ON A DIET?

FATSO?

I was a chubby rascal for quite a few years.  Not grossly obese but "pudgy."  My physician kept telling me that according to his tests, my weight was too high for my 5'7" height. At my highest, I weighed 220 pounds.

But, as I told my doctor, I had lifted weights every morning for 30 years, and as everybody knows, muscle weighs more than fat.  

He didn't buy that and kept putting me on diets. None of them worked.  Besides, I kind of liked being "heavy," and I refused to give up the "delicious" beer that I consumed while eating my nightly "delicious" repast.

But after I broke my face, my weight dropped from 220 pounds to 166 pounds while I was a patient in the Home Hospice Program.  Everyone expected my funeral was coming soon, but I fooled them.

Perhaps my loss of so much weight was a contributing factor. And I attribute the loss to a reduction of my beer allowance.

Now I restrict my beer-guzzling to one bottle at lunchtime, but only when some kind soul, like my son or my home helper provide it.  I love my helping of "Snake-Dog" brew!

Enough about me. (Applause)

NUTRITION

I found an article in my files about the "proper" way to eat, and hopefully, lose weight.

* Registered dietitian, Nancy Schwartz who (supposedly) directed the ADA's National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics, had some suggestions for healthful eating: (I quote and paraphrase, kind of)

1. "Be realistic. Make gradual changes to your eating pattern and physical activity."

2.  "Be adventurous. Expand your food repertoire."

3.  "Be flexible.

     Balance what you eat and (increase) your physical activity (a little at a time.)

     ... Small increments of (nutritious) food and (body movement) can add up to a physically active lifestyle."

4.  "Be sensible.  Enjoy all foods.

      Just don't overdo it."

 5.  "Be active. Walk the dog, don't just watch the dog walk!"

* ADA is the acronym for the Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination in several areas of people with disabilities.  

(I can't find any information about Nancy Schwartz.)

...........................................................................

 EDUCATION FROM CROSSWORDS

Today's LA TIMES crossword was just right.  Not too easy.  Not too hard.  It was composed by Katrina Lee, who inserted some clues that women might solve easier than chauvinistic men.  For instance:

 1.  "Gucci of fashion"

Aldo Gucci (1881-1953) founded a high-priced fashion empire in 1921 Florence, Italy.  I looked at his picture and I have to admit, he looked a lot like Benito Mussolini.

Almost every issue of the New York Times Sunday Edition has some full-page ads touting Gucci's wares.  I find their skinny-legged models in their "ragtag" clothes to be an affront to what I consider to be "good taste."

Sorry.

2. "Designer Ashley"

 Ashley OLSEN (1986) is a famous fashion designer.  She is a twin and a former actress with her sister.  

The extremely pretty Olsen Twins have appeared in a bunch of movies and TV shows. You've probably seen them several times.

They are very rich because of their high-priced fashion brand:  THE ROW.

3.  "First Woman to be named 'Doctor of the Church,' briefly"

If I were Catholic, I probably would probably have  known this.

There have been four women who were named "Doctor of the Church. There are a total of 87.

This is a title bestowed on those saints that have been selfless in serving the needs of the Catholic Church.  The names of Saint Jerome and Saint Bernard come to mind.

Saint Theresa (STTERESA) of Avilon was named in 1970.  She was a Spanish "nobleman" who became a Carmelite Nuh and founded convents around the country. 

She was also a "mystic."

Saint Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380) was also named in 1970. She is the patron saint of Europe, and especially Italy.  She was a strong defender of the papacy. She is venerated by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and Lutheranism.

Saint Theresa of Lisieux (1873 - 1897) was named in 1997.  She is "The Little Flower of Jesus" and is the reason for famous pilgrimages.

Saint Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179) was named in 2012.  A mystic.  Supposed to be a miracle worker. She was a poet who set her poems to music.  I enjoy listening to her music that is similar to Gregorian Chants.

4.  "The crocodile of early tennis"

Check the back of your clothes closet.  You might find some Lacoste/Izod brand shirts and shoes. Look for the little green alligator.

Jean RENE LACOSTE (1904 - 1986) played tennis in the 1920's and was called "the Crocodile" because of the aggressive way he "devoured" his opponents.

He invented the famous polo shirt worn by all Ivy-Leaguers and designed a special sports shoe called a "croc."

In his spare time, he invented the steel tennisw racket.

Quite a guy!

Now do you see why I like crosswords so much?  I learn a lot of interesting information from them.

...................................................................

   

MONEY

Based on my readings in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Wikipedia, Census Figures and other sources, I submit the following.  I could, as usual, be mistaken in my understanding.

 

The richest American is supposed to be Jeff Bezos, with a worth of 178 billion. ($178,000,000,000.00)

The rest of the 700 plus United States billionaires are said to be worth between $2 billion (Trump maybe) and $92 billion (Mark Zuckerberg). 

But Vladimir is said to be worth more than Jeff!

His "coterie" is supposedly made up of 21 billionaires!  What about Joe Biden's "coterie?"

My first "part-time/full-time job at the New Bedford YMCA paid me $40.00 each week. After deductions, I had $30, out of which I gave my Grandmother $10 to help with the household.

Out of the $20 left, I put $10 into a joint account with my future bride.

With the $10 left, I put gasoline in my broken-down 1935 Chevie.  But at $.16 per gallon that wasn't too bad.  Gas and necessary motor oil and engine and tire parts took about $5 per week.

With the $5 left, I treated Elaine to delicious all-you-can-eat-for-one-dollar fried chicken. Total with tip was $2.25.

With the $2.75 left, I bought cokes at 5 cents per bottle, to accompany peanut butter crackers from a machine for snacks.

I still had $1 in my pocket for emergencies and I believed that I was happier with my small salary than any millionaire, who had to keep looking at a stock ticker.  I don't believe I had ever heard of a billionaire at the time.

This all took place before my 19th birthday and the threat of the "draft."  I show it just to remind people (namely my young relatives) that they don't need a billionaire's money to survive.  

....................................................................

 PLYMOUTH

One of the clues in a recent crossword puzzle was:

"VIP in Plymouth."

The solution was "Bradford" ... the last name of my great great great great great great Grandfather, William Bradford, First Governor of the 1620 colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

(But ... Before I start:

1. I will try not to mention the criminal act by Putin in my blog entries. As an old dude, there is nothing I can do about the situation, other than support our Government's actions.

2. I had a visit today from my granddaughter Kaitlin and her handsome bundle of energy, Ronan.  Pictures were taken of me and Elaine with him, after getting him to slow down. You will probably see those pictures on Facebook,

Ronan is already Mensa material and interested in everything.  I love him!)

Genealogy

A few years ago, I prepared a genealogical document which contained a line from the so-called "Pilgrims" to the "Vaughan Cousins" of today.  We are direct descendants of eleven members of the 1620 mayflower landing at what later became Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

This is an astounding fact to those who have been trying unsuccessfully to join "The Mayflower Society: for many years.  But it makes sense.

If you draw a circle around Plymouth and count the inside area as 30 miles, you encompass other Massachusetts towns such as Marion, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Acushnet, New Bedford and others. Tired of Plymouth or desiring new vistas, the never-satisfied colonists spread out and without any foreplay impregnated the nearby fertile Indian lands. 

Supposedly, the usually friendly Wampanoags showed the interloping colonists how to fertilize with fish heads.  They were also guests at the "First Thanksgiving" in Plymouth.

Don't believe the "Plimouth Plantation" propaganda, get some reliable reference books and read about how the colonists really interacted with the Indians in their ancestral 'Turtle Island."

Usage

This documentation and $4.00 will buy you 1 gallon of gasoline!

However, I mention this information in an attempt to get my family more involved in genealogy.  There are a great many ancestral stories to be read and heard! The Vaughan's, Bradfords, Brewsters and others were instrumental in developing this marvelous country. 

........................................................................

 DREAMS 

Before I start, check out this definition:

PREPOP is defined as "The small amount of soda that squirts out when opening the can."

How true!

Dreams

"Dreamland" is a mysterious place you go to every night.  I'm told that all humans and dogs and cats dream. (How about elephants?)

To get to "dreamland" one must relinquish all bodily control and enter the realm of "the unconscious." Doesn't this scare you?

It does me, although I love my dreams, when I remember them.

I do have recurring dreams from time to time, such as:

Finding lots of ancient coins underneath a neighbor's porch, by using a metal detector and an heirloom dish.

Sneaking through the many hidden tunnels within the New Bedford YMCA with my buddy Casey.

Traveling over and over to Boston to try to get a copy of my class grades and find out if I received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Nobody will tell me where  Boston University is located.

(A 'shrink" would probably say that these dreams have special meanings for my psyche.)

Question

Do you dream in color or black and white?

Dream songs.

"All I Have to do is Dream" by the Everly Brothers is my favorite "dream" song..

Actually, I like anything with "Dream(s)" in its title, except for a few that use words not to be heard in polite society.  

I just listened to Lily James beautifully singing "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" as Cinderella in a 2015 Cinderella film. I don't believe it was dubbed. (Besides Marni Nixon was probably ill at the time. She died in 2016.)

The song had a lot of writers: Al Hoffman, David Pack, Jerry Livingston and Mack David. I think it belongs to the Walt Disney Music Company. 

Just to tease you into listening to the song, here aqre a few lines of this song which is now my second favorite song.

Lyrics 

"A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you're fast asleep

In dreams you will lose your heartaches

Whatever you wish for you keep."

I love it! Nite, nite!

........................................................................

 BURNING QUESTIONS

Before I begin:

Happy Twos Day! (Tuesday, February 22, 2022) 

QUESTIONS

Back in 2009, I posed some questions to my readers and received a few answers.  I thought it might be fun to pose a few of the original questions to see how they might be commented on in 2022, 13 years later.

01.  Diet idea.

Does the newly developed EATR robot really fuel up on human flesh? Wouldn't that be one way to get rid of body fat?

* The Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR) was a robotic project designed to produce a vehicle which would automatically seek out edible foliage to be used as its fuel, not human flesh, so no dietary implications. It just would have no need for traditional fuels like gasoline.  

The project was dropped (so they say) in 2015.  I wonder why. Sounds like a good idea to me.

 02.  Pole Dancing

Will "pole dancing" (some call 'lateral dancing') become a valid Olympic sport?

* I don't think so; however, I believe it takes great strength and aerobic ability to do this kind of "dancing," I seem to recall that one of my relatives was good at this, and even taught it.

03.  Flagpole Stuff 

What is the purpose of the little ball on top of a flagpole?

* Damned if I know.  Probably to keep the flag from flying away.

A place in "The George Washington National Forest" on the border of Virginia and West Virginia is called "Flagpole Knob." A lofty scenic spot loved by campers and Jeep owners.

"Run it up the flagpole and see if it flies."  is a phrase used by the heads of ad-agencies, at least in the movies.

04.  "Yo  Quiero Taco Bell"

Was the Taco Bell dog assassinated?

* "From 1997 through 2000, Taco Bell featured a talking chihuahua (Gidget)  in a series of clever ads.  The dog had many fans, but was discontinued because the ads were not increasing sales,

Gidget later played parts in "Legally Blonde 2" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."  She died of a stroke in 2015.

05.  Baseball-playing Linguist

What ever happened to Moe Berg, the baseball player who spoke 7 languages?

*  Moe died in 1972.  He had an interesting life, as a baseball player and coach as well as a spy for the U.S. Government in WWII.  Wikipedia says that he "studied" seven languages: Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, Italian, German  and Sanskrit, and, of course, an eighth: English. 

It was said that he read ten newspapers each day.

An interesting guy!

ENOUGH!

.......................................................................

 I LOVED BOSTON (MOST OF THE TIME)

Before I begin - a tip ... If a message you don't understand pops up on your computer screen, it may be the work of a hacker who wants your personal information, so, I suggest that you either talk about it with a computer expert or shut your computer down without responding. (IMHO)

I wish I had been smarter, but I let a hacker control my computer (and I worked with computers for forty years.)  I experienced lots of stomach churning before my wonderful kids saved me.

Our Boston Adventure

I've mentioned most of this in a blog entry several years ago. This is an update.

Housing

In order to get to Boston University (BU) each day, I had to commute for a total of 100 miles. The commute time combined with my part-time job was affecting my sleep and study time, so my wife and I decided to move to Boston.

The BU Relocation Office helped us find a place to live and we agreed to one of their suggestions.

We met a pleasant-looking middle-aged gentleman who had split the first floor of his large brownstone house.  He would occupy the front part and we would occupy the back half that featured a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a large screened-in back porch

Our landlord's front rooms were interesting. He had busts of famous classical composers along the walls and in front of a bay window was a shiny grand piano on which he held piano lessons and practiced for his part in one of Boston's musical outfits.

We signed the lease late at night so we did not get a chance to see what the backyard looked like before we moved in with our miniscule luggage.  But the next morning we took a look.

We could not believe what we saw.  Directly in back of our lodging was a clear space, but further back and around three sides was garbage of all types piled in stacks, with narrow paths between the stacks!

We had never seen anything like this before. Apparently, our landlord was the only area resident who paid for garbage pickup. I pitied the poor garbageman who had to navigate the narrow lanes every week.  

Because of our nonrefundable contract fee and reasonable rent, we decided that we would stick around for a while.  We rolled down the screen curtains and pretended ignorance of the situation.

Until Elaine's father was meeting in Boston and wanted to see us when he was through. We panicked. If he saw our backyard he would "blow a gasket."  Which was what happened when he insisted on opening a screen curtain and looked out upon the garbage dump.

He wanted us to move back home, and we said we would when my current semester ended.  Meanwhile, we held our noses, avoided looking at rats, and survived for two more months.

First time using Boston transportation from this location.

From our new lodgings I had to follow this plan to get to Boston University.  Take a bus to the nearest El (Elevated) station.  Ride the El to a subway station. Ride the subway to the "stop" nearest BU. (Almost as long as the commute from New Bedford!)

On this day, as I got on the El, a lady grabbed me and said, "I've caught you Mr. Mystery."  Later, on the subway platform another lady grabbed me and said' "I've got you, Mr. Mystery."

After I pried myself loose and assured them that I wasn't the mysterious Mr. Mystery, I finally  realized why they were accosting me.  

A Boston radio station was having a contest.  One of their announcers would be traveling around the city and if you recognized and grabbed that Mr. Mystery. you could win a big prize.

I was in a suit and I was wearing those expensive sunglasses that I had won from Willy the Cheater a few years ago in Germany. (That is another story.)  I took off the "shades" and nobody bothered me again.

I still wear those "shades" once in a while.

Goodbye, Boston

Nobody needs to have an automobile in Boston.  Public transportation is good, and besides Boston drivers are notorious for not honoring stop signs and for "running" red lights.  Why take a chance on getting plowed into or being run over?

Our brownstone apartment had no parking spaces and one could not park on the street in front.  However there appeared to be no restrictions on side-street parking, so I parked our car there, in front of a vacant lot and forgot about it.

One evening we got a call that Elaine's beloved grandmother had died and the funeral was the next day.  We dried our tears and hurried to our parked car anticipating a quick drive home.

The car was gone!

I reported the assumed theft to the police and they told me it had been impounded.  A "busybody" had called the police because she thought it might be the getaway car for a recent bank robbery.

We hurried to the Impound Lot and spoke with a red cheeked cop with a heavy Irish brogue. After we convinced him that the car was ours, he said we could retrieve it after paying a $20 fine.

Elaine had $2 in her purse.  I had $5 in my wallet.

"Sorry," said the cop.  "Come back when you have enough money."

Now, Elaine started to sob and it touched that Irish cop's heart.  He said, "if you let me hold something of value, you can take the car and pay me later."

She did not want to do it, but she knew it was the only solution, so she gave her wedding ring to the officer. Off we went. (Elaine got her ring back unharmed later after we paid him the $20, which, incidentally, was a lot of money back in the 1960's.)

We got home in time for the "viewing."  The next day I served as one of the pallbearers  at the funeral mass at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church. Before, during and after the service, the Monsignor waved a heavily=scented incense holder over my head!  

Did he guess that I wasn't Catholic?

Soon after this, we moved back to New Bedford and my long commute.

.........................................................................   

 AMAZING TIMES!

Yesterday I had my computer hacked by a slick team of Russian computer experts, but quick action by my own computer experts (my son and daughter and grandson) rescued me.   I learned a lot from this experience and may be able to foil such hack attacks in the future.

Just be aware that some computer contacts may not be who they say they are. Vorsicht!

Meanwhile life goes on and I want to mention a few more items from my 1997 scrapbook.

1. A German article:  Kleine Menschen leben 5 Jahre laenger.

Scientific studies show that very short people live up to 5 years longer than tall people.  I have lost 4 inches in height over the years, so this is good news for me.

2.  A caller's statement to a call-in show about the Theory of Evolution.

"... religion has no place in public schools... evolution like creationism, must be accepted by faith.  ... science has to be observed and recorded. No one observed evolution, therefore it is not science but an unproven incorrect religion."   

Huh?

3.  A Sears ad for a new-fangled medical device.

A blood pressure monitor that gets its readings from a little plastic device in which you insert a finger.

I haven't seen such an item advertised lately.  I wonder if it was reliable.

4. A picture of the city of Boston.

This view shows The Esplanade and the hundreds of 3-story brownstone houses that surround the Beacon Hill area.

While I attended Boston University, we lived for a while in a brownstone with lots of mice and rats that thrived in our garbage-strewn backyard. (But that's another story.)

5. A German newspaper article. "Miss Schwergewicht.  Wer ist die schoenste Dicke?"

Yes, who is the most beautiful fatswo?  The Miss Heavyweight! contest was held in Moscow. 

It was won by a young Russian lady with a massive (but shapely) width. Extra points were given for cellulitis.

That reminds me about when I visited Cologne in Germany, I often went to the "Kino" to watch dubbed-in Laurel and Hardy films.  Germans called them Dick und Duenn, ("fat and skinny") and loved them. I spent hours joining in the laughter.

6.  A note about a lawyer's trip to the planet Mercury.

The FTD flower delivery business has sued the San Jose Mercury News for using the name of the Roman god Mercury for something called Mercury Mail or Mall. FTD says it has used the name Mercury for 20 years.

After much expensive preparation, the FTD lawyer realized that he was suing the wrong entity. The newspaper had nothing to do with Mercury Mail or Mall, just the newspaper's name was similar.

7. A recipe for beer biscuits

2 cups Bisquick

1 scant T sugar

5 oz. beer

Mix and bake according to package directions.  Eat while warm, with butter and honey.

Wait a minute!  Is that a good use of beer? I don't think I would waste my Snake-dog brew on biscuits.  But maybe National Bo would be OK.

8.  A list of exotic beers, including:

Snow Goose Ale.. an Eastern Shore of Maryland brew with a chocolate taste.

Pyramid Snow Cap Ale.. licorice-lovers claim they can taste anise.

Affigen Paters Vat.. "the monk's cask" named after the Belgium monk who liked his beer flavored with apples and hops.

Harpoon Winter Warmer, with an all-spice aroma came in second in the contest for best-smelling holiday beer. (I love the New Bedford-sounding name.)

9. A picture of Guard Dogs

A Carroll County, Maryland homeowner painted the picture of two grouchy-looking bulldogs on his garage doors, He said it discourages burglars.

10.  A newspaper notice of an observed UFO.

It mentions a fireball that was seen hovering over Hobart, Tasmania.  Hunters were especially shaken up when the ball of fire turned the dark sky to daylight.

This reminds me of something I mentioned before. My three friends and I were riding in the dark countryside one evening, when the car stalled and the darkness became daylight again.  Just for about 20 seconds, and then it was night again.

The car started again immediately and we traveled on as though nothing had happened. When I mentioned the situation to my friends they all denied that anything had happened.  WAS I THE ONLY NHUMAN ALLOWED TO WITNESS THIS PHENOMENON?

.........................................................................

 A QUARTER OF A CENTURY HAS FLOWN BY.

I just came across a scrapbook that I made in 1997, 25 years ago.  I had kept information that interested me at the time.  Here's a list of some treasures:

1. Certificates of Deposit

An Arundel Federal advertisement for a 6.60% Certificate of Deposit.  I wrote on the newspaper ad: "This is a misprint!"  I don't remember what that was all about.

2.  Gasoline

A copy of an editorial cartoon that shows a man taking money from his wallet to pay $129.99 for one gallon of "self service regular."

The cartoon caption reads: "Season's greetings from the oil companies."

 3.  Unintentionally Insensitive? 

A Carroll County Times staff writer submission:

"A 25-year-old Carroll County girl was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center Friday evening following an accident."

4.  Ist Mittagsschlaf Gut?

A German observation from some magazine I've forgotten the name of:  Lots of folks like to take an afternoon nap after eating a big lunch.  It is felt that such a habit is not "gut."  The nightly eight-hour sleep time should be all one needs.

 5.  EMAIL Available?

A picture of an 82-year-old lady from Minnesota trying unsuccessfully to push through a giant snowdrift to get to her mailbox.  Frustrated, she says, "I prayed for good weather. The Lord didn't hear me."

6.  W C

An advertisement from The New Republic for the release of a six-movie compilation starring famous comedian W. C. Fields.

"Pool Sharks" - his first movie  (1915)

"The Golf Specialist" - his first sound film.

"The Dentist"

"The Fatal Glass of Beer"

"The Pharmacist"

"The Barber Shop"

If you are feeling sad about something, watch any one of these funny films and "feel good again!"

7. Those Damn Age Spots

An advertisement for Topifram,  a "new face creme" to eliminate age spots, brown marks and freckles. For sale at K-MART.

The product is still "going strong" today, but K-MART isn't.

8.  Ho Hum, Nothing to Do!

A quasi-obituary for the famous "MAYTAG Repairman" who recently passed away at 79.

Jesse White is best known as the MAYTAG character who never has anything to do because the company's appliances are so good.     

He appeared in 60 movies and innumerable television shows, but liked his MAYTAG role the best.

9. A Slippery Slope?

A note from The Washinton Post talks about some New York police officers who had some fun at the Washington, D.C. Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The note indicates that officers got drunk while in uniform, pulled fire alarms, harassed guests, and supposedly "... took off all their clothes ... and went sliding down the (lobby's) escalator which was slicked down with beer. ..."

That reminds me of a time when Elaine and I were staying at a hotel in Wilmington, Delaware.  At the same time, there was a raucous police conference taking place there.

We peeked into the conference area to see what was going on and saw a Randallstown neighbor of ours having a "great time" with a young female police officer.

Our neighbor was a Baltimore cop and his "beloved" wife was an undercover police operative. His wife had declined to attend the conference.

Seeing him act like this would not normally have bothered us, but last week at a community meeting he had publicly hugged and kissed his wife, saying she was the only lady he would ever love. Yeah, I'll bet!

When he saw us, he turned white and pretended that he didn't know us.

We didn't tell his wife.  A while later she divorced him.  I wonder why.

10.  B.C.

A cartoon strip for B.C. by Johnny Hart.

Two cavemen are contemplating the ocean.  One says,

"Remember how we used to go skinny-dipping when we were kids?"

The other guy responds,

"Yeah! What fun we had skinny-dipping!"

The first guy then says,

"Especially when skinny put up a fight."

........................................................................ 

 STAY AT HOME ENTERTAINMENT

While Elaine and I are hibernating, we get to watch lots of movies and TV shows, such as:

01. Murder She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury .. 12 seasons beginning in 1984.  We have access to 7 of those seasons and Elaine knows each show's dialogue by heart.

The show "begs the question" ..  How come Jessica Fletcher is involved with so many murders?  Is she an "evil magnet?

(BTW .. many years ago I attended a Toastmaster Organization meeting to see if it could cure my stage fright.  The Table Topics Chair asked me to stand and tell the group everything about the phrase "begging the question."

Extremely embarrassed, I shakily mumbled that I did not know what it meant and collapsed back in my seat.  To avoid future humiliation, I did not attend another meeting for two years.)

02. 1883 starring Sam Elliott who tries to shepherd a group of immigrants from Texas to Oregon even though none of them has survival skills.

There is a lot of murder and mayhem, but there is also romance and humanity.  As of today, they are still on the trail with snowy mountains ahead of them.  The series is scheduled to end on February 28, 2022.  

If you like excitement, check this series out before it finishes.

03. Royal Pains featuring Mark Feuerstein as a wrongly disgraced Doctor who opens a business in the New York Hamptons to provide home medical visitation. The show is billed as a comedy, but there is lots of drama and romance.

If you don't get nauseous from watching very real-looking medical procedures, then this show is for you.

There were 8 seasons beginning in 2009.  We watched and enjoyed them all.

04.  Judge Judy starring Judy Sheindlin. We watch her new show, where her yelling, scoffing and belittling of defendants is downplayed.  I like this new version of Judy much better than the old.

Litigants are flown in from all over the United States and paid a varied amount of TV appearance fees and a small "per diem."

I suspect that litigants are picked whose presence makes viewers feel superior.

05.  Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye starring hearing-impaired actress Deann Bray as an important FBI employee whose lip-reading ability helps to solve tough cases.

The show lasted three seasons starting in 2002.  We watched all episodes and wished for more.  It was interesting seeing and relating the sign language version to the spoken English.

I've bored you enough for today.  A dios!

......................................................................

 LIFE!

I am amazed at how life is continued for creatures on this "blue marble."  Humans reproduce. Dogs and cats and hamsters reproduce.  Giant bulls help cows reproduce. Tiny brine shrimp reproduce.

Everywhere, males and females meet to assist in the life-giving process even in plants that flower. (Remember: The "Birds and Bees" lesson that you may or may not have heard from an embarrassed parent.)

Pollen is made in the stamen, the "male" part of a flower.  When pollen enters the ovule, the "female" part (thanks to the wind, bees, other friendly insects, and humming-birds) fertilization occurs, and the life process begins.

Master Shakespeare wrote in the Tempest:

"Where the bee sucks, there suck I;

In a cowslip's bell I lie;

There I crouch when owls do cry,

On the bat's back I do fly

After summer merrily.

Merrily, merrily shall I live now

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough."

It is a very cold day in February, but in 4 or 5 weeks it will be Spring and I can see again my favorite flower: the dandelion. 

When I lived in Gamber, Maryland my "God's Little Acre" was filled with beautiful yellow dandelion flowers. I refused to mow until after the blossoms turned to gossamer parachutes merrily impregnating the soil.

 

My outlook on "leisure gardening echoes that which Marya Mannes wrote in the poem that begins:

"Lie down and listen to the crabgrass grow,

The faucet leak,

And learn to leave them so."

The poem later reminds me that at my Gamber home, I was "master of all I surveyed" and I did not have to destroy life in any form.  I still feel that way.  All life is important to me!

.............................................................................

 CAT A LOG

Pleased with the reception of her recent autobiographical blog entry, Su Zee Lottes has asked me to let readers know that she has a hobby.

She is compiling a dictionary of terms that humans should know for partnering with their feline friends. Here are a few examples from her list.  Some entries are definitions and some are observations and suggestions.

BELL THE CAT! = observation.. Not a good idea.  Where I am at any given moment is my business, not yours!

CATACOMB = warning.. Make sure my fur is properly brushed each day.

CATALPA = definition.. The beautiful feline creature that chased a snake from a tree in the Garden of Eden.

CATASTROPHE = definition.. The award given in a beauty contest to the feline with the best-looking rear end.

CATATONIC = definition.. How us kitties get when we drink root beer.

CATBIRD = definition.. That winged creature that I watch through the window each day and picture myself having for lunch.

CATCALL = definition.. "Here, Kitty, Kitty!"

CATERPILLAR = definition.. The tabby that was watching Lot's wife when the unthinkable happened.

CATGUT = observation.. Don't even go there!

CATNIP = warning.. What you'll get if you rub a cat's fur the wrong way!

CAT-O'-NINE TAILS = observation..  It is hoped that each cat keeps from her lovely tail being stepped on during her nine lives.

CATSUP = warning.. I'm awake, so make sure my breakfast is ready.

CATTY = observation.. It definitely is not true that female felines meow disparagingly about their sisters.

MISS KITTY = definition.. Waiting for a Pussy Cat to return from a long walk with Marshall Dillon.

THE CAT'S MEOW! = definition.. A description of the beautiful grooming of a female feline.

I hope you like my entries.  (signed) Su Zee!

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 I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!

For years I have been keeping files of things that catch my attention.  Some are facts that I probably did not bother to attribute to their source, so I would take some of the following with "a grain of salt."

SALT

Fact Number 1

There is one cup of salt floating within every gallon of ocean water.

At one time, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts had an active business extracting and selling "sea salt" as an important cooking component and preservative.  Now, big companies like Chicago's Morton produce it, probably add iodide to it and often promote it as being healthier than table salt.

In our spice cabinet, we have:

Sea Salt (of course)

Regular iodized white table salt (590 mg per serving)

Lite salt (290 mg per serving)

Pink Salt

Very large grain white salt

Orange salt

Salt mixed with pepper

Salt mixed with garlic and pepper

Salt mixed with an unknown substance (but it tastes good)

Celery salt (I love it)

Fact Number 2

The Great Salt Lake is so salty that only algae and brine shrimp can survive. 

(Brine shrimp are less than a half-inch long, but high in protein.  Adult brine shrimp can be home-raised, mainly for fish food.)

Salt Addiction?

When I was a kid, sometimes I would eat "supper" at my Uncle Charlie's House.  Aunt Hattie was a great cook, but I think I probably insulted her by shaking lots of salt on the already properly seasoned food.

Fifty years later, I visited Uncle Charlie at my cousin's house.  I had not seen or spoken to him for all that time.

This was Charlie's first words when we met:

"Hey, Joe, still putting all that salt on your food?"

Pillar of Salt

In Sunday school I was intrigued to learn about Lot's wife.  A couple of "visiting angels" warned Lot: (to avoid God's wrath on the evil city of Sodom.)

"Flee for your life! Do not look behind you, nor stop anywhere in the Plain, ("do not pass 'Go'"), flee to the hills, lest you be swept away."  Lot listened, but his wife was curious, looked back at Sodom and was turned into a "pillar of salt."

Was the Sunday School lesson: "Mind your own business?"

There is a "pillar of salt" near the Dead Sea in Israel, and ancient Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus claimed to have seen the "pillar of salt" that was certainly the remains of Lot's nosy wife.  Some early Christian "scholars" agreed with that.

Interesting story.

Salt of the Earth

Another Sunday School lesson.  According to Matthew 5:13, when Jesus was giving his Sermon on the Mount, he told his audience of common folks that they were "The Salt of the Earth," at that time when salt was precious and sometimes even used as money.

The rest of his phrase was an admonishment that they need to continue "plugging" his messages "so that the salt doesn't lose its "(savior) salt savor." IMHO.

Salty enough, Hon?

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 VAUGHAN FAMILY PICTURE

Left to Right

Laurana Ethridge

Hattie Kraihanzel

Doris Tripp (my mother)

Malcolm Vaughan

Allen Vaughan

Marjorie Vaughan

Billy Vaughan

Mary Wilson

Lincoln Vaughan

Ella Phillips

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 ME AUCH!

Hi! My name is SuZee Lottes and I rule in a big house in Westminster, Maryland, with Miss Elaine and Mr Joe.  I have a good friend named Kathy, who visits with me almost every day.

Mr Joe tells me that "me auch" is slang German for "me too," and I think it is my turn to tell you all about me.

Mr Joe wrote about how I came to live with him and Miss Elaine in a blog entry on December 26, 2021, so I won't repeat that.  I just want you to know me a little better.

Seal-point Siamese

My ancestors lived in Thailand (Siam) for many years.  They came to the United States in 1897 to live in the White House with First Lady Lucy, wife of President Hayes, and begin a love affair with my "breed."

It is purr-ported that I am a "seal-point Siamese" cat, because of the dark seal-colored areas on my fur. 

Conceited?

Me, conceited? Moi? Well, yes, but I can't help it if I'm pretty, and I know that I am because whenever someone visits, they always say, "What a beautiful cat!"

Prisoner?

I am what is called "an indoor cat."  I am allowed to push through a little door on the screen and spend some time on the back porch, sniffing and sampling some of the potted plants. 

Mr Joe has to watch me when I'm on the porch, to make sure that I don't get carried away by one of those giant hawks that keep circling our house.

In addition, I'm kept mainly indoors because of the danger of "catnappers," and I don't mean sleepy folks.  Beautiful cats like me sell for hundreds of dollars.

Chores

As part of the Vaughan household, I have a couple of chores.

I am an expert mouse catcher.  Even though I have never caught more than one, just my presence has scared them away from the house, and they are not a problem.

My other job is as a guard for Miss Elaine.  Whenever I have a free moment and during the night, I position myself near her bedroom door to keep unauthorized people from bothering her.  This is my most im-purr-tant job!

Regurgitation

Unfortunately, because of my long and constantly shedding fur, I develop hairballs, which I deposit on the rug every other day.  Sorry about that, but it can't be stopped.

Diva?

Most of my relatives are chatterboxes.  I'm not. Purr-haps it's because I didn't have a mother to teach me.  I didn't even say "meow" until a couple of years ago.

Experts say that when a Siamese like me wants something important to them, they give out a loud, low-pitched cry, which is called a "meezer." Interesting, maybe I'll give it a try someday.

My Name

Miss Elaine named me "Su Zee."  Kathy calls me "Suzy Q."  Mr Joe calls me "Kitty Cat." 

Whatever my name, I'll follow you around the house, but I won't let you pick me up.  That privilege is only allowed to my friend, Kathy.

I am pleased to be a member of this family and I hope to be around for a long time more.

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Oh, by the way, Kathy has just become a grandmother.  That's soo-purr!  Congratulations!

THE GREATEST CROSSWORD PUZZLE

A young gentleman from Canada who is a PhD student in Sweden, has created the most remarkable American-style crossword puzzle ever constructed (IMHO).

Stephen McCarthy used all of the following tactics in constructing a puzzle labeled SCI-FI SHOWDOWN, which was published in the Sunday New York Times Magazine dated February 6th, 2022:

"Straight" clues.

"Tricky" clues.

"Difficult" clues.

Clues with double meanings.

Puns.

Clever positioning of black and white squares.

It took me several hours to get through about 90% of the puzzle, 10% more to go.  I am enjoying the challenges in this "work of linguistic art!", and I highly recommend anything this "master puzzle constructor" ever creates.

Joe Vaughan's "Puzzling" Tips (so to speak)

(These tips were outlined in a Prepop-Sez blog entry dated November 13, 2021. I've revised them a bit.)

1. If you need a magnifying glass to read a puzzle's clues, throw the puzzle away. Why ruin your eyes?

2.  If you can, cut the puzzle out and place it on a clipboard for ease of writing.

3.  If you feel safe in your puzzling, throw away the solution. (This builds confidence in time.)

4.  Use a ball-point or gel pen.  Try to not use a pencil that makes it easy to erase entries.

5.  If an error occurs, write over the ink.  

(When you use ink in solving, you are forced to think more carefully about the entries you make.)

6.  Don't feel bad if you can't solve clues such as "The Second Banana in the 1941 film 'Collegiate Fun.' 

(Nobody but the puzzle constructor and film archivist would know the answer, so don't feel bad about "googling" or using an encyclopedia.)

7. Try to solve the clue that gives the longest solution. This will open up lots of other solutions.

8.  If you get stumped at the beginning of a puzzle, try solving the clues at the end of the puzzle.

(I believe that constructors ignore the ending clues until they need "fill" to buttress the difficult beginning clues.  Often the words that are in that "fill" are easier than those difficult clues.)

 9.  If you can't finish a puzzle, drop it and try a different one.  You can revisit the unfinished puzzle at a future time, when you have become more expert at American crosswords.

So saith Joe Vaughan, alias "AHAB."

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 GRANDPA VAUGHAN

The Readers Digest used to have a feature "The Most Unforgettable Person I've Known" or a title similar to that.  I have always wanted to submit information to that publication about my Grandfather Arthur S. Vaughan, because in my long life I have never met another person with his interesting "Renaissance Man" personality.

Early Years

Arthur was born in 1879 at either Mattapoisett or New Bedford, Massachusetts. (Records are not clear on this.) Soon after his birth, he and his parents were residing in the Vaughan Complex at the North End of Mattapoisett. There were three large houses there, each containing Vaughan family groups that included at least eleven children each. 

The children's names were similar throughout the complex, with Robert being the most common. It  must have been confusing when the cow bell rang to summon the kids to their families for dinner.

Religion

Arthur's parents (Weston and Ella Stephen Vaughan) were devoted Christians.  They were descendants of the so-called "Pilgrims" who landed at Plymouth to replenish their water supply for beer-making.

If they went to church, they probably attended the local Quaker Meeting or the Congregational Church led by another relative. 

Arthur's parents required their children to perform a nightly ritual.  Everyone would say their prayers in unison - loudly!  Then each was required to tell about some act of "Christian Charity" that they had observed during that day.  Arthur was adroit at making up some of the most tear-inducing stories.

Youth

Arthur was sometimes compliant, sometimes rebellious, but always in the mood to have some fun.

I've mentioned before how he would hide his clay-pipe smoking so his father would not find out, and how he wanted me to retrieve his favorite pipe from a stone wall.

I've also mentioned before how he invented that disgusting club induction ritual called "Pee More Yet."

During the "Gay Nineties" he liked to dress as a "dandy," sporting "loud" clothing and carrying a cane.

He also liked a little alcohol now and then, to the great chagrin of his "tee-totaling" father.

Marriage

His teen-age antics disappeared when he met, fell in love, and married the beautiful Alice May Davenport in 1897. They were married for 60 years and were parents to fifteen (15!) children, eleven of which lived to old age.

Hooch

Arthur liked his booze, but Alice was an active  member of the WCTU (Womens Christian Temperance Union) and played piano at their meetings.  Try as she might, she couldn't get her husband to give up drinking.

I lived with my grandparents for 18 years and only once did I see my Grandfather drunk.  So, to my mind, he was a "social drinker." 

But Grandma kept nagging him about drinking, so he had to hide his "vice."   I've mentioned before how he and a friend would sneak drinks of beer and throw the empty bottles out the window, into the side alley.

Arthur's father owned a funeral business where Arthur worked, and I was told that during Prohibition he would drink embalming fluid. Yuk!

I've also talked about the time when I was treating my Grandfather to "five cent beer" a guy named Charlie dumped a pocketful of stolen nickels onto our table.

One of Arthur's friends was Emmett Kelly, the circus clown.  Whenever the circus was in town or nearby, he would meet my Grandfather at the Buttonwood Cafe for a few tasty beers and some lusty conversation.

What Grandpa Taught Me

1. My grandfather taught me how to carve a pretty ring out of a peach stone and insert a piece of ruby-red garnet that I would dig out of a granite boulder.

2.  My grandfather taught me how to make skeleton keys, a necessary ability in those days before tumbler locks.

3.  My Grandfather taught me about words as I sat at his feet while he compiled what he said would be the most comprehensive crossword puzzle dictionary the world had ever seen.

4.  He taught me to enjoy reading about P.T. Barnum's "freaks" like the Siamese Twins and he loved pictures of Jumbo, "the absolute largest pachyderm to ever grace the mighty jungles of Earth!" 

He had newspaper cut-outs of things that interested him - they were pasted all over the walls in his "den." In 1948 the New Bedford Standard Times did a rotogravure article with pictures of his walls.

Politics

Since grandpa discovered Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1930's, he had been a staunch Democrat. During one tight election race, he learned that his wife and daughter, Marjorie had voted  republican, he refused to eat meals with them for the rest of his life.

He liked to say, "I'm not going to eat with you G-- Damn Republican B------s!"  This bothered the two ladies, but not me, because he always winked at me when he said it.  Besides, he really loved his wife and children. He just liked to eat alone while he listened to his favorite radio commentators.  My grandmother demanded silence or pleasant conversation during our meals.

People felt that he looked like a U.S. Senator, and he played the part, with his senatorial suit, hat and manner.

Jobs He Held

As I mentioned, Arthur worked in his father's funeral business until it closed down.

During the Great Depression, he served as a foreman for the WPA (Work Projects Administration).  The beautiful stone fences and pleasant landscaping at New Bedford cemeteries were built under his direction.

He worked as Head Cashier at Smith's Cafe, a kind of high-class restaurant in New Bedford.  One night he tripped and required stitches on the back of his head. This meant that he had a shaved circle on his dome.  He covered it with a nicely  stitched yarmulka.  Restaurant patrons thought that he was Jewish, so he played that part for a while.

More

There is lot more to tell, but I'll keep that for a future blog entry.

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