3:00 AM

Happy Saturday morning. Earlier this week I woke up alert and ready for the day. Made a pot of coffee and turned on the radio then sat down to ease into the day. It wasn’t till that moment that I first looked at the clock and got shocked by the fact that it was 3:00AM.

Today it’s early, but not ridiculously early. Still dark and quiet and for the ‘Corner of Chaos and Mayhem’ that’s a delicious time. So, Good Morning!

Later this coming week I’ll head north to meet up with Kirstin where the two of us will head into Canada and our Northern Comfort. It’ll be a short visit primarily to check up on the place and make certain all is ready for the place to face the Canadian winter.

Having said that there will be some time to take in the Fall colors. Also, to sneak in some Kayak time in the cove! And spend Saturday on the area’s annual Sylvan Tour.

By now you can guess that next Saturday there will NOT be the regular weekly Ramblings. As my French cousin Guillaume would say, “sorry, so sorry”.

Sylvan Circle Artist & Artisan Tour – This, the 23rd annual tour has us follow a 100 km route through the Algoma countryside. We’ll stop at a number of villages where their community halls have opened to allow over 50 area artists to display/sell their wares. Some of the halls also offer food, while the backroads meander through gorgeous Fall colors. Anyway, now you know what Kirstin and I will be doing next Saturday.

Merely just shopping – Luckily nearby we have a foodie’s heaven, Jungle Jim’s International Market. Starting as a highway fresh food stand is now a two-location enterprise which necessitates a fold-out maps just to get around. Hundreds of types of sodas, over 1.400 different types of cheese. Need fresh vegetables or herbs from Yugoslavia, India, Argentina, or Polynesia, no problem you’ll find it there.

Where else could I have discovered a made in the Netherlands Gouda cheese infused with Indonesian spices?

To make Kirstin’s stay at the cabin a bit more special I thought I’d head over to Jungle Jim’s for three (as in 3) items I couldn’t get elsewhere. When I arrived back home, I saw Marcia’s eyes bulging wide open when I opened the trunk on her little car. Somewhere in one of the sacks she discovered the receipt. Remember I set out to purchase 3 items? Well, all I can say is that $220 worth of groceries buys more than three (as in 3) items.

It’s very easy to get lost in the place. Having said that, I did get Dutch salted herring filets (zoute haring), pumpernickel health bread (Dutch; Roggebrood), and Deventer Kruidkoek (ginger cake) as the three primary items. Then added a ‘few’ small wedges of differing cheeses plus some odds and ends.

Loss – This week we, as a nation, didn’t just lose an “activist”, our loss was much deeper, and now in death the ‘activism’ possibly much stronger. Our college campuses have become stronger through Charlie Kirk’s founding of Turning Point USA now a voice on hundreds and hundreds of campuses. This man, Charlie Kirk, leaves us a phenomenal legacy and I believe that what he’s started will unleash a ‘turning point’ from the very dark path our schools and culture are sliding down on.

Words from Charlie Kirk –
“When you stop having a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to want to commit violence against that group. What we as a culture have to get back to is being able to have a reasonable disagreement where violence is not an option.” –Charlie Kirk

“I want to be remembered for courage for my faith.” –Charlie Kirk

“This silent majority are the Americans who love God, their family, and our amazing country. They don’t want their morals, their job, or their lifestyle threatened by the government or any candidates.” –Charlie Kirk

“All death can do to a believer is deliver him to Jesus.” –Charlie Kirk

“Conservatism is not about hating change; it’s about preserving what is good and proven.” –Charlie Kirk

“Education should focus on teaching students how to think, not what to think.” –Charlie Kirk

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

What is the most notable feature of “French cursive”

1)     “reverse angled lettering”      

2)     “cursive writing with some letters disconnected”

          3)     “written at an angle of 90 degrees”

          4)    “learning cursive as early as kindergarten”

          5)     “graceful rounded loops”

All Matters

Happy Saturday morning.

Too much going on, otherwise I’d be off for Findlay Marked with a quick stop by this little Tuk Tuk:

Finale! – Here’s the final minute and a half of the Riverfest 2025 WEBN / Western & Southern fireworks show last Sunday. This year the show paid homage to ‘Musicals’ and it quickly became known as “Boomsday the Musical”. It might help, especially if you have a sound bar, to crank it up. This was the 49th year and the best.

Billy Graham – Quote: [Angels] “crisscross the Old and New Testaments, being mentioned directly or indirectly near 300 times”.

Angels – back in 1975 Reverend Billy Graham first published his well-researched book: Angels, God’s Secret Agents. I understand that it seems that after the atomic bomb was dropped, we declared ourselves as having mastery of the Universe. Religion was dead.

Now, while AI is about to take over, comes the realization that we are more than a collection of chemicals, neurons, electric impulses, and minerals; we’re not robots. That once again we’re viewing what was expounded in the Bible eons ago in a new light.

This is in part due to what the James Webb Space Telescope is presenting to us. Galaxies, and even a massive Black Hole, existing shortly after the supposed start of it all, the Big Bang. How? And, even questioning what exactly is the Big Bang and what caused it?

Viewing us as being merely a collection of chemicals, minerals, etc. puts us in league with a block of marble, or a tree, or a drop of water. In other words where does the concept of free will fit? Why then bother with laws, down the extreme laws, even ones prohibiting murder?

Along with all this reevaluation of religion as offering structure, there is story after story of people reporting an Angelic experience. Well, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such an event. Having said that, a couple of weeks ago this happened going to The Fresh Market:

I talked Marcia into joining me at this fancy grocery store. The handicapped slots were in use and so I parked in the far corner of the lot (it was a shade thing). She grabbed my arm and held her cane and off we went. By the entrance sat an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair with no one else around. At first glance I thought he was panhandling. I smiled and gave him a few words of greeting. He responded likewise. There we stood for maybe a minute exchanging pleasantries. His eyes sparkled with goodwill and joy. That was all.

When we left the store there was no sign of the old gentleman. However, that short interaction did make an impression on me – was this an Angelic event? I don’t know, maybe not, but maybe I (we) need to open ourselves more open to the possibilities. Life and all its mysteries are so much more than anything we can comprehend.

Borders to Cross – In just under two weeks I’ll be off for the cooler climes of Northern Comfort. The exciting piece of news is that on my way north I’ll stop and retrieve Kirstin at Chippewa Airport where she’ll then join me for a few days at camp.

Between our ‘tariffs’ and their ‘elbows up’ I am hoping that crossing the border at Sault St. Marie will be a smooth process. My worst fear being that Canada’s give-and-take could be that the interaction at the border be conducted in French (their other formal language). I could get caught up much like the boys in Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

Marin the chef – Even though he’s still in a junior position (his formal title is; ‘commis chef’), this weekend he is having his first “Event”. As you might know, he’s been working at a great restaurant in the hub of the ‘Nati’s the Over-the-Rhine foodie area, a place called Abigail Street Mediterranean restaurant.

The “Event” is one where Marin has designed a dinner menu which he then oversees and prepares. I have no idea what he’s organized other than that it includes his variant of a “baba ganoush”. But we’ll find out this evening when Marcia, Jason, Cathy, and I head to Abigail’s where we have a reservation. Proud of this kid, really proud!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

From the list below locate any “portmanteaus”

1) “Motel”
2) “Chillax”
3) “Biopic”
4) “Spork”
5) “Podcast”
6) “Smog”

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

time moves along

Happy Saturday morning. And a very happy 80th to my brother Pieter – make it a classic, guy!

Remember: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

I’ve finally isolated a week to make it possible to run up north to Northern Comfort. This coming week it’ll be a solo run with me planning to return Sunday a week. Without anyone else coming up it’ll be yard work, cleaning the interior, making certain all the batteries are fully charged, meeting our new neighbors, a bit of Kayaking, some rest in the hammock, reading and some more reading (my Kindle is fully charged). Then, it’s a quiet cigar to top it off!

Not forgetting, saying hello to Marlene and Donn.

After all of that, whew, I’m worn out!

A Change – All of this will demand that for the NEXT TWO WEEKS, my Ramblings will be on HIATUS!

Quote – “If you think you are smarter than the previous generation……50 years ago the owner’s manual of a car shows you how to adjust the valves. Today it warns you not to drink the contents of the battery.”
– anonymous (from on-line)

An old corner, the corner of Chaos and Mayhem – There is that old saying about a tree falling in a middle of the forest, does it make……..

Well, here is what happens when a tree falls across the roadway leading to the corner of Chaos & Mayhem – it shuts the place down! And that is exactly what happened early this past week. Of course, it had to happen at the start of the afternoon rush hour.

But that’s not all.

Yesterday at 1AM I woke up due to the racket made by a Fire truck. This was quickly followed by 5 more trucks. A dozen houses down the street was an empty (it was under reconstruction) house which had caught on fire.

Once again, a cruiser was dispatched to block what? Yup, you guessed right, the old Corner of Chaos and Mayem was locked down again. The news reported that they had 50 firefighters at the scene.

I woke up at 3-AM and the cruiser was still casting red and blue colors on the ceiling.

More Volunteering – and Marcia is still shaking her head in disbelief. I did it again, I volunteered, and my volunteering offer was accepted. Mid-August I will be a volunteer on the Committee for Suite Hospitality at the……drumroll here please……the Cincinnati Open 2025 Tennis Tournament!

This major tournament will be going for 14 days. This is to account for the men’s and women’s singles fields growing from 56 to 96 players. This year the campus will also open to display a brand new $260million transformation on its 40-acre campus, and in a couple of weeks I’ll get to view the awesome new look.

Our prestigious tournament’s early beginning go back to 1899 and it has grown ever since. This year, the top 65 players in the world, from the women’s and men’s tennis tours, are set to compete.

For 2025, the Cincinnati Open ranks number 12 on a list of the 20 best tournaments – worldwide!  It’s the lead up to the New York Open.

I am truly excited about the opportunity! It should be awesome.

My early years had me playing tennis a fair bit – at church Family Camp in Germantown when our kids were babes there tennis got pretty serious (me using my old-school wooden racket). Then, as life got busier, it morphed into indoor hand and paddle ball.

So, to be involved in this event, at my current ‘reflective’ age is huuuge!

Ripley, Ohio – the little town of 1,800 stuck on the banks of the mighty Ohio and a ways east of the ‘Nati. Last week’s Ramblings detailed the lead-up to an occurrence at this town, so, here is the conclusion. Wednesday evening, they drew cards until they had a winner ($1.6-million) for their Queen of Hearts drawing. And the winner had to declare the winning ticket within 10 minutes.

Wednesday they indeed had a winner, and the winner was a local (thousands had driven in from the “Nati and places out of State), he was 67 years of age and had purchased $3,000 worth of tickets.

Got Gassed – yesterday I stopped by the Sam’s Club gasoline island. After staring for way too long at the pump I realized I had no idea on how to make the thing work. It would appear that a newer technology had passed me by.

Luckily, a cop pulled up behind me and he heard my pleas. I had no physical card, so the transaction was all electronic. A QR code was on screen. First, I had to allow my mobile’s camera read the code. That activated the Sam’s Club App. Then everything became simple and the pump sprang into action. Whew!

The good news was that my receipt was placed on my mobile phone – only missing was that it didn’t auto log my mileage.

All the above showing to be a far cry from the time, while driving across the Province of Saskatchewan, when I needed to stop for gas. The small town where I stopped had just experienced a power outage. Not to worry though. The gas pump had a handle to manually pump gas, and in short order I was ready to head on out – full tank and all.

Tell me, which technology do you think is better?

Time doesn’t stop – as time rolls on and as we observe how time transforms, I referred to two such phenomena. One I didn’t mention is our Vaioleti. Born as a micro-preemie who needed to be rubbed on her back to ‘kick-start’ her breathing every time the incubator’s alarm would set off.

This fall she’s going to start her senior school year. Now a young smart and self-assured delightful young woman, she’s just begun her very first summer job – working at the Cincinnati Zoo. She’s ready to help you select that perfect gift as you scour the main gift shop. So cool!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which of these ‘myths’ are actually true?

1) “The Great Wall of China is visible from space”
2) “Bats are blind”
3) “you swallow spiders in your sleep”
4) “Einstein failed math”
5) “Goldfish have a 3-second memory”
6) “Lightning never strikes the same place twice”

Independence Day

Quote – “I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration.”
– John Adams, July 3, 1776

Happy Saturday morning. Happy day after Independence Day.

4th of July – I sure hope that all my readers had a wonderful day, whether a cookout, parade, movie, or just sitting in the yard with your feet in a kiddy pool.

Then, here wishing that all dogs have recovered from any nearby nighttime fireworks noise. A couple of homes on either side of our place seem not to be satisfied until they’ve emptied a store shelf from a nearby Fireworks store.

Now, I’m pouring another coffee as the best way to spring back to normal.

Not quite normal – I just received notification to reserve the date for the 2026 Flying Pig. Early this week I received a shirt imprinted with Top Pig 5K; I believe I achieved some top spot in my age category – cool. The very next day I cut through a back lot at Xavier University on a walk, there, parked, was this car, marked “Rig of the Pig”. Now I’m wondering, am I being subjected to a full court signup press?

Northside Parade – Northside’s slogan; “Keep Northside Weird” fulfilled its wish. With its traditions going back to 1854 this year’s 4th of July Parade, aside from being the region’s largest, somehow managed to (sort of) keep a balance between being traditional and ‘edgy’. Adrianne offered me a slot and walk with the Peace Corps contingency. My excuse being that since Marcia couldn’t participate, I’d fill her role (mid-sixties, Venezuela). It really was a fun time, albeit somewhat hot.

I spotted this late 1950s Chrysler Imperial, aside from being gorgeous it also is representative of the traditional portion of the parade.

Flashback; when these ‘beasts’ were new, my uncle Harry came to visit us and guess what he was driving? If you guessed that it was an Imperial you’d be 100% correct – a shiny black one no less. I remember thinking I’d never seen a more beautiful car, that thing was gorgeous!

Open the (above) photo and try to spot the character in the back corner behind me. He represents the more ‘edgy’ side of Weird Northside.

Manhattan Eruv – Over the years my brother Pieter has performed the role of a Sabbath Goy for observant Jewish acquaintances. Exploring this whole Sabbath Goy thing a bit further I eventually came upon an Eruv. Without which, for observant Jews, life on the Sabbath would really become a royal pain.

Now, I’d heard of an Eruv but never understood how perfectly it allows life to proceed seamlessly. Then I came across this short YouTube – it explains it all perfectly, especially the oversized Eruv around Manhattan. So, enjoy!

Ripley, Ohio – is a little town of 1,800 stuck on the banks of the Mighty Ohio a ways east of the ‘Nati. A couple of years ago Marcia and I, on our way home from a B&B stay in West Virginia, had a lovely lunch in the place. But now it’s getting HUGE notice for something else as thousands of folks keep flooding the place – specifically, flooding Brookie’s bar.

See, they’re looking for raffle tickets, specifically it’s for a single raffle ticket which will earn them $$$, i.e. that’s 1 million dollars at the Brookie’s Queen of Hearts drawing this coming Wednesday.

Heat – Two weeks of mid-nineties plus temperatures, a feels-like index hovering around 100 and after a slight reprieve right back to it. It’s on the hot side, but not unlike anything we haven’t had before – hottest actual temperature (without considering humidity) ever recorded in Ohio was 113 degrees near Gallipolis Ohio, on July 21, 1934. So, the real question is, how do we cope?

How do we keep a constant 98.6 °F (37 °C)? How come that other than sweating we really are unaware of us actively working to stay on temperature? We’re mammals, i.e. warm-blooded animals, and we have to keep our temperature constant whether to cold or too hot or we’re done for.

That question was enough to get me to do a bit of reading (and remembering bits and pieces from way back school days). So, luckily, we have a little bundle of cells tucked in our brain, the hypothalamus. This little ‘item’ transmitting through our labyrinth of nerves, dealing with stuff such as shivering, perspiration, the blood flowing near the skin, sugar level, breathing, and metabolism. Our amazing nervous system relaying details almost instantly. All this is working seamlessly in the background to keep us going in our ‘normal’ temperature range. OK, all except for clothing, protection, and heating/cooling – all this regulation is managed in the background, seamlessly and effortlessly!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Who was the forgotten Founding Father who authored the Constitution?

1) “James Rivington”
2) “Baron von Steuben”
3) “Robert Hunter Morris”
4) “Committee of Detail”
5) “Gouverneur Morris”
6) “John Jay”

No Funk Here?

Happy Saturday morning. After some seriously slouching off on my walks and exercises the last couple of weeks I am turning a new leaf. Sure, there are excuses galore, but these are all excuses. All except for the crazy high temperatures – we’re not expected to drop below the 90-degree mark with most days in the high 90s. Change supposedly coming this coming Wednesday that is. Arggh, with the infamous ‘feels-like’ it’s been a steady 100+.

Notwithstanding the chronically heat complaining, this morning I am enjoying a hot mug of morning coffee. Does that signify a caffeine addiction?

Last week – I happened to mention that I’d be running out early to help with the pre-game ceremonies of that day’s tournament game between the Mamelodi Sundowns FC (Pretoria – South Africa) vs Borussia Dortmund (Dortmund – Germany) game. It was a really good game, and I declared a winner. Yes, I know that Germany won the actual game. But the tournament winner in the (totally unrecognized) uniform category must be the – drum roll please – the Mamelodi Sundowns from Pretoria. Best uniform I’ve ever seen.

Helen Keller Quote –

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”

As we age many bits and pieces of our lives change, ease up, even begin to slow down, or as Helen Keller would put it; “one [or each] door closes”. These past few weeks I had the good fortune to be pointed to a ‘door’ which had just opened – soccer’s FIFA Club World Cup 2025 was coming. Not only that but our stadium was to be one of 11 to be used across the nation. It was to be the new door that had just opened up.

They needed volunteers and I made an application the day our Adrianne alerted me to this opportunity. All told the event had many thousands of applications, selection was a weeding out process; I got the invite!

Now that it’s all over and that door has closed, what I received was one of those life events to be remembered and remembered. It was epic!

As my daughter Kirstin wrote; “my dad living his best life”.

It really was a proud moment when after the final game (attended by our VP JD Vance) Gianni Infantino, FIFA President visited with our Ceremonies team and asked me forward as the tournament MVV Volunteer by handing me the Official Match Ball of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 tournament which he signed for me. Being given this token is beyond special.

Afterwards nearly 50 of my compatriots asked to have their photo taken with the ball. What a day!

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The Dayton area – has an active Polynesian community. With that there is a regularly structured group teaching Hawaiian, Samoan, Fijian, as well as Tongan dances. Vai is totally involved and works hard to learn Tongan specific dances.

Anyway, last weekend Marcia and I went to a performance by members of the Ohana Outreach program for a fundraiser. Since all these dances have meanings derived from their traditional island way of life, the meaning of the various dances was explained; dances such as the Luau and Haka war dances.

Plus, as a bonus Vai did a beautiful Tongan dance by herself. Really a lot of fun.

Cheddar Chips – Yesterday Marcia and I went to Good Sam hospital for her semi-annual infusion shot (which has become an excuse to have lunch at the hospital’s cafeteria). It’s really a Seinfeld scene just how my wife loves that cafeteria. Favorite? The Deli section serves hand assembled smoked meat sandwiches with Boar’s Head meats.

Anyway, Marcia added a little bag of Quaker Cheddar Chips – which tasted amazingly good. Reading the ingredients it appears that HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.’s push for healthier ingredients is well underway. The listing on the rear has whole grain, no artificial ingredients, etc., in other words it’s much healthier.

Amazing – is what the recent successful military effort to ‘silence’ a rogue nation’s effort to make the world dramatically more dangerous. It was a Mr. Ostrovsky who afterwards wished all a very special Shabat.

Another Game? – Now that my total immersion in soccer – for weeks on end – is over, I realized that I’d stumbled into a bit of a funk. Then, yesterday it was Cathy who called. Seems someone at the radio station her show runs on had a pair of extra tickets – could she use them? She advised she couldn’t, but she knew someone who could. So here is what transpired.

I received a pair of tickets for a game at TQL Stadium for tomorrow afternoon. It’s the final contest of a two-match series by the U.S. Womens National Soccer Team (USWNT) against Ireland. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see Cincinnati raised Rose Lavelle (midfielder #16) play. Rose has played on our US Olympic Team and has been nominated as Player of the Year. She’s good, very very good.

What a way to ease out of a funk.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk
BONUS POINTS:

When was the last cigarette commercial aired on TV?

1) “1968”
2) “1966”
3) “1971”
4) “1977”
5) “1973”
6) “1984”
7) “1980”
8) “1999”
9) “2010”