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

PLEASE NOTE: that The Ramblings will be on hiatus (break, breach, lapse) until early August. This to re-charge my batteries, and at the same time I’ll be returning to the world of the internet.

So it’s finally come to this. Here it is, our last Saturday here at the corner of Chaos & Mayhem prior to heading north to our little Northern Comfort.

First a few quiet moments of contemplation and planning over my morning coffee, as I organize what to write.

In a way I hate to leave this place since activities on ‘the corner’ are always occurring and it’s never dull. Here is a moment from earlier this past week. Yesterday Marcia discovered that the rider, even though EMT took him to the hospital with a neck brace, he wasn’t banged up too badly.

Canada’s gift – stayed with us a better part of the week, like a smelly fog. Wildfires in Canada’s far west caused the smoke to drift this way. This also was a renewed opportunity to hear a whole bunch about everyone’s favorite cult-like boogie man, “Climate Change”.

This from Professor Gad Saad, professor of Evolutionary Psychology and Marketing at at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal Canada, best known for his studies in consumer behavior. I think he explains it best by stating, if;

“It’s too hot: Climate change.
It’s just right: Climate change.
It’s too cold: Climate change.
Forest fire: Climate change.
No Forest fire: Climate change.
Heavy snowfall: Climate change.
Light snowfall: Climate change.
Hurricanes: Climate change.
No hurricanes: Climate change.
Islamophobia causes climate change.
Climate change cause islamophobia.
Anxiety is caused by climate change.
Climate change causes anxiety.

Climate change is at the root of every phenomenon.

If you wish to discuss the policies surrounding climate change, you are a science denier who is likely causing climate change.

Jane Fonda explained that racism causes climate change as does toxic masculinity.

It is a grotesque 21st century new religion masquerading under the guise of science.”

the Normandy Invasion – anniversary was celebrated June 6. 79 years ago (June 6, 1944) saw 156,000 allied troops storm a 50-mile stretch of beach in Normandy, France. This was the start of the defeat of the Nazi ‘boot’ stomping on the neck of the western European nations.

Marcia feels that I am preoccupied with the black and white images of those days. Not exactly so, but since I do remember a few, child-like, snippets of that horrific time, it is part of me and also of my world view.

I thought you might find it interesting to hear (then) General Dwight D. Eisenhower inform the troops of the struggle ahead – multiple thousands who would never see their home and family again. As it’s been said many a time, this was; “The Greatest Generation.”

La Pinta – was the fastest of the three ships which, under the leadership of Christopher Columbus, was used to explore the New World in October 1492. It was a caravel-type vessel – a style that was well known during that time.

This week, docked on the shore of The Ohio River on the Kentucky side, was the replica of the original La Pinta. It was built by eighth-generation Portuguese shipwrights using the same methods and tools as the original.

At a mere 70’ long with a crew of 26, seeing it maked it seem almost impossible that such an assembled stack of planks and sticks made it across the Atlantic Ocean.

I went and toured the boat. A massive beam formed the handle of the tiller. Below deck was strictly for supplies and animals – the crew worked, slept, cooked and ate, dealt with storms, sun, wind and cold, all on deck.

Navigation of the ship was absolutely rudimentary (pegs placed on a board) and it’s a feat that their ‘discovery’ ever took place. That they survived, and even more importantly, that they made the return voyage back home is difficult to comprehend.

Jazz on the Square – was a short walk across the Purple People walking bridge from seeing La Pinta. Three hours of Jazz, wonderful to listen to and explained music. A couple of hundred of us were absolutely mesmerized. Then it was a bus ride home – glowing with the experience of both afternoon and evening.

Packing – has our little condo look like a combination Flea Market, Dollar Store, and warehouse. Bins stacked, loose stuff here and there, and a replacement refrigerator all waiting to be loaded.

The hard work will start tomorrow. June 26 Marin and some pals will arrive which means that Marcia and I know what needs be done upon our arrival at Northern Comfort mid-week. The rest of the clan will be there mid-July.

And, I forgot to mention, that there is importance to us being back in August since we have tickets to see. Drum roll please, WILLIE NELSON along with John Fogerty, the lead and primary songwriter of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Should be great!

Etcetera –
• This weekend is the 2023 USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, FL. Dinah and her cousin Adriana (from San Diego) are both there with their respective teams. Also there are brother George & Sandy, and my niece Heather. Adriana will race her finals later today in a 4-man boat. Dinah will be in the ‘stroke’ seat of her 8-man boat in the finals tomorrow.

• Since I won’t be writing at Father’s Day, here is a key Dad tendency on that day; “before using the tongs when grilling, he clicks them together two or more times to “test them out”.

• This week President Joe Biden signed a bill suspending debt ceiling for two years. I believe that all of us mere citizens are now discovering that we’re all bumping our heads on that ceiling.

• We sold out Volkswagen (camper) Bus decades ago. I think that Volkswagen thought that was long enough and so they are returning the bus to the US market after 20 years.

• I like my soccer. Currently, arguably, named the world’s best male soccer player is Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Assuming his Miami contract goes through he’ll be playing here at TQL Stadium around the end of August, Before heading north I’ll try and snag a ticket to the Bailey.

Ciao. Stay strong. Stay Safe. Now grab my cow bell to cheer our young rowing ladies on.

Be well, be happy, enjoy your summer.

Dirk
BREAKING NEWS: Adriana in her finals just place second – great work Adriana!(San Diego (Yi, R)). 1.39-seconds behind the winning boat.

After a low-90s degree day, it’s Saturday, and a new hot day. The fact that summertime heat plus humidity hasn’t arrived yet is a bonus. All that said also means that a hot morning coffee still tastes really good.

At some point yesterday Marcia and I stared at each other. I expected a bit of a snarky; “you look really old” comment. I was wrong. It was; “do you realize that in just two weeks we’ll be at the cabin?”

Now it’s noticeable that the days for us to head north have begun to be shorter and are coming quicker.

I made an appointment at the dealership for an oil change, tire rotation, and belt/hose inspection. The earliest they could accommodate me is 11-am Monday a week (the 12th) – the day before we leave. Not comforting at all.

I think that to keep myself calm I should just plan to, again, watch Peter Sellers do his magic as Dr. Strangelove. Sellers in each of his 6 roles in that film is a performer-beat none. Peter Sellers – Dr. Strangelove; “[we’re] talking about mass murder, general, not war!” Then, to the American President; “Mein Führer!”………“Deterrence is the art of producing, in the mind of the enemy… the fear to attack!”

The Roast – before I forget, a major thank you to Tevita and Adrianne for hosting the Memorial Day weekend backyard Pig Roast. Tevita especially, up at dawn to start the coals. It was such a fun time, and a wonderful opportunity to meet new folk and re-establish contact with old friends.

“First the pork chops, then morality” ~ Bertolt Brecht

Spring Grove – Then last Sunday I decided to walk to Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboetum. I didn’t go to visit my parent’s grave site, but to capture the events celebrating the holiday weekend; music from the Revolutionary period and the Civil War, and a three hour tour of interesting history from the past.

President Abraham Lincoln – was with us for a full hour. History came to life as a couple of Lincoln’s famous speeches were given. Even more interesting was the shared background Lincoln had to deal with during his time, cultural, politically, socially, and familial. Questions were answered; all while our ‘historical’ Lincoln stayed in character.

Period Music – played across the acres of grass, ponds, and wood lots. Hearing music from the Civil War period played on instruments, especially the pre metal gut stringed Banjo, in that setting made it very special. Add period costuming and it became a bit of a time machine.

Grave Markers – So, I took part in a three hour tour in some of the older sections of the cemetery. Here a docent talked about the people by whose grave we stood who lived and experienced our Revolutionary period. There are 25 veterans of the Revolutionary War buried here. I’ll detail a little of just two such folk.

Lucius Chapin (1760 – 1842) – At age 15 he was too young to fight during the American Revolution. But he could play the Fife. Along with a young drummer lad Lucius was in several of those early battles. He fought alongside General George Washington at Valley Forge.

The Fife player meant you had to call the troops to breakfast, taps, and marches. Additionally, they were an early form of the Signal Corps, signaling for the troops to ‘flank’ left or right. What this meant is that for an enemy to cause disruption, aim for the drummer and fife boys.

Lucius survived and with his brother started traveling regionally as music teachers. Since most people could not read music he was key in developing a method for people to follow music. It was a ‘shape’ (or Harp) style of “Shaped-note Singing” which became wildly popular especially in churches.

As it was written in a description I read: “taking part in a shaped-note singing is an experience like no other. Grouped according to vocal range in a square formation, facing the song leader in the center and singing a-capella, singers create a powerful sonic exchange.”

Matthew Lawler (1755 – 1831) – was Active in the American Revolution. During the conflict he commanded privateering ships, including the Holker and later the Ariel. ‘Privateering’ in reality meant that the English viewed him as a pirate.

He was heavily involved in the early work, which, over time, ended up in the establishment of the Navy and Coast Guard.

But, wait a minute, there is more. He served as the Mayor of Philadelphia. And he served as the chairman of the board of directors of the Philadelphia Bank.

Spring Grove cemetery is non-profit and has always been non-sectarian and so it’s not very often that there is a ‘ripple’ when it comes to something as simple as a grave marker.

However, the blue marble Sphinx did cause a bit of a stir. The period saw a bit of fascination with everything Egyptian and hence, eventually, it was approved.

Etcetera –
• A fair bit of the Ramblings this week mentions music. So here is one more. A Mesopotamian tablet which at 3,400 years old is the oldest sheet music found. Named; “Hurrian Hymn No. 6,” it’s a tune in praise of the ancient goddess Nikkal.

• Mid week the Atlantic Hurricane season began. They predict with 40% accuracy that it’ll be a normal season. Tell “normal” to those who’ll be staring in some, yet unnamed, storm’s eye.

• Want to see Billy Joel in one of his scheduled Madison Square Gardens concerts? Better hurry, July 2024 it’ll be the end of his 150 concert run.

• We’ve successfully harvested solar energy from an orbiting satellite and then wirelessly beamed the energy to Earth via microwaves. I think this is the very early beginnings of distributing electricity without the use of strung wiring. Kinda cool!

• Take a look at this video of the Cooper Hill Cheese Roll (Gloucester in England). Insanity! Broken bones and concussions are the norm. In one heat a young gal won by crossing the line first – while she was unconscious.

Ciao. Stay strong. Now teach myself to walk around all the bins and stuff packed for Canada. Don’t want to trip like some of our leaders are prone to do.

Be well, be happy, stay safe.

Dirk

Have a great Memorial Day weekend. It might actually be good to display a bit of patriotism as we all are out and about grilling everything in sight. Tevita and Adrianne are having a pig roast, in part to celebrate their new home. We’re told that Marcia and I will be two in a group of about 30 expected folk.

Marcia will be bringing her famous and much sought after baked beans. The kitchen counter is filled with over a dozen cans of a variety of beans – all part of some ‘secret’ recipe.

But now, a bit of coffee. Thursday I was at Costco where they had $5 off of Peet’s coffee. Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend (brother Pete’s favorite west coast coffee) so I bought enough to carry us into next month and for our stay in Canada.

Now that summer is about to begin this weekend probably has been traditionally the ‘blowout’ sales season for beer sales. Anheuser Bush and their mainstay item, Bud Light for years were near the sales leader. While at Costco I noticed that the stack of Bud Light had the largest footprint of all the beers available. I also noticed that there was NOT a single case of the stuff taken from the pile. The scene made it appear as if they couldn’t give it away.

Actions have consequences!   

Think you can tame the national debt? Play the budget game – by The Washington Post

“Remember, this isn’t easy. You, and every player, have inherited a debt of $31 trillion. Without any changes, it’s projected to grow to a whopping $52 trillion by the end of the next decade.”

I played the game, here is my result: I am……the Classic Conservative. Apparently I believe in cutting both the size of the government and the programs it funds.

Unlike the ‘Classic Conservative’s’ archnemesis, the Big Tax and Spender, I am one who believes the federal government has to be smaller or else it will impede on the freedoms of our fellow Americans.

Unlike the Diligent Deficit Hawk, the ‘Classic Conservative’’ wants to cut taxes in addition to cutting spending, and we think the economy would grow for everyone if the government just got out of the way.

Click on the link here and play the game. Maybe you’ll be right in sync with our Potus & Congressional gurus – I hope not.

”All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Dissertation – The other day, I don’t even know how the subject came up, but Marcia fired across the room; “what purpose has your degree’s dissertation actually served?” I was taken a bit off kilter for it surely wasn’t the subject material; Appalachian Values; Are They Transferable From A Rural To An Urban Setting?. Now that I’ve reflected on the question some more I have the answer; the purpose was that; I did it.

All that goes into such a thing, the research, the focus, the writing, the defense; and how that all those have combined and thus served me over the years is the answer. The actual subject material was merely the vehicle.

Word of the Day; Niksen: a Dutch verb which means “doing nothing”, which can be roughly translated as “nixing”.

This week we observed the lifestyle of the generation following us. Being retired it appears that their lifestyle all seems a bit of over the top busy. Buried with work, buried with homemaking, buried raising kids, buried with ‘events’.

Recently I came across the concept of ‘Niksen’. The Dutch, in an effort to prevent burnout and institute ‘wellness’, have put into place what they call Niksen; a trend that means “doing nothing.”

It translates into a regularly scheduled (organized) intentional period of doing nothing. The concept seems to be catching on. Niksen is not laziness. It’s a way to stimulate productivity and re-engage your mind by allowing it to breathe. It is essentially a picture of purposelessness.

As a Social Worker wrote; “What’s beautiful about it and the art of living is that you have the autonomy and uniqueness.”

Steve Martin — One of my favorite celebrities is Steve Martin, comedian, actor, and an amazing Banjo player.

With the constant stream of news-ready negativity day in and day out I thought I’d post this little musical piece from Steve Martin. It’ll bring a smile to your face. Enjoy:

Etcetera –            

• • Lots of people happenings this week. Henry Kissinger turns 100. Bob Dylan turned 82.
  • Marcia had to spend time listening to the music from Tina Turner who passed at age 83

• • This past week would have also been Dr. Sally K Ride’s birthday. The first American female in outer space (1951 – 2012). Passed of Pancreatic cancer.

• • Yesterday I had my 6-week final checkup on the results of my eye surgery last January. Verdict? Quoting Dr. Miller; “the results could not have been any better!” I have a couple of small sight issues (curvature & depth) which should clear up over time.

• • Here’s one for the little people. This week the Supreme Court ruled that the Clean Water Act only regulates wetlands that have a “continuous surface connection” to larger bodies of water. A farmer can no longer get ‘nicked’ by the EPA over a duck pond on their farm.

• • Mid-week I realized I could stream the FC Cincinnati vs the NY Red-Bulls for a jump into the elite final eight for the US Open tourney. How could I have known that the game would go into extra time with two additional shortened periods. Then would go into a 10 kick penalty shootout. By 11pm I go to bed happily knowing the home team had won!
  • Vili is leaving school — primary grades that is. Off to Middle School (Clark Montessori Highschool) next fall. Nice going kiddo!
  •      

• • Now that the Round the World solo sailing race, the GoGo2022, is over, There was a massive void. Bulent to the rescue. He now has me following the Imoca class 5-crew round the world race (this is the high speed stuff coupled with a couple of stops). Tense sailing, great watching as the “The Ocean Race” is on!

The Ocean Race 2022-23 – 10 May 2023, Leg 4 Day 17 onboard 11th Hour Racing Team. Malama sailing downwind in waves.

Ciao. Stay strong. Now post and then watch Marcia do her bean magic – appreciate Life and be sure to incorporate a little ‘niksen’ into it.

Dirk