Each day filled with gratitude

Morning all!
Not certain how it was for you, but here, at least for me, the week flew by. This also meant drinking a bit more of Dunkin’s than normal, so soon I’ll be opening and grinding a new bag of coffee. This go around it’s Peets Coffee, ‘Major Dickason’s Blend’.

Next week looks to be a bit more on the usual side, primarily the twice weekly exercise regimen.

Last Sunday, as I wrote last weekend, I took Vili and Vai to hear some excellent music and from New York one of the nation’s master alto Saxophonists, Jim Snidero. Sitting closeup to the band I could see just how intent these two were by the whole experience. It was lovely.

Thursday morning — I participated in the 114th 10k/5k W&S Thanksgiving Day Race. I joined 12,000 others for this event which is both one of the oldest and largest Turkey Trots in the nation and receives a lot of local hype. What made it even better was the fact that the finish was at the new stadium for our MLS (soccer) team – FC Cincinnati. We all got to get on the pitch and coming through the tunnel each got a screenshot on the two large stadium screens. Question; Sandy, since my mug has now been on the big screen should I be hiring an agent?

I felt good and in the “Over 80” category came in first place with a 14.51 pace. Considering the race starts quickly with the Liberty Hill climb and 12,000 people trying to occupy 3-lanes of roadway without tripping over one another, I felt upbeat.

Turf Upkeep — Before the start of the race I walked a bit around the stadium. Getting the ‘Pitch’ ready for this evening’s game requires almost perfect grass. Aside from the grooming and watering they had these machines working away. I am not certain, but I suspect that this is a robotic system of special lights facilitating growth of the field. Pretty stunning.

A great quote – “Common sense is not so common.” – Voltaire

An early gift – for Marcia. There is a very special show series in town, the Longworth-Anderson Series, which combines various musical acts, with a reception featuring local craft beers and foods from a number of restaurants (including Marcia’s favorite, Dewey’s Pizza). I wanted to take her to see singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Rhiannon Giddens. She’s on the program this coming March. Then came a shock, that event was sold out. Sold OUT! This was in October when I checked – who would’ve thought!

Plan ‘B’ was put into play, an evening with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans doing a “Creole Christmas”. However, since their performance is December 6th, it necessitated an early gifting for Madam. She happily got the tickets Thursday evening at our little Thanksgiving gathering. It’ll be a very good time!

P.S. Marcia, with her new hip, refuses to use a cane. So, I attached the tickets to a cane which she’ll find impossible to just park in a corner. Take a very close look at that very special ‘walking stick’ to see why.

The Health of Gratitude – Now that we’ve parked and packed our Thanksgivings for another year and begun to try and max out our stash of credit cards, I read up a bit more on ‘Gratitude’.

It’s the Royal Society Open Science May 23, 2018 which states; “the ability to experience gratitude to others is a fundamental feature of human cognition.”

In fact, expressing gratitude actually changes the brain. Noted neuroscientist Glenn Fox, Ph.D. in studies on gratitude states that practicing gratitude is not, “a magic bullet, Fox added, it’s the regular practice of being grateful that makes a difference: “You know, it’s like water cutting rock through a canyon, it’s not done all at once.”

But expressing gratitude and journaling the occurrences has amazing results, from people who experienced the Holocaust, to those with advanced cancers, heavy workloads and personal struggles. In fact, you just might say it establishes overall better health for everyone.

And the effects pour over into nearly all facets of life, even by grateful people being less materialistic. And, with the onslaught of Black Friday adds I was bombarded with yesterday, that is something we all could benefit from. Much of my reading can be attributed to Dr. Joseph Mercola and especially this article written by him: https://tinyurl.com/5cepnjur

September Song – Remembering that this past week was the 60th anniversary of the murder of President Kenedy. As a remembrance I decided on music. The song below was President Kennedy’s favorite; ‘September Song’. In fact, His close aide Dave Powers wrote; “that JFK sang “September Song” after dinner at his family’s Palm Beach mansion on Saturday before he went to Dallas. Powers noted that he sang it “better than usual” that night.”

With Marcia’s big-0 birthday fast approaching, so I think it is also appropriate to play it for her. As a bonus, this rendition is sung by one of her absolute ‘faves’, Willie Nelson!

“Masting” – of Oak trees is a once every while event. It’s when these trees fruit much more than normal. In these parts it’s definitely a ‘masting’ year and it’s the Oaks dropping so many Acorns that on my walk it’s a constant crunching underfoot.

The little acorns aren’t all that bad since they crunch easily. However, it’s the large Bur Oaks where some avoidance maneuvers are a necessity; either that or deal with the pain of the things getting underfoot. The Squirrels and local Deer are ecstatic. And no, we do not practice ‘balanophagy’ (the practice of eating cooked acorns) so we have little use for the things.

I forgot to mention — that Marcia and I escaped the whole Turkey hullabaloo. We ordered a Chicken / slab of Ribs meal for 2 to 4 people from Montgomery Ribs – so perfect! Enough so that we had chicken and salad for dinner Wednesday evening. Then the ribs and salad with Cathy and Jason and their vegetarian goodies for Thanksgiving – wonderful! This left a huge Apple pie for desert.

Make it a great week. As I wrote last week, remember, smiling is easier than snarling.

May Peace prevail! Shalom. Dirk

BONUS POINTS:
Last chance to choose the Minnesota 2023 Golden Turkey (money waste/grab) winner! Relay your guess to me. Then the real reason for posting this is this Question: What are the top ranking ‘2023 Golden Turkeys’ for your State?

Here are the current top 4 money grabbing boondoggles for Minnesota — one of them is the winner:

1) A palace for politicians (State Office Building)
2) Empty train to Duluth
3) Tim Walz’s crib
4) Flying squirrel research

But a black day follows

Morning all!
This week my ‘Jeeves’ role and Uber driver side-gig was in full swing as Marcia’s road-to-healing continues without pause. She’ll have her Carpal Tunnel surgery early January (her first 80th gift?). She’ll have a DEXA scan shortly. Then, the pièce de résistance; at the insistence of the surgeon who (while using a loud voice) said she required a family practitioner for her Pre-Op (it had been six years without).

She now has her own personal ‘Doc’.

A little sip of my Dunkin’s java and I’ll continue.

After her visit with the surgeon, I went on a walk. The light went on and I changed my route to swing by my doctor’s practice. Informing the front desk that I was bringing them a new patient I was offered either a male or female doctor. I signed her with Dr. Trout, the lady Dr.

By happenstance, arriving home, Marcia was on MyChart and said, “so you signed me up with a Dr. Trout?” I told her that I had told the office folk that in response to their question of which Dr. she’d want that, “Marcia had just “landed a Trout!” Marcia was in shock.

Also got her a little office time the following day for a ‘meet-n-greet’. Outcome, she loves Dr. Trout!

Ps. On her MyChart, while reading the surgeon’s notes, Marcia spotted that in brackets he had put that she (“had fired her last Doctors”). Marcia is now a marked woman.

Power Shopping – time is very near. In fact, next Friday is Black Friday – the absolute holiest of all our holidays. In preparation I have just purchased a new Blood Pressure Monitor, the wrist cuff model no less.

Actually, at the previously mentioned ‘meet-n-greet’ it was discovered that Marcia’s blood pressure reading was a wee bit high. The old monitor had bitten the dust, so it was time to start shopping.

Neighborhood ‘jawing’ around, the topic naturally came around to this annual, dreaded, shopping phase of life in America. I say “dreaded” because I challenge you find a guy looking forward to it. Of course, local stick-your-nose-into-everything-and-I-have-an-answer guy, Earl Pitts, had to offer his input:

‘tis the Season – and the Dutch are gearing up and preparing for the ‘intocht van Sinterklaas’ (Santa’s arrival). As has been done for ages, on the evening of December 4 clogs, some milk, cookies, and a carrot or two for the horse will be placed by the fireplace.

For all the cute little towheads (and all others too) the wait for their gifts is on. Then on the morning of December 5th, all kids will be up before dawn to see if ‘Sinterklaas’ had stopped by and if it was goodies or a lump of coal sitting by the hearth. A dreaded lump of coal for those with a blemish on their score card delivered by ‘zwarte Piet’ (black Peter, Santa’s assistant). Or even worse, it could be a trip over zwarte Piet’s shoulder in an empty coal sack, and off to that dreaded land of horrors, Spain.

Shalom – With all that is going on in the Middle East. And, as the seemingly cyclical rise of antisemitism rears its ugly head once more, I thought I’d give a push for peace and Shalom. Share some of what all lies behind the Hebrew word Shalom. In English we use the word as a casual expression of ‘peace’ both coming and going.

But from the book of Exodus, it’s realized that it is much more where its translated as “make it good.” And the Apostle Paul fleshes out the greater meaning when he ended his letter to the Thessalonians, by using ‘shalom’ in the modern English translation; “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”

Think about this more expansive meaning while reflecting and listening to Itzhak Pearlman, playing his most requested, Main Theme from Schlindlers List:

A great quote – “A step backward, after making a wrong turn, is a step in the right direction.“.” – Kurt Vonnegut

Sunday event – Sunday I am taking the youngest grandkids, Vai and Vili, to a small nearby church, the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati. Tomorrow afternoon it’ll be a concert; a really good jazz trio – all three are tenured music professors at the University of Cincinnati. Then, from New York, saxophone giant Jim Snidero. Joining in will also be a 12-piece orchestra featuring some of Cincinnati’s finest string musicians. I am so looking forward to tomorrow afternoon!

From Snidero’s Bio: “Grammy award-winning alto saxophonist, composer and author Jim Snidero encapsulates what is both unique and compelling about jazz. Hailed as an “alto sax virtuoso” (Downbeat) with “mind-boggling” improvisation skills (The Guardian), and “an alto saxophone sound that is one of the richest and purest on the planet” (Stereophile), he has amassed over 16 million streams on Spotify and Apple music presenting acoustic jazz of the highest caliber………….” And on it goes. As I said, “I am so looking forward to the concert and to spending time with the kids tomorrow.”

Tax Prep – I am being reminded almost daily by brokerage firms, banks, and various characters on the television/radio newsy programs that NOW is the time. The time to get my taxes in order. And here I thought all along that NOW is the time to get my final decrees and wishes in order – have I misunderstood all this time?

Thanksgiving – I just can’t finish this ‘Ramblings’ without wishing everyone a great Thanksgiving. Please do take a moment or two to reflect on all the blessings and gifts you must be thankful for. Me, I am starting my Thanksgiving morning by joining in doing a 5k (the 114th annual Thanksgiving Day Race). The fun finish to this event is that the finish line is on the TQL Stadium’s pitch of our professional soccer team, FC Cincinnati. I thought this would be a cool way to start my Thanksgiving.

Make it a great week. Try something brand new. Yesterday we, on a whim, I bought some White Thai Eggplant at Jungle Jim’s which I fixed for dinner last night. It was received 50-50, one raved while the other somewhat tolerated. But both of us ended up happy about the experience. Remember, smiling is easier than snarling.

May Peace prevail! Shalom. Dirk

BONUS POINTS:
Walking has absolutely plummeted across America (per a study found on Axios). Just between 2019 and 2022 walking has dropped a startling 36% (per a StreetLight Data report). This data used travel behavior based on anonymized data from mobile devices, vehicle GPS systems where one “walking trip” is any trip taken by foot that is more than about 820 feet (250 meters) from start to finish.

Your task, name the three cities which tied for last place.
1) San Diego, CA
2) Boise, ID
3) Portland, OR
4) New York, NY
5) Orlando, FL
6) Las Vegas, NV
7) Ogden, UT

Once there was an election

Morning all!
Several times over the last couple of weeks Miss Marcia accused me of carrying my morning ‘Tintin’ look a bit too far – something about my morning hair. To which I can only reply with a short, “Mille Sabords” (Billions of Barnacles) using Tintin’s best friend, Captain Haddock’s, catchphrase. Yes, truth be told, I love Hergé’s delightful comic character, Tintin.

Now, before I straighten out my hair I want to wish all friends and family veterans a very special day. In the meantime, join me by enjoying a great mug of java. Now, a short pause where I relish my coffee and then I’ll work on this week’s Ramblings.

Power Pole – very near the Corner of Chaos & Mayhem, another pole bit the dust. That’s why a bucket truck showed up and the cops blocked the street. Our vantage point makes it all better than TV.

Okay, so I’m Bragging – Last Sunday Matthew 25 Ministries held their “Hunger 5k” to which I had signed up. Here are my results:

1st Place in my bracket
Time 45:18 which is 14:35 minutes per mile.
522nd place out of 1,225 overall.

******* Just as you allow your head to swell too much, a kick in the pants tends to shape one up. This morning from Outlook comes this story, the ‘kick’ in my pants. The Outlook  headline: “This 92-Year-Old Just Became the Oldest Person to Hike the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim.” Just the ‘kick’ I needed to snap me back into being a more humble self,

On Tuesday (a no school day due to elections) I took Vai & Vili back to ‘Matthew 25’ for some volunteer work. They do get the floor workers. The three of us were part of minimally 60 people in the section we were assigned to. Always fun, and also makes you feel somewhat productive.

And what would a morning of volunteering be without lunch with Opa. Chick-fil-A won out (notice the live flowers on the table in a fast food restaurant!)

We had an election – As a conservative, non-affiliated, independent, curmudgeon I wanted to share the outcome of the event in song.

For my Republican friends, listen to how it sounded as results began to stream in (performed by John Lee Hooker, 1-min):

For my Democratic friends, this is what I heard throughout the night (performed by Koko Taylor, 1-min):

A great quote – “There’s winning and there’s losing, and in life you have to know they both will happen.” – Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Ensuring Fair Elections – Formally our elections are to statutorily occur on; “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November”; what we have today, by being all over the map, is to make a joke out of that law. In my state early voting begins 30 days early, all other states it falls between 3 and 46 days prior to what is legally mandated. Add to that some States allowing the mailing of ballots when these are guaranteed not to arrive till days after election-day’. The whole sets the scene for election shenanigans.

To ensure election integrity, that all elections are Fair, Free, Honest, and Transparent [i.e.: One Citizen, One Vote] there are groups currently actively working to ensure that this happens. Nationally there is the “Election Integrity Network”, ‘EIN’, which includes a 20-state coalition. EIN also partners with entities such as the “Virginia Institute”, “America First Legal”, and “The Heritage Foundation”. Here in Ohio, you can explore the “Ohio Election Integrity Network” at http://ohioelectionintegrity.org/ , They’re always looking for volunteers.

Currently I see the trend being that the current early voting scheme is a mess. The way it’s heading, soon we’ll opt for a ‘two-fer’ vote – two election cycles voted on one single day. Why not?

Wednesday morning thought – occurring shortly after realizing that enshrining abortion rights in our constitution passed with a 57% Yes vote. What follows is a paraphrasing of an article. From an article that is much akin to my own thinking:

“For millennia the order for humanity, to have marriage, family, and children, the very necessities for a civilization to function and perpetuate itself is now a consumer lifestyle choice.”

“The current basis of our entire society is the freedom to become whatever you want, created realities be damned. You don’t want to be uniquely bestowed, see the authority of your ‘Telos’ as Aristotle would say, with the power to bring new human life into the world? Then we can kill that life whenever it is created in your body.”

“Abortion is now the sacrament of this total freedom and atomized individualism.”

Yesterday 45-years – ago, November 10th the Great Lakes ore freighter, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, sank with the loss of 29 crewmembers. June 1975 Canadian folksinger, Gordon Lightfoot released his tribute song: “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”. That song has probably exposed more people to that horrible night when the Fitzgerald sank than anything else.

My own knowledge occurred one evening in the Northwoods by our cabin, some wine, and a campfire. One of our neighbors, Wayne, had invited his brother over for the evening, and thus, here is my story. For a period, Wayne’s brother was a helmsman on Great Lakes freighters. The day of November 10th he was the helmsman on duty on the SS Arthur M Anderson another freighter sailing on Lake Superior. Ten to fifteen miles in front of them sailed the Fitzgerald.

Near Whitefish Point on the southeast side of the lake the captain of the Anderson ordered his helmsman, Wayne’s brother, to steer for the safety of a cove. The Anderson stayed in radio contact with the Fitzgerald till about 7:00pm and was the last to communicate with them. Listening to that tale while a warm fire crackled in the background made that evening surreal.

This week Aunt Dodie achieved the peace she sought and she went home. My memories of her are her sharing, her warmth and love.

Make it a great week. Live your life to the fullest for it glides along ever so swiftly. Be happy. Remember, smiling is easier than snarling.
May Peace prevail! Love to all. Dirk

BONUS POINTS:
Look at these seven listed Breweries. Prohibition (1920 – 1933) was devastating to the beer industry.

Still quite a number survived by moving into differing industries – from ceramics to ice cream.

Your task, name the one listed Brewery which did NOT survive.

1) Coors
2) Pabst Blue Ribbon
3) Monroe
4) Blumer
5) Christian Moerlein
6) Yuengling
7) Lion

Far Away & Stop Sticks

Morning all!

Well, well, by this time we were supposed to be in Michigan. Turns out most of the sibs headed out of town and as a result, we’re here, tucked in, in the ‘Nati.  Actually, my attempt at being ‘cutsie’ is a bit off center.

Marcia’s mother had four sisters and a brother. From that group, one, Doris (or the preferred ‘Dodie’), is still living. Aged a couple of months shy of being 100, sharp as a tack, sweet as can be, and a joy to be with, is Aunt Dodie. Looking back at a life well lived, she’s decided move into hospice as she’s ready to “head home”. Hence, Marcia’s two sisters and hubbies are in Chicago to be with her.

Dodie, we love you dearly and may your homecoming be a joyful reunion. God bless.

Aunt ‘Dodie’ is second from left. Marcia’s mom is on far left

A 5K –This morning I am sipping a single, small, cup of coffee. And there is a reason. Since we were now home the folk at Matthew 25 Ministries (one of the nation’s premier humanitarian aid and disaster relief organizations – Charity Navigator rating 100%) advised that I could still participate in today’s ‘Hunger-5K’ which starts in a couple of hours.

Wednesday morning I signed up to participate. Wish me a good event.

‘Stop-Sticks’ & a pair of cuffs – Thursday mid-afternoon police stopped a car immediately next to our little balcony. They swarmed the car, ‘stop-sticks’ placed by the tires, driver taken out and immediately hand-cuffed. Three officers went through the vehicle with a fine-tooth comb and items were placed in large envelopes.

They then drove the stopped car across the street and parked it, everyone then left in the two gathered cruisers and one unmarked car. Don’t know what it was all about. Don’t know where it all started to eventually end up by our back door. All I do know is that you can see a pair of ‘stop-sticks’ laying on the cruiser’s hood. The Corner of Chaos & Mayhem is alive, well, and active.

Smooth as Silk – finally I happened to tune in to our go-to (i.e. listen-to) radio station, WLW700 – the Nation’s Station. Amidst an array of obnoxious stream used car-lot ads, I heard this. Have a listen to how a promo ad should run.

It’s a promotional ad for one of the station’s better voices, Bill ‘Willie’ Cunningham. Willie is an attorney whose wife is a retired Federal Judge. Willie has access to most anyone to interview – business leaders, State Governors, Sport personalities, you name a category and he’s got it covered. The whole show is a cut above the rest.

Distances – How far away is something? The nearest star to our sun is Proxima Centauri, a mere 4.2 light years away. The attached delightful short video from the UK starts with our sun being represented by a Golf ball (earth would be a grain of sand). The video’s host then proceeds to travel the scaled down corresponding distance to reach Proxima Centauri (also represented by a golf ball).

As you watch his travel, remember that our fastest man-made objects are the two Voyager probes (Voyager I and Voyager II both launched in 1977). Currently they’ve just left our solar system and will take 14,000 – 28,000 years to clear our galaxy and head into deep space,. So, staying with the scaled down golf ball representation, think of the guy’s travel being done on a kid’s old-school Big Wheel (my conceptualization).

What Vince and I used to chuckle over during a phone call was who’d be the first to be able to come out with; “that’s Yuuuge!” during our chat; whether it be something work, kids, travel, or achievement related. I believe that he’d agree that the more we understand the majesty and sheer size of the Universe that it’s even more “Yuuuge!” than we can even imagine.

Thou Shall Not Fall – Daughter in Law Cathy has a radio show. As an administrator at Pro Seniors Inc. she manages a public service interview radio show.  The show runs Thursdays at 2:00pm on WMKV 89.3fm.

Thursday’s show interviewed a representative from Trihealth Senior Services, the topic was fall prevention in seniors. I was unaware that this topic was being discussed prior to tuning in. On the other hand Marcia (who pirouetted on the driveway with disastrous results) is fully convinced that Cathy and I planned it as some major collusion scheme?

Sorry, a small glitch caused me to miss the first minute of the show:

A great quote – “The best way to make a dream come true is to wake up.” – Dame Anna Wintour

The Hype – our FC-Cincinnati Major League soccer team is in the thick of the MLS Playoff Cup playoffs. This evening’s best of 3, game number 2 will be held at Red Bull Stadium in New York (game 1 was held here which we won 3-nil). Hopefully, this 40-second video of the pregame Pyrotechnical show for MLS Cup Playoffs at our team’s stadium (TQL Stadium) will get everyone excited. The views are great.

Make it a great week. Stay upright. Stay vertical. This week, on a crisp clear night, head to a park away from lights and look up at the skies. As the majesty of it all takes a hold it should help to clear the ‘whirring’ of your mind’s daily struggles. Remember, smiling is easier than snarling.

May Peace prevail! Love to all. Dirk

BONUS POINTS: did you appreciate these were actual proposals never realized? Which one’s did you know something about?

The architect Buckminster Fuller proposed erecting a two-mile wide, weather-proof dome over Manhattan in the 1960s.

The original proposals for the Lincoln Memorial included pyramids and giant staircases; architect John Russell Pope.

In the 1950s, the U.S. government (the Energy Department) proposed building a port in Port Thompson, Alaska using nuclear weapons; Physicist Edward Teller backed the plan as an example of a “peaceful” application of nuclear weapons.

A Fury & The Electric Circus

Morning all! Before this week’s Ramblings gets underway, I have a question. This week a jewelry store customer accidentally got locked in their vault at closing; he was stuck there until the timer automatically opened the door in the morning. Importantly, he had a phone and was communicating with the outside.

Ok, here is my question. How is it that with my previous carrier I would lose signal in parts of our condo, yet, stuck in a concrete and steel vault which couldn’t be broken through, this guy had no connection issue? Zero?

Think about that as we sip our morning coffee. I’m sipping my ‘Dunkin’ brew even as I massage my worry stone.

Another Week, Another ‘Victim’ – and Marcia just sighs. Earlier in the week was sitting in the waiting area at a local garage. After fixing a cup of green tea I found myself chatting with the other person who was also waiting. And thus, it started.

Somehow, we ended up talking music. My new friend, Roy Naturman, was in our region for a recording session when his Volvo’s cooling system blew and so, there he was; a chance meeting between us two.

Trained in classical piano he moved into Jazz, and as a youngster in South Africa formed a band, Rock, Blues, and some newer sounds making use of rhythms specific to South Africa.

One of his bandmates was a Bassist, Clive Calder, who at some point left the ‘from-gig-to-gig-life’ playing scene; he announced he was moving to the UK and “own the music industry.”

Naturman said it wasn’t until a couple of years later he read that a new music label had signed a band named Def Leppard. That was the start. Calder initially formed Zomba Music Group and the JIVE label which eventually signed artists as varied as Billy Ocean, Will Smith, R. Kelly, N’ Sync (and later, Justin Timberlake), Backstreet Boys, Shenia Twain, and Britney Spears. His worth grew to an excess of $5-BILLION, and he now lives on his private island in the Caribbean.

Naturman and I discussed how lives can join, split, and for a variety of reasons end up totally different. Naturman with his 14-year-old Volvo says he’s enjoyed a happy and fulfilled life playing gigs; as fulfilled as is his uber-wealthy former bandmate (who he still has contact with). I guess it all stems from your view, desires, and outlook, i.e., do what makes you happy.

OK, once back home I researched and found a couple of 45s and one vinyl LP from the ‘60s with both Clive & Roy on the same label. Details follow below:

The Music – For four short years between 1967 and 1971 the hottest venue in New York was the Electric Circus. It was in the middle of that short period of the Circus that several youngsters blew into the city from their Cape Town home in South Africa.

In 1969 they played a one-night Jam: The Electric Jam – Alive At The Electric Circus . Finally, I had discovered something documented with both Calder and my new friend, Naturman, playing together. That was the LP I discovered. On the back cover of that LP Clive Calder paid homage to the keyboardist (organ), the 80-year old guy I had been talking with, Roy Naturman:

“This time (on I Wanna Dream) Roy Naturman on the organ. What a player! In fact, what a scene! Roy Naturman wanted some peace of mind. So, he quieted the scene down. You know, sort of slowed the pace. “Coming Home Babe”. An instrumental, I’ve always felt that organs should be played in church, or on Sunday nights in Electric Jams. So does Roy. So he played.”

Warning: Below is a YouTube of that full LP and thus a little over 30-minutes of great listening to a recording which dates back to 1969. Enjoy!

Isn’t it grand that no matter where you find yourself, an interaction with a total stranger can lead to a splendid few moments.

An Insight – At this time of our world leaders finding another “Jolly Little War” I thought we’d gain with an uncommon insight. Especially seeing how many of the world’s leaders and the protesting University students across the West who apparently ‘flail’ away without real thought and understanding .

This quote comes from by Golda Meir (1898 Kyiv, Ukraine – 1978) who was the fourth prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974. She was the first female head of a government in the Middle East. She was brilliant!

’57 Fury – The first new car I remember my dad buying when we got settled in Canada was a 1953 Chevy. With a bland tan color, it surely got us around (except for the times the ‘knuckles’ on the shift ‘tree’ got out of sync and the time the battery was stolen).

But three years in was about how long these beasts were able to stay clear of all sorts of issues, and so the time had come to purchase something new. And new it was. Soon a brand new 1957 Plymouth Fury was proudly seen on our driveway.

It was the worst car you could have ever imagined!

Prior to year two when it was sold the ‘Fury’ had blown the rear suspension. Three of the door handles had been made unusable through freezing (it was in Canada after all). And we nearly lost our rented RV trailer miles from home when it was discovered that the left side of the rear bumper was never properly attached to the vehicle. It’s amazing how a good marketing spin can make ‘a silk purse from a sow’s ear’.

Thanks to Art for digging up this old dealer’s training video:

Hippy Themed – is a restaurant located about 40-miles from here; the Plain Folk LIVE – Music Cafe. Located in the tiny town of Pleasant Plain. It’s on my list – music and food in a small-town setting has got to be alright. This would have been a good week to try the place with the weather mid to high 70s. Probably, the next chance we’ll get the snows could be flying.

Elephants – A few weeks ago while retrieving our recycling bins a trucker stopped and asked me for directions to the Zoo. Lots of rebar in back, he mentioned it was for the elephant section. That was the first time I heard that something ‘elephantine’ was afoot.

Turns out that they’re creating a new 5-acre enclosure for these large animals. In that light, it’s good to see that the place is looking towards the long-term survival and the coexistence of the creatures. Both in the wild and in their care. It’s much more than a place to go, “ooh” and “aah”. As the #1 rated Zoo in the nation, we’re understandably proud.

Factoid of the day: did you know that Elephants don’t like tea?

Halloween for adults – acquires a whole different take than merely costuming and heading out for a candy grab. On the other hand, do not make it a macabre reflective time either. ?

Swedish Confusion – since Marcia is half Swede, and since 120,000 people a year confuse Sweden with Switzerland (thinking these are one and the same), I want use my Ramblings as a vehicle to help you. I thought I’d give you a short video titled “Visit Sweden” (click on the title). It was created primarily to educate the many people who confuse Sweden with Switzerland as President Biden did recently.

Make it a great week. Should you be as old (or nearly so) as me, remember it’s about time to deal with your 401K RMD’s – you have till December 31st.

This week make a new friend. Keep seeing your ‘glass’ as half full. And remember, smiling is easier than snarling.

May Peace prevail! Love to all. Dirk

BONUS POINTS: Know what these Baby Boomer words/expressions/phrases mean?
1. Crash on the Davenport
2. Gas
3. Thongs
4. Don’t flip your wig
5. Wet rag
6. A bone to pick

The Arts, and Art

Morning all even though outside it’s sitting at 44-degrees! And alongside the ‘and Art’ (referencing my brother), it’s Marcia too – read further on down.

This week it got to a point where I had to head for Costco. The reason is there was a great sale on Peet’s Coffee along with a tire issue, a fuel fill up, a new hair dryer, and a must buy rotisserie chicken. I have no idea how it was that at the register it took two persons to unpack my shopping cart.

Now study the reality of this comic while I take a sip of coffee.

A trope – this trope regarding the current (ongoing) Hamas vs. Israel fracas sums it up pretty well. Hamas launches a skirmish against Israel. Israel retaliates. The most vocal world voices quickly toss all blame onto Israel – which is then run up the flagpole by the world’s willing media. At least that’s the trend as we’re currently seeing it. Here’s the trope as written by a very clever Canadian, Mark Steyn:

“One day the U.N. Secretary General proposes that, in the interest of global peace and harmony, the world’s soccer players should come together and form one United Nations global soccer team.

“Great idea,” says his deputy. “Er, but who would we play?”

“Israel, of course.”

A Dr. Visit – Marcia; “Dr. did you just label me a pulchritudinous, pneumatic, somewhat minimally callipygous, but overall Junoesque patient?”

Dr. J.; “Mrs. P., my apologies, I was just dictating my findings regarding your median nerve and your serious case of carpal tunnel syndrome.”

And thus, it was how Marcia discovered she has a serious problem. Or a “sensory cutaneous innervation to the medial forearm, medial wrist, and medial one and one-half digits” aka Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to be more specific.

Sitting in on her medical happenings, I now feel ready to pass an exam on the subject! By the way, during the EMG electrical test portion I could have sworn Marcia was sitting on a whoopie cushion.

More matters: Marcia & Mangoes – One of the secrets Marcia shared with me after we started dating seriously was that she was allergic to Mangoes. During her Peace Corps stint in Venezuela, she noted that Mango trees grew everywhere, i.e., “fruit for the picking”. After eating a Mango from the tree (almost Genesis-like don’t you think) her face ballooned and turned red. Fast forward, decade after decade as time went by. Not until this week did I learn the reason.

Seems like the Mango (and Cashews) are all from the same plant family as Poison Ivy – Anacardiaceae. And, that Poison Ivy isn’t poisonous but its leaves contain an organic irritant compound – Urushiol. That same compound is also on Mango skin, and Cashew shells.

Problem solved. Buy and eat all the Mangoes she (or you) want, just skin them; the fruit is wonderfully delicious.

Artists – For someone who appreciates art, but produces little, I am amazed by the insight, interpretation, and execution of their vision. Artists truly are a step above. Have a look at these two short videos – totally different, both stunning.

And finally, all art is interpretive. I saw this sculpture and feel as if this piece is a reaction to what seems like sanity, throughout the world, has ‘sailed’ away. ‘Crazy’, in all its forms, is so rampant that ‘normalcy’ is unable to cope with it all – we’re unable to wrap our collective heads around it. That’s how I see this sculpture by Belgian artist Thomas Lerooy:

Boys in the Boat – When granddaughter Dinah started rowing, I had zero knowledge of her sport. Since I always have difficulty operating in a vacuum one of my first moves was to pick up and read a striking true story on the subject. This excerpt from the Amazon book site on Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown:

“In 1936 nine working-class American boys burst from their small towns into the international limelight, unexpectedly wiping the smile off Adolph Hitlers face by beating his vaunted German team to capture the Olympic gold medal.”

That book gave me insight into the determination, comradery, strength, and teamwork that sport requires.

Now we’re on the cusp of George Clooney’s release of a movie based on that book, to be released Christmas Day. Click below for the Boys in the Boat movie Trailer.

Numbers – usually tell a story quickly and succinctly. Here is a numbers graph which shows the salary requirement to own a home in cities across the nation:

Dia De Los Muertos – “Day of the Dead” is celebrated at All Saints Day in many Latin countries (this year on Oct 31, or Nov. 1, 2, 6). Years ago, in Guatemala, Marcia and I happened to be there during that time. People were decorating cemeteries and having family picnics by gravesites. A blend of Aztec, Mayan, and Christian, it’s a really major, colorful, and happy festive time.

Meeting Folk – I’ve heard way too often that I can’t step anywhere without either just chatting with someone or making a new friend. Tanking up at Costco I met this fellow and his ‘toy’. We were happily ‘jawing away when one of us noticed that the line behind us was growing.

Anyhow, here is a photo of my latest ‘victim’, my new friend, and his answer to improving plant growth through carbon.

Monday, brother Art will become the newest family recipient to receive a hip replacement. Keep him in your thoughts. I believe that the regular exercises over these past two years will do him well when it comes to a speedy recovery.

Make it a great week. Do your best to stay healthy, stay happy, stay grateful, and continue to learn and grow.

May Peace prevail! Love to all. Dirk

BONUS POINTS: any concept of what these short forms mean on Social Media?
1. LOL
2. IJBOL
3. LMAO
4. ROFL
5. TL;DR
6. TBBH

Seriously, I got caught up in it all

Morning all! I just realized that I am not at all cantankerous since I discovered it wasn’t me who put the ‘pee’ in “peevish”.

Posting a little early today since Jason and I will be heading to Wilmington, OH to watch Dinah race in a regional regatta. Last weekend, in Pittsburgh she rowed to an amazing finish, 551 entries from as far away as MX, cold and very windy, a 2.5-mile race, and she rowed twice in one day. First race (4+ boat) came in first and then in the 8+ boat a second-place finish. The race where she finished second was won by the other entry from her club. Her club is a true powerhouse!

Mr. Coffee coffee just beeped and so my morning begins officially. BTW, want to know all about how coffee (caffeine) affects your brain and aids perking you up?

Such as “Without caffeine, the neurotransmitter adenosine typically binds to adenosine receptors to slow down cell activity and make you feel sleepy. But caffeine can bind to those same receptors and block adenosine, so cells speed up instead of slowing down.” Or is that TMI? If you want that level of detail, then click here.

Otherwise just scroll down.

My Bad! I’d Forgotten – That last weekend, October 7, 1948 to be exact, was the 75^th anniversary of the introduction of the 2CV. The launch of the Citröen Deux Chevaux (2CV) occurred at the 35th ‘Salon de l’Automobile’ in Paris. It became the hottest thing on the show’s display floor.

“Citröen has kissed the last of austerity with masochistic fervour.”

journalist at the exposition in 1948 seeing the unveiling of the 2CV and eyeing it for the first time

Did you vote last week? – as part of the ‘Fat Bear Week’ contest’? Last week I published the how to vote details, here are the results. The winner of Katmai’s Fat Bear Week contest for 2023 is …drum road please… ‘defensive’ mama Bear #128, aka, ‘Grazer’. If you want details, she received 108,321 votes to her closest competitor, Chunk’s, 23,134 votes.

What’s the Weather? – For several years now, I have sat in on many sessions offered by a local non-profit educational group, EmpowerU America, not afraid to tackle almost any subject from any angle – even having speakers often shunned or cancelled by the standard national ‘news’ entities. A great learning base for me with my Libertarian/Conservative leanings.

This past week I sat for 1 ½ hours on Zoom raptly absorbed discovering a virtually unknown local. Unknown? Yes, barely known, Cleveland Abbe (1838 – 1916). Abbe was America’s First Weather Forecaster, in fact he developed the methodology which allowed the start of weather prediction. Starting in Cincinnati with the first daily weather forecast published in the US in 1869. Right here in Cincinnati, and with the nation being primarily agricultural, this was absolutely YUUGE!

Fine and dandy you say, but really, all that hoopla on weather? Well wait a minute. How about if I told you that he was also a key contributor developing the idea for standard time zones. With rail crisscrossing the nation and Europe, time standardization was realized as a necessity. Traveling to Europe and some negotiations he gained international buy-in. In fact, if Great Britain had not been the world’s superpower, the world could now be talking; ‘Cincinnati Mean Time’ instead of ‘Greenwich Mean Time’. What a fun evening.

Fear, it’s just Fear – which had almost ruled out Marcia going anywhere. I’m not talking to the Supermarket, kids home, restaurant, etc.; it’s trips of substance. Now, with 2 months of healing behind her, she has just about kicked her hodophobia (hodophobia; is your word of the day). So, in a bit under three weeks we’ll be heading for Michigan for a sibling gathering – we’re excited!

To help her prepare for greater mobility I found this portable little Pedal Exerciser in the CRAZY middle isle at Aldi’s. She is using it and loves it!

Red Bull made for the ‘Nati – Red Bull marketing knows how to pull it off. Rather than me trying to describe I’m attaching two short videos. First from a few years ago and shows one of our local TV anchors manhandling (or is it was manhandled by?) the Red Bull Soapbox Derby, Cincinnati. The second was from this summer’s Red Bull ‘Flugtag’, Cincinnati and it’s self-explanatory. Happy howling!

Red Bull Soapbox Derby, Cincinnati

Red Bull ‘Flugtag’, Cincinnati

;

ArriveCan App – and its development has cost Canadians $54million of their hard-earned monies – and ArriveCan App is now being described as a criminal “boondoggle”. The RCMP is investigating, and the Globe and Mail (Canada’s premier newspaper) is writing about it. The first real hearing on the matter was cut short by a demand by Iqra Khalid of the ruling NDP-Liberal Party to adjourn thus forcing a vote to shut down the Auditor General’s testimony; it passed, no further open dialogue.

I am galled in that for two years I was abused having to detail and submit to the app’s onerous demands simply trying to gain entry to check on my property.

Next stop, the Psyche Asteroid – Yesterday morning with mere minutes to spare before the start of my brothers’ Zoom exercise session, I watched the launch. SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket with two side boosters lifted off right on schedule. I even got to see the two side boosters return and land perfectly on their pads.

Apparently, the asteroid for which the $1billion probe is heading is what is described as a; “bizarre metallic asteroid.” This is why I was so rapt (Marcia thinks, over the top so).

Quoting re. my interest; “Scientists think the space rock Psyche, which is about 173 miles wide, may be the exposed core of an ancient protoplanet — a type of object they’ve never seen up close before. Psyche will reach its space rock target in 2029, then study it from orbit for about two years thereafter.” Are you too just as excited?

Vai’s Steel Drum Band – at Seasongood Pavilion was stellar and fun. Vai plays a tenor drum and is in the middle row on our right side. Rather than me blathering on and on, just watch the video and enjoy. By the way, make sure your audio is on.

On your schedule – If you haven’t yet purchased this year’s Halloween candy; click your mobile on the QR code to discover your State’s favorite Halloween Candy. Some are a natural, some you’ll go; “huh”?

Make it a great week. Worried how old your bread is? Check the clip or tie’s color and ask your store their color code; usually it’s the bake day of the week. I just mention that little factoid to take another morning concern off your plate. Do your best to stay healthy, stay happy, stay grateful, and continue to grow.

May Peace prevail! Love to all. Dirk

BONUS POINTS: This is a question with five parts:

1. When was the world’s FIRST speeding ticket issued?
2. What was the legal speed limit at that time?
3. What was the crazy speed of that infernal machine?
4. The auto had just a driver, but by law, how many people were required to operate it?
5. It was also missing an all-important ‘Red Flag’, why was it a necessity?

Check just how good/correct you are. Verify at this site, click here:

Top Fifteen no less!

Morning all! The week crept slowly towards Marcia’s last Physical Therapy session. More on that further into The Ramblings. So, sit back, put on your readers, and relax for a bit.

My own morning coffee has already been poured so I too am ready.

Chaos & Mayhem – as in ‘The Corner of’ has not been mentioned since I emerged from my hiatus. However, ‘The Corner of Chaos & Mayhem’ is assuredly living up to its reputation. This photo, from earlier in the week, will verify. The activity here is better than any TV. The only thing that comes close would be a performance by Cirque du Soleil.

FC Cincinnati – won a huge honor in Major League Soccer, the Supporters’ Shield for the best record in the league this season. This means that throughout the playoffs FC Cincinnati we will have home team advantage. Not bad for the latecomer entry on the national scene.

Outdoors – selected Cincinnati close to the front in a listing of the 15 happiest places in the Nation. I’ve never made it a secret that I love living in this town, but the Outdoors honor confirms my thinking.

What popped us up in the ranking is our 8,057 acres of greenspace and 365 parks, 88% of the citizenry is no more than a 10-min walk from any one of them. Geography has given us a temperate 4-season climate with both a long and glorious Spring & Fall season coupled by a short winter.

The ‘Underground Railroad’ came through here; we’re part of the North and the South. Today a 2,000-mile bicycle route retraces that ‘road to freedom’; and the 4,800-mile North Country National Scenic Trail crosses it right here. But, most importantly, our real ‘secret’ sauce is beer. Breweries were set up by German immigrants in the 1800s and over 80 are still “going strong” most offering Taprooms and/or “Biergardens”.

[Cincinnati riverfront – Smale Park]

Fat Bear Week – As a precursor to next month’s elections, your vote is important for this event. Katmai National Park, Alaska’s Fat Bear Week is a celebration where anyone can vote. Vote? Yup, vote for the fattest brown Bear – the one who’ll emerge from its winter slumber as the ‘king of the hill” (or woods).

The link below will show the bears participating in this year’s competition. Weight is put on by the success of each bear’s salmon catch. Have fun!

Vote now till the 10^th (October 4-10) and vote daily from 8am – 5pm AKDT at fatbearweek.org!

Cheesecake Factory – Does a Cheesecake Factory restaurant indicate a mall’s financial health? Moody’s Analytics says it could. They found that 93% of loans in places where a C.F. is located were current, versus 72% without the eatery.

Entities such as Nordstrom, Macy’s, Gucci, Lululemon, Vuitton, or an Apple store also tend to maintain brick and mortar places in Malls where the Cheesecake Factory has a presence. Of our four major Malls, just one has a C.F. restaurant. These four, by looks, fit’s the Moody’s profile with in that the one where there is a C.F. appears to be the most successful. It’s unscientific, but hmmmm?

People want to know – was our viewing the 100-year-old silent movie of Harold Lloyd in ‘SAFETY LAST’ earlier this week worth it? Answer; ABSOLUTELY! The theater was at least 80% full, from our Q-tipped heads to highschoolers. Along with the crowd we were mesmerized, and Marcia and I were caught belly-laughing more times than not. The piano accompaniment player was the perfect add-on, and his period costume made it even better.

Marcia – it’s a new day! Thursday Marcia graduated from Physical Therapy! In celebration we ‘gifted’ each other a block-long walk to the corner – No walker and No holding on. She did great, grumpy but great. Thank you, Dr. Stephanie!

Mid-month it’s off to the nerve/hand specialist, so Marcia will be embarking on a new path, and some new challenges. Success is awaiting; as Steve Jobs once said:

Vai’s Steel Drum Band – will perform tomorrow afternoon (for those in town, it’s at Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park). Since we’re rushing headlong into the Halloween event along with all its screams and dirges, hearing the bright and sparkling steel drum sounds will be just perfect.

Weekly(?) Numbers – Should this segment become a regular feature? This week it’s a chart showing, the years 1968 through 2021 death rate (by color shade) for each age bracket per 100,000 people. Don’t worry, if you’re reading this, you’re OK.

Make it a great week. In every day there are 1,440 minutes. Use each of the 1,440 to do your best to stay healthy, stay happy, stay grateful, and continue to grow.

May Peace prevail! Love to all. Dirk

BONUS POINTS: if you think you know the answer let me know and I’ll verify. Likewise, have no clue?, ask and I’ll supply you the answer.

Do you know what this is?

and in between we had a blast!

Morning all! Yesterday it really began to look like Fall. We woke up with the city shrouded in a bank of fog. Day temperatures are still in the mid-eighties, nevertheless, Mother Nature has laid down her ‘season-is-a-changing’ gauntlet. My morning coffee is the one steady continuum.

Pieter’s arrival – was Saturday. Catching up, Lunch with friends (more below) and then dinner at our favorite pub, Gordo’s pub grill. And here was a first since post-surgery; Marcia joined! When your favorite eating joint beckons there is no refusing!

Saturday was a lot of ‘down memory lane’. Pieter is assembling a video memoir and had a long list of places – our family home upon arrival in the ‘Nati, Our family home in Madeira. His in-laws’ home in Indian Hill. And while at it, by request, the house where Sandy grew up. The little church where Pieter and Jeannie were married is now falling apart.

          

Lunch with Art Rozzi – President of Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics, Pieter, and I and one other friend had lunch together. These guys had ‘hung’ since high school and needed to reconnect. During their college days they went out West and ended up talking for an hour with Herb Alpert in his office at A&M Records. What a lot of you don’t know is that Pieter hitchhiked to California to meet Alpert, and that he and friends, twice over, drove me to Calvin College. Driving in some quite decrepit cars. Best of all, they remember those events as the best of times.

By the way, it’s Rozzi’s company which from the beginning (47-years) has enabled the WEBN Riverfront fireworks show which pulls ½ million to the river. No small feat! Be sure to crank the volume up and go full screen:

FC Cincinnati – had a game that evening and I grabbed a couple of seats, it was a great game. Then wandered around all the eateries, funky shops, parks, and pubs, in the Over the Rhine part of town. With both a soccer and baseball game, plus it being a Saturday evening, the place was hopping and a hub-bub of activity. I’ve attached the small movie Pieter made of the evening.

OTR Live – is a Black-owned night club and concert venue, having hosted national acts like Drake, Lil Wayne, and Young Jeezy (none of whom I’d ever seen). Our walk to the bus stop had us pass by the place. Although dark, it was early enough so that the five front door bouncers were waiting for the crowd and just hanging about. Pieter and I are friendly guys and so us two geezer types, tall white guys, got to talking with them.

     

Soon we were invited to ‘partake’ in some Tequila as it was being passed around. Inside a couple of young ladies were warming up and showed us their excellent ‘twerking’ technique; out of courtesy we each bought a Bourbon. Upon leaving the Security guys said their goodbyes and invited us back anytime. It was all most excellent!

An Algorithm –   4-way X 2 + 3-way X 2 + 2x-Coneys = 2-lunches for 2 brothers. Pieter just had to do it and I wasn’t about to complain. Cincinnati’s own Skyline Chili, both on Sunday and Monday. It’s not just an acquired taste, it’s a craving.

The Reds – On Sunday Pieter and I were walking the riverfront area and parks. In the background we would hear occasional crowd noise, curiously we walked towards Great American Ball Park, and found ourselves at the ticket office. We asked for a pair of half game tickets (it was the beginning of the 6^th).

Right after we got into the stadium the Reds came from behind to take the lead. Aside from being the final Home Game of the regular season, Joey Votto probably played his last game as a Red (after 17 seasons). And we won. Now, I ask, how good does it 

get?

Marcia is healing  — and this week has taken a major step by pointing out to me a new movie listings from her weekly Esquire Theater update. The Esquire is our town’s oldest operating historic and independent Art House Movie theater.

Tomorrow it’s a very cool single showing and we are making plans to go out to see the slapstick comedy of Harold Lloyd in ‘SAFETY LAST’. It’s the 100^th (1923) Anniversary of this Silent Film classic.

An iconic movie which will include LIVE piano accompaniment by music historian Matt Tolentino – and as explained; “this is how the film was meant to be seen”. The top three ‘genius’ actors of the Silent Movie era were Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd was the third. Should be fun.

The Esquire – On the subject of The Esquire, it has shown monthly, since 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show; and this week at midnight the iconic horror/comedy film is being shown again. Always suggested is to come in costume, be ready to spritz water (rain), but NO tossing toilet paper, toast, rice, or confetti. It’s a time warp.

Years ago I saw it and am ready to experience it again, sometime, but not this week.

Make it a great week. Stay healthy, stay happy, stay grateful, and may Peace prevail!

Love to all. Dirk

Hard to believe that since I took off for my summer break, a summer has passed, a family gathering in Canada has taken place, saw more concerts than Marcia thought proper, and bones were broken; so, here we are, back with The Ramblings. Plus, a morning coffee in hand.

Also, I have to make this first Rambling short(?) and crisp since even as I’m writing brother Pieter is on the road heading for the corner of Chaos & Mayhem.

Today, is it Hupmobile or Hipmobile?  The first quarter of the previous century the Hupmobile auto was the rage. The current RAGE (in our household) is the ‘Hipmobile’. Marcia, while pirouetting in the driveway did a flip, required an EMT run to one of our hospitals, and had her left hip replaced – by none other than the Ortho Dr. for the Cincinnati Bengals football team.

Recovery is steady. She’s doing great, and is about as grumpy as one can be and still hold membership in civil society – all of which is absolutely the best while on one’s road to recovery.

Here is a photo of her with her ‘Hipmobile’.

The Urbanites – visited us at Northern Comfort – grandson Marin and roommates with friends. Marin could not be happier than being out in the bush. His friends (now known as the ‘Urbanites’) could not be happier than being on their latest Apple mobile. They left on day 3.

Marin went home, signed up at Hocking College in Southeast Ohio to major in Forestry, then returned to our camp for a family week which included all the aunts, uncles, and cousins.

That week I woke up one morning around 1am to the uproarious laughter by everyone except Marcia and I. Everyone had gathered on the screened-in porch playing some group game. It was then that I knew I was seeing a family memory building ‘home run’ in the making. Fun Times.

Most Interesting – happening at the corner of Chaos & Mayem this past summer. So much to choose from, but the winner is…..DRUM ROLL PLEASE….: the guy splayed across the front hood of a car rolling through the intersection. The guy kept yelling: “she’s got my baby”…”help, she’s got my baby!”

What is an Atlatl? — It’s a spear (or Javelin)-throwing lever, i.e. it’s a tool that uses leverage to give –greater velocity, almost like having an extra forearm. I read where it was used by the earliest Paleoindian (i.e. earliest known) cultures in Ohio and continued to be the primary weapon of Native Americans to late in the woodland period.

At the Pawpaw Festival they had a contest and signup to use the Atlatl. It was fascinating (but the lines too long for a one-day visitor like me). By the way, I’m told that the Atlatl penetrating power is about the same as that of a 50# longbow, and has a typical hunting range of 10 to 30 yards. Enjoy the little loop video I took:

Summer Entertainment – did not slow down one bit, beginning with seeing 90 years of age Willie Nelson. Also on the bill was John Fogerty – former writer and lead for Creedence Clearwater Revival. Also on the list was Particle Kid and one of my favorites, Warren Haynes of the Grateful Dead style Gov’t Mule.

It was a bit of a break until I managed to catch a favorite of mine, Tuba Skinny in Dayton.

Then this past Thursday evening a local organization, Empower U, which provides to the community a wide array of speakers on a variety of subjects, military, political, history, celebrated the start of a new season and brought in the Sensational Blues Brothers.

Elwood & Jake Blues (reenactors) brought to life the great R&B and Soul classics from the Blues Brothers film from 1980. They had it all, the sounds, the moves, the fedora, the sunglasses and second-hand black suits, skinny ties, white sox, and of course the iconic attaché case locked on Elwood’s wrist. Glorious!

Marcia is now saying; “enough, enough is enough”, all in reference to my summer of music and song. Maybe so, but it’s sure been a ton of fun!

Northern Lights – While everyone was in Canada word spread that the Northern Lights would be visible. For three nights folk either stayed up or got up – all for naught. Nada!

Thursday I came across this photo taken last week on takeoff from the Minneapolis International airport. Lucky guy [@Davidjonphoto] captured that photo, lucky us that he did:

Make it a great week. Stay healthy, stay happy, stay grateful, and may Peace prevail! Love to all. Dirk