To Boom, or…….?

Happy Saturday morning. I’m certain that even without trying, I am not ready for the latest fad — the Pouch! Without any research I just know I’d miss the smells, the taste, even the mug in my hand. No, just leave me with my preferred morning ‘kick-start’.

This week we celebrated Sandy and Vaioleti’s Birthday – Vai’s was yesterday. This also means that in a couple of hours we’ll all gather at Cathy and Jason’s for a late breakfast; or is that called “Brunch”?

Labor Day – BOOM – Tomorrow evening will be the 48th annual WEBN radio station’s Fireworks on the riverfront. A half million with gather on the Ohio and Kentucky riverbanks. For 48 years, each year WEBN staff works and puts together a soundtrack to which Rozzy Fireworks joins up the pyrotechnics. It’s a major event and I love it. And that is the problem.

There was a time when I’d head out at the crack of dawn to strategically park the car to facilitate a quick way home (we’d all take the bus into town & drive home). That was a long time ago. Now it’s difficult to find anyone in the family to head down for the Fireworks extravaganza. Should I head out solo, or should I just park by the TV? It’s a quandary.

So, let’s get started. Or as Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood in Sudden Impact – 1983) said: “Go Ahead, make my day!”

Earl Pitts Uhmurican – yesterday we heard that my favorite Morning Radio personality –Gary Burbank – had passed. It wasn’t all that long ago that one of his ‘buds’ from his radio days (locally at WLW700 radio between 1981 and his retirement in late 2007) sat down with Gary and had the mike on. At that time Burbank already knew that he had Alzheimer’s. He was asked how that diagnosis changed his life. Typical Burbank style, he said that now he appreciated reruns of Seinfeld more than ever. Now he could watch and enjoy the same show repeatedly since he couldn’t remember the ending.

Over the years, every afternoon, we were regaled by several of his many radio characters. Here are two bits, Burbank as Earl Pitts and my favorite, Gilbert Gnarley. Gilbert would call from his retirement home [St. Pia Zadora Golden Buckeye Community] to a corporate or governmental agency. Get a hanky ready to aid with your ‘tears of laughter’. Enjoy!

First is Earl Pitts with his thoughts on TV Weathermen:

Then, here is Burbank doing his classic Gilbert Gnarley calling the Johnson & Johnson switchboard (this is one of my favorites):

The Old is again the New – It’s funny just how all this works isn’t it? And the latest to discover this being Cracker Barrel and their ‘cracker’ Marketing Team. It cost them a mere hundred plus million dollars to discover that the ‘Cracker’ wasn’t dead after all.

In fact, there is a long list of companies that made a similar discovery. Wasn’t it a beer company wanting to stop selling to the “fratties”? Or the company that filled their aisles with rainbow colored baby onesies to then quickly change back? How about the company which successfully sold livestock castrating bands deciding their real customers had to be those involved in dressage. All spent serious investor money chasing the idea of a better “mousetrap”, only to revert to what they were.

Condo Life – has many upsides, especially when (improved?) age suggests that something called; “downsizing” comes into focus. There are, however, a few downsides. On top of the downside list is what in America we label as ‘needed or must-have’ space. We love to collect ‘stuff’.

A couple of weeks ago at “Paddlefest 2025” I snagged an inflatable standup Paddleboard, complete with all the necessities, i.e. pump, fins, tools and wonderful backpack. The problem now is that Marcia has very little appreciation for this great backpack acquisition sitting in the bedroom at the foot-end of the bed.

I am trying to get it moved up to Northern Comfort; and this is something which makes Marcia very happy.

Shopping – Getting groceries to our pantry is currently easier than ever. “Ever” now that Marcia is categorically adept ordering online from Kroger, complete with the exact day and time it be delivered to our front door.

Now that this whole shopping business is under complete control other worries must be explored. See, we humans cannot feel ‘complete’ unless we have something to lose sleep over. Am I correct or not?

It’s Opera Time – Finishing up my Opera experience last Saturday at the Aronoff Center to see Iolanta Op. 69 by Pyotr Tchaikovsky last Saturday. It was wonderful!

Iolanta when written in the late 1800s, reflected that period and thus Princess Iolanta was born blind because of some sin by the family. In the end a magical Doctor from the Mid-East cures her blindness. This rendition is somewhat problematic in today’s world. Hence the actress in the Iolanta role, who in real life is blind, was asked to rework the ending.

Her change had the Doctor restore her sight. This was so altering, scary, and massive that she then chose to stay the blind person as the way she grew up. This reflects what people who are blind having to face as technology changes, stay the way or step into the unknown.

Adriane, the play’s director, and Iolanta came on stage to have the audience ask questions. I was very proud of my daughter and the professional woman she’s become.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

What is a Schwa?   One of the following is correct

1) “In Israel, an area on a Kibbutz”
2) “In Hungary a rivulet prior to running into a canal”
3) “Finnish, a specific type of Iceberg.”
4) “the upside-down “e” per the International Phonetic Alphabet.”
5) “various specific rock formations in Scotland

 Afloat?

Happy Saturday morning. Howdy, I know, I know, it’s Saturday morning and to kick start I get going with a mug of coffee.

However, this morning I am still thinking about the ‘double, double, latte’ I made yesterday afternoon. It was “to die for” as Marlene would have said.

After my volunteer stint at the Cincinnati Open, the front half of the workweek became recuperation time. Didn’t think I needed it. I was wrong. Hour after hour greeting people, smiling, solving problems and issues, and occasionally getting people back on a ‘strait-and-narrow’, every day for 9 days straight in 7 to 12 hour stints mostly standing proved a little bit more taxing than I had thought.

Nevertheless, it was GREAT and I’m already on the ‘list’ for next year.

On another subject I was going to pontificate on the latest corporate name to hit the news. I am not!

I, however, will add it to the list I am keeping of companies which just cannot learn until finally they get hit over the head by something – usually it’s the in ‘free-falling’ stock:

Target
Tractor Supply
Busch Beer
Jaguar
Pepsi
Cracker Barrel

Final Breakfast – at the Cincinnati Open had us eating breakfast with the one and only Tracy Austin! As sister-in-law Sandy said when she heard who had been at the breakfast; “Oh WOW”

Tracy Austin: 1 – Youngest US Open women’s singles champion (aged 16)
2 – Ranked as the world No. 1 in women’s singles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for 21 weeks
3 – Won 30 WTA Tour-level singles titles
4 – Youngest inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (aged 29)

The lady is a gem to be around. Also joining her at breakfast was Andrew Kresley (he’s the Voice for Tennis and previously had organized for Joan Rivers and Martin Short). Since the broadcast area was a floor above my area I had previously talked with him on the elevator – though I never knew who he was. You know the kind of stuff; friendly small talk about heat & humidity, tennis upsets, and anything that would fit into a 30-second elevator ride. Little did I know that I had, had access to someone with an amazing tennis knowledge base.

Sears – Some of the family members might remember Adrianne and Tevita’s first home, the one on Delmar. Well, their home on Delmar was a Sears do it yourself kit home.,

Now, two houses later I came across this minute-long YouTube on the Sears kit homes – you buy the property and buy the kit. This then could be a build-it-yourself project, or hire an assembly team, privately or from Sears. The kit had it all, down to nails, screws, hinges, windows, doors, roof – 30,000 bits and pieces.

The ‘Nati had a fair number of these homes in part because we had a large distribution center in town – partly because of access to three railroads, as well as a major river route.

Their home was advertised as: “A True California ranch! Only one in the area. 3 bedroom*formal dining*2 car garage*Beautiful woodwork*French Cottage windows open on large porch wraps around home. Only thing missing is the Ocean front.”

Its first County tax appraisal after assembly was $5,050.

Hooters – is entering a downsizing, probably not reflective of the young ladies eager to serve in their tight Tees and ultra short shorts, but a number of their establishments – 30 to be precise.

One of those shut down Hooters had been floating on a barge on the Ohio adjacent to the Purple People walking bridge connecting to Newport. It had been operational for several decades in that location. This week marked the end of that era. A tug pushed it down river a ways to a spot where the building was to be taken down and the old barge cut up for scrap.

If you frequented the place, sit back a spell, reflect on your fond memories (and possibly hopes) while you listen to this to aid and comfort – Floating on Down………

It’s Opera Time – So here’s my day; post this, hard boil an egg for some protein, fill the water bottle and head out for a few miles. Then, work it so that I can get a short nap in early afternoon.

There, that should get me ready to see an Opera at our downtown Aronoff Center this evening.

The Opera is Iolanta Op. 69 it’s one act (four scenes) by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. I’ve not heard or seen this particular work. But I do like the power of Russian music and of Tchaikovsky. The world premiere took place in December 1892 in Saint Petersburg.

The story line is typical shmaltzy fare. A blind Danish Princess, blind from birth, has only been allowed to be in an enclosed garden and has never been told she is blind. She’s been given to a suitor. Then along comes the one she really falls for. And so it goes.

What is different is that for this performance of Iolanta the lead is in actuality a blind individual. Adrianne, through her work has been asked to set up a lobby table with details on what her Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired [CABVI] is all about and what it offers. I am going along as her companion and assistant, and as a BONUS will get to see this Opera. Good stuff!

Want a bit more on exactly what Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired is all about and the major impact they have here and throughout much of Ohio? It might be worthwhile to click on the embedded link above and take a moment to scroll through their home page.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

No, these are not “yo mama” jokes. Which of the following are insults written for the ages, written by the Bard himself, Shakespeare?

1) “You starveling, you elfskin, you dried neat’s tongue, you bull’s pizzle, you stockfish!”
2) “Away, you three-inch fool!”
3) “Villain, I have done thy mother.”
4) “Away, you scullion, you rampallian, you fustilarian!”
5) “I’ll tickle your catastrophe.”
6) “I do desire we may be better strangers.”
7) “You Banbury cheese!”
8) “Thou cream-faced loon!”

Volunteering, it’s a ‘Rap’

Happy Saturday morning. Howdy, starting with Dirk’s Rap:

Yo, it’s DJP who lives in the 513
wake up snappy, got a mission today,
It’s a tennis tournament,
Gonna hit the ground running.
Exciting vibes, I’m feeling the thrill,
Busy with my crew, we’re ready to serve.

Serve and volunteer, it’s an exciting way,
Building up our future, brighter every day.
With my crew so busy, we laugh and we cheer,
Tennis and volunteering, bringing the passion near.

In this tournament of life, we’re a missing link found.
Together we’re the winners, that’s what life’s all about.

Now, another mug of java before this Rapping takes over these entire Ramblings.

Aging – it happens oh so quickly. I remember getting a call from my brother that at his school they had a special deal with Texas Instruments for a calculator – for the fantastic price of, merely, $20.00 (big bucks then). Without any hesitation I told him; “YES!” Other than the % function it only did the basic add, subtract, divide, multiply stuff – but it was a CALCULATING machine!

That calculator, red readout and all, is now a museum piece.

Cincinnati Open 2025 – is entering the final weekend as the Cincinnati Open 2025 is in the thick of the semifinals. Aside from volunteering in the suites I’ve had the privilege to see world class tennis elites such as Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Coco Gauff and others perform in what is a Super Bowl of Tennis.

Watching the last set from a courtside seat I had a return punch at me at 124mph (measured by speed gun) – happened to be quite disconcerting. Luckily the ball hit the top edge of the barrier, bounced up where the guy two seats over caught it. How cool to be part of this level of play. Here are photos I took watching the action.

Mid-week we had a nasty thunderstorm blow through. Winds were strong enough to break off a large branch of a tree by our condo. At the Open, the double patio doors of the suite I was working in flew open, and sheets of rain blew in. The rain and lightning kept on coming. Eventually, guests started to get anxious wanting to head home. To assist we coaxed Housekeeping to bring a couple of rolls of garbage bags. As the picture shows, the result was my happy load of customers heading home on the elevator.

Leaving that evening I use a concrete pathway to the shuttle buses. Drains had clogged and walking about 300 feet on a walkway with water reaching above my ankles meant that the ‘condom’ I had put on meant little – oh well ‘C’est la Vie’.

Finally, a couple of shots of the area I worked, the bar and food service areas, TVs and all, and yes, that is Prime Rib on the food bar.

The video below was made by two players who arrived at the players only area for the first time since the renovation this year ($260 million). This area is one of the several my Credentials won’t let me in so I had never seen it either.

Fast forward to the 4:30 minute mark

Canada gone Bonkers – Remember that there was a time when we had just men and women? A time when we all fit into this category as determined by our chromosomes, XX and XY?

Well, the Canadian government has a much better solution than just mother nature and her little-bitty snippets of DNA. It all started slowly and sneakily, but now it has authorized an acronym (possibly to be further expanded on at a later date) used by the Government of Canada to refer to the Canadian community – 2SLGBTQI+.

Want the complete progression of the growth of the acronyms? What is even more interesting is that they are actually paying and having a bureaucracy sit around to develop and ensure these are properly inserted where ‘necessary’. Here is the list: SSOGIE, SOGIESC, SOGIE, SOGI, SGM, LGBTI, LGBTQ2, 2SLGBTQI+.

2SLGBTQI+’s meaning is this: “Two-Spirit people as the first 2SLGBTQI+ communities; L: Lesbian; G: Gay; B: Bisexual; T: Transgender; Q: Queer; I: Intersex, considers sex characteristics beyond sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; +: is inclusive of people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities.”

I believe that since it’s all ‘fluid’ that this latest iteration MUST grow. Bonkers I say!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

What year did the last American Collect a Civil War Pension?

1) “1932”
2) “1942”
3) “1953”
4) “1964”
5) “1970”
6) “2020”

The Open is Open

Happy Saturday morning. Last evening I ended up retrieving tired looking members of our family from the airport. They were returning from Tonga and had been there for the funeral of Tevita’s mother. Tired, with 10 different airplane flights in about a week and a half – the long portions were 12-hour events. Good to have them back home.

Now that the Cincinnati Open is in full swing and my volunteer shifts have kicked in, I immediately took note that the Volunteer Lounge has Keurig coffee machines – I think they hadn’t realized that I was on site. I promise I’ll keep working on my self-control.

Now, best pour a hot mug of my morning brew.

Cincinnati Open 2025 – So, this week I started being a volunteer (on the Hospitality Crew) at the Open. And it’s a blast – I’m just having a time of my life. For my regular readers, last week I described what all that Cincinnati Open hub-bub is all about. This week a few pictures and a two-minute drone overview will flesh it all in, so enjoy! I certainly am.

Town Hall Meeting – Just in case you’ve been in a cave and hadn’t caught all the negative Press that the ‘Nati received – nationally and internationally. A brutal attack occurred at the trailing end of a very busy downtown weekend (major music festival, Reds game, and more). Out of nowhere a gang descended on a small gathering of middle-aged white folks finishing up their evening.

And this event was managed by the city leadership about as poorly as possible. The highlight being that our erstwhile Mayor left town for a mayoral gathering and then immediately flew on to British Columbia for some vacation time – seriously bad optics.

Hence, on Monday evening I went to be part of a Town Hall meeting to discuss what needed to occur to get the city back on track (a few hundred expected and over a thousand showed). Present were our ‘next’ State Governor, Vivek Ramaswamy, former Bengal and football Hall of Fame member Anthony Muñoz, and former nearby neighbor, our former Vice Mayor and past President of the Cincinnati NAACP, Christopher Smitherman.

The whole event was worthwhile! But that’s not what this bit is about.

Parking at anywhere near the event was crazy. I, and about 30 others, ended up parking on a lot of a nearby medical facility a few hundred yards away. It was when leaving I got a bit of a shock once I spotted the first of 2 tow trucks. Uggggh!

Finally, I’d climbed enough of a small hill to be able to see around the building’s side and the area where my car was. What awaited was a long row of empty spaces. Empty, except for one old burgundy Corolla – Marcia’s car! I HADN’T BEEN TOWED!

But why? Why had my car been left alone? Then it crossed my mind. We were all given yard signs at the Cincinnati Open’s volunteer registration. Since no yard signs are allowed on condo property my option was, to pitch or be creative. The ‘creative’ side of my brain took over and I placed it in the car’s back window. That sign with its bold “VOLUNTEER” lettering must have looked enough like it was official and so the tow folk left it alone.

Prove me wrong!

In all fairness — There was also opposition to the Town Hall Meeting. Now, please understand my idea is that a Town Hall is to express thoughts and ideas. Therefore, to me mind you, it seems a bit strange that people protest the sharing of ‘thoughts and ideas’. Nevertheless, a bunch of protesters did show up — representing at least a half dozen differing causes. Aside from chanting, they played some good to listen to old Woody Guthry and Pete Seeger protest songs from the 1930s. Kept me entertained waiting to enter the venue.

Red Bull, Flugtag 2025 – is this afternoon at the Riverfront. I believe it’s 40 ‘aircraft’ designs and participants and I am sorry I won’t be there watching. Two reasons; A.) HEAT, 90 degrees and sunny. B) I have a 6:00 – 11:00 shift at the Open and all of that would be a little much. Having said that, these Red Bull events are always a fun show.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

As we age and eye conditions such as Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Macular Degeneration can change the way we see color – our color perception changes. But color changes are critical enough to where Pilots are required to stop taking which of the following prior to a flight:

1) “Aspirin”
2) “Tylenol”
3) “Viagra”
4) “Dry Eye drops”
5) “Sun Screen over #50”
6) “ibuprofen”
7) “Pepto-Bismol”

The Coffee Bourgeois Blues

Happy Saturday morning. So, our town fielded a crazy week. No big rant from this end, just that over the last number of years this great town has been like a rudderless ship. It’s what happens when a single party, especially one embracing every and all woke & DEI ideas, gains and maintains absolute control.

Let it just be said that our ‘silver tongued’ Mayor, Aftab Pureval, is so far in over his head it’s ridiculous. Aftab “quack quack’ Pureval (as in ‘pure-evil’) felt it more prudent to let a nationally seen and discussed ‘beat down’ not by taking the helm, but by spending personal time in British Columbia.

Ok, I’ll stop before this turns into a rant.

Remember: “Cincinnati doesn’t have time for National or International news; we’re too busy pi**ing with local issues.” ‘Willie’ Cunningham, WLW700 radio

Now for a solid mug of dark coffee. Here is where the Coffee Bourgeois Blues come in. While reading sit back and enjoy a bit of Jake Speed and the Freddies skewer Starbucks while promoting water used from the ‘Big Muddy’ (Ohio River) as the proper way to make coffee. Now here: Coffee Bourgeois Blues

Last evening I wandered the Ohio riverbank as Paddlefest 2025 started (noted as the Nation’s largest ‘Paddlefest’ at well over 2,000 kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes on an almost 10-mile paddle), listened to Jake and his gang, enjoyed some truck food, and enjoyed a craft beer from Mad Tree. Most importantly, I talked with a number of people representing a myriad of non-profit environmental groups. One that stuck out was called the “Ohio River Way” which promotes hiking trails and paddling along a 3 -State (Ohio, Kentucky, & Indiana) 550-mile charted way.

No more Shopping for Dirk – or so says Marcia, as with pounding heart she fearfully peers out of the front window any time I come home and open the car’s trunk. Last evening, coming back from my evening at the Paddlefest 2025 event I had done it again. I managed to snag, at well below half price, a new but “out of the box” blow up DAMA Stand-Up Paddle Board”. It’s a perfect addition to the water activities at our Northern Comfort. Add to my find that this weekend it’s “Back to School Sales Tax forgiveness” weekend and my purchase qualified. How good does it get?

Mentioning Northern Comfort – I completed my quick journey north without any hiccup. Border crossings were as smooth as I’d ever experienced. The cabin was fully intact and solid. The new neighbors were what anyone would hope for. And all wildlife has once again been put on notice as to who exactly is in charge. ‘All’ that is except for the a flock of Canadian Geese who stopped by the day before my arrival and left the waterfront area loaded up with their ‘Tootsie Rolls’.

My journey back to the ‘Nati did have a slight detour as I visited with Paul and Dia for an evening. It was a perfect finish to my solo week out. Thanks guys!

One minor addition – About a half hour from home I got caught in some very severe rains. These were to the point where other traffic ground to a halt in the middle of I-74. This was NUTS! By morning I heard on the news that I’d driven through what was now labeled as a F-1 Tornado. Ignorance surely is bliss!

For my Car-Lovers readers – At the Paddlefest weekend festivities I spotted this gorgeous Lucid. This was the first Lucid I’d seen. A quick check has these details: a full EV, some models can go 500 miles on a single charge and do 0-to-60 in under two seconds. Price ranges from $100.000 to $200,000. This is a serious set of wheels.

Lupe Ongolea – Tevita’s mother, Lupe, passed away and Tevita, Adrianne, Vai, and Vili all traveled to Tonga for the services (left for the airport Sunday at 4:45AM and arrived in Tonga Tuesday morning). In Tonga the passing of a person, their death and the celebration of their life, is a family and community affair managed without a professional ‘funeral’ class.

Having attended the ‘Green’ funeral of my friend, Jeff a couple of years ago and now seeing photos of Lupe’s passing in Tonga has given me a sense of just how this becomes a family event; thus, more appreciative of the pain in the immediate, and joy in remembering what has been. For both Vili and Vai being an intimate part of Lupe’s journey is truly a life-altering experience.

Rest in Peace Lupe – be proud of the family you have nurtured and raised; you’ve done well!

Cincinnati Open – the Cincinnati Open 2025 Tennis Tournament is starting this week. Bright and early last Saturday I had my training and credential time which started with an outdoor breakfast prior to the temperature climbing to about a 100. My first shift is from 6 to 11 PM this coming Thursday. I took the picture below from the vantage point I experience on my shift.

A Factoid: commentator on Fox News, Katie Pavlich: Your regular reminder that when Israel completely disengaged from the Gaza Strip in 2005, including digging up Jewish graves, they left thousands of productive green houses to the Palestinians – nearly a billion dollar produce industry. All this infrastructure was immediately destroyed by the new ‘occupants’.

Now that France, the UK, and Canada are talking ‘Statehood for Palestinians’, it might be good to reflect on Pavlich’s quotation above.

Pan Rocks the music of Rush, 2025 – Earlier this past Spring Vai with her school band played her steel drums at a major concert held at the Miami University’s Millet Hall Arena. Just released this week was the professionally assembled song “Fly by Night”. The reason I am posting it is that starting at the 1:17 mark and on towards the conclusion there are some great shots of Vai doing her ‘stuff’ – (she played at the end of a row and thus look for her on the right side of the screen). It’s a great piece of listening – ENJOY!.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which stall should you use in a Public Bathroom? Which is the cleanest stall in a public bathroom? Science has finally figured it out.

1) “closest to the entrance”
2) “go to what’s furthest away”
3) “the middle stall”
4) “any end stall”

Want the details? Click here