Nothing Sacred

Good Grief- is there nothing sacred anymore? Do I really have to hear on the radio and watch on the television about hemorrhoids, erections that last more than 4 hours, and gynecological surgery? What's wrong with keeping some of our lives private?

Aunt Helen

Aunt Helen and Aunt Dorothy

One of my favorite Aunts passed away this week and we had the burial and funeral service today. I enjoyed connecting once again with family and am sad that we only seem to get together when someone passes.

My Aunt Helen was a fastidious individual. Everything had a place and had to be in it's place. She had no clutter (except perhaps the chicken coop on the farm which has at least 70 years of "stuff" in it), at any rate, she was prim and proper. We did the service at the cemetery first today, and at the end of the service the funeral director said, "Excuse me folks, but I need to sleep at nights, and I just noticed that we have Helen backwards with her head toward the feet of George (her husband who passed 18 years ago), can I please get some help to turn her around?"

It was fitting - fastidious to the end. She always payed attention to the details. The world will not be the same without her.

Wordle

I found this website today called Wordle where you can create a customized word cloud using words of your choice or by linking to your website and letting wordle choose words used on your site. Wordle also allows you to choose from different layouts, fonts, and color schemes to fit your own particular style. There are lots of folks trying out this "toy" so why not give it a try yourself!

Newer Math

Here's an update to an earlier post, The New Math.

My wife stopped at a fast food restaurant to order a drink. The bill was $3.00. She gave the young lady a $20.00 bill. The girl gave her $32 in change. My wife pointed out that she had been given the wrong change and the girl rudely replied, "No I didn't...please move along you're blocking the traffic." Boy, that new math will put you out of business before too long...

New Topographics

I imagine everyone has struggled with finding a purpose in one's life. I do know that when I take my last breath on my last day, I want to know that I've made a difference, and that I am leaving something behind (besides my dust).

I've always felt like a kid and I have never known what it is I want to do when I grow up. I've been successful at several careers, Navy, writing, publishing, printing, web design and banking. Sometimes I worry that I am a Jack of all trades and Master of none. At any rate, I recently renewed a passion for photography.

My interest in photography dates back to the 1960s. I was in a dark room with a professional photographer who was developing a recent crime scene photograph. It was a picture taken at a murder/suicide. I watched him work in the darkroom - develop the film - prepare the trays with developer, stopper and water - load the negative in the enlarger - focus and snap. He put the paper in the developer tray and the scene slowly came to life - a woman laying on the floor in a pool of blood with her hand reaching out for a Bible. It was sad - teary sad - but, at the same time magical. There's no other way to describe watching a blank piece of paper floating in a liquid and having it come to life. It was mystical, and I was hooked. Over the years I have dabbled in photography, taking pictures and developing them. I've even sold several over the years.

With the recent digital advances two of my passions combine - computers and photography. I have a creative eye for a photograph - but, sometimes it needs a boost with photoshop.

I've recently been asking myself, what type of photographer? What kinds of photographs should I take? There are a lot of choices, landscapes, animals, kids, portraits, flowers, bugs, stuff, Art, etc. You get the idea...

I have recently discovered Topographics which is a movement which purpose is to document the erosion and disappearance of urban and rural America. A lot of the barns I photogrph in the rural areas of Iowa and Minnesota are falling down - years of neglect, perhaps a side effect of the mega farm, or maybe they're just old.

I believe I am going to concentrate on taking photographs which document man's negative footprint on the environment. And who knows, maybe I'll take a picture of a bug or even do a portrait along the way.

It's In The Stars

The Seven Sisters
Originally uploaded by mattie_shoes

A local educational institution scheduled a "star" class where participants would learn about the different constellations in the night sky. A phone call came in one afternoon asking if they could offer the class earlier in the day, as an evening class wouldn't work. The caller didn't seem to understand that it had to be dark to see the stars in the evening sky. Perhaps another class would be appropriate -

From the Mouths of Babes

Our church was celebrating the Installation of our Priest. The Bishop came to visit and participate in the ceremony. While the Bishop was giving his Homily, one of our congregation's two-year olds was making a fuss and was taken out by her mother. They were gone about 5 minutes, and when they came back in the little one announced, for all to hear, "I pooped!"

The Bishop broke a smile and complimented her on her accomplishment and continued right on with his Homily - while the rest of of us tried not to explode with laughter. Kids are great!!

Water, Water, Water

Water, water... Iowa has been inundated with rain, resulting in floods. The picture is of the credit union where I work. The flood waters came within 2" of coming into the credit union. I had to evacuate the credit union to my 2nd disaster location (my home). We ran the credit union from my home office for a couple of days. We managed to get back into the building today, and back to a normal state.

Roosevelt

My wife and I recently attended a Five Sullivan Brothers Recognition for Military Commitment Banquet where we were shown a Grout Film in honor of the "Greatest Generation", the WWII era.

Sitting at our table was a WWII veteran. He name was Roosevelt (pictured above) and he served as a medic in the Army during WWII and was, I'd say, 80+ years old. He is an African-American gentleman, small of stature and bent over at the waist. He entertained us with stories. The 1st story he told happened 10 years ago when a gang member talked his way into Roosevelt's house, for the purpose of mudering him as a gang ritual. The guy (according to Roosevelt) was 7' tall and at least 300+ pounds. He told Rooselvelt to lie on the floor. To which Roosevelt replied, "No - I won't make it easy for you to kill me."

At that Roosevelt picked up an end table and started beating the crap out of the intruder. He got in several good blows before the intruder stabbed him. The knife was sticking out of Roosevelt's side and the young man said, "There...you're dead."

"Nope," said Roosevelt, I'll see you in court.

Roosevelt endured a lot of surgery and did in deed see the youg man in court.

Roosevelt's second story was current. It seems he was in the Chacago Ohara airport when a young "con man" grasped his hand (a gesture used to steal people's rings). Roosevelt, now in his 80s looked the young man in the eyes and said, "If you don't let go of my hand - one of us is going to see Jesus in about a minute and it ain't going to be me." The guy retreated...

Moral of the story - don't mess with the Greatest Generation...or at least Roosevelt...

Fish Sculpure

A lot of snow in Iowa... some cope by having fun in the snow...

But, don't get too close...

Full Service Gas Station

We are visiting my youngest daughter in New Prague, Minnesota - and after arriving I needed to put gas in the car. My daugherer steered us to a "Full Service" station. No kidding, FULL SERVICE. We pulled in and a nice young man came out to the car, asked what we needed, took my credit card to swipe it in the pump and he filled the tank. This is a service I thought had long disappeared, but in a small town in Minnesota, it is alive and well. If you're ever in New Prague stop by by the BP Gas Station on Main Street. Did it cost extra? Nope - the price was the same as advertised at the Shell and Holiday stations.

Loved it - I got to sit in the car and stay warm. Rumor has it that they'll also wash your window if it needs it.

Evolution of Windpower in Iowa as pointed out by my Cousin Tom

OLD - The windmill on my fathers farm near williams, Iowa

These pictures represent the evolution of windpower in Iowa. The single windmill still stands as an ICON of a fading era. The new Wind farms are the new generation.

NEW - MidAmerican Energy Wind Farm (Across the road from my gransfather's farm)

Aunts

Yesterday we went to Webster City to visit family. My cousin Tom came back from California to visit his mother, my aunt. I hadn't visited her in a while, but as soon as I walked in her house pleasant memories came rushing back. My Aunt Helen had the "best" junk drawer in the world. You know, that drawer, usually found in the kitchen, that has all sorts of 'stuff" in it, all kinds of batteries, nails, screws, and just good old plain "stuff". I fought off the urge to go into her kitchen and look for her current "junk drawer" - but, I imagine she has one. The picture above is an oil painting my aunt made of my cousin - it was during her "oil period". It has always been in the living room, or sitting room, and it just wouldn't be her house without it.

Pictured below (L-R) are my Aunt Helen and my Aunt Dorothy. I spent a good amount of time growing up in their homes. They were fun times -

No Trespassing

This brings up a question - what about BEFORE 9:00 PM, can we trespass?

Construction Worker Bounty

My wife and I traveled to Kansas City, Missouri today to attend a Seminar for Credit Unions. Just as we passed into Missouri from Iowa we saw the "dreaded orange cones" announcing road construction. There were the typical signs, "Slow Down", "Speed Limit 55 MPH", and "Fines Double in Construction Zones".

One sign however caught my eye, as I have never seen it before. It read, "Slow Down - $10,000 fine, AND you lose your license if you hit a construction worker."

Sounds like a bounty on highway workers..., and, what happens if the worker has reached the end of his rope and throws himself in front of a vehicle? Who pays the fine? Is it shared?

No Bull

We went to the Minnesota State Fair with my Step-Son, Daughter-In-Law, Wife, 2 daughters, 2 son-in-laws, and 4 of our 6 Grandkids. The Fair was great (I'll say better than the Iowa State Fair). We had a good time, visited the exhibits, ate the food, people watched and had a great time overall. I fullfilled my mission of getting a Yard Stick from every Fair I attend (Don't ask). We missed all of the storms - and missed the running of the bulls.

A day before we attended a bull had escaped and was charging hotdog stands, people, and was getting ready to charge a little girl, - when, he noticed a fire hydrant. He took off full speed (all 1200 lbs of him) and charged the hydrant. He hit the soft spot on his head and died instantly - no kidding (or should I say no bull) - seriously - he killed himself. There was a picture in the paper of him being hauled away. I was disappointed that there wasn't a chalk outline on the ground in the shape of a bull. I think they missed a chance for some good humor!!

Pink Lemonade

We went out for an evening meal with our son Stephen and his wife Cheri whom we were visiting in Iowa City and ate at an outdoor restaurant. The waitress asked what I wanted to drink and I replied lemonade, regular. She disappeared and about a minute later she tapped me on the shoulder and said, "All we have is Pink Lemonade, is that ok?" I said sure - a few minutes later she delivered the Pink Lemondae - in a red glass. Who could tell what color it was? Oh well...

Fanny Alarm

I went to visit my mother last week in the nursing home - her 92nd birthday. She has been falling alot lately so the staff of the nursing home put her on a "fanny alarm" - when she stands up a nasty "beep beep beep" goes off. Kind of like the sound of a big truck backing up. This noise alerts the staff that she's now mobile and they should watch for her.

I was relating this story to my youngest daughter who is a nurse in a hospital and she related that her unit got to test some, "new fanny alarms". Side note: I call them "fanny alarms, but they are called Tab Alarms."

One of the alarms played supercalifragilisticexpialidosous - which no one liked because everyone ended up with the song in their head. Another alarm utilized the recorded voice of a loved one. When the patient would get up, the alarm would say, "Dad, this is Stephanie, please sit down."

The fisrt time it was used "Dad" turned around quick to see his daughter (the voice) and fell right on his butt. So much for modern technology. The standard annoying beep won the day.

Iowa Falls, Iowa

Sometimes it's easier to post photos than to write - today is one of those days.
Visit my photos on Google http://picasaweb.google.com/rallenhill.

My Waterloo Days Parade

Grand Central

I'm playing around with Grand central where one number can be used to call me and all of my phones will ring. I added a call button here to my website. Give it a try. I don't know if I'll be able to answer, but leave me a voice mail if I don't...

I've given this a try and since I received no calls - i'll cancel the number. It sounds like a good idea, but since it's a long distance number - I'll pass.

Memorial Day 2007 Waterloo, Iowa

Farmers Market

I think they should have changed the sign to "Farmer" Market...
Perhaps everyone else was in the fields...

Lola Takes A Walk

Lola Takes A Walk -

We can also say that, ..."no good deed goes unpunished." My youngest daughter agreed to dog sit a bulldog of one of her friends. The dog was cute and cuddly. As I understand it, Lola is 80 lbs+, but thinks she is a lap dog. My daughter and her husband also have a cat, "Patches" , a small poodle "Hanna" and a Sheltie collie, "Buster." Quite the menagerie. At this point I don't think there are any fish, but...

Lola had a habit of getting a little friendly with Buster, and Buster didn't like that at all, so Buster got to go live at the farm for the week. Also, since Lola was looking at Hanna like she was a French fry, she also got to go live at the farm. Poor Patches had no place to go and was put in the basement for the duration.

It seems that midweek Lola became bored and decided she needed to take a "walk about." Since she is 80 lbs she had no problem breaking the chain that she she was tied to and escaped from the back yard. She was eventually apprehended by the doggie police and taken to doggie jail.

Bail for Lola was $60.00. Good news is that everyone is home where they belong. Lola went home, Buster and Hannah came home, and Patches got out of the basement so he could pester the dogs.

Shhh - Don't Tell Anyone!!

I went shopping with my wife this evening and midway during the shopping I had a need to find a restroom. We were in a familiar department store and I thought I knew where the restrooms were. I typically have used the restroom on the 1st floor of the department store, and we were on the 2nd floor, so I had to hunt around a bit. I found the restroom and went in to do my business.

As I went in the door my first thought was, "Where are the urinals?" My second thought was, "This is a pretty nice men's Room with a sitting area and large mirrors..." Then my 3rd thought hit me, "I don't think this is the men's room."

I turned around and left and as I opened the door I saw the sign on the other side of the hall...Men's Room. The architect had "reversed" the location from the 1st floor - Oh well - I was fortunate that there was no one in the ladies room, so no one knows...shhhhh.

As long as I'm talking about "restrooms" I need to relate a story about my mother. She was visiting with us when we lived in New Orleans, and while we were at the airport picking them up she had to use the restroom after her long flight from Iowa. She came out of the restroom and announced (so all could hear within a 100 yard radius), "George, you have to go to the bathroom, it does everything for you; the toilet flushes by itself, the water starts all by itself, and the hand dryer starts all by itself. All you have to do is your business. Come try it"

She really enjoyed that restroom and talked about it for days...

God Bless Fire Ants

I spent 30 years in the Navy. As organizations go the Navy is really hung up on physical fitness and health. Try as I might, I really could never find a reason to argue about being healthy. Argue? You can’t argue with the Navy. The Navy insisted on “minimum” standards, weight, height, percent body fat. You had to do so many push-ups, so many sit-ups, do a run/walk. All of which were designed to give you a full body workout. In my younger years I was able to do the minimum sit-ups and push-ups, but that run, just killed me. For years I just barely managed to finish the run in my allotted time. I had been a smoker since I was 14 and running just didn’t cut it for me.

One particular year I was struggling with completing the run. I generally practiced about a week or two before the test was to be given. On the date of the test, the command had decided to use a new track. Since I was in the second group of runners, I had the opportunity to observe the other runners as they completed their run. I quickly noticed that everyone was adding 1 to 2 minutes to their previous time. Come to find out the previous Commander hated to run as much as I did and he had set up the old course ½ mile short. At any rate, I got scared because I didn’t have a minute to spare. So…since the Navy gave us a choice to do the run or do a swim, I chose, at the last minute to do the swim. You need to understand the run, was a run WALK…meaning all you had to do is get to the finish line under your designated time. When I tried the swim I discovered that walking does not work.

I failed the Physical Readiness Test, a major blow to anyone who wanted to advance, and at the time for 3 successive failures people were being put out of the Navy. I took up jogging with an increased vigor. That’s being too generous, the Navy put me on remedial training (every morning at 6:00 AM) (why does the Navy do every thing at 6 AM) we did a work out to include a mile and a half run. I was a reluctant jogger and did not (and still don’t) understand how anyone could do this for fun, but I was not going to lose my career. I subsequently passed the next Physical Readiness Test, which took me off the remedial track, but I continued to work out, because it was easier to do the tests. I managed to run and still smoke.

After I was taken off the remedial training I was jogging in Louisiana to maintain my physical condition and trouble happened. You need to understand the weather in Louisiana...its 90 degrees with 90% humidity. As a matter of fact they fly flags when it’s safe or not safe to have outdoor physical activity. When a black flag flies you are to stay in doors. One evening (my theory was that it was somewhat cooler in the evening) I went out to jog. But…it had been a black flag day. I had been running a route through my neighborhood that took me about 2 miles and 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Towards the end of my run I decided to sprint that last portion and shortly after I started sprinting I experienced pressure in my chest, light-headedness, and profuse sweating. I wanted to lie down in the worst way, but since I was having difficulty seeing I didn’t want to chance lying down on a fire-ant hill (a common nasty creature found in the South). I struggled to get home. I was convinced that I was having a heat stroke and that once I was cooled down I would be ok. According to my wife I was gray by the time I arrived home; she wanted to call 911, but I wouldn’t let her. She called our neighbor who was an EMT and she called 911.

I was at the hospital in 30 minutes and received a “cocktail” of clot busting drugs, which returned the blood flow to my heart. I ended up having heart surgery 6 months later, and 1 week after an angioplasty I was out jogging again, because I had a Physical Readiness test approaching and I was not going to fail. And, I had quit smoking…but that is a subject of another story.

I am thankful for fire ants – because of them I did not lie down and die. I made it home and here I am...thanks little buddies...

The Easter Bunny

I have two Easter Stories to share:

My wife and I were shopping at Target for groceries and Easter stuff and saw the chocolate bunny pictured above - the expression of the eyes made me laugh out loud - it's like they're saying, "You want to eat what?" I had to buy the bunny to take his picture.

Story number two: My grandson was shopping with grandma for materials to dye easter eggs and he found some Star Wars decorations for the eggs. Grandma said, "No. Star Wars is too violent for Easter.

With urgency, he pleaded, "But, grandma, Easter is about crucifixtion and that's pretty violent."

Grandma had to think about that a second, "You're right, the cruicifixtion was pretty violent, but no Star Wars on Easter eggs..."

Kids can be pretty perceptive...

On the Way to Boot Camp

I've been goring through some old letters and ran across a postcard I sent to my folks in 1971. I was leaving Des Moines, Iowa on my way to San Diego, California and the beginning of a 30 year Naval Career. It was also my first flight. Click on the image to make it bigger [and easier to read].

The gentleman I ran into in the airport was from my home town and he was the last friendly face I saw before arriving at Boot camp where the Company Commanders began yelling and screaming at us. I was joining the Navy under duress and Mr. Southerly made me feel better about joining the Navy. I have recently renewed an old friendship with his daughter, a high school classmate of mine, and shared the postcard with her. She told me it made her teary - didn't mean to do that, but did want to share a memory I had of her father. It's been 36 years since I met him in the airport. It must have been weird for my friend hearing a memory of her father come out of nowhere.

Question

I wonder: Why is it that it is "webpage" (singular) but "web pages" [with the space] when it's plural?

A Postive Attitude

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."
-- Herm Albright

Pain in the Legs

I have had leg pains for years which have caused me to lose sleep. About 6 months ago I couldn’t take the pain anymore so I finally visited my doctor. He diagnosed me with “Restless Legs Syndrome.” What...? What is Restless Leg Syndrome – your legs suddenly, without warning, want to take a walk? No, but, it’s a real diagnosis and a real pain.

People with Restless Legs Syndrome feel a compelling urge to move their legs, usually accompanied by uncomfortable leg sensations. People often describe these as creepy-crawly, tingling, tightening, pulling, or burning sensations deep in their legs. These symptoms, which begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity (such as lying down or sitting) are partially or completely relieved by movement - as long as the movement continues. Symptoms also worsen in the evening, making it sometimes difficult to fall asleep.

During the last 6 months I’ve tried a variety of drugs and pain killers to stop the pain, but nothing has worked. Recently, I saw a commercial on television advertising the drug Requip, so I called my doctor and asked if I could try it. I tried it, and it has worked!!! I can now get to sleep without the crawly feeling in my legs. I can only hope it continues to work.

All medications come with a lengthy list of all the bad things that “could” but “probably won’t” happen to you if you use this drug. The insurance company is obviously trying to have some legal cover in case they kill you. At any rate, I read some of the side effects of the drug: ...”some patients taking Requip have shown urges to behave in a way unusual for them. Examples of this are an unusual urge to gamble or increased sexual urges and/or behaviors. If you or your family notices that you are developing any unusual behaviors, talk to your doctor. Hallucinations (unreal sounds, visions, or sensations) have been reported in patients taking Requip.”

M-m-m-m-m...I’ve got to run; I think the file cabinet just “winked” at me...was that an urge or a hallucination?

Fortune?

My family and I ate at a Chinese restaurant yesterday. We have a ritual where we enjoy opening the fortune cookies after we have eaten our meal. We always joke about whether we get a "statement cookie"...i.e. "Manners make you a better person" or a "fortune cookie" i.e. "Happy news is on the way to you."

Yesterday, out of my FORTUNE COOKIE came this..."Sorry. Come back later...I am sleeping (yes, cookies need their sleep , too).

What is that? A no fortune fortune cookie that's taking a nap? What's that say about my future?

I need a nap...

A Conundrum

While my wife and I were waiting in the local Social Security Administration office we were witness to a conundrum.

A very frustrated lady came into the building where part of the process is showing the guard your ID. (I imagine to thwart any old lady terrorists out there.) At any rate, he stopped her at the door, "Maam, I need to see your photo ID.

"I can't." she growled.

"Pardon me?" the guard replied.

I lost my driver's license and I just came from the DOT and they said they could give me a driver's license with my Social Security Card. But, my husband is out of town and it's in the lock box and I can't get into it."

Now nearly in tears, "I have to fly out of town tomorrow and I need an ID to get on the plane."

The guard, trying to be kind told her, "Maam you need your driver's license to get a copy of your Social Security Card."

The last I heard was the lady telling the guard she was going to have a nervous breakdown.

They Bleed for Their Art

My wife and went to visit our son and daughter-in-law and grandkids in Cedar Rapids this last weekend. They own The Stained Glass Gallery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and were working on creating a new stained glass piano light lamp shade for our church’s organ. They have, what I think is a clever slogan for their business, “We Bleed for Our Art.” And, it’s true; they work with glass and occasionally will get a small cut which requires a band aid and some antiseptic. Last Saturday however...

John, our son, was walking through the shop and ran his leg up against a protruding piece of glass. It ripped through his jeans and into his leg. It made a nasty cut and it was obvious it needed stitches because it was gapping and bleeding (a lot).

[Before I go on, you need to understand a bit about me and blood. I faint. I’ve gotten better over the years, but I do faint when there is blood, mine, or anybody’s for that matter. The first time I fainted was as a kid when my parents took me to the movie The Greatest Show on Earth. I fainted during the train wreck sequence when there was a fair amount of blood. My mother had to take me out. This history continued in high school biology labs, doctor’s appointments, movies, boot camp ...you get the idea.]

I remember when one of my daughters cut her lip and there was a lot of blood, it was all I could do to grab a washrag and a piece of ice and stuff it in her mouth and tell her to be brave---before I passed out.

This wasn’t the first trip to an ER I’ve made with John for stitches. And, as I recall I nearly fainted the first time, but controlled it BEFORE we got to the ER. John did have to drive the car however.

At any rate, we arrived at the ER last Saturday and John checked himself in and we began the wait in the ER waiting room. I started feeling the feeling that I get when the blood starts leaving my head and my blood pressure drops. Since I am also diabetic I thought perhaps I was just having a low blood sugar moment I sent my wife off in search of sugar. No sooner did she disappear than the faint came on strong. I could no longer sit in the chair and I went down on one knee...

One of the ER nurses who was coming into the waiting room to pick up someone else noticed my dilemma and came to my rescue. The first thing she did was run over my foot with the wheel chair, and then some how managed to get me into the chair, dropping me only once. I was totally passed out by the time she got me to the ER and she, with I assume the help of others, got me on a table. And, then they all got busy...an IV, an EKG, and removal of my clothes.

I understand that they were doing what they had to do, I do have a cardiac history and am diabetic and I imagine when someone is flopping around on the ER room floor they feel obliged to check the individual out. They checked me out.

I also typically pass out if when they are taking blood and aren’t successful the first try. The phlebotomist was not successful the first time, nor the second, but I imagine she was successful the third time because when I came to again...she was gone.

John and I were in cubicles next to each other so my wife could bounce between us checking on our progress. As it turns out John had his wound cleaned and received his stitches before I was released and he ended up waiting for me to recover. I haven’t received the bill yet, but I imagine it is expensive to faint in the ER.

Now if you don’t mind, I feel a need to lie down...


[COMMON FAINTING: Vagal reaction.
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness. It occurs when blood flow to the brain is reduced. A Vagal reaction is a reflex response that causes the pulse to slow down. If the pulse is low enough, the blood pressure falls and causes fainting or near fainting. Lying down usually stops the reaction within 60 seconds. This reflex response can occur during sudden fear, severe pain, emotional stress, overexertion or suddenly standing up after sitting or lying for a long time.

Hobbies

My wife recently retired from retail and has been "furiously" cleaning and sorting household goods. She recently came across her old Coronet and decided that she was going to take it up again and started practicing. Well, I'm an old trombone player and I was feeling left out, so I went to "resurrect" my old trombone, but it was in a sad state...it was a 55 year old horn and had seen its better days. I played in a community orchestra in 1976 for a couple of years, but have not touched it since then (accept to move it).

I couldn't have my wife have all of the fun, so today we went out looked for trombones. The first ones we saw hanging on a wall went for $2000 to $3500 dollars. Yes, thousand!!! I'm not going to spend that kind of money on a horn I may decide I don't want to play. The manager of the store came over and I expressed my dismay and he offered that they have several student versions available for a couple of hundred dollars. Now, that was more to my liking. I am now the proud owner of a new (used) trombone.

I finished my first practice session about a half hour ago, and I must say this will take some work, but I did enjoy it. When we bought the horn we learned of a Community Band, New Horizons, which is for people 50 years of age and older who want to play in a band. After a month of practicing - I believe we'll give it a try. I have fond memories of "blowing my brains out" when I played for a community orchestra before. So, I look forward to the stress relief...I wonder of my neighbors can hear me practice?

Murphy's Other Laws

MURPHY'S OTHER LAWS.....

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

He who laughs last . thinks slowest.

A day without sunshine is like, well, night.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them.

If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.

The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.

The shin bone is a device for finding furniture.

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of 12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.

The Winter Sun

It's Warming Up!!

It’s been a while since I’ve “Blogged”... I’ve been busy doing taxes for other people at H & R Block, figuring out my own taxes and trying to generate freelance business. In short – I’ve ignored the Blog.

Had a sad moment last week when I went to visit my mother who is in a nursing home. She is what the professionals call “pleasantly confused.” I guess that means she’s relatively happy. At any rate, when I went in to visit last week she had no clue. We had to tell her that I was her son. Sad...

On a cheerier (is that a word?) note – the weather has turned warm. Yes 36 degrees IS warm when it follows a below zero cold spell. I just know we’ll see people in shorts as the temperature sores to 40 degrees.

Physical Therapy

The Rack

I have been having some back issues for about a month and had an MRI done this week. The good news is that there is nothing drastically wrong with my back other than degenerative disk disease and some arthritis. Sensing however that I was in pain the doctor prescribed some physical therapy to strengthen my back muscles.

I do not wish to offend any physical therapists (as I did feel better after I left then when I went in) - but, they have a room full of devices that resemble a mid-evil torture chamber. The session started with an electric cord taped to my back so they could "zap' me a good one. OK - maybe it was a bit more sophisticated than a cord coming out of the wall, but it did involve electricity and electrodes. I had 20 minutes of a "tingling" sensation. the therapist had indicated it, "...should be strong, but tolerable." Being a man i figured more was better and chose a level that almost made my teeth rattle. I quickly succumbed and asked for a lower jolt - which the therapist accommodated.

The next part of the session had the therapist bending and twisting my legs in directions I'm sure they haven't been in for a least 20 years. I was quite relieved that we didn't hear any cracking noises. She stretched and I groaned...

We topped off the session with 20 minutes on the rack. Now I'm sure they call it something else, but it looked liked a torture rack and they trussed me up so I could hardly breathe and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d. The machine was on "automatic". I did have a panic button in the event the machine short-circuited or something and started tearing my legs off. 20 minutes, while lasting only 20 minutes, felt like a lot longer. I am absolutely convinced that I am taller today than yesterday.

And, ...I get to go back at least 2 more times. I should be 6 feet tall in a couple of weeks!!

High School Friends

High School Friends pictured above are Marcus and Colleen in the top photo; Meredith and Mary in the center photo, and Tom and Linda in the bottom picture.

Helen and I spent the weekend in the Coralville (Iowa City) area getting re-acquainted with some high school friends of mine (pictured above).

I helped start a High School web site, http://www.ifhs69.com with a stated purpose of "facilitating re-connecting." The response has been phenomenal and to date we have had over 3,000 visits to the web site, have had over 50 classmates register and have raised nearly $500 to help cover the cost of the site. A side benefit has been this weekends "mini-reunion."

Six of us "hung out" during high school and we were in a lot of shared activities. Somewhere after graduation I dropped out of sight for awhile as I was travelling around the world with the Navy. I managed to get back for a couple of reunions, but missed more than I made. The others stayed in, what I surmise, was frequent contact.

This weekend was great. Although the weather in Iowa was frightful (near 0 degrees) - our hearts were warmed with friendship. My hope is that this is a beginning, and that we can get together more often than once every 37 years.