Some thoughts on Halloween

Happy Halloween! Here on the east coast of Iowa it’s going to
be a cold one. The little ones will be out tonight in costumes
that may restrict their vision and may not be reflective, so
please be careful if you’re out around the time they go house
to house to get their treats.

Recently it was mentioned we have an increase in shots fired
calls and when I glanced at our morning newspaper today I saw
we also have an increase in juvenile car thefts. 12 were caught
in stolen cars over a two day period ranging in age from 13 to
15. And it was mentioned these kids know they won’t see any
kind of punishment.

Oh they are charged, and go to the juvenile detention center
to be booked and wait for mommy or daddy to pick them up, but
they are usually given probation. Thing is, after being caught
doing these crimes multiple times, they are still given the
probation.

Having talked with a few of these misguided youngsters one
gets the impression the theft and joyride is their version of
fun and some are on probation for as many as 20 offenses. You
cannot blame the police who arrest them. Somewhere along the
way our court system or our legislators have dropped the ball.
Perhaps both.

Yes, when it gets colder as it is now, some leave their cars
running and unlocked to warm them up which makes it easy for
those who wish to take what isn’t theirs. But the blame must
fall on those who steal the cars.

When the owner gets their vehicle back there is usually
damage to said vehicle. Sometimes thousands of dollars worth
while the kids don’t pay a dime towards repair.

We don’t have an answer, or at least one that would stand a
chance to be made into law, so we’ll leave it there. Enjoy our
Tuesday, and Halloween. Now I need more coffee and less news.
Comments are always welcome.

Missing hours

Here it is Monday morning and I realized there was no Sunday
post. Sorry about that. The weekend raced by so fast we didn’t
sense its passing until it was gone. I’d like to say it was
because eating healthy, exercising, practicing Tai Chi, taking
pictures, and watching the race all take time.

But I can’t. It was just one of those days when you wake up
and the next thing you know it’s time for bed. Days like that
are a good thing sometimes, even if we come out of them feeling
a bit like Rip Van Winkle.

We would like to thank Ronnie and Todd for the Halloween
goody bags, and everyone who called or stopped by this past
weekend. It is appreciated.

Today we’ll keep busy in an effort to offset what didn’t get
done yesterday. Sounds like a plan. And if that doesn’t work
we’ll formulate a plan B.

The wife informed me before she left for work that we had
another shooting about 3 blocks from our house last night. It
isn’t even a full moon yet. Here in our little berg on the east
coast of Iowa, shots fired calls are on the increase. This is
not acceptable.

All that said, enjoy our Monday as it’s the first day of the
rest of our lives. Now I need a caffeine infusion and a sugar
fix.

Sunday snicker

A little girl was sitting on her granddad’s lap while he read her a story. She kept taking her eyes of the book and reaching up and touching his old, wrinkled face. After a few times doing this, she finally asked, “Grandpa, were you made by God?”

“Yes, dear.” he replied. “I was made by God a long time ago.”

The little girl paused for a moment and then asked, “And did God make me?”

“Of course, dear.” replied her grandfather. “God made you not long ago.”

The girl felt her own face and then her granddad’s again, thought for a moment and then said, “God’s getting better at it, isn’t he?”

One more time

Ever since we saw ‘Only the Brave’ at the local cinema I have
been searching for the right description of said movie. So
imagine my surprise opening todays newspaper when on page
two the answer was revealed to me.

The movie reviewer for the paper said it best in the header-
‘Brave’ is a war movie: Firefighters vs Wildfires. That was
connection I had been searching for. Certain occupations by the
nature of the risks involved develop into a brotherhood like
no other.

As she mentions the movie highlights how team work and hard
physical labor, along with individual strengths and weaknesses,
and loyalty make a good war film. This movie has all that and
then some. What takes it to a different level is the fact that
the story is true.

What you see happened in the Granite Mountain, Yarnell fire
near Prescott, Arizona in 2013. Hotshot groups from around the
country have endorsed this movie with statements like “that’s
our life”. If you decide to see it you may want to bring a few
tissues or a clean hanky as it will get to you.

The strange part is that the wife and I usually disagree with
this ladys reviews, but after reading this one agree 100%.
It is rated PG-13 for sexual situations, foul language, and the
intensity of the firefighting. Personally, I’ve heard and seen
worse on TV.

Enjoy our Friday as the weekend begins and the trick or
treaters will knocking before we know it. Since I ate all the
leftover pizza earlier I need to get more caffeine in my body.
Comments are always welcome.

Who would have thought?

It’s that time of year when strange looking green fruit will
show up in the produce aisle. Maybe. The Osage Orange, or
hedge apples will be ripe for the picking. But the price may
be on the upswing. Why you ask?

It now seems that companies are buying the hedge apples to
get the hedge apple oil. Those in the know claim it has been
known for about the last 80 years the oil can have many uses,
but getting the oil out was the problem.

Over that span of time progress has been made and we’re told
companies are jumping on this new investment. The oils of the
hedge apples can be used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and in
essential oils.

Settlers once used the trees as fencing which stopped when
they found the trees invasive. Then they were considered
worthless by farmers and country folk. The hedge apples, horse
apples, hedge balls, monkey brains, or whatever you call them
are now said to be bringing $180 a ton at plants where they
extract the oil.

Osage orange trees are easy to spot once you’ve seen a few,
but not all the trees will have apples on them. That’s because
some Osage orange trees are male while others are female.

The Osage orange is inedible and can even irritate you skin.
Squirrels like them and shred them to get to the seeds while
cattle have been known to choke on them.

Then there is the debate as to whether they actually repel
spiders and other pests or if that’s an old wife’s tale. We
will put some out if we find them just in case. Hard to believe
these oranges, once considered a nuisance, may become a crop.

Enjoy our Thursday and the frost is on the hedge apples here.
Comments are always welcome.

Fall’s here

We got used to the good weather we’ve been blessed with but
are now going to get hit with a dose of reality. Fall has stumbled
and fell. It could get interesting.

Yesterday we heard a few snow flakes might be in store for us
here on the east coast of Iowa Saturday, but now come guesses
from those who guess the weather that most of the state could
see snow that sticks.

Add in temperatures in the low 30s at night and anything can
happen. We’ll just handle what we get, or don’t get. A talk
with Dad earlier had us agreeing the weather could go either
way this winter and there will be snow.

Dad was happy his physical therapy has ended as it’s been a
year with no improvement to his hand. His feelings are that if
things haven’t improved over a year they won’t. If he’s ok with
that so are we.

And after a late night pizza binge I had a dream about a bad
storm. The roof didn’t leak but somehow the water kept spraying
up through the floor. When I went down to check, it was raining
in the basement! Must have been cloudy down there.

Enjoy our Wednesday as it’s the day our newspapers are bigger
because they’re full of ads and we’re halfway through the week.
Now I’ve have some leftover pizza and donut holes to address.
Comments are always welcome.

It’s time

After much debate and serious consideration it was decided
that is time for this post. Comments may flow in from the
haters, and others may voice their dismay over our timing, but
somebody has to do it.

Since we are nearing the end of October many retail stores
have already started to display Christmas decorations and gifts
so we’ll throw a few ideas out, add a link to the catalog, and
you can take it from there.

If yourself and lady who follows you around are always
debating if the toilet paper hangs in front, or back, this gift
may be for you. It would make it easy to switch the roll and is
only $89.99. And it’s stainless steel so would last forever.

Really in the dog house and looking for that special gift?
This could be what you need. The Crosley Bluetooth Jukebox
stands 4 foot tall and comes with a remote control to start
your trip down memory lane from anywhere in the room! This
one will set you back $1,499.99.

If that’s too much for the budget, how about silverware? What
says I love you more than a table setting that comes in its
own plastic storage case, and at only $24.99 it shouldn’t
break the bank.

Ladies if you’re at loss on what to get your significant
other, and he’s a gearhead, this could be it. A Stromberg 97
coffee mug. And it’s only $19.99.

And we won’t forget the tree either. What Christmas tree can
be considered complete without a Flying Eyeball ornament. The
perfect ornament for the perfect tree and only $8.99.

Those hints should help you on your quest to find the perfect
gift for that special someone, or yourself. If you wish to see
more of what’s available go here. You’ll find everything
you need and even things you don’t. All pictures are from the
same catalog.

We hope this helps with your gifting this year. Enjoy our
Monday because soon all we’ll hear is Christmas music.
Comments are always welcome.

A Monday snicker

A friend shared this, it made us laugh, and since it isn’t
about religion, we thought we’d share it today.
———————————————-

Irish cop says, “License and registration, please.”

London Lawyer says, “What for?”

Irish cop says, “Ye didnae come to a complete stop at the stop sign.”

London Lawyer says, “I slowed down, and no one was coming.”

Irish cop says, “Ye still didnae come to a complete stop. License and registration, please”

London Lawyer says, “What’s the difference?”

Irish cop says, “The difference is, ye huvte come to complete stop, that’s the law. License and registration, please!”

London Lawyer says, “If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I’ll give you my license and registration and you give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don’t give me the ticket.”

Irish cop says, “Sounds fair. Exit your vehicle, sir.”

The London Lawyer exits his vehicle.

The Irish cop takes out his baton and starts beating the living s*** out of the lawyer and says, “Daeye want me to stop or just slow down? ”

Dreary day thoughts

We don’t know about where you’re at but it’s raining here on
the east coast of Iowa and has been for a while. And since it
is wet out I decided to embellish my coffee with some jumbo
deli donuts to ease the discomfort.

We even have a pot of beef stew simmering for later, enough
coffee, and TV reception so we’re good to go. Nothing like a
rainy day to justify gnawing on donuts while drinking more
coffee and watching the race. If we have any donuts left by
race time.

Donuts must be like socks in the dryer. You open the lid and
wonder where they went. The lady who follows me around always
points the finger at me and does not accept my plea that we
must have mice. I guess I should wipe my face before stating
my defense.

I think these dreary days help us appreciate the sunny days.
Even though dark days can hold their own special beauty it
seems sunny days are often passed over too. All too often we
hear ‘it’s too nice to be outside’. I don’t think it’s ever too
nice, or too bad, to be outside.

And even today I’ll be out several times just to have a look
around. The birds may be in the tree and squirrels preparing
for winter. So enjoy our Sunday as it’s the last day we get
this week. Now I need a refill in my cup and a donut is calling
my name.
Comments are always welcome.

Sunday snicker

It’s the day of judgement and all the true believers are waiting in line to get into heaven. The Angel Gabriel appears and says to them, “I want all the men to separate into two lines – the first line is for men who were the true heads of their household. All those men who were dominated by their wives should form the second line.”

He continued, “And now all the women should go through the gates and report to Mary.”

After all the women had left, the men quickly sorted themselves into two lines; I say lines but the line with the true heads of the household only had one man in it. The other line of those men dominated by their wives stretched on for what seemed like eternity.

Gabriel addressed this long line, saying “You should be ashamed of yourselves. God appointed you to be the heads of your households and you have not fulfilled your duties. Out of all you men, there is only one who has obeyed God’s orders.

He then turned to the man stood all alone in the first line and asked him, “How did you come to be in this line?”

The man replied, “My wife told me to stand here.”