King Harvest Has Surely Come

The check is in the mail!

2008-11-13T07:57:00.006-05:00

So, I was flipping through the mail the other day: sorting out bills into one pile, mail I wanted to see, and a small pile of mail about which I had no clue as to the origin. The last pile has been growing because recently I have been spreading a bit of charity money to various organizations, like the Masonic Brotherhood fund, diabetes foundation, local volunteer fire and ambulance, etc.'

We are not talking large amounts of money here, a good analogy would be passing around a tray of cookies at a party, so each got a small treat! But if a LOT of us each gives a little it adds up. My father-in-law Rudy, taught me that.

My religion also teaches me to plant seeds. A sixties folk song says "You gotta plant the seed in the dirt my friend, if you want that thing to grow".

Anyway, the point of this is to be cautious. When you start distributing funds, the birds of prey can smell it.

What has this got to do with my mail?

I opened a plain envelope in my “no clue” pile and assumed it was junk, but wanted to at least verify that before shredding it. Wow, it was a check for $2,980! It caught my attention so I read the letter that accompanied it. Millenium (sic) Grant Inc was congratulating me that my $50,000 grant was approved. All I had to do was call them, verify my file, and deposit the check in my bank account!

As soon as they received the grant processing fee from me, they would deduct a $5,000 from the grant and send me a certified check for $45,000 I could use any I way I want.

On closer look, the letter (and check) was addressed to Tom BROWN (wrong last name, correct home address), issued by SPP Pumps LLP of Norcross GA, and drawn against the Rockbridge Commercial Bank of Atlanta, GA. Also Millenium Grant Inc is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

I was tempted to call them by phone to “verify my file” (probably to provide personal banking information from me, ha!), but it was not toll free. I just wanted to see what they would ask me!

I would like to know who to contact to report this.

SOME poor fool (or innocent trusting individual) is going to cash this check. I am sure the check will “bounce”, but probably reveal very confidential financial information in the process!

This just verifies that spamming and scamming are not new schemes. Be careful.

Happy Veterans Day!

2008-11-11T12:00:00.002-05:00

But did you know that it was originally Armistice Day? The declaration of the END of hostilities between Germany and the Allies in World War I was signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in France in 1918.

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill into law declaring Armistice Day would be now be Veteran's Day to honor all who have fallen defending our freedoms.

If you see a veteran today - THANK HIM!

In loving memory of my father who served in the Navy from 1944 (age 18) until 1947.

Pray for peace so we do not have to commemorate more soldiers sacrificing their lives for us. Remember WWI was foolishly (optimistically?) called the "war to end all wars". How sad they were wrong.

Happy Birthday Grandma 11/7/1898

2008-11-06T23:31:00.005-05:00

You were only 15 in this picture - you would have been 110 today!

Your Great Great Granddaughter, Leigha Faith will be 13 soon.

I love you and pray you are looking down at your family and smiling. I take comfort in knowing you are with God.

I will always miss you, Grandma. You have made my life a beautiful patchwork quilt!

Tommy

Monday, Monday - Can't Trust That Day!

2008-09-29T17:17:00.003-04:00

Whatever you do, Do it now.

2008-07-10T11:58:00.006-04:00

Sometimes it seems we spend most of our days planning for tomorrow and regretting wasted yesterdays passed. We are reminded of this when a loved one is ill, or a friend moves away, or someone we admire dies.

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda... Three dirty words.

Do not wait until a loved one is ill, or in the hospital, or unexpectedly snatched away from your life.

Call now.

Write a note.

Stop by and give them a gift, even if all you have is 5 minutes of your time.

Make someone smile.

Live today, every day.

wHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR - START NOW!

The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and for deeds left undone. ~Harriet Beecher Stowe, Little Foxes, 1865

Happy Independence Day!

2008-07-03T23:06:00.004-04:00

Many say Happy 4th of July, but I prefer Independence Day. On July 4th 1776 the Continental Congress approved the wording of the document that was advising England that the colonies had had enough and were no longer subject to British laws.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

The consent of the governed. Think about that next time you complain about taxes, gas prices, NAFTA, the war in Iraq, "Gitmo", the electoral college, the two party system, and a plethora of other inequities and injustices, real or perceived. They are not foisted on us, they are by the consent of the governed. That would be you and me.

That said, what can the individual do to effect change on this gargantuan political mess? Not a lot on a global scale, but starting with our families, and our friends, and our neighbors, maybe we can make a difference.

Vote.
Help your neighbor.
Become an activist in your town.
Go against the grain.
Write a letter to the editor.

We are FREE to speak out for what is right, and against what is wrong.
We all need to wake up.

Find a way to spread the message that is over 200 years old:

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

What happened?

2008-07-01T12:01:00.005-04:00

My last blog was early June and today is JULY!

Time is such a relative thing. Everything is based on your personal point of reference. I got to thinking about that this morning as I tore June off my wall calendar in the office. Does anyone remember June? It seems like there was a blur that started right before Memorial Day and is sliding into July 4th weekend.

I actually heard someone say summer is almost over. HELLO, it started barely a week ago!

I have not been in my pool yet! I am astounded by that. Between problems with the filter and pump, resulting in some really ugly water and the fact that most of the good weather was NOT on weekends, I did not get to swim.

Well, the pool is open for real this time!

I am going to make a conscious effort to slow things down in a busy July. I have to remember to live in the moment. You can have plans and chore lists you want to tackle and projects you are looking forward to, that is good.

But do not forget to enjoy the moment and do not do what I did in June – I looked always to what was next, and I *almost* forgot to enjoy the NOW.

Now is all you have, so pay attention. *-)

Happy Summer!

It is officially SUMMER! The pool is open!

2008-06-09T12:05:00.005-04:00

I still have a little cleaning to do yet, but the patio and pool are open. I was absolutely amazed that I did not have to "shock" the pool this year. Except for being low on one type of acid (name forgotten) that helps stabilize the pool, it was with min/max tolerance on everything.

I did have a part break yesterday so I have to stop at the hardware store and do a minor repair to run the filter. I can then finish vacuuming (I have already cleaned out the filter basket three times) and add some clarifier, and everything should be 100% by tomorrow tonight. It is cleaner than a lake or pond now LOL!

This weekend, maybe we will have a campfire in our new patio "grill"!

Since it is currently 89 degrees, this is a blessing! Get your suits and towels and drop on by! Summer is too short anyway. *-)

Twenty Eight MPG's

2008-06-06T11:57:00.003-04:00

I checked my mileage after my last fill up, and ran through a tank of gas and almost 400 miles, before refilling at $4.03 per gallon. It was split about 55% highway, 45% city, so that is a fair measure of "miles per gallon", as opposed to clocking a car that is docked on a "tread mill" with the accellerator locked at 55 miles per hour!

Gee, that sounds really good!

I should be happy!

Now think about what that really means. Step out of the MPG box for a minute.

Estimated Costs for a round trip:

Work - $3.00 a day

Marketplace Mall - $4.25

Hamlin Beach - $7.50

Letchworth Park - $13.00

Watkin's Glen - $23.00

Jason's - $1.50 ~ WHAT?!

Amity and Jerry's - $7.00

Nikki's - $106.00 (not counting tolls)

Miles per gallon is so cold.

Factual.

No emotion.

A statistic that is annoying.

Cost per trip is a meaningful measure and it tells what MPG really means. I wonder where it stops??

The Grand Canyon

2008-05-31T01:22:00.007-04:00

A "peak" at Heaven

WE MADE IT!

This view makes you stop and think.

It took a long time, but a childhood dream is finally reality!

What can I say. The Grand Canyon is beyond words. There is no photo or movie that can describe being there. The air is crisp, the breeze is cool, and at 7,000 feet above sea level, the air is also THIN!

Nothing created by human hands can compare to the wonder of nature.
This is truly the house of God.

MS Walk 2008 - We Made It !

2008-05-04T16:41:00.005-04:00

Today was the (about) five mile walk to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A group of family and friends walked together and raised over $2,000 for this worthy cause. What made me happiest was that all of my Rochester family joined me and my wife in what has become an annual event. Daughter Nikki lives out of state or she would have been here too.

All together there were fifteen of us walking! What was also interesting is that it included three generations in my family and three in my friends' family, who drove an hour to be with us - sometimes friends are family to by osmosis. *-)

The day started cold, in the fifties with a biting wind along the bank of the Gennesee River just south of Rochester NY. It got warmer as we walked; the sun came out and the path headed away from the river. Along the river were some fantastic shots of the Rochester downtown skyline that would make a postcard! We walked a bit through Highland Park (home of the Lilac Festival) and Mt. Hope Cemetery where Frederic Douglass and Susan B. Anthony are interred. Other famous "residents" include:

• Lewis Henry Morgan, internationally known father of the science of anthropology.
• Hiram Sibley, founder of Western Union and instigator of the purchase of Alaska.
• Dr. Hartwell Carver, father of the transcontinental railroad.
• John Jacob Bausch and Henry Lomb, founders of the great optical company.
• Frank E. Gannett, enormously successful newspaper publisher.

We finished the walk and two more friends joined us for an afternoon of pizza, fruit, other snacks drinks, and just enjoyment of the excellent company. To be able to contribute to a great cause and to spend the day with my loved ones was truly wonderful.

I need to say thank you to my family and friends who accompanied me on my personal "cause" and to the generosity of the "virtual" friends and family at two internet groups - Two Bills Drive, and the Marsupial Friends Network (inside joke).

I also need to say thank you to the many volunteers who made sure we had water, food, shelter and organization to pull this off!

Interesting link: http://www.fomh.org/history.php

I will post some pictures when I get organized!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2008-04-30T21:24:00.006-04:00

He was born on April 30, 1926 in South Buffalo. The son of a farm girl who moved to the city and a city born postman. He quit school in 1944 in his senior year to serve his country in World War II. He got a medal for his service in the "Pacific Theater", but do not confuse war with war movies or video games. His job was to go from island to island, searching the jungle and caves for Japanese soldiers who had no way to know the war was over. He did not speak much of war.

He married his childhood sweetheart and shared some wonderful years with her. He worked in the steel mills on the shore of Lake Erie and was an iron worker too. I do not think he liked walking the tall steel!

But sometimes the best things in life are "too soon gone". His bride passed away in 1960 and he was single parent to two god-awful wild boys.

He was a private man and I feel like I never got to know him very well. I spoke to him in a dream a few years back on April 30th. In our conversation we both came to terms with the fact that he could have been a better father, and I could have been a better son. We forgave each other and made our peace.

I had another dream months later, that a tall slender woman was swimming in an indoor pool. She wore a bathing cap and a one piece suit, very old fashioned. As she got to the far side, she got out of the pool and turned, pulling off the bathing cap to reveal shoulder length wavy brown hair. She looked right at me, smiled and winked with sparkling blue eyes, as she slowly walked away. She was my Mom.

My mom died when I was seven, and spent a lot of time in a wheel chair, because cancer surgery had taken away one of her legs. Now she is whole again.

This may not sound like a Happy Birthday, but it really is! I can picture my Mom and Dad - best friends together in heaven - happy and healthy - and forever young!

Peace to you on your day, Dad

Robert Andrew Benson April 30, 1926 - May 24, 1989

SAVE THE EARTH ?

2008-04-28T12:58:00.003-04:00

With all the strength of a seventies yuppie sit-in (but not on the grass, because my knits will get stained) "Green" is being marketed again. "Saving the Earth" is good business but makes no sense.

Let us be honest. The Earth is in no danger at all. Don't believe me? Ask the dinosaurs. People are in danger.

Long after we are extinct, the earth will be spinning around the sun.

The earth is fine, but if PEOPLE do not change their polluting and suicidal ways they may find things most unpleasant.

Save The People!

I have had a zillion jobs! Part One

2008-04-27T22:31:00.011-04:00

I was thinking about it the other day. I started working a 40 hour a week job in the summer I turned sixteen. No, I did not have to walk ten miles uphill both ways but I did have some strange experiences!

I worked in the kitchen at a seafood restaurant on Lakeshore Road in Hamburg, NY. It sat right on the edge of a cliff. The view from the seats on the shoreline were incredible. The food was really good too.

My primary responsibility was washing dishes. I started at $1.45 per hour which equates to about $45 take home after taxes for 40 hours hard labor. In perspective, gasoline was about 30 cents a gallon. Imagine going into a gas station and saying, "Give me a dollar's worth please."

In addition to keeping clean dishes available, which was almost impossible on a Friday night, I prepared french fries (from raw potatoes), cole slaw (from cabbage heads), breaded fresh fillets in batter and bread crumbs, prepared chef salads, made shrimp cocktails, kept the bar stocked with liquor, helped park cars, emptied the trash, and opened a couple hundred pounds of fresh clams on a busy night.

A typical shift ran from 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM. Most times my father picked me up (sixteen year olds could not drive after sunset), but many times I had to hitchhike home. I used to cash my check at the bar and stick the money in my shoe. Pity the poor soul who wanted to help me, and did not realize how BAD a person reeked after several hours in a seafood kitchen! My father used to make me ride in the back. *-)

Only one time did I have any trouble. An old man who was completely drunk picked me up. Mind you I am walking on the shoulder of a four lane highway (route 5) with only a guard rail and some sumac trees separating me from a drop over a cliff into Lake Erie. This guy picks me up and is weaving all over the place. We got past the cliffs and had a few near collisions, when I lied and told him the next street was mine. He offered to take me home, and it did not occur to me at the time that he was offering more than a ride. UGH! But I said no thanks and got out of the car. He apologized, or at least tried to, but he was too drunk to form words. I was afraid he was going to barf. So I trotted across to the Surfside Pizzeria and hung out until he was gone. Back then, in Erie County "last call" was not until 4:00 AM, so a lot of people drank WAY too much.

Anyway, I walked the last mile home without incident. I watched movies and read books most nights (mainly science fiction) until dawn and slept the days away. I could read 4 books a week. There was not much else to do in the burbs and I was just waiting for Saturday to go to my grandmother's lake cottage to ski and swim.

As I said - those were different times.

Other jobs to talk about in the future:

bailing hay
night shift in the canning factory
hanging off cliffs to trim trees
working in a sweat shop
frozen food and freezer delivery
building power supplies in Jersey

Clinton & Obama Forget the Debate!

2008-04-27T22:12:00.003-04:00

Let's settle all these accusations and insults the old fashioned way - a duel with pistols! This worked for Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton in 1804. Well it worked for Burr anyway, Hamilton just got dead.

I am so sick of seeing both of their bickering faces on the news every night - destroying the Democratic party. I am not a Democrat - I am kinda anarchistic.

What I do not understand is how there can be so many people in this country, a couple hundred million people to choose from, and the best we can come up with for potential leaders of our nation is Clinton, Obama, and McCain!?!

That is a damned shame.

I tell ya, it's raining cats and dogs!

2008-04-26T20:05:00.000-04:00

Today may go on record as one of the oddest weather days I can remember. Very early, it was already up to 70 degrees with a bright sun and deep blue skies. A chance of rain showers and maybe a thunderstorm were in the forecast, but I saw no evidence that would happen. So there I am mowing the lawn in a tank top and shorts IN APRIL!

I made a trip to the local Home Depot to pick up some weed & feed and some grub killer. By the time I got home and started getting ready to mow, doesn't it start raining? I made one lap of the front and a steady rain started. It did not last so I was able to finish the front.

So I got out the tractor mower to do the backyard, and the sky is getting dark but no rain. I could see a line where the sky looked clear, so I figured the storm would pass us WRONG! I was on my second trip around the perimeter, when it started to pour, so I raced to the garage. I stood there soaked, watching the chain lightning and listening to the thunder.

Yvonne pulled in the driveway and it started to hail! Balls of ice the size of grapes bouncing off everything and pouring rain. I ran to her car, holding a garbage can lid over our heads so we did not get dented!

Now it is getting quite cool. Tomorrow it will probably snow!

April Fool - Anyone get caught?

2008-04-02T12:03:00.000-04:00

The day passed without a single joke. I miss the days of driving to a friend's house and putting a for sale sign on the lawn, or walking out the door, late for work, only to see my entire car had been shrink wrapped.

Last night was different. My friend Jim and me, with the help of a couple others to set up and clean up after, served dinner to 28 Freemason's or their guest. Jim and me did all the cooking, shopping, planning, serving (buffet style). Jim knows his way around thekitchen for this type of thing. I would have been lost without him.

Freemasons get such a mixed up perception. I guess it is because we do have some benign secrets and conduct business behind closed doors, but we are hardly a secret society. Need proof, open any phone book. Want to know how to join the fraternity, ask any freemason.

Dinner opened with a prayer to God to bless our food and guide our ways.

Ironically, the top three officers in a lodge are the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden. I say ironically because you would think the top officers are served by their "subordinates". Hardly!

The Worshipful Master set up tables, cleaned table cloths, brought out the dishes and other things needed for a buffet. Then he cleaned up for dinner.

The Senior Warden (#2 in line), stayed after dinner and cleaned the kitchen with me - no small task.

The Junior Warden (that would be me - #3 in line) - my duties include providing my brothers with refreshment, and it was a pleasure. I was part of all of the activities but did find time to share dinner with my friend Jim.

By shopping for all the food and preparing it ourselves, it was within my expense budget. So in addition of serving the lodge a wonderful dinner, it was free.

From what some of the older Brothers have told me, and especially from stories my adopted parents - "Dad" Rudy and "Mom" Addie - this is the way that Freemasons used to take care of things. Hopefully, some of the old traditions can be revived!

Ciao, Papa Rudy!

Finally a Clinton with some Class!

2008-03-28T12:11:00.000-04:00

Finally a Clinton I like.
As you might expect an adult child to do, especially one who grew up in the public eye, Chelsea Clinton has been campaigning for her Mom. Call it “Hillary Lite”.
A future newsboy wannabee made headlines the other day.

From the Chicago Tribune:
“What I said was, I just wanted to know your opinion (if) Hillary showed weakness during the Lewinsky scandal and she might not be a strong enough leader,’’ Evan Strange, a supporter of Hillary Clinton and a student at Butler University in Indianapolis, said today.
“Strange, a staffer on the student newspaper, said this morning on CNN that he attended Chelsea Clinton’s address with members of his mass communications class and a couple of his classmates later came up to him and said it was a worthy question.
“Wow,’’’ Clinton told Strange, “you're the first person actually that's ever asked me that question in the, I don't know maybe, 70 college campuses I've now been to, and I do not think that is any of your business.’’
“Just mentioning Lewinski, I think she probably shut down… and didn’t want to talk about it,’’ Strange said today. “I think she has that right… But it needs to be talked about.
No, it does not HAVE to be talked about. A budding “journalist” asks a person about personal affairs involving her parents, and has the audacity to think she OWES him an explanation for what her parents did, how they interacted as it became headlines all over the world, and if her mother showed any weakness that may indicate she “might not be a strong enough leader”! If Hillary showed no weakness, as the press went into details about her husband’s affair and every comedian in the country had a field day with new material to mock the Clintons, she would not be human!

She is a politician and kept her mouth shut in public. She wants to be first lady after all.

This is not an endorsement for Hillary.

But my vote is for Chelsea. She gave an honest answer in a role as political campaigner with an agenda: “I do not think that is any of your business”. I tip my hat to her!

Time to “Kill Phil” Part One:

Put that fat rodent from Puxatawney out of his misery. February 2nd was six weeks ago tomorrow. Today we got 4-5 inches of snow, ever a week after the first day of Spring. We need to take the division of seasons out of the hands of a wood chuck and place them back in the hands of radar toting meteorologists who cannot predict what day it is. If I offended any weatherpersons, tough.

Time flies!

2008-03-20T12:08:00.000-04:00

I have not blogged in two weeks. No particular reason except that I have been too busy. Ever since I wrote my last notes about Canadian geese, I realized there was a BIG ERROR in the blog. This came to me about an hour after I wrote it. No one noticed or no one reads this, I guess.

As I looked north, I said the migrating geese were flying towards me. Wait a minute. Shouldn't they have been flying NORTH? I got a little more anal about my compass directions, and realized they were not flying north - that much is correct. They were flying southeast.

That night I watched the weather report and saw from the radar there was a pretty good snowstorm heading north and east. The geese were roughly flying towards the Montezuma bird sanctuary, and likely bedding down until the storm passed. They are smarter than I am because I decided it would be a good night to drive to the mall.

There! I am glad that is settled. Next time I promise I will report on something that matters. Also remember I do not always tell the truth, but I always admit when I am lying. That is truth.

I sometimes tell a lie to embellish a story or make a point, but I try very hard not to lie to hurt anyone. That is truth.

Spring arrived today and it is just barely above freezing and snowing. That is truth.

I am so glad it is gray, damp, and wet outside. That is a lie. Most of my lies will be harder to find! *-)

Sometimes it is good to be late.

2008-03-07T11:59:00.000-05:00

You know how some days you just seem to be running late but you do not really care. I am talking about “commuting” late; five minutes off schedule and now traffic will be a bottle neck. Some days this really stresses me out and other days it does not.

Today I was running late, but there was no stress. I just said “It’s Friday, I do not care!”

As I walked to my car, the air was crisp cold and the sky was gray, but there was no wind and it was a very light gray so it was kind of pleasant.

The air smelled like Spring.

I could hear Canadian geese coming towards me. We called them “honkers” when I was a kid. This “V” shaped wedge of geese, close to twenty in all, flew directly towards me and passed right over my head.

I paused to wonder about why the Leader of the wedge was the Leader. Is it instinct? Do they have a committee meeting? Do they do rock, paper, scissors? Is it a male or a female? If it is a male will he stop for directions, or go east for an hour or so just to tick off the ladies?

I decided that if they were Italian geese, it was a woman.

Then there are always the stragglers who are a couple places behind at the end of the wedge. Sometimes they make the V lop-sided.
Are they tired, or sick, or just kids who have to stop and pee?
Are they like the 40 year old cousin who still lives with Mom?
Do they all make it south or do some just get tired and die?

As they passed by, I turned and looked north again – there were two more V’s coming towards me. Now I understood why I was running late today. I needed to see those “honkers” doing what nature has told them to do, and remind myself that there is a purpose in nature for me too.

Running five minutes late really does not matter sometimes, does it?

Spring Forward! (Sunday March 9th at 2AM)

Scientists have determined that the V-shaped formation that geese use when migrating serves two important purposes:

First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest.

The second benefit to the V formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group.

Ref: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/geese.html

Candy you ate as a kid

2008-03-05T12:10:00.001-05:00

They say one picture is worth 1,000 words. I really cannot argue with that. One thing I DO miss is penny candy!

In the 60's I could go to "Dewey's" at Silver Lake with a quarter and buy enough candy, soda pop, and ice cream to make a feast! You just had to be careful not to mix orange "pop" with chocolate, fire balls, and those wax syrup bottles or you might get sick. LOL!

http://www.oldtimecandy.com/CandyList.htm

Happy Birthday Alexander Graham Bell

2008-03-03T12:43:00.000-05:00

March 3, 1847.

It is rumored Bell did not actually have a telephone because he did not like the interruptions. I wonder if the had any concept what his simple device would grow into!

It is also said that when he died, no telephones rang in the U.S. for 60 seconds, in his honor. True or not, I think he would have liked that. Now, where did I leave my cell phone?

As comedian Lily Tomlin said, as Ernestine - a telephone operator:

We handle eighty-four billion calls a year. Serving everyone from presidents and kings to the scum of the earth. We realize that every so often you can't get an operator, for no apparent reason your phone goes out of order, or perhaps you get charged for a call you didn't make.

We don't care.

Watch this.. [ she hits buttons maniacally ] ..just lost Peoria.

You see, this phone system consists of a multibillion-dollar matrix of space age technology that is so sophisticated, even we can't handle it. But that's your problem, isn't it?

Next time you complain about your phone service, why don't you try using two Dixie cups with a string?

We don't care.
We don't have to.
We're the Phone Company.

Happy Leap Day!

2008-02-29T12:03:00.000-05:00

According to Wikipedia:

"February 29 is a date that occurs only every four years, and is called leap day. This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365.000 days."

This is based on the Julian calendar, which was a correction of the Roman calendar, implemented in 45 BC, after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria who discovered that a year was 365.25 days long, so every four years we need another day, or by 2008 it would be snowing in July.

I always wondered why of ALL the months, they would add a day to FEBRUARY. Come on, it was six degrees out yesterday - put the extra day in July when we NEED it.

Sosigenes This!

Actually it is cold but the sun is shining, so all you folks with Seasonal Affectation Disorder (heck we called it cabin fever) go outside and catch some rays!

The appropriate musical trivia link for today would be this:

A New Day Yesterday by Jetro Tull
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBujaAumqPU

I actually saw this band in concert twice around 1970-1972. There is no person named Jethro Tull in the band. Ian Anderson is the guy who sings, plays flute and harmonica, and takes center stage, and is often mistaken for Tull.

Also, do not complain. On the Hebrew calendar, they have Leap MONTH because they were way off!
February could be 58 days long. Heh.

2008-02-27T12:33:00.000-05:00

Click on the plate for a real treat.

heh.

Mmmmm. Garbage Plate!

2008-02-27T12:21:00.000-05:00

February is the shortest month for a reason!

2008-02-24T02:01:00.000-05:00

It was cold today but at least the sun was bright.

It was a very good day. Got a few chores done that were nagging at me, which always feels good. This afternoon me and Yvonne took refresher CPR class at the fire hall. It included emergency breathing, the Heimlich maneuver, and even using an electronic defibrillator. I would recommend everyone take a class like this. It is one of those things you need to know but never want to have to use.

I will be glad when the days get warmer and a few buds start growing up through the snow.

I am hoping to write on a fairly regular basis with news and memories. One thing that is unfortunate for me is that most of my childhood family died or became estranged and a lot of family history of the Bensons and Husons was misplaced.

The Husons came to the U.S. in the 1920's from Holland. My mom's parents and at least one sister were born in Europe, but she was born here.

The Bensons came here from Sweden (and maybe Norway) in the middle of the 1800's - that makes me a Native American, right?

Anyway, it is late and I will close for now. I hope you find my musings worth reading!