A friend e-mailed me today and asked where my blog postings had gone. (I hadn't posted since the 15th, which was Tuesday.) I told him that sometimes one just has to take a break.
Another reason is just not having anything to say. I read a number of blogs and have noted that this reason does not stop some others from blogging.
But, be that as it may.
You may note that I have not posted anything on politics for quite awhile. That is because I just grew (as Barry Goldwater used to say) "sick and tired" of this year's campaign and the way the television media has reported and misrepresented it. In spite of being a political junkie for decades I have quit watching most television coverage of the campaign. This bothers the hell out of SWMBO, also a political junkie. She thinks I'm just bitter because my candidate isn't winning.
So, who is my candidate? Well, I may have a new one. Former representative Bob Barr is the new favorite for the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party. After reading a column by George Will saying that Barr could be to John McCain what Ralph Nader was to Al Gore and John Kerry, I began thinking that a vote for Barr might not be a bad idea.
To another subject. I have several friends living in Juneau, Alaska. A recent avalanche about 40 miles from Juneau wiped out several transmission towers linking a hydoelectric plant to the capitol. Emergency generators have been thrown into use to keep power coming to Juneau. But the electricity generated is vastly more expensive to produce. That means Juneau residents may see an increase in their electric rates of 500 to 600 percent. Imagine. Your monthly bill has been $200. Suddenly it's $1,000 or higher. Residents are looking for state or federal help.
I guess that's about it for today.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Number 42
Jackie Robinson was a great athlete who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he was hired to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers 61 years ago today. After a successful 10 year career, he retired.
His uniform number 42 was retired by the Dodgers in 1972 and in 1997 all of Major League baseball retired the number. A waiver allows the number to be worn by players on this date in honor of Robinson.
I was a Dodger fan for many years including Jackie's playing days.
He was a great man.
Monday, April 14, 2008
RENEWAL!!!
I think I've mentioned our poor worn front patio before. The one where the stain has worn off the concrete.
SWMBO and I cleaned it a few days ago. Today, the BRD painted it.
I had to take this close-up to show you how stylish our painter is.
The entire patio was painted, thanks to a roller, in a little over an hour.
Bravo! A new patio!
Meantime, some spring flowers are waiting patiently to be planted.
SWMBO and I cleaned it a few days ago. Today, the BRD painted it.
I had to take this close-up to show you how stylish our painter is.
The entire patio was painted, thanks to a roller, in a little over an hour.
Bravo! A new patio!
Meantime, some spring flowers are waiting patiently to be planted.
Let's all drink for Mike!
As some of you may know, our buddy Mike is in the hospital up in Michigan today having his left kidney removed.
So send good vibes his way and, since Mike apparently will be off the sauce for good, you might want to have a drink (or two or three or four or more) for him this afternoon. His pal Thomas has organized a virtual party for everyone to join in.
Toast!
So send good vibes his way and, since Mike apparently will be off the sauce for good, you might want to have a drink (or two or three or four or more) for him this afternoon. His pal Thomas has organized a virtual party for everyone to join in.
Toast!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Beisbol!!!!!
A couple of years ago my old pal, Steve, became a fanatic. About baseball. Specifically, about the Arizona Diamondbacks who are from his town, Phoenix.
This year, he ended up with season tickets for every home game. So, from time to time, I get a call from him to come down for a game.
The day always starts at an outside-the-park vendor who sells two bottles of water and a large bag of peanuts for five bucks.
Steve probably isn't going to like this one but I had to show him getting into a Kraut Dog. (For the politically correct crowd, that's Kraut as in Sauerkraut.)
After the game, a picture of your conquering hero outside the park. (The Diamondbacks won 10 to 3. A good day. They also gave everyone entering the park a nice new black baseball cap to mark the 10th anniversary of the team.
And finally the Dynamic Duo, sporting their new caps.
Now, one addendum. Steve recently shaved off his beard. For the first time in 30 years, he is clean-shaven. He has a wife or two, step-kids, grandkids, co-workers and many, many friends who had never seen his face this way.
Funny, though.
I didn't notice.
This year, he ended up with season tickets for every home game. So, from time to time, I get a call from him to come down for a game.
The day always starts at an outside-the-park vendor who sells two bottles of water and a large bag of peanuts for five bucks.
Today, I had my camera with me so we had to take a few "touristy" pictures. For instance, this one with some big bats outside the park.
The view from our seats. They're a section over toward home plate from last year's seats so they're a bit better.
There's a huge new scoreboard and video screen - 14 million bucks worth of high density from what the Diamondbacks tell us. Even with the roof open today, it was crystal clear.
Steve probably isn't going to like this one but I had to show him getting into a Kraut Dog. (For the politically correct crowd, that's Kraut as in Sauerkraut.)
After the game, a picture of your conquering hero outside the park. (The Diamondbacks won 10 to 3. A good day. They also gave everyone entering the park a nice new black baseball cap to mark the 10th anniversary of the team.
And finally the Dynamic Duo, sporting their new caps.
Now, one addendum. Steve recently shaved off his beard. For the first time in 30 years, he is clean-shaven. He has a wife or two, step-kids, grandkids, co-workers and many, many friends who had never seen his face this way. Funny, though.
I didn't notice.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Another celebration
April seems like a busy month for us. As previously noted, the SWMBO and I celebrated our anniversary last Monday. Today was the BRD's birthday. She has reached an age where she lies about her age so I won't reveal it. My birthday arrives in a couple of weeks and then SWMBO has another one in mid-May.
At any rate, the BRD and her beau invited us to share in the fun and we left for Sedona in the beau's "hog", as the BRD calls it. It's actually a Cadillac Escalade SUV. For the life of me, I can't figure out how he manages to keep gasoline in it. I filled up my little Dodge Neon this week and it took 30 bucks at the cheapest place in town.
But we headed off for Sedona...which is only about 50 miles away. The two-lane road into Sedona, which is always clogged with traffic, was even more so today since there was some kind of construction going on. Since SWMBO and I had been over that way the last time, several "roundabouts" have been added at sites that formerly were intersections with traffic lights. We all agreed the roundabouts were an improvement but making the road a four-lane would have been even better.
When we got to Sedona, we went to Shugrue's restaurant . . one of the BRD's favorites . . and had a delicious lunch. The beau had informed our waitress that it was the BRD's birthday and when dessert arrived, her plate was decorated artistically with "Happy Birthday" in chocolate!
We drove up into Oak Creek Canyon a way, then back out through West Sedona, marveling at how new construction is being shoe-horned into this already crowded place. I remarked that this was probably the first time I didn't have to be concerned with the road and could actually look around at the scenery!
Enroute to Cottonwood in the Verde Valley, we were amazed at how green the landscape was. Our winter snow and rain has done wonders for it though we know it will dry out and brown as the summer advances.
We stopped at Orion Bread - a wonderful artisanal bakery in Old Cottonwood. It's fairly new to that thriving area and we had read about it awhile back. Walking in, we were smothered in the wonderful aroma of dozens of loaves of homemade bread. We left with several loaves of different types after talking with the owner, the baker and the sales person - all the same person. He's a young man who obviously loves what he's doing. I just hope he can keep it up. It is worth the drive over the mountain just to pick up some of his products.
Then it was on up through Jerome, which like Sedona seemed amazingly crowded on a Friday in early April. Can't imagine what either town will be like this summer.
We didn't stop in Jerome this trip. I have spent many an afternoon in the Spirit Room and stayed overnight a couple of times in the old Connor Hotel upstairs before it was renovated. But we were all stuffed from our lunch and a few drinks we already had consumed so it seemed sensible to keep going.
Up and around the winding road to the Mingus Mountain pass, then down the other side and back home again. A great trip, good company and a fantastic day.
And I didn't have to drive!
At any rate, the BRD and her beau invited us to share in the fun and we left for Sedona in the beau's "hog", as the BRD calls it. It's actually a Cadillac Escalade SUV. For the life of me, I can't figure out how he manages to keep gasoline in it. I filled up my little Dodge Neon this week and it took 30 bucks at the cheapest place in town.
But we headed off for Sedona...which is only about 50 miles away. The two-lane road into Sedona, which is always clogged with traffic, was even more so today since there was some kind of construction going on. Since SWMBO and I had been over that way the last time, several "roundabouts" have been added at sites that formerly were intersections with traffic lights. We all agreed the roundabouts were an improvement but making the road a four-lane would have been even better.
When we got to Sedona, we went to Shugrue's restaurant . . one of the BRD's favorites . . and had a delicious lunch. The beau had informed our waitress that it was the BRD's birthday and when dessert arrived, her plate was decorated artistically with "Happy Birthday" in chocolate!
We drove up into Oak Creek Canyon a way, then back out through West Sedona, marveling at how new construction is being shoe-horned into this already crowded place. I remarked that this was probably the first time I didn't have to be concerned with the road and could actually look around at the scenery!
Enroute to Cottonwood in the Verde Valley, we were amazed at how green the landscape was. Our winter snow and rain has done wonders for it though we know it will dry out and brown as the summer advances.
We stopped at Orion Bread - a wonderful artisanal bakery in Old Cottonwood. It's fairly new to that thriving area and we had read about it awhile back. Walking in, we were smothered in the wonderful aroma of dozens of loaves of homemade bread. We left with several loaves of different types after talking with the owner, the baker and the sales person - all the same person. He's a young man who obviously loves what he's doing. I just hope he can keep it up. It is worth the drive over the mountain just to pick up some of his products.
Then it was on up through Jerome, which like Sedona seemed amazingly crowded on a Friday in early April. Can't imagine what either town will be like this summer.
We didn't stop in Jerome this trip. I have spent many an afternoon in the Spirit Room and stayed overnight a couple of times in the old Connor Hotel upstairs before it was renovated. But we were all stuffed from our lunch and a few drinks we already had consumed so it seemed sensible to keep going.
Up and around the winding road to the Mingus Mountain pass, then down the other side and back home again. A great trip, good company and a fantastic day.
And I didn't have to drive!
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