Different Lives. Different Times.

Can you watch this & not go "Na na Na na Na na Na na, Batman!"

Ooops! And it made it to TV,

I was reading a book this morning and it touched on a personal artifact of one of the characters and when person he had been when in the military.  I experienced a minor flashback about the person I was and what I had been doing during my time in the Coast Guard.  21 years is a long time in a job, but for most folks, not a lifetime.  In most aspects I was a different person then.  Younger, less mature, and with a young family.  For the most part, I can currently divide my life into pre-CG (17 years); CG (21 years); and post CG (22 yrs & counting).  Now there are all sorts of ways I could divide my (almost) 60 years, but that's a pretty big one (& less likely to cause any family drama.)
In my pre-CG years, I was (and still am in many respects) a comic-book geek.  Heck I was watching cartoons - that I had tivo-ed - last night (but I digress).  An article online caught my attention that beginning at 6:00 AM on Friday, July 4th, the IFC Network (Channel 564 / DirecTV) will start a marathon in which they will air all 3 seasons (1966-1968)  - a total of 120 episodes of "BATMAN" (starring Adam West and Burt Ward).  I don't think I'll try to TiVo and watch them all, but I will probably pick and choose what I remember as some of my favorites.  For example, the 2 eps. with Liberace cast as a villain, Vincent Price as "Egghead", The "Green Hornet" cross-over, any with Batgirl (As a pre-teen boy, I had such a crush on Yvonne DeCarlo, Ha-cha-cha-cha!), just to mention a few.
I mentioned the 4th holiday earlier, and we will be having a cook-out for a few friends and famiy, but there is another (kind of ) mini-milestone on that day.  It will mark 300 days until I am eligible to retire.  I don't think that I will, but it will be nice to have the option next year.
One last thing, tomorrow (July 3rd) marks one year since Chiquita joined our household, and we couldn't imagine not having her.

Sophie & Chiquita

Everyone have a great day, and a Great Holiday weekend.

Travel and Books

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since I last made an entry. 
Since my last posting, DKW and I have taken a trip to Catawissa, PA, and the surrounding area.  We visited with her childhood friend and her family and had a pretty good time.  One thing we did while there was visit Knoebel's (pronounced by the locals' - "Kuh-no-bell's" - no silent K here.) Amusement Resort.  I went on the wooden roller coaster there (The Phoenix) and enjoyed it.  But imagine my surprise this week when I found out that that roller coaster was on "The Travel Channel's" list of "15 Coolest Roller Coaster's In the World".  And I rode it before I knew it was so cool.  NEAT!
I love to read, and I do read a lot.   I've read nearly all my life and have tried to pass to all my children my love of books (with mixed results).   And while I can understand the allure of electronic books, my personal preference is an old fashioned paper book that you could check out of a library. I read so that I'll live longer.  You mean that you haven't heard that you don't age while reading.  Well, that's my story - and I'm sticking to it.
Gotta hit the yard and mow again.  Haven't done it since the last time I blogged about it.  Never-ending battle ya know!
I'll try and do a better entry next week.
Everyone have a great day!

Getting off my lazy .................

Uh- Huh! I did!

OK, I've not really been lazy.  I've had a lot of things going on that I've been working on, but I just didn't feel like writing anything.  Not that that is any excuse, but its just taken time to get my mind into it. 
MSU went 2-2 in the SEC baseball tournament.  Not good enough to win it, but its a "Good News, Bad News" deal as far as the regional they are going to.  The good news is that they made a regional and are the #2 seed.  They will play #3 seed, San Diego State at 1:00 (central) on Friday.  That night, the #1 seed (U. Louisiana-Lafayette) will play the #4 seed, Jackson State.  These games are being played on the Ragin' Cajuns' home field.  By coincidence, in the lastest College Baseball poll (out today), ULL (46-4) is the new #1 team in the nation.  So if MSU wants to return to Omaha this year, it won't be easy (if it ever is).
My oldest son and family came for a short visit yesterday and it was nice to visit with them all.  We grilled out (burgers and hot dogs) and went fishing for a bit.  He caught a nice stringer of bass.  So it was a good visit.
Friday (23rd) I was finally able to get my mowing (3 acres) done.  We hadn't had rain for a solid week, so it was fairly dry - and it had been 5 weeks since I was last able to mow, so it was pretty deep in places.  I glad I got it done, because its supposed to rain (AGAIN!) most of this week.
Everyone have a great day!

Something for my dad

L'il girls sharing one of the many word blocks I made at the CDAF.

The Cotton District Arts Festival was a big success this past weekend.   I had entered the poetry slam but failed to place. (My daughter, Mary, however got third place. - Yeah, Mary!)
Even though I didn't win anything, I thought I would share my entry here.  Its a little homage to my late dad, an avid fisherman that taught me to fish, and is pretty self-explanatory.

 SUMMER BATTLE

Cool mist floats on the water.

Arm cocks and casts,

The line sings out flashing in the early morning sunlight.

Ploop!

The lure hits the water, sinks.

The reel hums as temptation surges through the depth.

Bump. Strike! Zing!

The hook is set and the rod bends at the fight.

The line sings with tension .

Splash!

The finny combatant breaks the surface.

Netted, he calms down.

Five pounds, if an ounce.

I gaze upward and thank Dad for teaching me to fish!

Gently released, the lunker lunges  deep

Perhaps we battle another day.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Everyone have a great day!

Young Lad hard at work among the word blocks at CDAF.

Playing Catch-up..............Again

Well, its been nearly a month since my last post and its time to catch things up. 
One week ago I observed the annual event commemorating the first time I drew breath on planet Earth.  I didn't say "Celebrated my birthday", because at 59 (Gad!) - - I mean, ya know?  I'm not saying I'm not happy, I am.  I have a good job, a good home and family that love me.  And I hope to celebrate at least 50 more.  I'm in good health and take pretty good care of myself - so it may happen.
Saturday (April 12th), is the Cotton District Arts Festival in Starkville and I have been and will be involved in that.  Check the "Writers' Village" and you may see a pic with me and some of the word blocks I made.  I added 134 more blocks for this years festival, which puts the current total just under 500 blocks, I believe.  The CDAF this year coincides with Super Bulldog Weekend (April 10-13) here at MSU.  There are a lot of events going on, including the Spring football game and a SEC Baseball series with Ole Miss.  With all the folks in town for SBW there should be  nice attendance  at the CDAF.
Everyone have a great day!

Elvis's Throne

Okay. I was perusing yesterday's local newspaper, and the little blurb at the top of the page said "Historic Local Business could be closing", see article page B-5.  So, being curious, I turned to the appropriate page and read about a plumbing company that was facing closure if they didn't get additional new contracts to keep going.  They have been in business for 70-plus years.  Alright, you may be saying, What makes them historic?  I too wondered until I read (and I quote) "If it happens (closure) it's a tough break for the historic business, which built the first soft vinyl toilet seat in the world in 1975, manufactured the toilet seats NASA used in its space shuttles and made the toilet seat Elvis Presley died on." 
  I cracked up.  I snorted and laughed out loud.  Not at Elvis dying on the throne, but, tactless as it may have been - they missed a great advertising opportunity.   (Let your imagination run wild.)

Everyone have a great day!

Happy V. Day!!

Hi All.  I've really been struggling to get back on this blog.  Just didn't seem to have any initiative to do it. I finally decided just to make myself get back to it.  Especially since I have (what I consider) a few interesting tidbits.
FIRST, and foremost, since this is Valentines Day - A shout-out to my sweetie.  Love ya!  (And I hope everyone has a good one!)
On this date in 1918, the very first Tarzan movie (silent- of course) was released.  It starred Elmo Lincoln and was filmed in Morgan City, LA.
I heard this morning of the passing of Ralph Waite.  Most folks will remember him as Papa Walton, but in more recent years he has played Special Agent Jethro Gibb's father on NCIS.
It may be hard to believe, but MSU starts their baseball season today at 6:30, but the opponent has changed from Hofsta to Western Carolina.  Hofstra (out of New Jersey) decided it was too dangerous to travel due to the severe winter storms in the northeast.  So the Dogs reached out to the Catamounts - and they said "Sure! Let's play".  So there will be baseball this weekend.  Thanks for comin' Cats!
Depending on which pre-season College Baseball Poll you look at, the Bulldogs have been ranked as high as #2 and as low as #9.  That's the reason for a record number of season tickets being sold.  Expectations are obviously high for a team that reached the National Championship game last season (losing to Champ UCLA) and return all but a couple of players from that unit.  GO DOGS!
That's about all I have for now.  I'll have a little chat with Sophie this weekend, and make a point of getting her blog updated next week.  Hugs, Kisses, and Belly (Sorry- Strayed a bit talking about Sophie.)
Every one have a great day!