WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY?

The future of humanity depends on how you look at it. First, we are pigging ourselves to death. Fat people out number skinny Minnie's by a big percentages. My children in their 40s are hip. My grandchildren are "hippies." I am a borderline fatso. We love to eat.


For 40 years Fast Foods have ruled the roost. Our eating habits have gone south. As I look around, "fat is in." Belly bat is sexy. 10 years ago I weighed about 8 lb more. The MOVE Program of the VA 'Showed me the way. But our way of life allows us to forget. FAt? So what. Technologies have changes us exponentially.


From spiffy new automobiles and trucks, we live differently. The sky is the limit..the 'no limit' on being slovenly. My hope is to come to grips with the world that challenges us.


Maybe. .just maybe we'll have another Draft? Stranger things have happened. Thinking about the foods we eat can help.


The children of tomorrow are our hope. The hope of tomorrow are our children. Maturity can come in spurts. Heath care will respond to advancing technologies.. but the kicker is tobacco...."With a Little Love and Understanding." 172..160.. 190....down..

REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS

It is heartfelt in remembering the Carpenters.

Our memories hast forever as do the tunes of Karen and Richard Carpenter. PBS featured the music of Karen and Richard last night recapping the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s to tunes that live forever. How lucky were we to savor their music. RIP Karen.

Today was a good day Josh loaned me his black Honda so I could do my errands. What can I say but thank you! Mrs. Nancy gave me a shout out tonight. It'll be short and sweet. Tomorrow I travel to the VA in Leeds. Wish me luck!

HONORED AS YOUR BLOGGER

It is phenomenal for me to be your blogger for almost 10 years. More phenomenal is the fact I  have  crafted thousands of blogs without missing a beat. I am everywhere on the Internet an have never lost heart. 

I am here, I am there, I am everywhere.




I have written for Blogspot, under Adventure man, Telegram.com, Mydeclarationofindependence.com, Eyefetch.com andPooddle999BlogSpot.com. My photo blog is right there. You look for me and you'll find me. And yes, I have  grown exponentially.




Where are we going from here? The social media reigns supreme for now.   Selfies have taken over things.




I am without a car and have gone to the alternative. This oldie is listening to Oldies. It is a refreshing activity.  No Chase to mow.?




I detest my dentures. I really appreciate your friendship!

A NEW WEEK - NEW IDEAS YET AN OLD BODY

Keep going, they say and the skies will clear. Well, it has been a wonderful Sunday, did my laundry and had wheels.. Son Josh Honda. A family task was to sell the camper for a song as the season has rang the bell. It was priced to sell and bam,, we had 4 customers in 20 minutes and cash on the barrelhead. I have never sold anything so fast in all of my life. One of the customers was an old friend, Louise from North Brookfield.


Tonight I have reverted to my blog text books as my blog school is about to begin. You are never too old to  learn. Now I am gearing up for a "blogger' hand carved sign. It will be nice as I insist on quality, through and through.


Chase will mow my hay field tomorrow. I have no idea on what to expect on the Grand AM. As the old saying goes, 'don't tale tomorrow to bed with you tonight.


It is fun reading my blog books. Almost 10 years at it. Martha F. worried what I would do when I ran out of ideas! Haven't run out yet, Marty!


Motorcycles up the gazo, today Not for me!


Old man.. runny nose!

BILLY JOEL

Piano Man

A DOUBLE BIRTHDAY SATURDAY

A double birthday Saturday was fit for this King Cole. The party tent lured in friends and family alike. Son Josh and granddaughter floated around as folks ate all kinds of food from, baked beans to shrimp cocktails to home made baked beans. Absolutely everybody devoured in the sunshine off the moment.


The girls played with the boys and the adults enjoyed the merriment of it all. Kids swam and Evelyn Rose was he Princess of the hour. I have never been at a more festive party. Thanks Josh & Heidi! It was reminiscent when I was young. We are family.


Still feeling more down than up. I can't blame it on the weather!


Trump in Texas is a good place for The Donald. With that though

t I'll close.

WHEN I RAN FOR CONGRESS IN 2000

When I ran for Congress the election was rigged, plain & simple. I obtained 544 votes from my hometown of North Brookfield and  444 votes from West Brookfield. The clowns split up he two other Brookfields so I couldn't capture the votes I deserved. I smelled a rat. The incumbent called my sister 4 times trying to influence me. The Springfield Newspaper invited me to a debate. Sorry Big John! I am an Independent, you know. I garnered 5,157 votes.

Jerks!

POSTAGE

UNDER THE

 WEATHER!

TOMORROW,AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW

L

ATER!

COUNTING MY MONEY

I was just counting my money when there was a bang on my door. The owner of a Space Age Chevrolet Impala invited me to attend the car show at Klem' in Spencer, I agreed after I put my currency away.


The day was truncated as I still feel under the weather. I will call the VA tomorrow. Di did obtain my cleaned dry cleaning in time for Fall.. I stopped at the Salvation Army found nothing. Pat and Holly were seen outside.


I did Walmart and Lowes in Ware. Son Josh should like his birthday gift.


Time for a pink grapefruit. Had a gift card from Son. I am big citrus. Heat and humidity are coming back. How nice. More politics after my tubbie. Printed another edition of One Luck Soldier.

ONLY DONALD TRUMP

Donald J. Trump has baffled and dazzled all of the political pundits. For The Donald to stand up for more than a year and prevail is amazing. The man deserves all of the credit in the world. Trump is more pertinacious than any other presidential and if he has health problems he sure isn't showing them.


I think the colder weather will inspire us all. I know the 48 degree temperature this morning helped me with my ailments. My visit with Josh and the kids tonight made me feel better. I paid my rent and enjoyed some toasted egg plant. Tomorrow my Social Security deposit comes my way.


One more day of cool weather then the muggies as Dick Albert would relate.


I am waiting for Trump to orate from Texas so I'll close, then must take my bath.

THE COOLER WEATHER HAS ARRIVED

I am coming back to life! Summer heat zaps me and my spirit is being recharged like my SmartPhone. Now I might just tale off for points unknown. SonBen, Allison and Baby-Girl should be landing in Charlotte, NC as I type. We had a Pizza Party up Birch Hill.Son Josh was missing. The breeze ad I took it all in.


My pageview count soared from the teens to near 60. Somebody at Blogger got the message.


As it was a Monday things got off to a bang. TripAdvisor is soliciting my business with clothing. I'll spring for a T-shirt. Got a TA business card at from the Copper Lantern Motel... Marketing 101  big time. My Trip Advisor numbers are formidable.


Saw Robert K. at the new house on Winter Street. "The market is HOT" relates Robert. Good time to sell your house! 'Houses sell houses' a wise broker once said. Another wise broker once said to me 'The woman is the person who decides on buying a house' said another sapient broker.


67 degrees.. and yes, the day's grow short  when you reach September.


LVA called me from Florida. "Gobel"..

THE MUSIC OF JAMES LAST

If you are looking for some diversion to life and pop music zero in on German/American composer "Hans" Last. Mr. Last is gone now yet is available on YouTube. The Big Band sound is awesome.


I watched my first Red Sox game today as it was a long day. I also watched Shania Twain sing for a couple of hours. SonBen and Chase visited me for an hour or so.


Pageviews are absurd. Rigged as Trump says.  Wrote a couple of blurbs on TripAdvisor. My tummy hurts.

A VERY BUSY DAY WITH FAMILY!

Yes, it has been a very busy day with Ben, Allison, Savannah and Chase. My blog has hit an all time low.

TRUMP'S STYLE .. A HODGE-PODGE

There are many weeds in Donald Trump's garden and time is running out, so it seems. He's here, the man is there but there doesn't seem to be crop waiting for harvest! Is he to be pitied? Maybe?


This was a bummer of a Friday. I have not seen Ben, Allison and the Baby-Girl all day. My red-white & blue trousers have received favorable at  Hannaford's. Even a cute 5 year old girl said "I like your pants mister.' Yes, patriotism is alive.


The intense heat has gotten to me. Thank God for Ray Conniff's music and innumerable cat naps. Is it September yet?

BILLY JOEL press pass

It's a story worth repeating.

Son Ben and I pulled off a coup in attending a Billy Joel Storm Front gig at Yankee Stadium in 1990. The better part of the concert was obtaining 2 authentic passes as illustrated. I merely sent our stubs with a request.  A week later two media pass came in an unaddressed white envelope! And yes, SonBen has seen Billy perform only 18 times! Not bad, Ben. LOL

MEETING JOHNSON, PRESIDENT JOHNSON, TWICE!

Presidential politics was all new to me. The euphoria of John F. Kennedy faded into oblivion. We sought new presidential leadership and found one. We did not know who this lanky Texan would turn out to be. Somehow Gussie Busch, owner of Budweiser invited LBJ to the City of St. Louis. The announcement was brief with little notice.


I knew something was up and acted accordingly. "THE MAN WAS COMING TO TOWN" AND I WAS GAME. Our wounds of the assassination had hardly healed. It was just 84 days since November 22nd. I vowed I would be ready and I was.


My hand was LBJ's hand as we shook. Meeting and greeting Lyndon Johnson was thrilling. The implications of pressing flesh taught me much. In the course of the year I saw "Lyndon" again and grew to like this tall Texan. But why?


The Vietnam War happened so fast and I was caught in the thick of things. But Mr. Johnson kept me in his camp by his "charm." So what.


Johnson seemingly defeated himself in the final analysis. I was trained to be a soldier.. something I never regretted. I saw the world, I learned a thing or two and dis my duty. If it wasn't for Johnson I'd be still working at the Brookfield Orchards!

DRIVING AN AMPHICAR ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI

Driving an Amphicar across the Mississippi River was easy! The year was 1963.

All it took was night vison and guts. I had both!

Friend Frank Tencza was passenger and the owner was out cold in the back seat. How I ever maneuvered such a fete is beyond me. I was 21, dauntless, daring and dumb. We could have drowned in the Spring current of the mighty Mississippi. We didn't .

Getting across the Mississippi river was one thing, getting bogged in the mud was another. I get myself in it; I got myself out of it. It was pitch dark and I recruited driftwood, a jack and some brains to pull out of the jam. Nothing in Vietnam can compare to this charade. Nothing.

Every step of the way I was lucky. Lucky I knew how to drive this German wonder, lucky to know how to get out of the mess of mud and lucky the East St. Louis, Illinois Police knew the owner (Doctor Sauer) and lucky the doctor paid for our cab ride back to campus at St. Louis U. at 3:45 AM.

As General Patton once said  'No guts, no glory.' If you doubt me give Tencza a call. He was my sidekick!

ELBOW GREASE..YEA!

You've got it.. having some elbow grease.

Today I did justice to my "Ice Box." for more than an hour I cleaned my refrigerator after 5 years. My slovenly ways have caught up with me; Son Ben and Allison -Baby-Girl come in from "Belmont-Abbey" and I must pass Inspection.

Then, earlier I was at my ironing board for more than an hour. It sis a shame how many long sleeve shirts I have from Bangladesh. I must be crazy. How many shirts should a man have? 25?

The air has moderated.. there's a notice of shorter days...getting close to September! Bitter sweet. I have had enough heat and humidity until next July.

Loving the music of the Late James Last.

THE LONG HOT TRUMP!

The long, hot, summer is usurping the romance of this presidential election. The part that infuriates me is the hundreds of millions dollars sucked up by the networks. These nitwits, bigmouths, think America is watching. Sorry. The more they talk, the less I watch! YOUTUBE is my television of choice. James Last is first and Ray Conniff is second to Last. LOL.


It was a bitch of a hot, muggy day. I swear I have ants in my pants. I have been fidgeting around then I zero on  a tiny mother. I did get some room arranging done and pigged out on strawberry ice cream. The month of August is more than half over.


My Birch Hill family was visited later in the day. Two kids were in watching the Disney Channel which I do enjoy. I did give the Vanity Plate stuff to Chase Robert and his smile and dimples were my satisfaction." Where did you get this, Pops?" The Internet was my response. The State of California has issued a BLOGGER plate!


We are still days away from "Fall weather." Relief isn't quite around the corner. My "Carolina Crew" is due on Thursday. Baby Girl Savannah Hope will steal the scene.


Waiting for the hot air from Wisconsin...vetting, you know.


Feed the poor not the media.

STAMP COLLECTING

very valuable duo!

The late Louis E. Roy. MD,, the late preeminent local historian inspired me to no end in December of 1954. I had just began collecting stamps and the good doctor showed me his very rare stamp collection of United States stamps. I was on my way. to learning what philately really was: simply stated it was about history and geography.


Through my high school years at NBHS I delighted in working my "winter hobby," Ruth Young further mentored me and Stackow and Richard Gagnon in collecting. By the time college came around I started to" wheeling and dealing."

Trans-Mississippi  1898

Presidential Series 1938

Eads Bridge  St. Louis

This has been my style for decades upon decade.


Postage stamps are miniature works of art. They are printed around the world by governments and others. The first stamp was fashioned in 1847 called the 'Penny Black' as opposed to Penny Fullam LOL. Both stamp collecting and the manufacture of stamps have been subordinated by the computer strips they call stamps.


Today I purchased an estate of stamps and this small collection fires me up so I can introduce the grand kids to one of my life's pleasures... collecting stamps. I plan on filling in the blanks and telling my story. Stamp Collecting is alive in 2016 but I don't know to what degree. I shall find out.


Jackie Kennedy appreciated my creating in 1994. So here we go...more fun in the name of philately.




National Parks