It's "Lucky Penny Day!"

 
   Pay extra attention as you make the rounds today.
   May 23rd is "Lucky Penny Day!"
   The researchers at Holidayinsights.com were
unable to trace the originators of this "holiday."
    If fact many people will undoubtedly question the
value of a special day set aside to pay tribute to the
common everyday penny.
    After all there's very little you can buy for a single
cent these days.
    Most folks, when receiving a penny in change at
their local market probably just offer it back
to the every present "penny pile."
    That depository is suppose to be put into use to
help other customers who come up a penny short.
     I often wonder if, at the end of the day, it really
becomes a dollar tip for the clerk on duty?
     Some of course are probably dropped into one
of those containers to "Save the Animals" or some
similar charity.
      The old saying is "Find a penny, pick it up, and
all the day you'll have good luck." I never found that
to be especially true. But, in all fairness, I just now
learned, through my research for this blog, that you're
only suppose to pick up the pennies that are "Heads
up!" Guess "Tails" doesn't qualify!
     But anyway you look at them Pennies are still a
major commodity in my house! And the grand kids
grab for them whichever side is facing up!
     I suppose it has something to do with the
Gumball machine we keep on our kitchen table
that's filled with M&Ms! You've got to put in a
penny to get a couple out.......and we're doing a big
business! Of course we supply the pennies!
     Hope you're still getting your two cents worth
in and that all your NEWS is good!

And the winners are.........

  I had to decide which to do first yesterday.
Take my wife for her blood test or stop in to
cast our ballots.
  I decided to get the hard part out of the way
first. So we went to vote.
  It's not that the electronic voting machines
are all that hard to use. I'm pretty much used
to them now.
  The problem is the list of candidates!
  For the past couple of weeks we've been
bothered by political telephone calls, radio
and television advertising, signs planted in
every available space along the highways,
billboards and, of course, those flyer's that
we found in our mailbox every other day.
   As if we hadn't seen enough there were
"poll workers" waiting to greet us as we
showed up at our firehouse. Each handed
us a little paper with names and/or photos of
the candidate or candidates they wanted us
to support.
    So why is it, with all that information, I
only recognized about a half dozen of the
names that showed up on my electronic
ballot?
   Of course a few of the really "big names"
that have been all over radio and TV these
past few weeks are from other communities
and don't even appear on my ballot! Guess
they wasted their advertising dollars in my
case!
   Then, as I waited to see the results, I
realized  my home township was
barely seen on the "crawl" at the bottom
of the screen!
    Since this was a Primary election most
of the people seeking office have to run and
win again in the General election to actually
get the position they're seeking.
    Maybe if I hang on to those little handouts
I'll know who they are next time around!
    Meantime I can write notes and grocery
lists on the back of the cards! This proves,
again, that elections are important!
     Hope your candidate got nominated and
that all your NEWS is good!
   

The Creek!

 The Creek!
  It almost sounds like the title of a
scary novel or movie. And I suppose
it could be!
  The stream that cuts through the
mountain near our development is
a quiet, beautiful place when its banks
are lined with snow and ice covers
spots where the water ponds.
   But when spring arrives...the
"creatures" come out!
   May flies are usually the first to
arrive. They're not scary, just a
nuisance when I try to take my
morning walks in that area.
   As temperatures get a little
warmer you're likely to see other
critters in the vicinity of the creek.
   There's a Ground Hog now and
then. Again, not scary, unless you're
hoping for a weather prediction!
That, as we all know, can be a horror!
   But yesterday's hot temperatures
brought out the real "monsters!"
    First a skunk that didn't make it
across the road! He is gone but,
believe me, not forgotten!
    Then the biggest fright of all!
    The "Swimmers!"
    When ever the temperatures
hit the mid 70s and the sun is out
bright and strong you'll find cars
parked on any available spot near
near the only access trail to the
creek where there are no "No
Trespassing" signs!
     Some come just to sit in the
cool running water. Many come to
party. By evening there's usually a
campfire and a couple of brews.
     If you miss the sights you can
view the litter the next morning.
     Makes me kind of long for those
quiet winter scenes.
      Hope the skunk odor soon
disappears and that all your NEWS
is good!

 

 

 

MY U.F.Os..........IDENTIFIED!

   It's been a few years since the night I spotted
those strange lights in the sky. They were
unidentified and they were most definitely
flying! That made them UFOs!
   It seemed an entire flight rather than just one
large object.
   I couldn't tell just how high they were or how
far from my vantage point. But they did seem to
be moving. Either higher or further away.
   Their speed suggested they were hovering
so I listened carefully to see if I might detect
a sound that could have been associated with
a squadron of helicopters. But there was none.
    In fact there was no sound at all!
    I grabbed for my camcorder hoping to
capture some sort of video in the otherwise
pitch dark night.
    But about the time I started to aim in their
general direction the lights suddenly vanished!
    Could "They" have detected that someone
had a camera trained in their direction?
    Those thoughts pretty much stuck with me
until Saturday night.
     That's when we gathered round a campfire
at a small resort along the banks of Lake
Seneca near Watkins Glen, New York.
      While most of us were watching the fire
one of the guests was igniting a small flame
that's mounted below what amounts to a big,
colorful, paper bag. As the flame heated the
air the "lantern" floated silently, into the
air. It kept climbing and drifting until the
flame finally went out and the light from
the floating lantern disappeared!
      The sight, and sudden lack of it, brought
back memories of the UFOs I had seen!  The
look was too close to be a coincidence.
      It was, apparently, floating lanterns I had
seen in that night sky years ago......wasn't it?
      I hope it was........and that all your NEWS
is good!

Bottle Of Wine, Fruit Of The Vine.....

  We spent some time with family and friends
at Lake Seneca this weekend.
   As you may know, this is "Wine Country."
   Given that fact we joined in a couple
obligatory visits to some wineries for just a
"sip" of their latest offerings.
    Nearly all of the places charge a couple of
bucks to sample a few of their wines. You could
look at it as a down payment since the "cover
charge" is returned to you when you purchase
a bottle of wine. We apparently looked so
thirsty we never even had to fork out the
sampling fee!
    The problem, for those who like wine, is
they all taste pretty good! So, chances are,
you'll probably end up buying a couple of
bottles. Then you learn there's a discount if
you actually buy a case. We got the discount!
    But we're strictly amateurs!
    Some people visit a dozen or so wineries
a day. They come in car caravans, buses, and
limousines.
    Many buy several cases. I'm surprised they
just don't go for the oak barrels you see around
the places!
    I have to wonder if the New York State or
local police ever thought about setting up a
DUI Checkpoint on the highways around
this lake? They might be able to lower local
taxes!
    Our wine should last until they've grown
a whole new crop of grapes next season. For
the moment I'm sticking with the 'Hard Stuff!"
    I'm on my 4th Diet soda of the day!
    Hope you've got a cork screw ready just
in case and that all your NEWS is good!

     

I'm Still At "The Office."

    I was among the thousands of viewers who watched
the final chapter of "The Office" that aired on WBRE
Thursday night.
    I caught onto the series a little later than many. That's
not unusual for me!
    "All In The Family" had run for at least one full season
before I finally tuned in. And the comical detective "Monk
had solved at least a half dozen cases before my daughter
clued me in to that show.
    I learned to like "The Office" very quickly!
    I'm not sure if that's because I knew about so many of
the local places they mentioned all the time or because
I worked with a few people who were very similar to the
characters portrayed on the show.
     I remember one boss way back in my early radio days
who walked in one day shortly after taking the job and
told me I was being moved to mornings where he and I
would be doing a two-man comedy show! We became
"Chet & Dave" and the program was called "Sundial."
    I would watch him drive up in his topless Austin
Healey sport scar every morning. He either had no top or
it didn't come up any more. Then he'd get out with his
quart of milk (needed I suppose for his ulcer), come up to
the studio and we'd do the nuttiest things we could think of!
    I worked with an engineer who operated under the
assumption that every piece of equipment in the place,
including the "News Car" belonged to him and he'd get
like Dwight if you wanted to use it....like for gathering
news!
   Then there was the book keeper who practically made
you sign if you needed a new pencil!
    Those are just a few examples. I could describe a lot
more but there's that thing about "protecting the innocent!"
     I was thinking I'd miss "The Office." But the only thing
I'll have to miss is new episodes. The old ones, a few of
which I'm sure I missed, should be around for a very
long time in syndication. And as long as they're showing
people will be reminded there's a town called Scranton.
    I think that's a good thing.
    Now, back to work sorting all these paper products!
    Hope all your parties are like Scranton parties and
that all your NEWS is good!

 

It's All Greek To Me.

      I went to Greece last night! As a matter
of fact I went to Ancient Greece last night!
      And I did it without ever having to leave
Luzerne County!
      The 6th Graders at the Bear Creek
Community Charter School hosted "Greek
Night." And with a grand daughter in 6th
grade you can bet your Baklava my wife and
I were not about to miss it!
      These young men and women did
themselves proud!
       There was a Greek Market where your
simulated gold coins could be used to buy
simulated Laurel wreaths, bracelets, and the
like.
       There was an Oracle who would look
into the future to answer your every question.
(There were, however, rumors that a Magic
8 Ball may have been hidden in his basket!)
Either way I probably should have asked if
he knew anything about Powerball numbers!
        There were Olympic Games of all sorts!
 These ingenious contests were so popular I
suspect the large number of participants would
have "buried" Jim Thorpe had he showed up to
compete. Or maybe he would have been
"moved" by the student's creativity! (Sorry
about that!)
         The kids spent weeks designing posters
reflecting Greek Gods, art work, and characters
from Greek mythology. I looked at most of it
......except for the paintings of Medusa! After
all who wants to get stoned!
         There was Greek food to sample too and
some plays in which the students showed us
they truly learned a lot about Greece by
preparing themselves for this festival.
          Good work students and teachers!
          We really enjoyed the trip!
           Hope you'll remember NOT to bring
that wooden horse inside....and that all your
NEWS is good!