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
City Mentality
The other night after our meeting, a few of us were discussing the bus service into the City. Some of the ladies like to get the bus on Route 9 a short distance from home. They asked where I get the bus and I told them I go to the terminal in the next town.
One of my reasons for this is that I get on at the first stop, get my choice of seat and on the return trip, which usually is after dark, I don't have to watch for my stop and if I'm tired, I can sleep.
Someone commented that the terminal is in a not so good neighborhood, especially when travelling alone at night. My answer - I'm from New York, it doesn't bother me.
One of my reasons for this is that I get on at the first stop, get my choice of seat and on the return trip, which usually is after dark, I don't have to watch for my stop and if I'm tired, I can sleep.
Someone commented that the terminal is in a not so good neighborhood, especially when travelling alone at night. My answer - I'm from New York, it doesn't bother me.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Generations
Depression Babies, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, etc. I've always wondered where I fit in this naming of generations.
Today I found out. Through an Op-Ed in today's WALL STREET JOURNAL I learned that I'm a member of the No-Name Generation. Of course, this editorial wasn't about me, but about John McCain which was another eye-opener for me. I always felt that he was so old, but now I realize that he is not that much older than I.
This editorial went on to extoll the virtues of the No-Name Generation. We have seen rationing, V-J Day, the Korean invation, the day the French left Dien Bien Phu and later our involvement in Viet Nam, the Cold War. I remember that during WWII because my father was an Air Raid Warden he was often out evenings. I also remember huddling under my desk and covering myself with my coat for air raid drills. We survived and I think we're stronger because of everything we've seen. We were old enough to realize what it meant when our President was assassinated.
We saw a lot of bad things, but we've also witnessed lots more good. There's TV, Cinamascope, Color TV, real spaceships, TV Dinners. We saw men walk on the moon, and we witnessed a telephone call from our President Nixon to Neil Armstrong.
It's good to finally know where I belong, but I really wish we had a better name than the No-Name Generation. It sounds so impersonal.
Today I found out. Through an Op-Ed in today's WALL STREET JOURNAL I learned that I'm a member of the No-Name Generation. Of course, this editorial wasn't about me, but about John McCain which was another eye-opener for me. I always felt that he was so old, but now I realize that he is not that much older than I.
This editorial went on to extoll the virtues of the No-Name Generation. We have seen rationing, V-J Day, the Korean invation, the day the French left Dien Bien Phu and later our involvement in Viet Nam, the Cold War. I remember that during WWII because my father was an Air Raid Warden he was often out evenings. I also remember huddling under my desk and covering myself with my coat for air raid drills. We survived and I think we're stronger because of everything we've seen. We were old enough to realize what it meant when our President was assassinated.
We saw a lot of bad things, but we've also witnessed lots more good. There's TV, Cinamascope, Color TV, real spaceships, TV Dinners. We saw men walk on the moon, and we witnessed a telephone call from our President Nixon to Neil Armstrong.
It's good to finally know where I belong, but I really wish we had a better name than the No-Name Generation. It sounds so impersonal.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Food Warnings
Yesterday I was watching the medical segment of the news. The doctor was giving us some hints on staying healthy at Easter time. He said that the colored hard boiled eggs should not sit out at room temperature for more than two hours and should be eaten within four or five days. This surprised me because when I was younger, the eggs would stay in our basket for up to a week. I don't recall any of us getting sick. He also said that we should not eat raw eggs or cake butter. Again I'm guilty, in fact, I still take a chance.
What puzzles me is that now we have more sophisticated ways of transporting eggs from the farm to the supermarket. They get there more quickly so that when we buy them, they are fresher. The same goes for meat, particularly chopped meat.
I'm sure meat inspections are better than they were 50 or so years ago, and the conditions on the farms and in the slaughterhouses are much better and more sanitary. Yet, there are all these warnings. I once went to a diner and ordered a rare hamburger. The waitress frowned and said no she couldn't serve a rare hamburger. The one I got was OK, but certainly not as good.
I can't understand why we have all these warnings. Are we as a society not as healthy as 50 years ago, or are the farmers, supermarkets and diners afraid of being sued?
One other thing that disturbed me yesterday. They gave the calorie count of the Easter goodies that we all enjoy. I don't want to think about that. Just let me enjoy my Peeps and worry about the calories tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.
What puzzles me is that now we have more sophisticated ways of transporting eggs from the farm to the supermarket. They get there more quickly so that when we buy them, they are fresher. The same goes for meat, particularly chopped meat.
I'm sure meat inspections are better than they were 50 or so years ago, and the conditions on the farms and in the slaughterhouses are much better and more sanitary. Yet, there are all these warnings. I once went to a diner and ordered a rare hamburger. The waitress frowned and said no she couldn't serve a rare hamburger. The one I got was OK, but certainly not as good.
I can't understand why we have all these warnings. Are we as a society not as healthy as 50 years ago, or are the farmers, supermarkets and diners afraid of being sued?
One other thing that disturbed me yesterday. They gave the calorie count of the Easter goodies that we all enjoy. I don't want to think about that. Just let me enjoy my Peeps and worry about the calories tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.
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