The other evening Cliff, another friend (Boyd) and I went to the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts to hear a talk on the evolution of technology. But that isn’t what I wanted to mention. Boyd had suggested that we have dinner at a little Chinese restaurant diagonally across the street from the CPA, and so it was agreed. At the restaurant Boyd asked, “Soup?” Sure. It was a cool night, and the menu showed Wor Wonton Soup, one of my favorites. So, among other things, we ordered that. Well, this soup was a bit different from other versions with the same name. The vegetables in it were BIG. In fact said veggies wouldn’t stay on my spoon. I ended up eating them -- with a fork!
Bit of fun --
Three old guys are out walking.
First one says, 'Windy, isn't it?'
Second one says, 'No, it's Thursday!'
Third one says, 'So am I. Let's go get a beer.'
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
I DID IT! I DID IT!
I was at the physical therapist’s, sitting in my scooter. I had finished all of the torture, er, exercises that I usually do, and the therapist was deciding what I should do next. He concluded that I should try some knee bends. (Note that I did NOT say ‘deep knee bends’.) So he wanted me to stand once more. He fastened a belt around my waist to assist me to get up. I had to supply some of the energy by pushing off of the steering gear on the scooter. And up I went. “How much of that was you?” I asked. “None,” he replied, “you did it all on your own.” I DID? That quite startled me!
When I finished, and scootered out to the van, I told Cliff about it, and that I wanted to try it again. And I did -- get up without help, that is. It happened yet a third time when after some shopping, I once again picked myself up from the scooter. I cannot really describe how good that felt! This is why I am exercising. Now this is just the beginning. The scooter steering gear is some inches higher than where I sit, and that gives me some leverage. When I can stand by pushing off the chair in which I am sitting, I will be much farther along.
Humor -
Three women are having lunch. One says, "My son is a Bishop, and when he walks into a room, everyone says 'Your Grace' ".
The next woman says, "My son is a cardinal, and when he walks into a room, everyone says 'Your Excellancy' ".
The third woman, a little Jewish lady, says, "My son is six foot four, very handsome, broad shoulders, narrow hips, and when he walks into a room, all the women say, 'Oh my God!'"
When I finished, and scootered out to the van, I told Cliff about it, and that I wanted to try it again. And I did -- get up without help, that is. It happened yet a third time when after some shopping, I once again picked myself up from the scooter. I cannot really describe how good that felt! This is why I am exercising. Now this is just the beginning. The scooter steering gear is some inches higher than where I sit, and that gives me some leverage. When I can stand by pushing off the chair in which I am sitting, I will be much farther along.
Humor -
Three women are having lunch. One says, "My son is a Bishop, and when he walks into a room, everyone says 'Your Grace' ".
The next woman says, "My son is a cardinal, and when he walks into a room, everyone says 'Your Excellancy' ".
The third woman, a little Jewish lady, says, "My son is six foot four, very handsome, broad shoulders, narrow hips, and when he walks into a room, all the women say, 'Oh my God!'"
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
HALLOWEEN IS COMING!
Our park managers are great at putting up holiday decorations. Here’s what we have going for that creepy, crawly thing we call Hallowe’en. Too bad I don’t have a video camera. Some of the outdoor ones move up and down or rotate. Here, have a look!
Creepy creature hiding inside happy pumpkin.
That's Creepy Creature's dark brudder.
Methinks the Creepy's scared the cat. Scairdy cat?
One happy family ...
Get off my foot!
... and Happy's vertical family.
Ugh!
Getting ready for take-off.
You'd think we're going batty.
Seen your dentist lately?
Other fun -
A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy: 'So I hear you're getting married?' 'Yep!' 'Do I know her?' 'Nope!' 'This woman, is she good looking?' 'Not really.' 'Is she a good cook?' 'Naw, she can't cook too well.' 'Does she have lots of money?' 'Nope! Poor as a church mouse.' 'Well, then, is she good in bed?' 'I don't know.' 'Why in the world do you want to marry her then ?' 'Because she can still drive!'
Creepy creature hiding inside happy pumpkin.
That's Creepy Creature's dark brudder.
Methinks the Creepy's scared the cat. Scairdy cat?
One happy family ...
Get off my foot!
... and Happy's vertical family.
Ugh!
Getting ready for take-off.
You'd think we're going batty.
Seen your dentist lately?
Other fun -
A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy: 'So I hear you're getting married?' 'Yep!' 'Do I know her?' 'Nope!' 'This woman, is she good looking?' 'Not really.' 'Is she a good cook?' 'Naw, she can't cook too well.' 'Does she have lots of money?' 'Nope! Poor as a church mouse.' 'Well, then, is she good in bed?' 'I don't know.' 'Why in the world do you want to marry her then ?' 'Because she can still drive!'
Monday, October 19, 2009
NEW TAKES
Recently there was a posting on Alison’s blog about being open to a new take on things. I’d made a comment about having a hard time with new takes in classical music, but not necessarily in general, and I said that reminded me of a story I would post on my blog. Okay, here it is:
Many years I was working as a clerk for a subsidiary of Southern Pacific. I was handling paper work of some kind, when one day my boss came up to me with a multi-page form in his hand. “Here, fill this out.” I had the data. It was simply a matter of filling in all those blanks. But as I perused the form, with all its lines and blank spaces, it struck me that the vertical spacing was typewriter spacing (remember typewriters?). I used to be an excellent typist, so I went back to my boss to ask for a typewriter. The form would be much neater and cleaner. Good Heavens! The man was horrified! “Its never been done on the typewriter. We’ve always done it by hand! You were not hired as a typist!” Somehow I convinced the man that not only would the finished product be neater, but would be done in a fraction of the time. Well! He would have to take the matter up with his superior. (He must have gotten approval.)
Ultimately he found me a typewriter, and I delivered as promised, but I left shortly thereafter. Working in the 20th century for a firm still in the 19th was not my idea of a good idea.
Fun -
Is that a laptop computer?
Many years I was working as a clerk for a subsidiary of Southern Pacific. I was handling paper work of some kind, when one day my boss came up to me with a multi-page form in his hand. “Here, fill this out.” I had the data. It was simply a matter of filling in all those blanks. But as I perused the form, with all its lines and blank spaces, it struck me that the vertical spacing was typewriter spacing (remember typewriters?). I used to be an excellent typist, so I went back to my boss to ask for a typewriter. The form would be much neater and cleaner. Good Heavens! The man was horrified! “Its never been done on the typewriter. We’ve always done it by hand! You were not hired as a typist!” Somehow I convinced the man that not only would the finished product be neater, but would be done in a fraction of the time. Well! He would have to take the matter up with his superior. (He must have gotten approval.)
Ultimately he found me a typewriter, and I delivered as promised, but I left shortly thereafter. Working in the 20th century for a firm still in the 19th was not my idea of a good idea.
Fun -
Is that a laptop computer?
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Amazing striped icebergs
More amazing photographs from friends who forward them to me. Even the following text was part of the email.
Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by layers of snow that react to different conditions. Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form. When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a green stripe. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.
This looks somewhat like a whale.
The water froze the instant the wave broke through the ice. That's what it is like in Antarctica where it is the coldest weather in decades. Water freezes the instant it comes in contact with the air. The temperature of the water is already some degrees below freezing.
Humor --
Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. 'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he asks. 'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?' 'Sure.' 'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she asks. 'No, I can remember it.' 'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so's not to forget it?' He says, 'I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.' 'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?' she asks. Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!' Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, The old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment. 'Where's my toast ?'
Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by layers of snow that react to different conditions. Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form. When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a green stripe. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.
This looks somewhat like a whale.
The water froze the instant the wave broke through the ice. That's what it is like in Antarctica where it is the coldest weather in decades. Water freezes the instant it comes in contact with the air. The temperature of the water is already some degrees below freezing.
Humor --
Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. 'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he asks. 'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?' 'Sure.' 'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she asks. 'No, I can remember it.' 'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so's not to forget it?' He says, 'I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.' 'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?' she asks. Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!' Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, The old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment. 'Where's my toast ?'
Friday, October 16, 2009
ERIC APPRECIATION DAY
Eric is the gentleman who started cooking for Amalie and me several years ago. He continues to do so now for Clifford and me, bringing meals he cooks at home (he lives here in the park) that’s good for 4 days each for the two of us. He performs other tasks for us, as well. For example, Am and I used to make our bed each morning, but I had reached a point where I could no longer do that. I’d said that I wanted an automatic bedmaker. That shouldn’t be too hard, I insisted. And so, in addition to the other tasks he was doing for us, Eric became our “automatic” bedmaker.
About once a month he drives up to Napa in the north bay to visit his father, and it is on those days when Amalie and I (then), and Cliff and I (now) have to fend for ourselves. And when those days occur, I refer to them as Eric Appreciation Day, for it is when he is not here that we really appreciate his efforts. About a month ago, Eric informed us that a client of his wanted to bring him along on a two week cruise to the Mexican Riviera -- all expense paid. Well! Eric had never been on a cruise before, and he could scarcely say “No”. So Eric is now off on the cruise of his lifetime, and while he will be gone only two weeks, I have dubbed this Eric Appreciation Month!
Funny:
Now if you thought you knew all about this sort of thing, think again. The following photo came to me labeled:
About once a month he drives up to Napa in the north bay to visit his father, and it is on those days when Amalie and I (then), and Cliff and I (now) have to fend for ourselves. And when those days occur, I refer to them as Eric Appreciation Day, for it is when he is not here that we really appreciate his efforts. About a month ago, Eric informed us that a client of his wanted to bring him along on a two week cruise to the Mexican Riviera -- all expense paid. Well! Eric had never been on a cruise before, and he could scarcely say “No”. So Eric is now off on the cruise of his lifetime, and while he will be gone only two weeks, I have dubbed this Eric Appreciation Month!
Funny:
Now if you thought you knew all about this sort of thing, think again. The following photo came to me labeled:
HOW TWINS ARE MADE
Thursday, October 15, 2009
IT ‘S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S A ...
Balloon? No, balloons (plural). We should all give thanks to my various friends who send me some of the most intriguing emails! A dear couple who live nearby are off to New Mexico for, among other things, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. And they are emailing photos to me (among others). And so we (my readers and I) my enjoy them. So please do. Enjoy, that is.
Humor --
Three men were arrested with 600 pounds of pot. Suspicions arose at a Burger King when they ordered 12,000 cheeseburgers and a large coke.
***
The graveside service just barely finished, when there was massive clap
of thunder, followed by a tremendous bolt of lightning, accompanied by
even more thunder rumbling in the distance.
The little old man looked at the pastor and calmly said, 'Well, she's there.
Humor --
Three men were arrested with 600 pounds of pot. Suspicions arose at a Burger King when they ordered 12,000 cheeseburgers and a large coke.
***
The graveside service just barely finished, when there was massive clap
of thunder, followed by a tremendous bolt of lightning, accompanied by
even more thunder rumbling in the distance.
The little old man looked at the pastor and calmly said, 'Well, she's there.
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