TAKE A WHIFF OF THAT!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST., 2020
    TAKE A WHIFF OF THAT!

  During these oppressively hot and
humid days we've had lately I'll wager
more than one of you, like me, has
longed for a breath of cool dephiogisticated
air!
    Never heard of it? Oh. You might know
it better as oxygen.
    It was "discovered" on this date, August
1st of 1774 by English Chemist Joseph Priestley.
Now since I assume he was breathing it even
while experimenting perhaps "isolating"
oxygen might be more a better description.
    Besides being a scientist Priestley was
a theologian who fought for religious freedom
at a time of political unrest in England.
    His controversial views lead to the burning
of  his home and his church! And that lead him
to Pennsylvania. His home still stands in the
community of Northumberland, right across
the the Susquehanna river from Sunbury.
      I suspect the air seemed sweeter there.
So take a deep breath and remember
fellow Pennsylvanian Joseph Priestley on
this historical date.
      Hope you're breathing easy and that
all your NEWS is good!
   

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE!

          FRIDAY, JULY 31ST., 2020
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE!

   My grandson and I set out looking for some
adventure today. In the end we found that, as
the sng and old saying goes, The Best Things In
Life Are Free!
    First we spent a couple dollars on a go cart
race/ride. It was exciting and not especially
expensive. But the time we spent at two area
playgrounds provided plenty of fun too, with
no expense involved.
      Then he found the tractor! An old farm
tractor just inviting kids to climb aboard to
do some pretending. It was at Hillside Farms
and I might have just passed it up if he hadn't
spotted it. It was hard to get him to leave the
thing!
        Of course there was a bonus for both of
us! The Ice Cream Shop just a few yards away!
Think we'll both be back!!!
        Hope you're well and that all your NEWS
is good!

JUST A BUNCH OF WHINERS!

  THURSDAY, JULY 30TH., 2020
  JUST A BUNCH OF WHINERS!

  I spent most of Wednesday visiting my
wife's brothers and sisters. It's a lot like
going to the cirsus. You never know
what you'll find in the center ring.
   On Wednesday the ring was filled
with bottles of wine! Some from brand
name producers and some manufactured
by my brother-in-law Leo!
     He had arranged for a blind family
taste test! Participants were to sample
each wine, rate them by color, odor, and
taste then write remarks about their
findings.
      I was driving so I opted out I
figured by the time everyone sampled
each wine we'd know te reason it was
called a "blind taste test!"
       Actually Leo's home brew did
pretty well. I may try some tomorrow.
In my car's gas tank!
         Hope you're well and that all your
NEWS is good!.
     

THEY'VE GOT WINGS AND MUST FLY!

          WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH., 2020
  THEY'VE GOT WINGS AND MUST FLY!

    As I write I hold a bird's nest in one hand and
a small stool in the other. Today, in this rather
personal Blog, the two items are linked!
     The first grand child who entered our nest
was Jason. When just a tiny lad he was too short
to reach the basin in our bathroom to wash his
hands.
     He produced a little stool on which his name
was painted. There was also an inscription.
"This is my little stool. I use it as a tool. To reach
thee things I couldn't. And also things I shouldn't."
      Jason now towers over me and the stool has
been unofficially handed down to his soon to be
5-year-old cousin who also happens to be his
Godson!
       And now Jason is leaving the nest as he and
his girlfriend move to Virginia to seek life's new
challenges and adventures! Close enough for
visits either way!
        He leaves behind not only the stool but a
million and one loving memories. The most
important for me are the hugs he always willingly
offered as he visited and before he left.
        And so today I hope all of you, and especially
my "little buddy" Jason will have nothing but  GOOD
NEWS

 

ONE SWEET DAY!

  TUESDAY, JULY 28TH., 2020
       ONE SWEET DAY!

  It is July 28th and this is, in fact,
one sweet day. This is National Milk
Chocolate Day!
  You are encouraged to consume
milk chocolate in candy, baked goods
or in whatever form you find it
available.
    Of course a lot of that great milk
chocolate is produced right here in
Pennsylvania.
     The Hershey Company, which
includes a plant in the Hazleton area,
is the world's 5th largest candy
company. If course that includes
way more than just milk chocolate.
      And then there's the famous
Hershey Golden Ticket story. What?
You thought that was Willy Wonka>
      Well Wonka's golden ticket was
fictitious. Milton Hershey's was
real. His was a gold colored receipt
for a down payment on a trip back
to the U.S. from Europe. Since he
got called home early, however, he
missed his sailing on the Titanic!
        We could have missed a lot
of Hershey's milk chocolate!
         Hope you;re well and that
all your NEWS is good.

HAPPY TALES OF HAPPY TRAILS!

        MONDAY, JULY 27TH. 2020
HAPPY TALES OF HAPPY TRAILS!

  One of the problems of being on vacation
is missing things. I missed a Dentist appointment
last week. I also missed a "holiday" this past
Saturday that I've always enjoyed!
   July 25th was National Cowboy Day!
   It was established to give credit to the cowboys
and cowgirls who helped build our country, mainly
in the early west.
    I was always a big fan of cowboys. It was not
unusual for me to see a western double feature at
one of my neighborhood theaters on a typical
Saturday afternoon.
     The cowboys are my heroes but few of those
characters are even remembered today. There are
exceptions. Gene Autry is still known. But it's
probably more for his recording of Rudolph
The Red Nosed Reindeer than for his horse
Champion. Roy Rogers was "King" of the
Cowboys. Now his name's on a fast food chain.
    One of my favorites was Allan "Rocky" Lane.
    You may never have heard of him but your
heard his voice if you were a fan of the TV series
"Mr. Ed." My cowboy hero provided the voice
of the talking horse!
       Anyway let's have a tip of the hat for the
cowboys and cowgirls, on screen, and in
reality who own a place in our country's
history.
        Hope your're well and that all your
NEWS is good.

MY CAROUSEL TICKET!

   SUNDAY, JULY 26TH., 2020
     MY CAROUSEL TICKET!

  Well we made it back from vacation.
The Atlantic ocean isn't really that far
away. It's just that Philadelphia is in
the way!
    As with all vacation people, some
of our gang brought back souvenirs.
On grandson got a new hat. A granddaughter
did the same (different hat). Another
granddaughter got a new sweatshirt with a
Life Guard logo.
    It's great to get souvenirs to remember
your vacation.....usually.
    On the other hand, last night I posted
a video blog photographed at the
double decker carousel on one of the
amusement piers. I'm not sure how much
it costs to ride that Merry Go Round but
I can tell you I took a little more time
than I expected to shoot the scene.
      So my "souvenir" is a $35 Parking
Ticket! (At lease it's cheaper that the
Parasailing!) Glad to be home. Home
you're well and that all your NEWS
is good!

MY SPIN ON THINGS!

SATURDAY, JULY 25TH., 2020
    MY SPIN ON THINGS!

  I'm spinning everybody. It could
be the crowds in in Wildwood. But,
more likely, it's because it's National
Merry Go Round Day!
       The Merry-Go-Round has been
going round for a lot of years! July 25
was chosen as  National Merry-Go-
Round Day, an “unofficial” national
holiday, as it coincides with the first
United States patent that was issued for
the modern carousel.
    That patent was awarded to William
Schneider of Davenport Iowa on July 25,
1871. I didn't cover the event. But I'm
sure glad he got the patent!
     The more I think of it though, I think
I'm spinning because this vacation week
has flown by so quickly!
     When the pandemic started the world
seemed to slow to a crawl. Then comes
vacation and the week is gone in the
blink of an eye! 
    I'm glad you came along by way
of my Blog. I believe it's important to
note that we can all take safety precautions
and follow the rules without locking
ourselves up at home! I hope you'll never
give up going after life's brass rings, and
that all your NEWS is good!

COME FLY WITH ME!

FRIDAY, JULY 24TH., 2020
   COME FLY WITH ME!

 You really shod be checking my
video blog for this one friends. On
Thursday my wife and I along with
several; family members and our
granddaughter's boyfriend decided
to go Parasailing!
   For those who might not know
about this "adventure" you head out
to see in a high speed boat. You are
attached to a harness around your
body which is then fastened to a
huge parachute!
    As the boat rockets forward the
wind catches the chute and it...and
you..go sailing into the air!
    It's a great view from up in the
sky a hundred  feet or so above the
salt water, the boat, and sting rays
and (probably) sharks!
     Actually it was a great adventure
\and a reminded that the pandemic
does not have to stop you from\living your life!\
     Hope you're well and that all youre
NEWS is good!

A GET AWAY!

  THURSDAY, JULY 23RD., 2020
             A GET AWAY!

  After just a few days at our Wildwood "get away"
I'm totally convinced that during the pandemic, if
you can, you should get away!
   Most places here, like those back home, are
following the rules. Masks while shopping and
social distancing whenever possible.
    So why, as one Facebook friend asked, come
away from home now?
     Well let's just touch on some of the basics.
For nearly two months we were all but locked
up in our homes. True, precautions are no less
important now than they were then. But on
Wednesday we went Dolphin watching. It's
tough do that on the Susquehanna!
       And while a swimming pool here is pretty
much the same as a swimming pool back home,
the ocean, which is about three blocks away,
has a lot more waves and sandy beach than
Lake Wallenpaupack!
      And while half of the license plates
here are from Pennsylvania I'll bet a survey
of those in the Poconos would show about
50% from New Jersey! They go there. We
come here. Get aways!
       Hope you take one, that you;re well
and that all your NEWS is good!

   

BORN TO BE WILD (WOOD)?

   WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND. 2020
     BORN TO BE WILD (WOOD)?

   I am on vacation but you can't take the
news out of the newsman! I feel I must
share a breaking story with you from our
temporary home in Wildwood New Jersey.
   As everyone is well aware the virus
pandemic is forcing the cancellation of
events everywhere.
    Back home La Festa on Labor Day
Weekend and even the Santa Parade
have been cancelled for 2020.
     Here at the beach the 24-year-old
"Roar To The Shore" has now been
cancelled. The motorcycle rally has
brought hundreds of bikers to Wildwood
for the past two dozen years!
     But, as the late Paul Harvey would
say, here is the rest of the story.
     Wildwood hasn't cancelled the rally
because of the virus. It's been given
the hook because the Mayor says it does
not fit the community's family friendly
atmosphere for visitors!
     Of course bikers are still welcome
as private guests and some will undoubtedly
still make the trip at rally time.
.     I suspect it's more likely many will
take their bikes and their money somewhere
else.
      My 50-year-old Honda is too small to
make the trip  anyway. I just thought you
should know! Hope you're well and that
all your NEWS is good!
     
. 

SURE YOU'RE AT THE SHORE?

        TUESDAY, JULY 21ST., 2020
       SURE YOU;RE AT THE SHORE?

    I've come up with a recipe for a great shore
vacation. Of course first you;re got to make
sure you're at the shore.
    There are certain signs. An airplane towing
a banner is one. Seagulls are another, although
they have been found in northeastern Pennsylvania
super market parking lots as well.
     The ocean itself is the ultimate proof and a
calm sea under sunny skies with small but
floatable waves is an important ingredient  for
a successful vacation. It's also good to note there
are Life Guards on duty. Playing in the sand
is an extra attraction especially when you find
some attractive shells!
     Sunbathing is a must. Another important
ingredient for your vacation.
      Of course the most important ingredient
is family! That makes any vacation, shore or
otherwise a real winner!
       Hope, where ever you find yourself, you've
got all the right ingredients for a wonderful
vacation......and....that all your NEWS is good!

   

WHO'S THE BOSS?

MONDAY, JULY 20TH., 2020
         WHO'S THE BOSS?

   Day two of our vacation saw us
taking advantage of the large swimming
pool at the place we're staying. The virus
has had an impact. The poor capacity,
people wise has bee limited. But there
was plenty of room for our gang.
     Nearby restaurants that normally
serve customers inside have erected
huge tents with tables socially distanced
inside.
      The Boardwalk was a disappointment.
While we went masks in place, it was
pretty clear that about half those walking
by were not wearing them!
       Of course it was impossible to ask
everyone. But it seems clear there are
two schools of though. Some just don't
believe the virus exists in spite of the
number of cases in countries where
there's no politics involved.
        There is politics involved here
and some people refuse to wear a mask
because some politician is telling them
to wear them.
         Ever the hard line critics admit
a mask may afford some protection for
the other guy if not you.
        If your Mom told you to wear a
mask everybody would have one on!
Maybe we need more Moms in government!
         Hope you're well and that all your NEWS
is good!     

MEMORIES, OLD AND NEW!

  SUNDAY, JULY 19TH., 2020
 MEMORIES, OLD AND NEW!

   We're on vacation! In our case, and
specifically my case, we're in Wildwood,
New Jersey. I think my parents started
bring me to this beach community when
I was about 3!
    I have been back on vacations for at
least 60 of my 70 plus years.
     It's so nice to have my now extended
family all gathered together for a week
to enjoy the ocean, the attractions and
to make memories.
      For me it's a double treat. I get to
remember and enjoy the memories for
times gone by while, at the same time
helping to make new ones.
     You just can't beat a deal like that!
     Hope you're well and that all your
NEWS is good

OUT OF THE PICTURE!

 SATURDAY, JULY 18TH., 2020
       OUT OF THE PICTURE!

  Every family has one. A person who
never wants his or her picture taken! I'm
actually in very few of our family photos.
It's not because I'm shy/ It's because I'm
usually the one taking the pictures.
    It's a different story with brother-in-
law Karl! He absolutely refuses to allow
anyone to take his picture.
      Karl, as some of you already know,
house sits for us when we go on vacation.
We're heading out today and I figured
I'd finally snap a photo of Karl wearing
his mask! No way. I figured wrong!
      In retrospect I'm thinking maybe
some people in the banking business
might recognize him faster with a mask
on!
       I'll try to keep up with my daily
blogs. WiFi and circumstances allowing.
Meanwhile special thanks to Karl for
taking over the house and making none
of the beer in the fridge gets old!
       Hope we'll be able to keep in touch,
that you're well, and that all your NEWS
is good!

COME FLY WITH ME!

 FRIDAY, JULY 17TH., 2020
    COME FLY WITH ME!

  I love to note special days in our
history and this day, July 17th, is one
of them!
   You'll remember Lindbergh's solo
flight across the Atlantic! Well that
didn't happen on this date. But one
of the men working on Lindbergh's
crew. Doug, was so inspired that
he took an old airplane, rebuilt it
himself, and flew it from California
to Brooklyn, New York! He planned
to fly it across the Atlantic on July
17th of 1938 but aviation  officials
refused permission because of the
condition of the aircraft. Doug was
allowed to fly back to California so
he took off on the 17th and landed the
next day in...Dublin, Ireland!!!!!!
    Now perhaps you remember Doug
"Wrong Way" Corrigan!
    Guess he didn't have a GPS!
    Hope you're flying in the right
direction, that you're well, and that
all your NEWS is good!

WHO'S CALLING?

  THURSDAY, JULY 16TH., 2020

  I have to tell you I haven't been getting any
of those "Car Warranty calls" lately! The last
one ended abruptly when I asked for a quote
on a 1913 Stutz Bearcat! (It was a car.)
  That's not to say the telephone hasen't been
ringing. We're getting a lot of political survey
calls now. I don't participate in those. We're
getting a lot of calls from Charitable organizations
asking for donations. I don't give to them. We
have our own list of local charities we're happy
to support.
   There has been one series of reoccurring calls
that have been troubling. They come from
someone or some group claiming to represent
the Social Security Administration.....and
claiming that my Social Security number has
been compromised. They usually give a telephone
number I'm asked to call for more information/
The way I figure it they should be giving me
all the information I need on their "alert call!"
      I'm waiting to hear from an actual human
being who will, probably, ask for my Social
Security number so they can "verify it."
     I plan to tell them my number is "10."
     Let's see how that grabs them!
     I love to scam the scammers!
     Hope you're well and that all your NEWS
is good.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

  WEDNESDAY, JULY 15TH., 2020
           WHAT'S IN A NAME?

 What's in a name? Shakespeare said
a rose by any other name would still
smell as sweet.  Still under the current
climate (Social not atmospheric) all
sorts of names and phrases are being
reviewed and, in some cases , removed
or revised.
  The Washington Redskins is the
latest example. The NFL team will
be changing its name in the wake of
growing criticism it represents a
racial slur. Ironically the largest
protest comes from the National
Council of American Indians.
   I thought Native Americans was
the politically correct term.
   Hey, I'm not complaining.
   I played cowboys and indians
long before politics poked its
nose into the game.
    Meanwhile everybody's
waiting to see what the new name
of the Redskins might be. Fans
have made suggestions which
include "Redhogs" and "Red
Wolves".
     I'm thinking the "Red Roses!"
It doesn't sound very tough but
it does seem poetic and totally
non offensive.
       Besides, I like the Eagles.
       Hope you're well and that
all your NEWS is good!

SINK YOUR TEETH INTO THIS!

  TUESDAY, JULY 14TH., 2020
SINK YOUR TEETH INTO THIS!

  I'm seeing a lot of Facebook posts about
vacations. A lot of folks from this area will
be heading to the shore. I bring this up now
because July 14th is "Shark Appreciation
Day." Ever since the book and movie "Jaws"
came out people have been scared to death
of sharks. Organizations attempting to
protect this species point out that fear of
shark attacks are no where near as bad as
they are portrayed in the movies!
    Actually man kills about 100 million
sharks, of all sizes, every year! They only
get about 7 of us!
     The odds of being bitten by a skark  are
about 1 in 11.5 million! There a far better
chance of being struck by lighting or
willing the Lottery.
      Still, if you're at the beach and someone
spots a shark in the vicinity it's best to get
out of the water. If the sighting is accompanied
by that music from "Jaws" I'd get out and
head to the Poconos for the rest of your
vacation!
       Hope you're well, and that all your
NEWS is good!

WHO WAS THAT UNMASKED MAN?

     MONDAY, JULY 13TH., 2020
WHO WAS THAT UNMASKED MAN?

  I usually like my Blogs to be on the light
side but today I got a biot angry and feel I
have to speak out. I visited a local
convenience store Sunday afternoon. There
were two very prominent signs on the door.
One read "You Must Wear A Mask Inside
The Store." The other read "Masks For Sale
Here." I went inside and found myself
behind a patron who was not wearing a mask!
He was "in a hurry" having to buy gas and
pick out some Lottery numbers. Then I
noticed the clerk was not wearing a mask!
Now I suppose it's possible neither of these
men could read. Or, perhaps, that couldn't
afford to buy a mask. At least, in the customer's
case, until he won the Lottery. 
    Let me make this as simple as I can, and
forget the virus!
     I have a cold. If I sneeze, cough, or breath
hin your direction there's a chance you will catch
my cold. If I wear a mask there's less of a chance
you'll catch my cold!
      If you wear a mask there's less of a chance
I'll catch your cold. Or flu. Or virus. Or your
bad breath!
       So, if you happen to see me in a public
place please wear a mask. Or social distance,
like in a different town!
         Hope you're wearing your mask, that
you're staying well, and that all your NEWS
is good!

TO MARKET, TO MARKET!

       SUNDAY, JULY 12TH., 2020
       TO MARKET, TO MARKET!

  I recently found myself grocery shopping
for the first time in months! Our grandson
has been handling most of the shopping for
us since the pandemic hit but he was busy
on this particular day and I happen to be
available with a need for some supplies.
   Of course it was pouring down rain!
   The experience was a little different
than I remembered. There was a worker
at the door making sure no one got in until
someone else came out. They're were't
terribly busy when I came so I got right in.
    Of course everyone was wearing a mask.
That made it much harder on the shoppers
who like to sample the grapes as the walked
through produce.
    There were also "One Way Lanes" like the
one way streets you find in the city. Of course
most shoppers, like a lot of motorists, simply
ignored the directions and went where ever
they pleased.
      All in all not bad though, excpty for
getting drenched!
        Hope you're well and that all your
NEWS is good!

7/11

SATURDAY, JULY 11TH., 2020
                 7/11

   I've got some good news and some
bad news! First the bad news. This is
going to be a "Slurpless Saturday!"
    You see it's July 11th. Seven Eleven.
For years the Seven Eleven Convenience
Store chain has given free Slurpee Ice
drinks to all its customers on this date!
But not this year.
     The Slurpee is the latest victim of
the virus so this year's give away is
off! I suspect they're just afraid of the
big crowds, especially during this
heat wave!
      The good news? July 11th is our
daughter Missy's birthday so we'll  be
celebrating Slurpee or not!
       Hope you've got something to
celebrate too and that all your NEWS
is good!

"BEAR" WITH ME!

  FRIDAY, JULY 10TH., 2020
        "BEAR" WITH ME!

   Some of you may remember the tune
"The Teddy Bear's Picnic." Well July
10th is "Teddy Bear's Picnic Day!" I'm
not sure why July 10th was selected. The
tune was not published on that date and it
is not the birthday of Jimmy Kennedy, its
writer. We know little about the origin of
the song. But we know plenty about the
origin of the Teddy Bear!
      In 1902 President Teddy Roosevelt was
hunting in Mississippi where he refused to
shoot a small bear. The Washington Post
did a story about the incident which
included a popular cartoon. A husband and
wife toy maker team, Morris and Rose
Michtom, saw the cartoon and wrote to
thg President asking permission to name
their toy stuffed bear "Teddy." The President
gave the OK and the :Teddy Bear" became
an instant hit with boys and girls everywhere.
 The Michtom's did pretty well too. Their
little firm became the Ideal Toy Company!
So, take the kids or grandkids and their
Teddy Bears out for a picnic today even if
just in the backyard! Enjoy this special
day. Hope you're well and that all your
NEWS is good!

"COUNT" ME IN?

THURSDAY. JULY 9TH., 2020
       "COUNT" ME IN?

  Our granddaughter's boyfriend had a
very unexpected and very unwelcome
passenger in his car the other day!
   Something struck his windshield, then
came in through his window, grazed
his head and landed in the passenger
seat. It was a bat!
     These flying rodents are know to
carry rabies! Merely having contact
with their blood can spread the disease!
      He immediately contacted his
doctor who wisely began a series of
anti rabies shots. They are no longer
the painful ones in the stomach but,
rather, like an immunization injection
in the arm.
       We have also advised our granddaughter
to keep a close watch on him. Especially
with a mirror to make sure his reflection
is still there. Since he often visits I also
have a needle point cross nearby. I'not sure,
however. if our garlicm
m

PEACE & HARMONY!

 WEDNESDAY, JULY 8TH. 2020
    PEACE AND HARMONY!

  There's an old saying. Don't judge
a book b y its cover. Should't that
apply to people too?
   We're all aware of
efforts to remove statues of
individuals who fought for the
Confederacy during the Civil War.
    But it seems a little unfair to
judge the life of those individuals
strictly by the uniforms they wore
on the battlefield.
    John Pemberton, for instance,
was a biochemist who fought for
the south during the Civil War.
    In 1865 during the battle of
Columbus a Union saber cut deep
into his chest. His recovery left
him addicted to morphine.
     There's a statue of John  in
Atlanta, Georgia and I hope it is
left in place!
        You see John kept experimenting
with different concoctions to try to
kick his addiction and that research
lead to his invention!   Coca-Cola!
          Perhaps that "Johnny Reb"
deserves a statue. Hope you're well
and that all your NEWS is good!
     

REMEMBERING!

   TUESDAY, JULY 7TH., 2020
           REMEMBERING!

  I can't help but be impressed with your
collective memories. Yesterday I wrote
about our drive in a very rural area where,
along a quiet mountain road, we discovered
an old telephone booth! Many of you
responded, writing about your memories
of telephone booths. Even those wooden
ones where you used to be able to make
a call for just a dime.
    It's so great to be able to remember.
Places we've been. Things that we've
done and people that we've met.
    I pride myself on being able to
remember which is why I was so surprised
when I got in my Suburban for the first
time since last Thursday and realized I'd
forgotten to shut the Sun Roof!!!!
     Now I'm trying to remember how
many times it rained in those 5 days the
car just sat there!
      Oh well, you can't remember
everything! Hope you're well and that
all your NEWS is good!
 

ALONG A RURAL ROAD!

        MONDAY, JULY  6TH.,2020
         ALONG A RURAL ROAD!

  Years back a popular radio commentator
used to begin his daily broadcast with the
words "It's a beautiful day in Pennsylvania."
    Well Sunday proved to be one of those
beautiful days. Perfect for a top down ride
in our Miata along some of the roads less
traveled. You just never know what you're
going to see along those back country roads.
It's not uncommon to see a deer or two along
side the roadway. Perhaps even an eagle or
a hawk. But nothing could have prepared us
for the sight we saw along that rural mountaintop
road in Sullivan County! It was a telephone
booth! A standing monument to communication
of days gone by! Now telephone booths are not
extinct. But you're more likely to find onr near
an old country gas station or, perhaps, a rural
post office. This one was pretty much in the
middle of nowhere! Not a house or cottage
that we could see for a good 5 or more miles!
I'm thinking the phone company simply forgot
it! Or, maybe, Big Foot has need to make a call
now and then! Wonder where he keeps all those
quarters? Keep your eyes open out there! Hope
you're well and that all your NEWS is good!

ALL THE STARS AREN'T ON FLAGS!

        SUNDAY, JULY 5TH., 2020
ALL THE STARS AREN'T ON FLAGS!

  I may be getting old. I got that impression
at our Independence Day gathering when I
casually mentioned that July 4th was Gina
Lollobrigida's birthday! You could have
heard a pin drop! Only one person nearby
knew of whom I spoke!
   For the others, and anybody else who
doesn't remember, Gina was an Italian movie
actress who starred in some 65 films from
the late 40's till her last big screen
role, paying herself, in 2011. Some of her
films were made in Italy but many made in
the United States. She shared the screen here
with some other stars you may or may not remember.
   In Trapeze she worked with Bert Lancaster
and Tony Curtis. In Come September she
stared with Rock Hudson, Bobby Darin, and
Sandra Dee. Yes, there was a Sandra Dee. Not
juts a song title from Grease!
     You can still see Gina's movies on TV or
dvd's. She was a  good actress and a good looker!
And though her movie career is over her life
is not! The birthday she celebrated yesterday
was her 93rd! Must be that Italian wine!
Happy Birthday Gina! To the rest of you, hope
you're well and that all your NEWS is good.

INDEPENDENCE DAY (S)

    SATURDAY, JULY 4TH., 2020
      INDEPENDENCE DAY (S)

   Well Friends it's July 4th! It's our
son-in-law Josh Boub's Birthday. The
real reason for all those fireworks!
    I know. Some of you are celebrating
Independence Day. But is this climate
of political correctness, revising history,
and tearing down statues, let's be clear
on that!
Delegates from 12 of our original
13 colonies approved a declaration of
independence from Britain on July 2nd.,
1776. Then they argued about the wording
for the next two days agreeing on the
final version on July 4th. But they didn't
sign it! Kind of like having a check that
hasn't been endorsed!
    The signing took a lot longer. Most
signed on August 2nd. A few signed it
days later and a couple never signed it
at all!
     When George Washington read a
copy of the document to a large group
of people in New York they immediately
torn down a statue of King George.
       Guess that's when that trend
actually started! Happy Birthday Josh
and, whatever you're celebrating.
I hope you're well and that all of your
NEWS is good (and accurate!)

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT!

       FRIDAY, JULY 3RD., 2020
   IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT!

   They say change happens in a moment.
In the blink of an eye. I caught it, though
ever so slightly Thursday.
    My 4-year-old grandson and I were
back at a playground. One of our usual
stops. That's where I noticed something
rather unusual!
    For the first time in our playground
experiences he didn't need any assistance
on any of the equipment. Maybe just a
push on the swing. But I didn't have to
lift him on to it or hold his hand as he
balanced on one of the walking bars.
   This small change happened in the
blink of an eye. Only, happily, I didn't
blink. I caught it. I realized he had
taken another small step towards
"growing up." It's good to capture
those small moments, They are
treasures, not to be missed!
      Hope you're well and that all
your NEWS is good!

UNEMPLOYED!

  THURSDAY, JULY 2ND., 2020
           UNEMPLOYED!

  Well friends I must tell you that for
the 2nd time since 2009 when I left
WYOU TV I find myself with out a
job!
    Last week I ended my ten year series
of weekly programs at Electric City
Television in Scranton. I promised to
help out with specials if needed but 10
years of producing, interviewing, and
anchoring, all as a volunteer, was
beginning to be just a bit too much.
    Yesterday I learned that, at least
for the time being, the Scranton Times
has halted publication of an insert
called "Good Times" for which I
wrote a Grandparents column every
other month.
      My wife and I are still escorts for
Travelworld in Scranton and Kingston
but while the agency is anxious to get
back on the road Europe won't let us
in!
      So, if you're in need of a dependable,
hard worker for any kind of task just
give me a call. I'll try to find somebody
for you! I'm busty writing BLOGS!
      Hope you're well and that all your
NEWS is good!
   
    I