Another Halloween in the books
Put out the pumpkin candle lamps on small shepherd hooks along the sidewalk. Carved two pumpkins and lit candles in them. Painted a third pumpkin. Put my headless dummy on the bench. Bought two bags of candy.
We had four trick or treaters.
Four.
The first two were young girls, middle school age or so. I gave them each two fun size candy bars but in hindsight should have given them four or five.
I gave a cow four.
And I gave our little friend a full size candy bar because, darn it, she is a cutie!
I don't know why I am always optimistic. Last year I think we had three, and they moved.
Maybe next year we will just go out to eat.....although I do like seeing the kids in costumes and I love all the Facebook pictures.
When I was a kid we would start when the bell rang after school and not come home until late.
Houses, apartment buildings, businesses....all were fair game.
And we ate the home made cookies and popcorn balls. I still love popcorn balls, but I have not had one in ages.
We didn't worry about the unwrapped candy, although that was not the first to go.
Go as in eat.
The unwrapped and hard candies were the ones to last us through Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I think that's why I love the day.....the innocence, the excitement, the fun.
I know it has changed.....and I think we are all a little less for it.
And if I hear someone yell "Bug" at the top of her lungs one more time, I may crack. Damn box elder bugs won't hurt anyone. They are just annoying.
Think I'll dream of pirates and super heroes tonight. And box elders.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
boring????
I think I am getting boring
Just looking at my stats for the past week. The last 5 posts have not gotten many views.....almost half of what the 5 posts before that had.
Some explanations that are possible:
People have abandoned Facebook for whatever reason and don't know you can read this at tdinten.blogspot.com without ever going on Facebook.
I have become boring.
I am complaining too much about trivial things, like tv commercials and naked church people.
People are on vacation.
The links are disappearing.
People like pictures more than words.
My being from another planet has been made public.
Not enough time to read an insightful comment on modern society.
I have become boring.
I have started to repeat myself.
The election is on people's minds and they don't have time for triviality as they research each candidate's published stands on issues.
The World Series exhausted them.
I have become like an all too familiar neighbor. When they show up you go, oh no, not him again.
All excellent points to ponder.
But not tonight. I have other issues to decide.
Peach out, dudes and dudettes.
Just looking at my stats for the past week. The last 5 posts have not gotten many views.....almost half of what the 5 posts before that had.
Some explanations that are possible:
People have abandoned Facebook for whatever reason and don't know you can read this at tdinten.blogspot.com without ever going on Facebook.
I have become boring.
I am complaining too much about trivial things, like tv commercials and naked church people.
People are on vacation.
The links are disappearing.
People like pictures more than words.
My being from another planet has been made public.
Not enough time to read an insightful comment on modern society.
I have become boring.
I have started to repeat myself.
The election is on people's minds and they don't have time for triviality as they research each candidate's published stands on issues.
The World Series exhausted them.
I have become like an all too familiar neighbor. When they show up you go, oh no, not him again.
All excellent points to ponder.
But not tonight. I have other issues to decide.
Peach out, dudes and dudettes.
Monday, October 29, 2018
been there
Julia's time in Switzerland has opened a world to me
When she went over there for 3 years in 2002, I was heartbroken. I missed my daughter and I am not ashamed to admit it.
I hated the fact that she was there.
That was 16 years ago. She is still there.
Her being there opened a whole new world for me. For us.
Jackie and I were able to visit places we only had read about.
It's funny, how sometimes the past ties up with the present.
I just finished a book by Donna Leon, who writes about a detective in Venice. I have told this story before, but I will say it again. We had gone to Venice. We stayed in a hotel over near the hospital. I remember there was a church, a small plaza, a huge statue, and a side canal that ended in the lagoon that surrounds Venice.
When we got home, I bought one of her books. The first book I read in her series opened with a body being found in the little side canal! The hospital, square, ice cream stand...all places we knew, were all described in the book. I got hooked on Guido Brunetti. I actually felt like I was really there, in the book.
Venice was beautiful. And complicated. I tried to find Marco Polo's boyhood home, but never seemed to negotiate the right alleys and "streets."
Leon's character, Guido Brunetti, is a life long Venice resident and has the same problem, sometimes getting turned around in the town he has lived in his whole life.
Tonight I read about the horrible flooding going on in Venice. Acqua Alta. The tides are pushed by strong winds and the town gets flooded. Today there were pictures of people in hip deep water in St. Mark's Square, a place where we stood and admired the centuries old buildings. An estimated 70 percent of the town is flooded. It's terrible.
Jackie and I also spent several days in Germany. We did a one day Rhine cruise and stayed in a real castle. It was an amazing experience. One of my favorite photos I have taken was on that trip.
On the cruise we passed Mice Castle, a tiny little building on a small island in the middle of the river. It was used to collect tolls from boats. Today I saw a picture of people walking to the castle! There has been a severe drought in Germany and the water levels have dropped on many of the rivers, including the Rhine.
The Rhine is so low, people are walking to the castle. Walking. Where the river should be.
Shipping is impacted, tourism is affected, transportation, energy....all due to the drought.
I count my blessing for the times we got to go. We are going next summer because there is a huge festival that happens every 20 years. Julia missed the last one, but we are all going to the 2019 shindig.
I just hope the forces of nature return to normal....if there is such a thing anymore.
Sayonara. Bonne Nuit.
When she went over there for 3 years in 2002, I was heartbroken. I missed my daughter and I am not ashamed to admit it.
I hated the fact that she was there.
That was 16 years ago. She is still there.
Her being there opened a whole new world for me. For us.
Jackie and I were able to visit places we only had read about.
It's funny, how sometimes the past ties up with the present.
I just finished a book by Donna Leon, who writes about a detective in Venice. I have told this story before, but I will say it again. We had gone to Venice. We stayed in a hotel over near the hospital. I remember there was a church, a small plaza, a huge statue, and a side canal that ended in the lagoon that surrounds Venice.
When we got home, I bought one of her books. The first book I read in her series opened with a body being found in the little side canal! The hospital, square, ice cream stand...all places we knew, were all described in the book. I got hooked on Guido Brunetti. I actually felt like I was really there, in the book.
Venice was beautiful. And complicated. I tried to find Marco Polo's boyhood home, but never seemed to negotiate the right alleys and "streets."
Leon's character, Guido Brunetti, is a life long Venice resident and has the same problem, sometimes getting turned around in the town he has lived in his whole life.
Tonight I read about the horrible flooding going on in Venice. Acqua Alta. The tides are pushed by strong winds and the town gets flooded. Today there were pictures of people in hip deep water in St. Mark's Square, a place where we stood and admired the centuries old buildings. An estimated 70 percent of the town is flooded. It's terrible.
Jackie and I also spent several days in Germany. We did a one day Rhine cruise and stayed in a real castle. It was an amazing experience. One of my favorite photos I have taken was on that trip.
On the cruise we passed Mice Castle, a tiny little building on a small island in the middle of the river. It was used to collect tolls from boats. Today I saw a picture of people walking to the castle! There has been a severe drought in Germany and the water levels have dropped on many of the rivers, including the Rhine.
The Rhine is so low, people are walking to the castle. Walking. Where the river should be.
Shipping is impacted, tourism is affected, transportation, energy....all due to the drought.
I count my blessing for the times we got to go. We are going next summer because there is a huge festival that happens every 20 years. Julia missed the last one, but we are all going to the 2019 shindig.
I just hope the forces of nature return to normal....if there is such a thing anymore.
Sayonara. Bonne Nuit.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
sex, sex, sex
Actually, this has nothing to do with sex
Well, just a little.
I was reading the Sunday Trib when an article on a northern suburban restaurant caught my eye.
It's a barbecue joint, and it is run by a church. The church preaches love, yada yada yada and some members worship in the nude.
That's right. In the buff. Neked. Sans clothes.
They evidently turn down the lights in the church, which is adjacent to the barbecue joint.
And they stressed they never conduct worship activities in the restaurant. That is a comfort, knowing that your brisket hasn't been served on a plate some naked body sat on.
EEEYEEW!!! What's that brown streak? Never mind, it's sauce.
Understandably, some Wauconda residents are upset. (Please note: This is not the Black Panthers Wakanda, and yes, I looked up the spelling.)
Several called the Naked Apostles, a branch of the BBQ running religious group, disturbing. But the NA maintains it is a nonsexual religious practice for adults. They do have a healing portion that includes hands on, but that could be another topic.
The members say they are just practicing their religion, which is a right under the first amendment.
So I have found a way to make money off this.
I should advertise that I will attend some of the services for $500 per service. Once I attend, I am sure the group will hastily disband after gouging out their eyes.
You see, everyone's a winner. Except the folks with their eyes gouged out. but maybe they could start another sect.
And people say it's a strange world out there....
Good night. Think peaceful thoughts and spread some love in our world tomorrow.
But do it with your clothes on, please.
Well, just a little.
I was reading the Sunday Trib when an article on a northern suburban restaurant caught my eye.
It's a barbecue joint, and it is run by a church. The church preaches love, yada yada yada and some members worship in the nude.
That's right. In the buff. Neked. Sans clothes.
They evidently turn down the lights in the church, which is adjacent to the barbecue joint.
And they stressed they never conduct worship activities in the restaurant. That is a comfort, knowing that your brisket hasn't been served on a plate some naked body sat on.
EEEYEEW!!! What's that brown streak? Never mind, it's sauce.
Understandably, some Wauconda residents are upset. (Please note: This is not the Black Panthers Wakanda, and yes, I looked up the spelling.)
Several called the Naked Apostles, a branch of the BBQ running religious group, disturbing. But the NA maintains it is a nonsexual religious practice for adults. They do have a healing portion that includes hands on, but that could be another topic.
The members say they are just practicing their religion, which is a right under the first amendment.
So I have found a way to make money off this.
I should advertise that I will attend some of the services for $500 per service. Once I attend, I am sure the group will hastily disband after gouging out their eyes.
You see, everyone's a winner. Except the folks with their eyes gouged out. but maybe they could start another sect.
And people say it's a strange world out there....
Good night. Think peaceful thoughts and spread some love in our world tomorrow.
But do it with your clothes on, please.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
a little irritants
Hooman beans sometimes get my goat
I went to Walmart today and a lady parked her Jeep in front of the store, in the fire lane. The three people with her questioned if she could park there and she said, "We'll only be a minute or two."
Then she walked in and grabbed a cart.
The angry person inside me said to tell her to move her car because the other 299 cars in the lot realized their shit does stink, and so does hers.
But the Milquetoast in me decided to just ignore it and seethe as I saw her shop.
Then I got home and worked in the garden and some yahoo in an ATV came roaring across the vacant lot and tore up and down the detention pond behind my house. I could see the dirt flying from his wheels.
My first thought was to wish that he have an accident and break a leg, then I thought that was too harsh. Maybe he would develop engine trouble and have to abandon the ATV while he got help. I would then call the sheriff's office and report it.
Why not call sooner? Because by the time a deputy arrives, those yahoos are long gone.
Just seconds after the AVT left, a sheriff's car went in the same direction. My hope is the driver gets a ticket and hefty fine.
All that on top of the stupidity and hatred shown in Pittsburgh. I just don't understand people. I don't understand how people are allowed to have those types of weapons. I don't understand.
So I took Corki for a walk and ran into birds.
I did a video. I am posting it on Facebook. I can't do it here.
Watch it, or not. I find it fascinating and relaxing.
Peace. And Love. And acceptance. And tolerance.
I went to Walmart today and a lady parked her Jeep in front of the store, in the fire lane. The three people with her questioned if she could park there and she said, "We'll only be a minute or two."
Then she walked in and grabbed a cart.
The angry person inside me said to tell her to move her car because the other 299 cars in the lot realized their shit does stink, and so does hers.
But the Milquetoast in me decided to just ignore it and seethe as I saw her shop.
Then I got home and worked in the garden and some yahoo in an ATV came roaring across the vacant lot and tore up and down the detention pond behind my house. I could see the dirt flying from his wheels.
My first thought was to wish that he have an accident and break a leg, then I thought that was too harsh. Maybe he would develop engine trouble and have to abandon the ATV while he got help. I would then call the sheriff's office and report it.
Why not call sooner? Because by the time a deputy arrives, those yahoos are long gone.
Just seconds after the AVT left, a sheriff's car went in the same direction. My hope is the driver gets a ticket and hefty fine.
All that on top of the stupidity and hatred shown in Pittsburgh. I just don't understand people. I don't understand how people are allowed to have those types of weapons. I don't understand.
So I took Corki for a walk and ran into birds.
I did a video. I am posting it on Facebook. I can't do it here.
Watch it, or not. I find it fascinating and relaxing.
Peace. And Love. And acceptance. And tolerance.
Friday, October 26, 2018
and now, a word from our sponsor
I hate watching television live
The commercials are terrible.
Aaron Rodgers is a great quarterback, but the State Farm commercials are lame. L..A...M....E.
Same with the stupid little fur ball in the Cricket Wireless commercials. He drops his towel and the guy is embarrassed....but the little fur ball doesn't wear pants in the first place. Go figure.
And the these are real people, not actors in the Chevy commercials. Give me a break. Those are not interesting or informative.
Guys driving Dodge vehicles fast because we all know what we need more of on the road are idiotic drivers driving vehicles above the speed limits, or plowing over grasslands. And Jeeps going through lovely streams in wooded areas, leaving oil, grease and gas residue in the water for the woodland creatures that have not fled the onslaught of SUVs to drink.
Now I am watching the World Series and they have these highly annoying quick words, a 15 second or so commercial they stick in between pitches. Highly annoying I repeat.
It seems to me at one time there was a limit on commercials played during a 30 minute show. Now the only limit is to see how many you can schedule and sell.
We had Big Bang on our DVR and there was nearly 10 minutes of commercials in a half hour show.
There are some entertaining ones, at least for me. The Progressive commercial that mocks Chevy. George Clooney selling Nespresso. Ok, that seems to do it for me.
I get so tired of the trite and cliche approaches to selling products. I know it's all about the bucks......and that sucks.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go buy some insurance. I think I can save 10 percent.
The commercials are terrible.
Aaron Rodgers is a great quarterback, but the State Farm commercials are lame. L..A...M....E.
Same with the stupid little fur ball in the Cricket Wireless commercials. He drops his towel and the guy is embarrassed....but the little fur ball doesn't wear pants in the first place. Go figure.
And the these are real people, not actors in the Chevy commercials. Give me a break. Those are not interesting or informative.
Guys driving Dodge vehicles fast because we all know what we need more of on the road are idiotic drivers driving vehicles above the speed limits, or plowing over grasslands. And Jeeps going through lovely streams in wooded areas, leaving oil, grease and gas residue in the water for the woodland creatures that have not fled the onslaught of SUVs to drink.
Now I am watching the World Series and they have these highly annoying quick words, a 15 second or so commercial they stick in between pitches. Highly annoying I repeat.
It seems to me at one time there was a limit on commercials played during a 30 minute show. Now the only limit is to see how many you can schedule and sell.
We had Big Bang on our DVR and there was nearly 10 minutes of commercials in a half hour show.
There are some entertaining ones, at least for me. The Progressive commercial that mocks Chevy. George Clooney selling Nespresso. Ok, that seems to do it for me.
I get so tired of the trite and cliche approaches to selling products. I know it's all about the bucks......and that sucks.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go buy some insurance. I think I can save 10 percent.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
duh......
Sometimes I don't think things through
My gas grill has not been functioning properly. I contacted Weber, described the problem, they gave a fix and said if that doesn't work, buy a new regulator.
Well, I went out Tuesday to start the grill and ...... no gas. It's a new tank.
So I assumed it was the regulator. I ordered one on line, disconnected the tank, attempted, but failed, to take the existing regulator off and then had a glass or two of alcohol.
I also fired up the old grill.
Emily came over and looked at the gas canister and asked what was wrong. I explained the regulator must be faulty because I had it closed and it ran out of gas.
She then said the obvious: The shut off valve is not on the regulator, it is on the gas canister. If anything was wrong, it was the valve on the gas tank.
Long story even longer, I already ordered the regulator.
Before I try to install the new one, I'm going to try a different tank.
In othe rwords, tanks, but no tanks.
Meanwhile, got a couple of bike rides in this week and a few dog walks. I am still experimenting with my new phone and it's photo capabilities.
And that's about it for me.
Peace out, dudes and dudettes.
My gas grill has not been functioning properly. I contacted Weber, described the problem, they gave a fix and said if that doesn't work, buy a new regulator.
Well, I went out Tuesday to start the grill and ...... no gas. It's a new tank.
So I assumed it was the regulator. I ordered one on line, disconnected the tank, attempted, but failed, to take the existing regulator off and then had a glass or two of alcohol.
I also fired up the old grill.
Emily came over and looked at the gas canister and asked what was wrong. I explained the regulator must be faulty because I had it closed and it ran out of gas.
She then said the obvious: The shut off valve is not on the regulator, it is on the gas canister. If anything was wrong, it was the valve on the gas tank.
Long story even longer, I already ordered the regulator.
Before I try to install the new one, I'm going to try a different tank.
In othe rwords, tanks, but no tanks.
Meanwhile, got a couple of bike rides in this week and a few dog walks. I am still experimenting with my new phone and it's photo capabilities.
And that's about it for me.
Peace out, dudes and dudettes.
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