Greetings to all, and welcome new friends to the East Wing.
In the good old summer time, WOW! The heat is on! And so is the water. It rained 5” at the East Wing Yesterday, now that’s a lot of water. The water was within a fraction on an inch from coming in my front door. I love summer.
Stargazing in warm weather is so much fun, ya don’t see as good as mid winter, but summer stargazing is so much more fun. Ya may not see as good, but lots warmer, lots, lots warmer. Stargazing without cold fingers, it don’t get better than that. Not to mention the lack of cold toes.
When ya stargaze in the summertime ya compensate for the view by looking at closer in stuff. I never try to look at any thing farther from the sun than Mars in the summertime. This past week, the moon was Blue Light Special.
Today, Sunday, is the full Moon of July. The American Indians called the July full Moon the Full Buck Moon. “Cause that’s when the buck deer started to grow new antlers. Guess we just don’t care that much anymore ‘bout when deer starts to grow antlers. Those old Indians also called the July full Moon the Thunder Moon, ‘cause thunderstorms are more frequent in July than any other month, as last Saturday Night can well attest. The thunder rolled.
Spending so much time this past week looking at the Moon, I got to thinking ‘bout how much weather lore is tied to the Moon. Things such as: A pale full Moon indicates rain, while a red one brings wind. In the wane of the Moon, a cloudy morning bodes a fair afternoon. If the crescent Moon holds its points upward, able to contain water, it predicts a dry spell.
If the new Moon stands on its points, expect precipitation to spill out. A winter full Moon is a time for long cold snaps. A full Moon in April brings frost. Sailors thought that the full Moon "eats clouds."
Two full Moons in a month increase the chances of flood. A pale full Moon indicates rain, while a red one brings wind. A Christmas full Moon predicts a poor harvest. The days following a new Moon or a full Moon are typically stormy.
I’s truly surprising how much of that old stuff tends to come true. What else that’s amazing is how much of those old saying are now supported by scientific fact. And the rest that's not supported by science, well, that part mostly works too, just because.
Of all the emails Sophia the Republican Cat receives, she shares very few. Most, I assume, are related to her extreme right leaning political views. She is after all the national spokescat for several of the more prominent conservative organizations such as the CCCCC(California Calico Conservative Cat Conformance) , NCCOA (National Conservative Calico Cats Of America) as well as the NRCCA (National Republican Calico Cats of America) , and the NTCA (National Tea Cat Association) and we all know that when it comes to public participation in free speech, Sophia is the first to speak up. And the cat always has something to say, and most of the time, she'll make somebody mad when she says it. Damn Republican cat.
On occasion Sophia will get an email that she precedes to be of such importance to her cause that she'll thrust something in my face and dare me to include it from the East Wing. The listing of the Presidents Czar appointments are just such an issue. I didn’t know ‘bout all these Czars, I knew there were some, I thought maybe 4 or 5, knew nothing ‘bout anybody’s background, so when Sophia proposed I print her email, I checked it out for the accuracy, and guess what, it’s accurate.
Richard Holbrooke, Afghanistan Czar An ultra liberal anti gun former Gov. Of New Mexico. Pro Abortion and legal drug use.
Ed Montgomery Auto Recovery Czar A black radical anti business activist. Affirmative Action and Job Preference for blacks. University of Maryland Business School Dean. Teaches US business has caused world poverty. ACORN board member. Communist Dubois Club member.
Jeffrey Crowley, AIDS Czar , A radical Homosexual.. A Gay Rights activist. Believes in Gay Marriage and especially, a Special Status for homosexuals only, including complete free health care for gays.
Alan Bersin, Border Czar, The former failed superintendent of San Diego . Ultra Liberal friend of Hilary Clinton. Served as Border Czar under Janet Reno
David J. Hayes, California Water Czar Senior Fellow of radical environmentalist group, "Progress Policy". No training or experience in water management whatsoever.
Ron Bloom, Car Czar, Auto Union worker. Anti business & anti nuclear. Has worked hard to force US auto makers out of business. Sits on the Board of Chrysler which is now Auto Union owned
Dennis Ross, Central Region Czar. Believes US policy has caused Mid East wars. Obama apologist to the world. Anti gun and completely pro abortion.
.
Lynn Rosenthal, Domestic Violence Czar, Director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Vicious anti male feminist. Supported male castration.
Gil Kerlikowske, Drug Czar, Devoted lobbyist for every restrictive gun law proposal, Former Chief of Police in Liberal Seattle. Believes no American should own a firearm. Supports legalization of all drugs
Paul Volcker, Economic Czar. Head of Fed Reserve under Jimmy Carter when US economy nearly failed. Obama appointed head of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board which engineered the Obama economic plan. Member of anti business "Progressive Policy" organization.
Carol Brower, Energy and Environment Czar. Political Radical Former head of EPA - known for anti-business activism. Strong anti-gun ownership.
Joshua DuBois, Faith Based Czar, Political Black activist-Degree in Black Nationalism. Anti gun ownership lobbyist.
Cameron Davis, Great Lakes Czar. Chicago radical anti business environmentalist. Blames George Bush for "Poisoning the water that minorities have to drink." No experience or training in water management. Former ACORN Board member
Van Jones Green Jobs Czar ,(since resigned).. Black activist Member of American communist Party and San Francisco Communist Party who said Geo Bush caused the 911 attack and wanted Bush investigated by the World Court for war crimes. Black activist with strong anti-white views.
Daniel Fried, Guantanamo Closure Czar. Human Rights activist for Foreign Terrorists. Believes America has caused the war on terrorism. Believes terrorists have rights above and beyond Americans.
Nancy-Ann DeParle, Health Czar. Former head of Medicare / Medicaid. Strong Health Care Rationing proponent. She is married to a reporter for The New York Times.
Vivek Kundra Information Czar. Born in New Delhi , India . Controls all public information, including labels and news releases Monitors all private Internet emails.
Todd Stern, International Climate Czar. Anti business former White House chief of Staff- Strong supporter of the Kyoto Accord. Pushing hard for Cap and Trade. Blames US business for Global warming. Anti- US business prosperity.
Dennis Blair, Intelligence Czar. Ret. Navy, stopped US guided missile program as "provocative". Chair of ultra liberal "Council on Foreign Relations" which blames American organizations for regional wars.
George Mitchell, Mideast Peace Czar. Former Senator from Maine. Has said Israel should be split up into "2 or 3 " smaller more manageable plots. A true Anti-nuclear anti-gun & pro homosexual "special rights" advocate
Kenneth Feinberg, Pay Czar. Chief of Staff to Ted Kennedy. Lawyer who got rich off the 911 victims payoffs.
Cass Sunstein, Regulatory Czar. Liberal activist judge believes free speech needs to be limited for the "common good". Essentially against 1st amendment. Rules against personal freedoms many times -like private gun ownership and right to free speech.
John Holdren, Science Czar. Fierce ideological environmentalist, Sierra Club, Anti business activist. Claims US business has caused world poverty. No Science training.
Earl Devaney, Stimulus Accountability Czar. Spent career trying to take guns away from American citizens Believes in Open Borders to Mexico . Author of statement blaming US gun stores for drug war in Mexico .
J. Scott Gration, Sudan Czar. Native of Democratic Republic of Congo . Believes US does little to help Third World countries. Council of foreign relations, asking for higher US taxes to support United Nations.
Herb Allison, TARP Czar. Fannie Mae CEO responsible for the US recession by using real estate mortgages to back up the US stock market. Caused millions of people to lose their life savings.
John Brennan, Terrorism Czar. Anti CIA activist. No training in diplomatic or government affairs. Believes Open Borders to Mexico and a dialog with terrorists and has suggested Obama disband US military
Aneesh Chopra, Technology Czar .No Technology training. Worked for the Advisory Board Company, a health care think tank for hospitals. Anti doctor activist. Supports Obama Health Care Rationing and salaried doctors working exclusively for the Gov. health care plan.
Adolfo Carrion, Jr.Urban Affairs Czar. Puerto Rican born Anti American activist and leftist group member in Latin America . Millionaire "slum lord" of the Bronx , NY. Owns many lavish homes and condos which he got from "sweetheart" deals with labor unions. Wants higher taxes on middle class to pay for minority housing and health care.
Ashton Carter, Weapons Czar. Leftist. Wants all private weapons in US destroyed. Supports UN ban on firearms ownership in America . No Other "policy"
Gary Samore, Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy Czar. Former US Communist. Wants US to destroy all of Weapons of Mass Destruction unilaterally as a show of good faith. Has no other "policy".
Reading the list for the first time gave me a feeling of disbelief, the second time through gave me the impression that these appointed positions do in fact reflect the true political beliefs of the President of The United States, the person who appointed the Czars. Reading this list for the third time, gave me the impression that this is the “CHANGE” a majority of us voted for. Reading this list for the fourth time gave me the impression that this was not the change that I voted for.
Sophia wouldn’t divulge the source of her information, but I suspect it came from Fox News. It just looks like a Bill Glen Beck thing to me. One thing for sure, that list didn’t come from the White House. In a way I guess it did come from the White House. The appointments did, their backgrounds are public information………. And they’ll know we are Christian by our deeds, by our deeds.
Seems ya hear ‘bout these appointments and then never hear ‘bout them again. Ya can’t help but wonder what’s going on under the radar. Now how about this Alan Bersin, The Border Czar. This guy also served as Border Czar under Janet Reno, and we all remember that pretty girl. Wonder why, if we have this border czar, ya never hear ‘bout him?
Maybe he’s too busy securing the border in Arizona to be on CNN or NBC, or God forbid, Fox News. After the White House humiliation last week with the USDA black lady and the white farmer, you’d think they’d make sure that we all know our tax dollars at work for the Border Czar is money in action. I’d propose they do photo opts of this Border Czar packing heat and patrolling the border in Arizona.
Too bad John Wayne’s not here anymore, why the “Duke” and “Dirty Harry” combined, they’d take care of that Arizona mess in a week, ten days at the outside. We don’t have any real cowboys left, they went the way of the railroads. And yes, we miss ‘em now they’re gone.
One thing for sure, if that border issue is not going to be resolved soon, we’ll see more and more like situations come to the forefront. It can only get worse, not better. Why I’ve even heard rumbling right here at home that there’re too many hillbillies in Starke County.
Knowing that for sure, I’m proposing we organize a resistance to such influx of these undesirables. Those undocumented hillbillies. They’re taking our jobs, houses, and the next thing ya know they’ll be taking the women and children too. We need to decide just where to draw the line. Shall we place our defenses at the Starke / Pulaski County Line, or move all the way south to the Ohio River, seize control of the bridges, both road and rail, and fortify the north bank?
Either way something gotta be done. It’s clear that the federal government’s not going to be of any help with our problem. Why even have the Department of Homeland Security if they won’t help you protect your homeland? We need at least 5000 National Guards on our border, while Kentucky’s doing nothing to stem the flow north. Enough is enough. It’s time we true born Hoosiers take control of our own destiny and not leave such important issues as these hillbillies overrunning The State of Indiana to those Jack Wagons in Washington D.C. It seems that the political bucket of “you know what” in Indianapolis has sided with Jack Wagons to also ignore our plight. Just wait, our turn is coming. Our day will come.
The way the people ‘round here talk, I’m starting to think there may be some concern ‘bout illegal aliens from Illinois also slipping in through gaps in our western border. There seems to be an unusually high number of those kind, especially in the Bass Lake area. Some things just never change. Then the Big Bad Wolf said “I’ll huff and puff and I’ll blow your house down” and so he did. But the answer was not blowing on the wind.
Stay Safe in Afghanistan
From The East Wing, July Stargazing, The National Spokescat, Czars of Obama, Starke County Invasions
I wish you well,
BobbyRay
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
From the East Wing, With The Bishop of Winchester, Cold Hot Dogs & Kool-Aid, Sunburns at Southfork, Bentley & Spike, BP & Money
Greetings to all, and welcome Sweet Home Alabama,
It surprised me how many people thought I’d just made up the story of St. Swithin. Now granted the ole boy’s not as popular as St. Valentine or St. Nicholas, or even the Easter Bunny for that matter. He didn’t bring ya chocolate or give ya presents, didn’t even give ye colored eggs.
Although he did do a miracle with a case of eggs a while back. What happened was a lady was taking the eggs to an open market when she encountered a gang of mean men looking for something other than eggs. Without getting into all the sordid details the case of eggs was smashed. Along comes St. Swithin and proves all the kings horses and all the kings men wrong, by putting all the eggs back together again. It’s not water into wine, but is an omelet reversal. That is why ya supposed to eat eggs on St. Swithin Day. He’s just as legitimate as they come in the saint business. That Bishop of Winchester.
Saint Swithin lived a long, long time ago, it was over 1148 years ago was when he was buried in 862. Ya know that’s a long time when it seems strange to write a year with just three digits. He was the Bishop of Winchester for 10 years. Now being the Bishop of Winchester was no lowly job by any means, it was surely the single most important church position in England.
Now when the King of England comes to your church, ya know ya got his ear, so to speak. Kinda like President Obama going to the Rev. Wright’s church in Chicago and not listening to what’s being said, for twenty years. Yeah Wright, or was that wrong?
On his deathbed St. Swithin instructed that he be buried outside the north wall of his cathedral where passers-by could walk over his grave and raindrops from the eaves drop upon him.
When he died, back in 862, he was buried outside like he wanted. But ‘bout 100 years later, it was considered unsuitable that such a holy a man rest in a common grave. I guess by then everybody forgot that he wanted to be out there in the rain in the first place. So on July 15, the saint's feast day, they went to dig him up and enshrine his remains inside his church. Legend has it that St. Swithin caused torrential rains to fall for 40 days, until the intended transfer was abandoned.
Well that makes a really neat story but that’s not exactly how it ended, with St. Swithin still outside in the rain. The legend got it wrong, as many legends do. The real ending is even more interesting, although St. Swithin didn’t want to be brought in from the rain, he was. In fact not only brought in from the rain, but dismembered and as time went on, parts of St. Swithin were hauled to different churches all over England.
Seem good saints were hard to come by, even back then, and everybody wanted a part of St. Swithin, so he ended up here and there and most everywhere. But always inside not outside like he wanted. It did rain forty days when they first dug him up. So it just makes the story better.
And ya gotta keep in mind that back then they didn't have TV to look at so they made up good stories. After watching some of the TV crap on today, I long for St Swithin type stories.
The St. Swithin story and the rain is the source of a really old Scottish weather proverb regarding rain on July 15. "St. Swithin's Day if thou dost rain, / For forty days it will remain." With my dad being part Scottish, the St. Swithin’s Day rain for 40 days was one of the first weather lore stories I can remember as a child. St. Swithin’s historical importance as bishop is far overshadowed by his reputation for posthumous miracle-working. According to tradition, the weather on his feast day (15 July) will continue for forty days.
Speaking of weather lore, last weeks email brought a couple new ones I’d never head before. I’ll be sure and share those with ya later in the year, but one has to be used today. “The faster a cricket chirps, the warmer the temperature”. I don’t know ‘bout your house cricket, but mine’s been really, really chirping here lately.
I almost forgot to tell ya, July 15, 2010 was the hardest 24 hr. rainfall on England so far this year, and it’s forecast to continue to rain for quite some time. Coincidence or St. Swithin? Ya just never know for sure ‘bout stuff like that.
Thank you one and all for your expressed concern ‘bout my health and offered up prayers on my behalf. It must be working as I'm feeling much better and my blood sugar level is going in the right direction. Not yet normal, but a lot better than in the 450+ range. So things are coming back into focus and life is getting back to normal in my world.
The major changes in my life are the eating habits. For the good, for a change. Lots of veggies and non carbohydrate type foods. It turns out ya can eat lots of good stuff, just don’t eat lots of carbohydrates and sugar. I used to think that eating diabetic food doomed one to a life of bland food with no hope of tasting real food ever again in your life, boy was I wrong. I’ve never eaten so well in my life as I do now. Today for lunch me and the she had a vegetable pizza, yes, a vegetable pizza and it was great. Never thought I’d ever say, much less type such a thing.
Eating six or even seven times a day takes some getting used to, but it works out well. Salsa has always been one of my favorite foods and I find out I can eat as much as I want, any time I want. SWEET ! I now put salsa on everything, salsa on green beans, one of my personal favorites. I’m thinking ‘bout maybe trying salsa & soup beans.
Thanks also for the many diabetic recipes that have been sent my way. We will try 'em all, and I do appreciate someone taking the time to send it to me. I’m amazed at how may of those visiting the East Wing every week are diabetic, and I thought I was alone. It turns out I’m in the company of friends and family. In the presence of friends and family, one’s never alone. It’s kinda like getting bad news. Somehow if ya receive bad news, it just becomes more bearable if ya share the bad news with others. Don’t know why that is, it just is. And things like that ya don’t spend too much time trying to figure it out why. It just is, so leave it alone and go think ‘bout other stuff.
What makes my adjustments in eating habits so easy is the fact that me and the she both eat the same thing. Except she only eats three times a day and I do the six or seven thing. Now I was always of the impression that a diabetic diet was a sure fire way to lose weight. Not so, haven’t lost much, less than 10 lbs, but if ya can eat six or seven times a day and not gain weight ya gotta be happy, and full.
July is the hottest month of the year. With that thought in mind I started remembering what we used to do in Downtown Toto before air conditioning. It was hot back then too. We would open the house to the night air after sunset and leave everything open until morning, every window, every door. They all had screens, both windows and doors. Then in the early morning, draw all the shades, windows and doors before the temperature starts to rise for the day.
To feel cooler, we’d eat cooler. Cold hot dogs and lots of Kool-Aid. Bologna Sandwiches and Ice Water. Getting ice was kinda different than now. Today I just put the glass under the magic hole in the refrigerator door and presto, ice fills the glass. Having ice available in 1957 was more labor intensive. It was a process more so than an outcome. Effort before need was a prerequisite for ice in 1957. It wasn’t great ice, but it was good ice. Back then there was no expiration date on ice. When it all melted, ya just figured it had expired.
Anybody got sunburned this summer? I’m amazed that I’ve not sunburned the top of my head this year, for sure not too much hair, just too little exposure to the ole sun. Did ya ever put apple cider vinegar on sunburns, or Witch Hazel, or cold peppermint tea? That’s what Lou used on me at Southfork if I got too much sun.
One time I got sunburned on my face real bad from playing in the waters of Southfork too long during the “high sun” time of the day. The “high sun” is that time in which the sun shined directly on where you’re at. In the mountains that could be a fairly short time period, as another mountain could be blocking the remainder of the day. So knowing the high sun time was important when ya played in the creek at Southfork, ‘cause sunshine reflecting off the water burns faster than when you’re outside the water.
Anyway, when I got my face sunburned, Lou washed my face with buttermilk. Now don’t laugh, it worked. She done it 3 times. The first time just as soon as I came in the house from playing in the water. The second time after we all ate supper. The third time just before I went to bed. I though Lou was crazy, washing me with buttermilk and all. Then the next morning I woke up with no sunburn. Well I guess that’s just another example of how Lou and I got along. I still miss that old girl, Lou.
There’s another way to prevent sunburn. Wear a Hat. DUH!
Got a new dog at the East Wing, name of Bentley. Now Bentley’s had some tough days in his life, can tell by the way he acts, or more accurately, the way he reacts. I hate people who abuse pets, sickos all. If ya don’t want ‘em don’t get ‘em, but don’t abuse ‘em when ya get ‘em. I think that’s an old hillbilly saying.
Bentley’s ‘bout two years old and just last week went to the doctor for that special surgery. Came home the same afternoon barking two octaves higher, but he’s fine and none the less for wear. Just a little clip, clip here and a little clip, clip there and presto, a Brown and White Soprano.
Bentley’s best pal is Spike. A size difference of 60 lbs or so doesn’t seem to bother Spike or Bentley. They play. When I told ‘em not to play ruff, Spike said “If he gets hurt it’s his own fault”. Spike rules. While Sophia wants nothing to do with Bentley until she sees his voter registration card and picture ID. she did ask if Bentley had ever been through the Arizona desert. I know where that cat’s going with those type questions. Even without the voter registration card, I’m pretty sure Bentley’s a democrat, ‘cause he just lays around like the 2girldogs, looking for a handout.
Sure am glad to see that oil well coked off in the Gulf of Mexico. At least for the time being, and hopefully for good. Now the real fight begins, who gets the money. What about the vacationers from Kansas who didn’t get to go to the Gulf Cost on vacation this year due to the oil spill, surely they should be compensated some amount for having to go somewhere else on vacation.
Seems to me it could have been a lot better public relations move if the President had taken his family on vacation to the Gulf Cost last week, right after telling all of us to go there on vacation, then take his family to Maine. Maybe there was a Community Organizers Convention or something like that up there in Maine, But it’s hard to tell,‘cause all those Community Organizer Conventions, they all look alike, up there in Maine.
Knowing our government’s ability to screw things up, I expect the disgruntled Kansas Vacationers will be placed in line just ahead of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, who is way up front of that lowly deck hand on the shrimp boat who’s not worked since April, or has any expectations of ever working on a shrimp boat again in his foreseeable future. But he’ll get something, we just don’t care when or how much.
Do ya really think BP gives a damn. I don’t. BP cares ‘bout making money for it’s investors, nothing more, nothing less. As cold and cruel as that may seem to many, all corporations exist for the very same and single reason. Does a company exist to create jobs. No. A company exist to make a profit for its investors. Nothing more, nothing less. Anybody who thinks otherwise, doesn’t have a clue as to how and why corporations function the way they do. That simple fact is Business Management 101, first day, first hour, and repeated forever.
Did BP plan this disaster? Of course not. No more than Toyota planning to build 10 million cars that had to be repaired. The way I look at this whole sorry mess is the Toyota cars didn’t dump crap in the ocean. Had they done so, Toyota would be putting up the 20 billion fund to pay the mad vacationer from Kansas, who’s standing right behind the President who had to vacation in Maine due to the oil spill.
Stay safe in Afghanistan.
From the East Wing, With The Bishop of Winchester, Cold Hot Dogs & Kool-Aid, Sunburns at Southfork, Bentley & Spike, BP & Money
I wish you well,
BobbyRay
It surprised me how many people thought I’d just made up the story of St. Swithin. Now granted the ole boy’s not as popular as St. Valentine or St. Nicholas, or even the Easter Bunny for that matter. He didn’t bring ya chocolate or give ya presents, didn’t even give ye colored eggs.
Although he did do a miracle with a case of eggs a while back. What happened was a lady was taking the eggs to an open market when she encountered a gang of mean men looking for something other than eggs. Without getting into all the sordid details the case of eggs was smashed. Along comes St. Swithin and proves all the kings horses and all the kings men wrong, by putting all the eggs back together again. It’s not water into wine, but is an omelet reversal. That is why ya supposed to eat eggs on St. Swithin Day. He’s just as legitimate as they come in the saint business. That Bishop of Winchester.
Saint Swithin lived a long, long time ago, it was over 1148 years ago was when he was buried in 862. Ya know that’s a long time when it seems strange to write a year with just three digits. He was the Bishop of Winchester for 10 years. Now being the Bishop of Winchester was no lowly job by any means, it was surely the single most important church position in England.
Now when the King of England comes to your church, ya know ya got his ear, so to speak. Kinda like President Obama going to the Rev. Wright’s church in Chicago and not listening to what’s being said, for twenty years. Yeah Wright, or was that wrong?
On his deathbed St. Swithin instructed that he be buried outside the north wall of his cathedral where passers-by could walk over his grave and raindrops from the eaves drop upon him.
When he died, back in 862, he was buried outside like he wanted. But ‘bout 100 years later, it was considered unsuitable that such a holy a man rest in a common grave. I guess by then everybody forgot that he wanted to be out there in the rain in the first place. So on July 15, the saint's feast day, they went to dig him up and enshrine his remains inside his church. Legend has it that St. Swithin caused torrential rains to fall for 40 days, until the intended transfer was abandoned.
Well that makes a really neat story but that’s not exactly how it ended, with St. Swithin still outside in the rain. The legend got it wrong, as many legends do. The real ending is even more interesting, although St. Swithin didn’t want to be brought in from the rain, he was. In fact not only brought in from the rain, but dismembered and as time went on, parts of St. Swithin were hauled to different churches all over England.
Seem good saints were hard to come by, even back then, and everybody wanted a part of St. Swithin, so he ended up here and there and most everywhere. But always inside not outside like he wanted. It did rain forty days when they first dug him up. So it just makes the story better.
And ya gotta keep in mind that back then they didn't have TV to look at so they made up good stories. After watching some of the TV crap on today, I long for St Swithin type stories.
The St. Swithin story and the rain is the source of a really old Scottish weather proverb regarding rain on July 15. "St. Swithin's Day if thou dost rain, / For forty days it will remain." With my dad being part Scottish, the St. Swithin’s Day rain for 40 days was one of the first weather lore stories I can remember as a child. St. Swithin’s historical importance as bishop is far overshadowed by his reputation for posthumous miracle-working. According to tradition, the weather on his feast day (15 July) will continue for forty days.
Speaking of weather lore, last weeks email brought a couple new ones I’d never head before. I’ll be sure and share those with ya later in the year, but one has to be used today. “The faster a cricket chirps, the warmer the temperature”. I don’t know ‘bout your house cricket, but mine’s been really, really chirping here lately.
I almost forgot to tell ya, July 15, 2010 was the hardest 24 hr. rainfall on England so far this year, and it’s forecast to continue to rain for quite some time. Coincidence or St. Swithin? Ya just never know for sure ‘bout stuff like that.
Thank you one and all for your expressed concern ‘bout my health and offered up prayers on my behalf. It must be working as I'm feeling much better and my blood sugar level is going in the right direction. Not yet normal, but a lot better than in the 450+ range. So things are coming back into focus and life is getting back to normal in my world.
The major changes in my life are the eating habits. For the good, for a change. Lots of veggies and non carbohydrate type foods. It turns out ya can eat lots of good stuff, just don’t eat lots of carbohydrates and sugar. I used to think that eating diabetic food doomed one to a life of bland food with no hope of tasting real food ever again in your life, boy was I wrong. I’ve never eaten so well in my life as I do now. Today for lunch me and the she had a vegetable pizza, yes, a vegetable pizza and it was great. Never thought I’d ever say, much less type such a thing.
Eating six or even seven times a day takes some getting used to, but it works out well. Salsa has always been one of my favorite foods and I find out I can eat as much as I want, any time I want. SWEET ! I now put salsa on everything, salsa on green beans, one of my personal favorites. I’m thinking ‘bout maybe trying salsa & soup beans.
Thanks also for the many diabetic recipes that have been sent my way. We will try 'em all, and I do appreciate someone taking the time to send it to me. I’m amazed at how may of those visiting the East Wing every week are diabetic, and I thought I was alone. It turns out I’m in the company of friends and family. In the presence of friends and family, one’s never alone. It’s kinda like getting bad news. Somehow if ya receive bad news, it just becomes more bearable if ya share the bad news with others. Don’t know why that is, it just is. And things like that ya don’t spend too much time trying to figure it out why. It just is, so leave it alone and go think ‘bout other stuff.
What makes my adjustments in eating habits so easy is the fact that me and the she both eat the same thing. Except she only eats three times a day and I do the six or seven thing. Now I was always of the impression that a diabetic diet was a sure fire way to lose weight. Not so, haven’t lost much, less than 10 lbs, but if ya can eat six or seven times a day and not gain weight ya gotta be happy, and full.
July is the hottest month of the year. With that thought in mind I started remembering what we used to do in Downtown Toto before air conditioning. It was hot back then too. We would open the house to the night air after sunset and leave everything open until morning, every window, every door. They all had screens, both windows and doors. Then in the early morning, draw all the shades, windows and doors before the temperature starts to rise for the day.
To feel cooler, we’d eat cooler. Cold hot dogs and lots of Kool-Aid. Bologna Sandwiches and Ice Water. Getting ice was kinda different than now. Today I just put the glass under the magic hole in the refrigerator door and presto, ice fills the glass. Having ice available in 1957 was more labor intensive. It was a process more so than an outcome. Effort before need was a prerequisite for ice in 1957. It wasn’t great ice, but it was good ice. Back then there was no expiration date on ice. When it all melted, ya just figured it had expired.
Anybody got sunburned this summer? I’m amazed that I’ve not sunburned the top of my head this year, for sure not too much hair, just too little exposure to the ole sun. Did ya ever put apple cider vinegar on sunburns, or Witch Hazel, or cold peppermint tea? That’s what Lou used on me at Southfork if I got too much sun.
One time I got sunburned on my face real bad from playing in the waters of Southfork too long during the “high sun” time of the day. The “high sun” is that time in which the sun shined directly on where you’re at. In the mountains that could be a fairly short time period, as another mountain could be blocking the remainder of the day. So knowing the high sun time was important when ya played in the creek at Southfork, ‘cause sunshine reflecting off the water burns faster than when you’re outside the water.
Anyway, when I got my face sunburned, Lou washed my face with buttermilk. Now don’t laugh, it worked. She done it 3 times. The first time just as soon as I came in the house from playing in the water. The second time after we all ate supper. The third time just before I went to bed. I though Lou was crazy, washing me with buttermilk and all. Then the next morning I woke up with no sunburn. Well I guess that’s just another example of how Lou and I got along. I still miss that old girl, Lou.
There’s another way to prevent sunburn. Wear a Hat. DUH!
Got a new dog at the East Wing, name of Bentley. Now Bentley’s had some tough days in his life, can tell by the way he acts, or more accurately, the way he reacts. I hate people who abuse pets, sickos all. If ya don’t want ‘em don’t get ‘em, but don’t abuse ‘em when ya get ‘em. I think that’s an old hillbilly saying.
Bentley’s ‘bout two years old and just last week went to the doctor for that special surgery. Came home the same afternoon barking two octaves higher, but he’s fine and none the less for wear. Just a little clip, clip here and a little clip, clip there and presto, a Brown and White Soprano.
Bentley’s best pal is Spike. A size difference of 60 lbs or so doesn’t seem to bother Spike or Bentley. They play. When I told ‘em not to play ruff, Spike said “If he gets hurt it’s his own fault”. Spike rules. While Sophia wants nothing to do with Bentley until she sees his voter registration card and picture ID. she did ask if Bentley had ever been through the Arizona desert. I know where that cat’s going with those type questions. Even without the voter registration card, I’m pretty sure Bentley’s a democrat, ‘cause he just lays around like the 2girldogs, looking for a handout.
Sure am glad to see that oil well coked off in the Gulf of Mexico. At least for the time being, and hopefully for good. Now the real fight begins, who gets the money. What about the vacationers from Kansas who didn’t get to go to the Gulf Cost on vacation this year due to the oil spill, surely they should be compensated some amount for having to go somewhere else on vacation.
Seems to me it could have been a lot better public relations move if the President had taken his family on vacation to the Gulf Cost last week, right after telling all of us to go there on vacation, then take his family to Maine. Maybe there was a Community Organizers Convention or something like that up there in Maine, But it’s hard to tell,‘cause all those Community Organizer Conventions, they all look alike, up there in Maine.
Knowing our government’s ability to screw things up, I expect the disgruntled Kansas Vacationers will be placed in line just ahead of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, who is way up front of that lowly deck hand on the shrimp boat who’s not worked since April, or has any expectations of ever working on a shrimp boat again in his foreseeable future. But he’ll get something, we just don’t care when or how much.
Do ya really think BP gives a damn. I don’t. BP cares ‘bout making money for it’s investors, nothing more, nothing less. As cold and cruel as that may seem to many, all corporations exist for the very same and single reason. Does a company exist to create jobs. No. A company exist to make a profit for its investors. Nothing more, nothing less. Anybody who thinks otherwise, doesn’t have a clue as to how and why corporations function the way they do. That simple fact is Business Management 101, first day, first hour, and repeated forever.
Did BP plan this disaster? Of course not. No more than Toyota planning to build 10 million cars that had to be repaired. The way I look at this whole sorry mess is the Toyota cars didn’t dump crap in the ocean. Had they done so, Toyota would be putting up the 20 billion fund to pay the mad vacationer from Kansas, who’s standing right behind the President who had to vacation in Maine due to the oil spill.
Stay safe in Afghanistan.
From the East Wing, With The Bishop of Winchester, Cold Hot Dogs & Kool-Aid, Sunburns at Southfork, Bentley & Spike, BP & Money
I wish you well,
BobbyRay
Sunday, July 11, 2010
From the East Wing, Starting Dog Days, Easter Island & Looking At The Sun, P.S.M., A Family Of Kings
Greetings to all, and welcome new friends to the East Wing.
Lazy summer day, that July 5th, that extra holiday for July 4th. Do ya like to feel hot summer wind in your face? I do. And that Monday was just the day for hot summer wind. Done a little yard work, trimming around the flag pole base, and racking up the trimmings. Decided that’s enough work for one day and went back inside to play with the 2girldogs.
We’re not yet a week into the Dog Days of Summer and the 2girldogs are milking it for all it’s worth. Good thing the 2girldogs have their own couch, else they’d never fit the way they stretch out. I didn’t know the Pup Baby was that long. Guess that’s one of the benefits of being girldogs, ya get 40 days in the middle of summer where ya don’t have to do anything. I wonder if that’s all the democrats, or just the 2girldogs.
Course Sophia the Republican Cat’s not too far behind when it comes to the lazy days of summer. She spends time outside doing that Jungle Cat thing, but much of the time she too sleeps on the couch. Sophia struck a deal with the Pup Baby, she sleeps on the back of the couch while Mustina uses the seats. I’m not sure if any money changed hands on that deal or not, but knowing Sophia, I’m pretty sure she got the better of the deal, she most generally does.
Sophia’s having trouble with her national party chairman, Michael Steele, as he’s offended most republicans including Sophia for his remarks on the Afghanistan War, calling it “Obama’s War”. I guess the republicans want to make sure the get credit for that one. Seem to me there is enough misery over there go around, why don’t they just share the pain. But no! gotta have it all or nothing. I say let ‘em have it. Damn Republicans.
I no longer get email from Iraq. All the people who visited the East Wing while in Iraq have either gone home or transferred over to the Afghanistan War. I get some real interesting emails from Afghanistan. It appears to me the mood of the soldiers in Afghanistan is completely different than when they were in Iraq. The emails are different that’s for sure.
What I read from online news and hear on TV is a whole lot different than what I read in my email. It seems many share the views of the replaced general when it comes to the civilian side of the military management of this war. I have yet to receive a single positive comment from that war zone. Now more so than ever before I ask your prayers for those brave men and women who carry the burden of this war. I hope to, at some time in the future, share with you some of the things that have been said to me by those who keep us free. You’ll be amazed, shocked, and outraged. Better yet, look for yourself, just do a search on Military Rules of Engagement Afghanistan War.
Did ya see the total eclipse of the Sun today? Not if ya live in North America, ‘cause ya can only see it from the South Pacific Ocean and lower parts of South America. The very best place to see the eclipse was on Easter Island, that’s off the coast of Chili ‘bout 160 miles or so, as a matter of fact, I think Easter Island is a part of the world controlled by Chili. Easter Island is famous for those big stone faces that no body knows what they mean or why they made ‘em. That Easter Island stuff is kinda like the pyramids, some folks think they know a lot more ‘bout that stuff than they do also.
There’s always a danger of people going blind when a solar eclipse occurs. No matter how many people say don’t look directly into the sun during an eclipse, some do and pay the price, blindness for life. Never ever look directly into the sun even for a few seconds. There is no second chance when looking into the sun. After all the warnings on such things, my only advise is if you’re still dumb enough to look, pick out the white cane before ya look, if ya ever want to see it.
I think I mentioned a while back, that I gotta sun filter for my telescope. Too bad I can’t see the eclipse from the East Wing, else I’d look. I’ve watched solar eclipse’s before, but never thru a telescope sun filter. One time I created a homemade device to allow ya to look indirectly at a solar eclipse. Got the plans from a magazine, it worked fine, I didn’t go blind, so far.
When I was a kid in Downtown Toto, I saw an article in a little know publication to most folks in Toto, it was called “Popular Science” My dad got me a subscription when I was in the 5th grade and I loved that little book ever since, read it cover to cover every time it came in the mail.
Popular Science had all the plans to build a cardboard box observatory to watch the solar eclipse. Ya had to have a big box, and get inside and put a little hole on the side of the box facing the sun, let the sunshine in the box and look at the opposing wall. If ya had a perfect round hole, and it was big enough, ya could see the shadow of the earth cross the sunshine in the back of the box. It took me three boxes to get it right, but when I did, it worked. The final box was one used to cover a refrigerator and it worked swell! As a matter of fact, it worked so well that I charged other kids to go inside and look at the solar eclipse. The box was so big, two could get inside at the same time and still see the show. Don’t remember for sure, but I may have made a nickel that day. ‘Course a nickel went a lot farther then.
The next time we’ll have any opportunity to see an eclipse will be December 21st this year. Not the sun, but the moon. This eclipse will be visible to all over the country. This one will be a good one to watch if it’s a clear night. It starts a little late, ‘bout 11:30P.M., my time. It ends a little after 5:00 A.M., almost 6 hours of watching if ya wanta stay up all night. For this one ya got two things going for ya. One is it’s the best time of the year to stargaze and two it’ll be cold, so I’m not gona stay out all night watching the eclipse of the Moon.
Usually when I talk ‘bout stargazing, I get some email saying I’ve not used correct technical language to describe what I’m talking ‘bout. So here goes, for those folks who insist that I use “stargazer talk” this next paragraph’s for you.
On December 21, 2010 A total eclipse of the Moon will occur. This Lunar Eclipse will be fully visible from all of North America. The moon enters penumbra at 11:28 P.M. CST on December 20th and leaves penumbra at 5:06 A.M. CST on December 21.
Now for the non stargazers wonder what I’m talking ‘bout, that penumbra stuff is simply a partial outer shadow that is lighter than the darker inner shadow, the umbra. The area between complete darkness and complete light in an eclipse. I looked a lot at the stars before I learned ‘bout the penumbra and umbra stuff. When I looked thru my first telescope, I didn’t know an umbra from an umbrella. I now know. Never rely on an umbra if it's ‘bout to rain, and if ya need an umbrella, chances are you're not going to see an umbra anyway.
Thinking back on reading Popular Science Magazine, it’s truly amazing how many things I remember reading about in that magazine that have become reality today. Telephone without wires, machines that make other machines, automobiles that drive themselves, men on the ocean bottom, men walking on the moon, are just some of the things I remember reading first in my Popular Science Magazine. I still get Popular Science Magazine, still look forward to reading it cover to cover. I guess some things just never change, while it seems some things just never remain the same.
Had several emails wanting to know how Spike’s doing with the Spike Rules of the East Wing. Well to tell ya the truth, Spike finds the learning curve steep. Or else he’s just ignoring the Spike Rules altogether. A few cases in point being, I still see that white paw coming under the bathroom door almost every time I go in that room. He still walks on the 2girldogs food. He drinks from the large water bowl, not the small water bowl. Spike has taken a special liking to Mustina, he and the Pup Baby are now buds. They hang out, play together and when Pup Baby takes a nap, well, Spike takes a nap too, on top of Mustina. Spike Rules.
Now Sophia and Spike, well that’s a different story. Sophia refers to the little guy as “The Gray Cat Democrat” Like I said, seems some things just never change. Sophia The Republican Cat.
Being a descendent of a family of Kings, I spent this Sunday Afternoon at the King Reunion. Held annually the first Sunday after the 4th of July. Been going to that thing for most of my life, and ya just never get tired of seeing family. Some family ya see just once a year, others ya may see often, but always family, and always glad they’re there. The one thing I’ve noticed at the King Reunion is the change in the food.
As a kid, when I first started going to this party, other than cold pop, (soda for the rest of ya) I’d say 95% of the food was home made . The Ladies of King cooked the green beans, prepared chicken & dumplings, baked the hams, fried the chickens , baked the cornbread, mashed the potatoes, sliced the red tomatoes, peeled & sliced the onions, cooked the pinto beans, baked the meat loaf, made the banana puddings, baked the chocolate cakes, and pecan pies, even made the ice-cream. A meal fit for Kings.
Evolution has affected the meal fit for Kings, much the same way it’s affected the rest of society. The 95% transformed into 5%. Green beans are more apt to come from cans, chicken & dumplings are as rare as hens teeth, while hams are cousins trying to be funny. Fried Chicken comes from the round box with you know who’s picture on the side, and cornbread from a box is just not right, it’s just not right. Instant potatoes, just add stuff and keep telling yourself they’re just as good as the real thing, Yeah Right! And all the other dishes fall into line, the checkout line, at the delli.
The way I’m talking you’d think I didn’t like the food at the King Reunion, that’s not the case at all, I like most everybody else ate like little piggys. While eating I just happened to remember, 40 years ago we ate different stuff at this party.
It was a special day. All my sisters at one table with my mother. Any time ya can sit with all your sisters and your mother for a meal on a Sunday Afternoon, it’s a good day. For those that don’t know my connection to the Family of Kings, It’s my mama, Ruth King was her maiden name. When I talk ‘bout Lou and Southfork, Lou was my mama’s mother.
I had such a special relationship with Lou. The old girl had 68 grandchildren, 67 called her grandma, I called her Lou. We got along, me and Lou, she didn’t like being called a grandma, she told me so. Lou never got old. We played in the waters of Southfork, me and Lou.
A large group, that Family of Kings, George, Robert, Damon, Burl, Arlene, Mint, Mage, Martha, Myrtle, Ruth, Gladys, four boys and seven girls. Time has reduced the attendance of the original Kings. There is only a pair of Kings remaining, but what a pair to draw to. Today there was only a single original King in the house. My mama.
Stay safe in Afghanistan.
From the East Wing, Starting the Dog Days, Easter Island & Looking At The Sun, P. S. M., A Family Of Kings
I wish you well,
BobbyRay
Lazy summer day, that July 5th, that extra holiday for July 4th. Do ya like to feel hot summer wind in your face? I do. And that Monday was just the day for hot summer wind. Done a little yard work, trimming around the flag pole base, and racking up the trimmings. Decided that’s enough work for one day and went back inside to play with the 2girldogs.
We’re not yet a week into the Dog Days of Summer and the 2girldogs are milking it for all it’s worth. Good thing the 2girldogs have their own couch, else they’d never fit the way they stretch out. I didn’t know the Pup Baby was that long. Guess that’s one of the benefits of being girldogs, ya get 40 days in the middle of summer where ya don’t have to do anything. I wonder if that’s all the democrats, or just the 2girldogs.
Course Sophia the Republican Cat’s not too far behind when it comes to the lazy days of summer. She spends time outside doing that Jungle Cat thing, but much of the time she too sleeps on the couch. Sophia struck a deal with the Pup Baby, she sleeps on the back of the couch while Mustina uses the seats. I’m not sure if any money changed hands on that deal or not, but knowing Sophia, I’m pretty sure she got the better of the deal, she most generally does.
Sophia’s having trouble with her national party chairman, Michael Steele, as he’s offended most republicans including Sophia for his remarks on the Afghanistan War, calling it “Obama’s War”. I guess the republicans want to make sure the get credit for that one. Seem to me there is enough misery over there go around, why don’t they just share the pain. But no! gotta have it all or nothing. I say let ‘em have it. Damn Republicans.
I no longer get email from Iraq. All the people who visited the East Wing while in Iraq have either gone home or transferred over to the Afghanistan War. I get some real interesting emails from Afghanistan. It appears to me the mood of the soldiers in Afghanistan is completely different than when they were in Iraq. The emails are different that’s for sure.
What I read from online news and hear on TV is a whole lot different than what I read in my email. It seems many share the views of the replaced general when it comes to the civilian side of the military management of this war. I have yet to receive a single positive comment from that war zone. Now more so than ever before I ask your prayers for those brave men and women who carry the burden of this war. I hope to, at some time in the future, share with you some of the things that have been said to me by those who keep us free. You’ll be amazed, shocked, and outraged. Better yet, look for yourself, just do a search on Military Rules of Engagement Afghanistan War.
Did ya see the total eclipse of the Sun today? Not if ya live in North America, ‘cause ya can only see it from the South Pacific Ocean and lower parts of South America. The very best place to see the eclipse was on Easter Island, that’s off the coast of Chili ‘bout 160 miles or so, as a matter of fact, I think Easter Island is a part of the world controlled by Chili. Easter Island is famous for those big stone faces that no body knows what they mean or why they made ‘em. That Easter Island stuff is kinda like the pyramids, some folks think they know a lot more ‘bout that stuff than they do also.
There’s always a danger of people going blind when a solar eclipse occurs. No matter how many people say don’t look directly into the sun during an eclipse, some do and pay the price, blindness for life. Never ever look directly into the sun even for a few seconds. There is no second chance when looking into the sun. After all the warnings on such things, my only advise is if you’re still dumb enough to look, pick out the white cane before ya look, if ya ever want to see it.
I think I mentioned a while back, that I gotta sun filter for my telescope. Too bad I can’t see the eclipse from the East Wing, else I’d look. I’ve watched solar eclipse’s before, but never thru a telescope sun filter. One time I created a homemade device to allow ya to look indirectly at a solar eclipse. Got the plans from a magazine, it worked fine, I didn’t go blind, so far.
When I was a kid in Downtown Toto, I saw an article in a little know publication to most folks in Toto, it was called “Popular Science” My dad got me a subscription when I was in the 5th grade and I loved that little book ever since, read it cover to cover every time it came in the mail.
Popular Science had all the plans to build a cardboard box observatory to watch the solar eclipse. Ya had to have a big box, and get inside and put a little hole on the side of the box facing the sun, let the sunshine in the box and look at the opposing wall. If ya had a perfect round hole, and it was big enough, ya could see the shadow of the earth cross the sunshine in the back of the box. It took me three boxes to get it right, but when I did, it worked. The final box was one used to cover a refrigerator and it worked swell! As a matter of fact, it worked so well that I charged other kids to go inside and look at the solar eclipse. The box was so big, two could get inside at the same time and still see the show. Don’t remember for sure, but I may have made a nickel that day. ‘Course a nickel went a lot farther then.
The next time we’ll have any opportunity to see an eclipse will be December 21st this year. Not the sun, but the moon. This eclipse will be visible to all over the country. This one will be a good one to watch if it’s a clear night. It starts a little late, ‘bout 11:30P.M., my time. It ends a little after 5:00 A.M., almost 6 hours of watching if ya wanta stay up all night. For this one ya got two things going for ya. One is it’s the best time of the year to stargaze and two it’ll be cold, so I’m not gona stay out all night watching the eclipse of the Moon.
Usually when I talk ‘bout stargazing, I get some email saying I’ve not used correct technical language to describe what I’m talking ‘bout. So here goes, for those folks who insist that I use “stargazer talk” this next paragraph’s for you.
On December 21, 2010 A total eclipse of the Moon will occur. This Lunar Eclipse will be fully visible from all of North America. The moon enters penumbra at 11:28 P.M. CST on December 20th and leaves penumbra at 5:06 A.M. CST on December 21.
Now for the non stargazers wonder what I’m talking ‘bout, that penumbra stuff is simply a partial outer shadow that is lighter than the darker inner shadow, the umbra. The area between complete darkness and complete light in an eclipse. I looked a lot at the stars before I learned ‘bout the penumbra and umbra stuff. When I looked thru my first telescope, I didn’t know an umbra from an umbrella. I now know. Never rely on an umbra if it's ‘bout to rain, and if ya need an umbrella, chances are you're not going to see an umbra anyway.
Thinking back on reading Popular Science Magazine, it’s truly amazing how many things I remember reading about in that magazine that have become reality today. Telephone without wires, machines that make other machines, automobiles that drive themselves, men on the ocean bottom, men walking on the moon, are just some of the things I remember reading first in my Popular Science Magazine. I still get Popular Science Magazine, still look forward to reading it cover to cover. I guess some things just never change, while it seems some things just never remain the same.
Had several emails wanting to know how Spike’s doing with the Spike Rules of the East Wing. Well to tell ya the truth, Spike finds the learning curve steep. Or else he’s just ignoring the Spike Rules altogether. A few cases in point being, I still see that white paw coming under the bathroom door almost every time I go in that room. He still walks on the 2girldogs food. He drinks from the large water bowl, not the small water bowl. Spike has taken a special liking to Mustina, he and the Pup Baby are now buds. They hang out, play together and when Pup Baby takes a nap, well, Spike takes a nap too, on top of Mustina. Spike Rules.
Now Sophia and Spike, well that’s a different story. Sophia refers to the little guy as “The Gray Cat Democrat” Like I said, seems some things just never change. Sophia The Republican Cat.
Being a descendent of a family of Kings, I spent this Sunday Afternoon at the King Reunion. Held annually the first Sunday after the 4th of July. Been going to that thing for most of my life, and ya just never get tired of seeing family. Some family ya see just once a year, others ya may see often, but always family, and always glad they’re there. The one thing I’ve noticed at the King Reunion is the change in the food.
As a kid, when I first started going to this party, other than cold pop, (soda for the rest of ya) I’d say 95% of the food was home made . The Ladies of King cooked the green beans, prepared chicken & dumplings, baked the hams, fried the chickens , baked the cornbread, mashed the potatoes, sliced the red tomatoes, peeled & sliced the onions, cooked the pinto beans, baked the meat loaf, made the banana puddings, baked the chocolate cakes, and pecan pies, even made the ice-cream. A meal fit for Kings.
Evolution has affected the meal fit for Kings, much the same way it’s affected the rest of society. The 95% transformed into 5%. Green beans are more apt to come from cans, chicken & dumplings are as rare as hens teeth, while hams are cousins trying to be funny. Fried Chicken comes from the round box with you know who’s picture on the side, and cornbread from a box is just not right, it’s just not right. Instant potatoes, just add stuff and keep telling yourself they’re just as good as the real thing, Yeah Right! And all the other dishes fall into line, the checkout line, at the delli.
The way I’m talking you’d think I didn’t like the food at the King Reunion, that’s not the case at all, I like most everybody else ate like little piggys. While eating I just happened to remember, 40 years ago we ate different stuff at this party.
It was a special day. All my sisters at one table with my mother. Any time ya can sit with all your sisters and your mother for a meal on a Sunday Afternoon, it’s a good day. For those that don’t know my connection to the Family of Kings, It’s my mama, Ruth King was her maiden name. When I talk ‘bout Lou and Southfork, Lou was my mama’s mother.
I had such a special relationship with Lou. The old girl had 68 grandchildren, 67 called her grandma, I called her Lou. We got along, me and Lou, she didn’t like being called a grandma, she told me so. Lou never got old. We played in the waters of Southfork, me and Lou.
A large group, that Family of Kings, George, Robert, Damon, Burl, Arlene, Mint, Mage, Martha, Myrtle, Ruth, Gladys, four boys and seven girls. Time has reduced the attendance of the original Kings. There is only a pair of Kings remaining, but what a pair to draw to. Today there was only a single original King in the house. My mama.
Stay safe in Afghanistan.
From the East Wing, Starting the Dog Days, Easter Island & Looking At The Sun, P. S. M., A Family Of Kings
I wish you well,
BobbyRay
Sunday, July 4, 2010
From the East Wing, On July 4th, , Julius Caesar &The Month of Brutus, Doing July Stuff, Looking At The Sun, Dog Days, Orion & Star Lore, Flat Rocks
Greetings to all, and welcome new friends to the East Wing.
Midsummer Day is barely past and POW ! The 4th of July. The unchallenged highlight of the summertime, 4th of July. This year with the 4th on a Sunday, everybody gets an extra holiday on the 5th of July. Now more than ever before, it’s important to never lose site of the fact that we are free because of the brave. The brave men and women of our nation from 1776 to this very day in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have kept us free to be able to say and do what we want. As a people we’re so free in our society, we don’t even know it. Like many things in life, freedom not worth nothing till it's gone. The land of the free because of the brave.
This is a real 3 day weekend, not one of those stupid made up Monday Holidays just to make an artificial 3 day weekends. I hate when they do that. I still think some dumbkoff is gona come along and propose Easter the third Monday in April and Christmas the 4th Monday in December.
But for right now we just enjoy what July has to offer, and it offers lots. Julius Caesar named July after himself when he reworked the original Roman Calendar. Guess that’s one of the little perks ya get when you’re emperor, naming a month after yourself. Boy, if I were emperor, even for a day, I’d for sure name at least one month BobbyRay, maybe even two months, but that might be too confusing for my subjects, so I’ll just stick with one month. I think I’ll pick the one with my birthday, then make EVERYBODY get me presents. It’s fun being emperor, even for one day. Ya sure get a lot of birthday presents when you’re emperor.
Interesting little note ‘bout Julius Caesar naming July after himself, ironically, the change went into effect in 44 B.C. the same year Caesar was assassinated. Maybe those ole boys with those togas got mad ‘cause Julius had his month and they didn’t. Maybe he should have changed August to Brutus. I don’t know it that would have helped any, ‘cause I heard there were other reasons too. But having the month of Brutus for sure wouldn’t hurt the situation. And that ole boy needed all the help he could get and none came forward. That whole deal of the ides of March sounded to me like a Republican plot to take control. And they’ve been plotting ever since.
With Earth at its farthest point from the Sun this month, the sunshine comes with enough power to make July the warmest month for most of the North American Continent. That’s explained by angles of the Earth in relationship to the Sun. Now if ya don’t believe me on that angle stuff, just go outside and feel the direct sunshine on your skin, stay out there a little while in the sun, now remember that feeling, and go out again in January and stay ‘bout the same time out there in the sun. Be sure you don’t wear any more clothes when you go outside in January than you did when you went outside in July. Yeah, that’s what I’m talking ‘bout. Angles of the sun. Sometimes it’ll make ya want to wear coats.
Corn knee-high by the 4th of July, many of the fields around the East Wing are full of corn this year, and I’m telling ya, it’s not gona be knee-high by the 4th of July, it’s well over 6 ft by the 4th of July. It’s the tallest July 4th corn I’ve ever seen ‘round here Years ago when the farmer planted my field across the road, south of the East Wing, I think he planted that little short yellow kind. I’m sure you’ve heard that old saying “knee high to a grasshopper”, that kinda described my cornfield.
It’s that time of the year where ya can walk into a corn field just after dark, and as the air starts to cool for the night, ya can hear the corn grow. I’m sure some people will read that hearing the corn grow stuff, and think how stupid do ya think I am. Well I sure don’t think you’re stupid, but you’re probably one of those who thinks milk comes from a box. It doesn’t, cows are involved, in a major way.
July is for doing neat outside stuff, if ya got a sailboat, sail it. Not too many sail boats ‘round me, a few, but most everybody who has a boat, also has a motor for the boat. I never got into doing much water stuff in the summertime. I guess Downtown Toto was just too far from any large body of water to get too excited ‘bout doing water stuff. The closest water was a couple mile or so north to the Yellow River. I remember some times the army (The Toto Volunteers) would march to the river. Why, in the summertime, I've seen as much as 8 – 9 inches of water at that bridge, there north of Toto. It’s hard to learn to swim in 9 inchers of water, so we just mostly sat on our butt and splashed the water.
There’s a rather large above ground pool here at the East Wing, some 18’ by 36’. It’s above ground, ‘cause if I put it in ground, I’d have to pay more real estate tax on the pool than the East Wing. The pool is 4ft deep all over. We have very strict life safety rules here at the Pool at the East Wing. And I make sure everybody reads and understands the rules before I'll allow them into the pool. The rules are: IF YA START TO DROWN, STAND UP!
Drinking lemonade outside on the deck, fireworks, watching thunderstorms from inside the East Wing, ripe peaches, watermelons, and tomatoes tasting so good ya don’t know whether to eat ‘em today or save ‘em for tomorrow, and ya always eat ‘em today and let tomorrow take care of itself. Laying on a blanket in the yard just watching the clouds float by in a cloud so blue ya can see tomorrow. Now that’s July Days.
Another neat summer thing is the Dog Days of Summer. Not everybody seems to agree on when to start the Dog Days of Summer, in Ancient Rome, back when Julius Caesar was jerking ’round with the calendar , the Dog Days started on July 24 and ended August 24 But in some places it was July 23 to August 23. It’s tuff to get those European People (German, French, Italian) to agree on anything so that’s why everybody chooses what day they want for Dog Days.
Now here in the good ole U.S. of A. we tend to let The Old Farmer's Almanac take care of stuff like that and they list Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. It’s also interesting to note that these are the days of the year when rainfall is at its lowest levels.
I can never talk ‘bout dogdays without recalling Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol reference to dogdays. Being a Charles Dickens fan, I get as much fun out of reading this description now as the first time I read it a while back.
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dogdays; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.
Gotta love Charles Dickens, Don’t know how many times I’ve read that story. And still re-read it from time to time. Just to savor writing such as the above paragraph. May I suggest you go back and re-read the description of Scrooge and see if ya don’t feel his cold too. Ya gotta remember now, Scrooge lived prior to air conditioning so “he iced this office in the dogdays” I don’t care who ya are, that’s a cold hearted person. Scrooge!
Don’t know why you’re suppose to eat eggs on St. Swithin’s Day (July 15th), ya just do, and oysters on St. James’s Day (July 26th). Now I can handle the St. Swithin’s Day eating an egg or two, but that St. James oyster deal is just gona pass me by. I don’t eat much of anything that swims or lives under water.
I mostly prefer to eat things that moo or grunt or even an occasional cluck or quack. Even with that limited selection of protein, there are parts I won’t eat. I never eat parts that filter, pump, think, or reproduce. It just don’t seem right to me to eat such things. But I’m a big fan of Chinese Restaurants, and once in a while I wonder if they may have slipped something in on me. Ya know, some of that stuff in the Chinese Restaurants don’t even have names, just numbers, and sometimes the numbers, they’re in Chinese. Ya just never know.
For my stargazing buddies, I just remembered that Earth reaches aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, on this coming Tuesday, the 6th. A while back I got a new filter lens for my telescope so now I can look directly into the sun. But I haven’t done so yet. It’s kinda like the little guy in the movie with the new BB Gun, I’m afraid I'll burn my eye out. Maybe I'll risk it when I’m the farthest away from the sun.
One of the neat things ‘bout stargazing is learning ‘bout star lore, that’s about the creating and cherishing of mythical stories about the stars and star patterns (constellations and asterisms). It’s kinda like folklore based upon the stars and star patterns. Using the stars to explain religious doctrines or actual events in history is also star lore. Star lore has been around a long time. It has been practiced by nearly every culture recorded in history, dating as far back as 5,500 years ago. It was practiced by prehistoric cultures of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods as well.
I first started to learn ‘bout star lore when I made my first telescope. It wasn’t the best scope I’ve ever looked thru, but I’ve never more proud of anything I’ve done than making that telescope. A long time ago pop bottles were made of glass and the Coke bottles had a thick base. I took two of those bottles and ground a set of lenses for my telescope. It took a while, but it worked. Don’t remember what ever happened to my first telescope, wonder if my mama has that, she saved everything else in the world.
A good example of star lore is the creation of the story ‘bout Orion the Hunter and Scorpius, the Scorpion by the ancient Greeks. Now these folks saw a very startling pattern of bright stars in the winter sky that, from their point of view, resembled a mighty hunter, which they named Orion. During the summer, they saw another startling pattern of bright stars that resembled a scorpion. They noticed that the constellations of Orion and the Scorpion were positioned at opposite ends of the sky and were never seen in the sky simultaneously. As one constellation rose above the eastern horizon, the other was setting below the western horizon, and when either one was high in the sky, the other was completely absent. The ancient Greeks felt compelled to explain this phenomenon by making up a story based on the two constellations.
The story was that Orion was a mighty and proud hunter who was stung by a scorpion. Orion died of the scorpion's sting and was placed among the stars by the gods. Although the scorpion was destroyed by the gods in vengeance for killing Orion, it was also placed among the stars. In order to prevent Orion and the scorpion from quarrelling and fighting with each other in the sky, the gods placed Orion and the Scorpion at opposite ends of the sky, and in opposite seasons, so that both of them can never be seen in the sky at the same time.
Tell ya what, I’ve looked at both Orion and Scorpius, and as much as I've tried, they still don’t look like anything ‘cept a bunch of stars. Maybe if someone would shut all the other stars off and just left those two groups shining, we’d see 'em better. But I don’t think that’s gona happen any time soon, ‘cause nobody knows where the light switch is.
While watering my deck tomatoes today I remembered a trick Lou told me ‘bout when I’d go with her to the Gardens of Southfork. To help tomatoes get through periods of drought during the Dog Days of Summer, take flat rocks and place ‘em close next to each plant. The rocks pull up water from under the ground and keep it from evaporating into the air. It works. Lou had really big and really good tomatoes every year. Most all the rocks at Southfork are flat, and there’s a lot of flat rocks at Southfork. ‘Course that stuff from the barn they put in the dirt around the tomatoes plants didn’t hurt either. For sure have to put that stuff in the dirt before the rocks are put down, 'cause it won’t work on top of rocks.
As this beautiful summer day dissolves into twilight on it’s singular journey into the darkness of history, the 2girldogs, Sophia, 1wife, 1Spike are either asleep or rapidly getting ready to go there, this day has been good, and like all days, a special gift from God.
Stay safe in Afghanistan.
From the East Wing, On July 4th, , Julius Caesar &The Month of Brutus, Doing July Stuff, Looking At The Sun, Dog Days, Orion & Star Lore, The Flat Rocks of Southfork
I wish you well,
BobbyRay
Midsummer Day is barely past and POW ! The 4th of July. The unchallenged highlight of the summertime, 4th of July. This year with the 4th on a Sunday, everybody gets an extra holiday on the 5th of July. Now more than ever before, it’s important to never lose site of the fact that we are free because of the brave. The brave men and women of our nation from 1776 to this very day in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have kept us free to be able to say and do what we want. As a people we’re so free in our society, we don’t even know it. Like many things in life, freedom not worth nothing till it's gone. The land of the free because of the brave.
This is a real 3 day weekend, not one of those stupid made up Monday Holidays just to make an artificial 3 day weekends. I hate when they do that. I still think some dumbkoff is gona come along and propose Easter the third Monday in April and Christmas the 4th Monday in December.
But for right now we just enjoy what July has to offer, and it offers lots. Julius Caesar named July after himself when he reworked the original Roman Calendar. Guess that’s one of the little perks ya get when you’re emperor, naming a month after yourself. Boy, if I were emperor, even for a day, I’d for sure name at least one month BobbyRay, maybe even two months, but that might be too confusing for my subjects, so I’ll just stick with one month. I think I’ll pick the one with my birthday, then make EVERYBODY get me presents. It’s fun being emperor, even for one day. Ya sure get a lot of birthday presents when you’re emperor.
Interesting little note ‘bout Julius Caesar naming July after himself, ironically, the change went into effect in 44 B.C. the same year Caesar was assassinated. Maybe those ole boys with those togas got mad ‘cause Julius had his month and they didn’t. Maybe he should have changed August to Brutus. I don’t know it that would have helped any, ‘cause I heard there were other reasons too. But having the month of Brutus for sure wouldn’t hurt the situation. And that ole boy needed all the help he could get and none came forward. That whole deal of the ides of March sounded to me like a Republican plot to take control. And they’ve been plotting ever since.
With Earth at its farthest point from the Sun this month, the sunshine comes with enough power to make July the warmest month for most of the North American Continent. That’s explained by angles of the Earth in relationship to the Sun. Now if ya don’t believe me on that angle stuff, just go outside and feel the direct sunshine on your skin, stay out there a little while in the sun, now remember that feeling, and go out again in January and stay ‘bout the same time out there in the sun. Be sure you don’t wear any more clothes when you go outside in January than you did when you went outside in July. Yeah, that’s what I’m talking ‘bout. Angles of the sun. Sometimes it’ll make ya want to wear coats.
Corn knee-high by the 4th of July, many of the fields around the East Wing are full of corn this year, and I’m telling ya, it’s not gona be knee-high by the 4th of July, it’s well over 6 ft by the 4th of July. It’s the tallest July 4th corn I’ve ever seen ‘round here Years ago when the farmer planted my field across the road, south of the East Wing, I think he planted that little short yellow kind. I’m sure you’ve heard that old saying “knee high to a grasshopper”, that kinda described my cornfield.
It’s that time of the year where ya can walk into a corn field just after dark, and as the air starts to cool for the night, ya can hear the corn grow. I’m sure some people will read that hearing the corn grow stuff, and think how stupid do ya think I am. Well I sure don’t think you’re stupid, but you’re probably one of those who thinks milk comes from a box. It doesn’t, cows are involved, in a major way.
July is for doing neat outside stuff, if ya got a sailboat, sail it. Not too many sail boats ‘round me, a few, but most everybody who has a boat, also has a motor for the boat. I never got into doing much water stuff in the summertime. I guess Downtown Toto was just too far from any large body of water to get too excited ‘bout doing water stuff. The closest water was a couple mile or so north to the Yellow River. I remember some times the army (The Toto Volunteers) would march to the river. Why, in the summertime, I've seen as much as 8 – 9 inches of water at that bridge, there north of Toto. It’s hard to learn to swim in 9 inchers of water, so we just mostly sat on our butt and splashed the water.
There’s a rather large above ground pool here at the East Wing, some 18’ by 36’. It’s above ground, ‘cause if I put it in ground, I’d have to pay more real estate tax on the pool than the East Wing. The pool is 4ft deep all over. We have very strict life safety rules here at the Pool at the East Wing. And I make sure everybody reads and understands the rules before I'll allow them into the pool. The rules are: IF YA START TO DROWN, STAND UP!
Drinking lemonade outside on the deck, fireworks, watching thunderstorms from inside the East Wing, ripe peaches, watermelons, and tomatoes tasting so good ya don’t know whether to eat ‘em today or save ‘em for tomorrow, and ya always eat ‘em today and let tomorrow take care of itself. Laying on a blanket in the yard just watching the clouds float by in a cloud so blue ya can see tomorrow. Now that’s July Days.
Another neat summer thing is the Dog Days of Summer. Not everybody seems to agree on when to start the Dog Days of Summer, in Ancient Rome, back when Julius Caesar was jerking ’round with the calendar , the Dog Days started on July 24 and ended August 24 But in some places it was July 23 to August 23. It’s tuff to get those European People (German, French, Italian) to agree on anything so that’s why everybody chooses what day they want for Dog Days.
Now here in the good ole U.S. of A. we tend to let The Old Farmer's Almanac take care of stuff like that and they list Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. It’s also interesting to note that these are the days of the year when rainfall is at its lowest levels.
I can never talk ‘bout dogdays without recalling Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol reference to dogdays. Being a Charles Dickens fan, I get as much fun out of reading this description now as the first time I read it a while back.
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dogdays; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.
Gotta love Charles Dickens, Don’t know how many times I’ve read that story. And still re-read it from time to time. Just to savor writing such as the above paragraph. May I suggest you go back and re-read the description of Scrooge and see if ya don’t feel his cold too. Ya gotta remember now, Scrooge lived prior to air conditioning so “he iced this office in the dogdays” I don’t care who ya are, that’s a cold hearted person. Scrooge!
Don’t know why you’re suppose to eat eggs on St. Swithin’s Day (July 15th), ya just do, and oysters on St. James’s Day (July 26th). Now I can handle the St. Swithin’s Day eating an egg or two, but that St. James oyster deal is just gona pass me by. I don’t eat much of anything that swims or lives under water.
I mostly prefer to eat things that moo or grunt or even an occasional cluck or quack. Even with that limited selection of protein, there are parts I won’t eat. I never eat parts that filter, pump, think, or reproduce. It just don’t seem right to me to eat such things. But I’m a big fan of Chinese Restaurants, and once in a while I wonder if they may have slipped something in on me. Ya know, some of that stuff in the Chinese Restaurants don’t even have names, just numbers, and sometimes the numbers, they’re in Chinese. Ya just never know.
For my stargazing buddies, I just remembered that Earth reaches aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, on this coming Tuesday, the 6th. A while back I got a new filter lens for my telescope so now I can look directly into the sun. But I haven’t done so yet. It’s kinda like the little guy in the movie with the new BB Gun, I’m afraid I'll burn my eye out. Maybe I'll risk it when I’m the farthest away from the sun.
One of the neat things ‘bout stargazing is learning ‘bout star lore, that’s about the creating and cherishing of mythical stories about the stars and star patterns (constellations and asterisms). It’s kinda like folklore based upon the stars and star patterns. Using the stars to explain religious doctrines or actual events in history is also star lore. Star lore has been around a long time. It has been practiced by nearly every culture recorded in history, dating as far back as 5,500 years ago. It was practiced by prehistoric cultures of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods as well.
I first started to learn ‘bout star lore when I made my first telescope. It wasn’t the best scope I’ve ever looked thru, but I’ve never more proud of anything I’ve done than making that telescope. A long time ago pop bottles were made of glass and the Coke bottles had a thick base. I took two of those bottles and ground a set of lenses for my telescope. It took a while, but it worked. Don’t remember what ever happened to my first telescope, wonder if my mama has that, she saved everything else in the world.
A good example of star lore is the creation of the story ‘bout Orion the Hunter and Scorpius, the Scorpion by the ancient Greeks. Now these folks saw a very startling pattern of bright stars in the winter sky that, from their point of view, resembled a mighty hunter, which they named Orion. During the summer, they saw another startling pattern of bright stars that resembled a scorpion. They noticed that the constellations of Orion and the Scorpion were positioned at opposite ends of the sky and were never seen in the sky simultaneously. As one constellation rose above the eastern horizon, the other was setting below the western horizon, and when either one was high in the sky, the other was completely absent. The ancient Greeks felt compelled to explain this phenomenon by making up a story based on the two constellations.
The story was that Orion was a mighty and proud hunter who was stung by a scorpion. Orion died of the scorpion's sting and was placed among the stars by the gods. Although the scorpion was destroyed by the gods in vengeance for killing Orion, it was also placed among the stars. In order to prevent Orion and the scorpion from quarrelling and fighting with each other in the sky, the gods placed Orion and the Scorpion at opposite ends of the sky, and in opposite seasons, so that both of them can never be seen in the sky at the same time.
Tell ya what, I’ve looked at both Orion and Scorpius, and as much as I've tried, they still don’t look like anything ‘cept a bunch of stars. Maybe if someone would shut all the other stars off and just left those two groups shining, we’d see 'em better. But I don’t think that’s gona happen any time soon, ‘cause nobody knows where the light switch is.
While watering my deck tomatoes today I remembered a trick Lou told me ‘bout when I’d go with her to the Gardens of Southfork. To help tomatoes get through periods of drought during the Dog Days of Summer, take flat rocks and place ‘em close next to each plant. The rocks pull up water from under the ground and keep it from evaporating into the air. It works. Lou had really big and really good tomatoes every year. Most all the rocks at Southfork are flat, and there’s a lot of flat rocks at Southfork. ‘Course that stuff from the barn they put in the dirt around the tomatoes plants didn’t hurt either. For sure have to put that stuff in the dirt before the rocks are put down, 'cause it won’t work on top of rocks.
As this beautiful summer day dissolves into twilight on it’s singular journey into the darkness of history, the 2girldogs, Sophia, 1wife, 1Spike are either asleep or rapidly getting ready to go there, this day has been good, and like all days, a special gift from God.
Stay safe in Afghanistan.
From the East Wing, On July 4th, , Julius Caesar &The Month of Brutus, Doing July Stuff, Looking At The Sun, Dog Days, Orion & Star Lore, The Flat Rocks of Southfork
I wish you well,
BobbyRay
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