Powerball Fun

Did your office form a pool for the Powerball drawing? We did at the store. I don't know if we have ever done anything like this before but on Monday one of the ladies started the pool and we all joined in. $5 was the buy in and by the time she left this afternoon to buy the tickets, almost everyone had joined in the fun. She ended up buying 73 tickets.

Of course the real fun in something like this is the anticipation. For two days there was talk and dreaming of what we would do if we won. Of course it would have been a tragedy for the store because we would all be in on it. Who would stick around? That was the fun dream. The question was, would you come to work the next day? Most actually said yes, though they didn't know how long they would stay. Others said they would come in to say good-bye. What would you buy? New cars and a new boat were the hottest items.

Well, now the numbers have been drawn and the dreaming has ended. Out of 73 tickets, not a one had the powerball right. None of them even won $4 by picking three numbers. Only a few even had two numbers right. Of course that is how these things go - but that is the fun. No one really thought we would win anything. It was just a bit of excitement and cheap diversion from the wintry cold.

Winter has arrived in Iowa and we are headed now to Christmas. May the spirit of the holiday season bring you. . .

PEACE.

I cast my vote

I have done my civic duty and I have voted.

It is very easy here in Cedar Rapids, IA. In fact for me it was very easy because the voting place is just a short walk through the little neighborhood park to the church next door.

This was a different experience from 2 years ago in West Des Moines. There I had to show a valid ID before I could vote. I don't think that is in fact legal or at least conventional procedure but that is what they were doing.

Today I just walked in and got in line for the S thru Z names. I signed in, verbally gave my name and address and the response was "Your good to go." No request for an ID, no hassles at all. I signed the eligible voter list and was given a ballot. There was a table set up with little shields to provide a modicum of privacy. Then when I was done I put the ballot into the automatic scanner/reader and I was done. The whole thing took maybe ten minutes.

I guess I'm ambivalent about the ID issue. I can see the need if there is evidence or even a legitimate suspicion of voter fraud but that just isn't the case, at least not here in Iowa. Oh yea, I've heard the old saw about Chicago politics - "Vote early and vote often" but there just isn't any reason to believe that is an issue here. Counter that with the very real history of poll taxes and other forms of voter suppression from past history and I'm inclined to opt for ease of voting. Especially in areas where less than 50% of the people even bother to vote.

One thing I am not ambivalent about is getting this over with. Here in Iowa we have been subjected with over a year of political ads. We are a swing state so for the past months we have been bombarded with political attack ads. One report tallied over 1600 TV ads each day. It has gotten to the point that any TV that I watch is streamed off Netflix. I sincerely hope that the issues are decided today and we can move on with our lives in peace, at least for a couple of years.

But for now, I will leave the TV off and pray for

PEACE.

Really Folks?????

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/world/europe/italy-convicts-7-for-failure-to-warn-of-quake.html?hp&_r=0

Italy Orders Jail Terms for 7 Who Didn’t Warn of Deadly Earthquake

Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

L’Aquila on April 6, 2009, when a quake struck, killing 309 people.

By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO

Published: October 22, 2012

ROME — Seven prominent Italian earthquake experts were convicted of manslaughter on Monday and sentenced to six years in prison for failing to give adequate warning to the residents of a seismically active area in the months preceding an earthquake that killed more than 300 people. 

 *  *  *

Can you believe this? They are actually going to send 7 scientists to prison because they didn't know there was going to be an earthquake that day. Do they really think that our scientific understanding of plate tectonics and earthquakes has advanced that far? Well folks, I'm sorry, the geologists are working hard but this one still eludes them.

So many questions come up. What if they had said something? Would the city have been evacuated? What are they expected to say? Maybe, "Some time in the next month? week? we think there will be an earthquake" Then what happens if they are wrong? Are they sued for fraud? For lost wages - I had to leave my job when we evacuated. Can you imagine the economic damage to the businesses? My store was closed for a whole week for nothing - I lost a whole week of sales. What if I owned a factory - could I sue for a whole week of lost production? And expenses for the evacuation. "It wasn't cheap for me to move my whole family to Venice for the week." The hotel bills alone were atrocious.

Actually what will happen now is that no one in their right mind is going to want those jobs. I mean - think about it. You are a young, ambitious geologist looking for a job. Times are tough - it's a recession - you are tired of waiting tables at the local cafe. But do you apply for this job? There are 7 jobs open now - any takers? I don't think so.

Okay, enough of my ranting. But I do think this is a good argument for requiring a sound, basic education in science in our schools. You don't need a PhD to see this is wrong.

Max and Tilly

I have to post this. It is what I just wrote in my diary about my day today (and last night).

Let me give you the update from the overnight. Max was not the concern - he slept all night. Tilly was another problem entirely. She could not get comfortable with the sleeping arrangements last night. I had to go out onto the sectional and sleep with her. Then she could sleep. She needed someone to be with her. Carol finally got up about 4AM and sat up with him so I could go into the bed. What a silly goose.

I took Max to church this morning. He really seemed to like it and the people loved seeing him. He really enjoyed the singing and the music. He even went up to the front for the children's message and proudly returned with his cookie. Quentin made a place for Max beside him and Max sat through the whole thing taking his lead from Quentin. Max had a hard time with the sermon and even managed, much to my chagrin, to make it up front to be with Carol. Everyone laughed when she told them he was her grandson and that was probably why he was so comfortable up front. I went up and got him and returned to our seats. A couple of crackers bribed him to stay put for awhile. We made it through the rest of the service until almost to the end when he had enough. He looked at me - turned his palms up and said "All done". The he hopped down off the chair and headed for the door. What a stitch.

I had to go to work after the service but he and Carol stayed for the potluck. Then she handed Max off to his other grandmother. We still have Tilly here and Carol is sleeping with him tonight.

What more is there to say. Max was with us from Friday night while his parents took a trip to Denver to see the Broncos clobber Oakland. Nana and I are worn out. Carol fell asleep about 7PM and I'm headed there now. In other words - it was a great weekend.

PEACE

"Papa" to the rescue

My first day off since starting my new post at Smulekoff's and I was looking forward to sleeping in and doing mostly nothing today. But my plans didn't turn out that way. We got our first distress call since moving back to CR. Our grandson was running a temperature and could I stay with him today, was the call. Well that was a no-brainer. Part of the appeal of moving back with family was to be available when just such a need occurred. So it was grandfather - "Papa" - to the rescue today.

Off I went to see what the young man was up to. As I walked over to my daughter's house, I must admit, I was a little concerned that I might not be able to pull this off. After-all, it has been nearly 30 years since I was responsible for a little one. Well, it wasn't as much as they thought. The medicine took care of the temperature very well so all I really needed to do was spend the day with my grandson. Let's just say we had a great time. We spent the morning playing and I even got to catch up on Sesame Street. He introduced me to all of the characters. He's not quite 2 years old but knew all of their names.

That show is followed by one I had never seen before but really liked - "Sid, the Science Kid". The whole premise of science experiments for pre-schoolers really got my attention. I like the whole idea and it appeared to be well written and produced. Sid was making apple sauce today so, of course, we were off to the kitchen to make our own apple sauce. The sight of that little man sitting in his high chair at the counter while we made apple sauce was a treat in itself. Of course, he had to sample the apple to make sure it was okay. We played a bit more as the sauce cooled then Papa finally let him take a nap.

After we both napped we made hamburgers for lunch and then read books and played the whole afternoon. I'm afraid he didn't get an afternoon nap but hey what are grampa's for? Some time after 5 pm the rest of the family showed up to assess the carnage and the verdict was that we done okay. Then I went home and fell asleep for an hour. Yes, he wore me out. I suspect he went to bed early as well though.

This is what we came home for, to be there for the kids when we can help out and it is great. I know I will see him soon enough but now I will welcome the next phone call asking for help.

Sleep well little buddy - Papa will see you soon.

Peace.

IKEA's new TV

I guess if you live long enough you will see things coming back. IKEA has introduced a new TV disguised as a piece of furniture. This from televisioninfo.com is what IKEA has to say about this "new idea".

IKEA announced in early April of this year that they’re soon releasing a new kind of television. It’s not engineered with any new technology—at least, not in the way most people would think. IKEA’s TV, called Uppleva, is more than a TV: it’s also its own entertainment center, Blu-ray player, and audio system.

Ah guys - I think I have seen this before. Yes, I have - from only 50 years ago I give you the Zenith Constantine/ Model 7100U Color TV Combination.
It had a state of the art color TV combined with. . .  (wait for it) . . .

21" NTSC color TV with 82 channel FCC standard VHF/UHF tuner, 5 stage UHF IF,

Radio: AM & FM Stereo,

Phono: Micro-Touch 2G tone arm, 4 speed record- changer,

Oh man am I getting old.  I guess I will just have to go have a glass of warm milk and go to my bed.  I just hope I will be able to get this song out of my head.
     "Everything old is new again".


Peace

Apple Pickers 1913

 I have been going through some photos that my mother-in-law passed on to us.  These have been in her family albums.  They are amazing so I just had to pass on a few.
The first has written on the back -
"Apple Pickers - Carmichael Orchard, Barnard, MO - 1913"

 The second one is from World War I, when my wife's grandfather was in training at Camp Funston, KS dated October 1917.  That is a Colt machine gun in the foreground according to the notation on the back.

Can't you just see these guys getting ready to go off to fight the Kaiser in the "War to end all wars"?

Here is another from Camp Funston showing the trucks they were equipped with.  This was taken at the same time, October 1917.  Notice the wooden wheels and the open cab with the retractable canvas roof.




But we must not forget the women.  The notation on the back says - "Red Cross Meeting, 1918-Baker Homemaker Club".  I'm guessing those Red Cross meetings were very important back then.


There are literally hundreds of these in the albums.  Life may have been tough for these farmers but apparently there was time to pose for the camera.

Enjoy.

The brothers got together yesterday

Chuck made the trip from Hawaii to Mound to see his new granddaughter so I had to make the much shorter trip from Des Moines to see him.  I spent the day with Chuck.  We took Mom and Dad out for lunch then we drove around our old stamping grounds and shared stories of growing up in Mound.

Three Points has changed a lot since the 50's when Chuck and I lived there so we all had a great time driving around that little peninsula into Lake Minnetonka.  Chuck and I both agreed that the summers in Three Points were pretty good for two young boys.  Baseball in the morning, swimming in the afternoons and in between we went fishing.  All within walking distance or a short trip on our bicycles.  Those were good times.

That evening all five of the boys got together at Steve's house for dinner.  We swapped stories and sampled the various brands of whiskey in Steve's stock.  It is a rare occasion anymore when we can all get together in one place but I must say that there isn't better company in my world.
Here are more pictures.