"There Ain't No Cure For Those Summer Time Blues."

  BLOG FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 1ST.  

   What do you mean...it's August!?
    Didn't we just celebrate the 4th of July a week
or so ago? July should be arrested for speeding!
    Maybe I've just been so busy I didn't notice
it slipping by. There have been Birthdays, days
at the lake (all too few), Family reunions, Wine
Country, and our annual vacation at the shore!
    How could July be gone already?
    But before I, or you, get "down" look
what you're got to look forward to now that
August is here!
    August is:
    Admit You're Happy Month

Family Fun Month

National Catfish Month

National Eye Exam Month

National Golf Month

Peach Month

Romance Awareness Month

Water Quality Month AND

National Picnic Month.

      Take your pick or which or how
you plan to celebrate. And, whatever
your choice, here's hoping all your
NEWS is good!

 

Weather Or Not!

     BLOG FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 31ST

     Low humidity, pleasant temperatures, and
a "Mostly Sunny" forecast prompted our
decision to head for the picnic grounds
yesterday.
     In fact the humidity was low, and the
temperatures were pleasant!
     But Peter Pan would have had a really
tough time finding his shadow under those
"Mostly Sunny" skies! Maybe the forecasters
were looking above the clouds.
     Or course terms like "Mostly Sunny"
er "Partly Cloudy" may all be relative.
      You know, like those steak choices you
make. How often has your "Medium Well"
T Bone actually come back Medium Well
done?
      How often has your "On Time" flight
really taken off when you expected?
      At least they were right when they said
it wouldn't rain. That was Sunday's
prediction. Remember? And it poured on
us a Knoebel's....for about a half hour. The
rest of the day was as sunny as they come.
    Bottom line.......check the forecast anytime
you're making plans......then look out the
window and make your decision based on
what you see! You can always bring an
umbrella just in case.
     Hope your days are filled with sunshine
and all your NEWS is good!

    

   










  

Our Free Lunch!

          BLOG FOR TUESDAY, JULY 30TH.

          They say there's no such thing as a Free Lunch.
          But, once upon a time, there was.
          I was thinking about it this week because it is
one of my memories of the Hotel Sterling!
          Just in case you've been in a Bomb Shelter, wait
they don't have those any more, or Tornado Shelter for
the past week or so they're tearing down the old hotel in
Wilkes-Barre.
          There was a day when the Sterling was "The" place
to be in that city. Every service club met there. WILK
radio had a direct line into the Ballroom so we could
record the speakers at all the meetings and use bits and
pieces for our newscasts.
           The old WBRE Radio had glass enclosed studios
in the place and some very talented people worked there!
           I was with one of the smaller stations in my long
list of former employers when I really learned to
appreciate the Sterling.
           This will probably come as a shock to many of
you but Radio never paid very well!
            My boss at the station, which I will not identify,
couldn't or wouldn't give me any more money so, instead,
he did what we in the industry called a "Trade agreement"
with the restaurant at the hotel. The restaurant got
commercials on our station. But instead of paying for
them we were allowed to get free meals at the place.
         At the time the Sterling was offering a Sunday
Smorgasbord....a sort of all you can eat luncheon.
          We couldn't eat enough to equal the cost of all
the commercials. They really should have kept the
place up and running for another year or so. That way
maybe we could have balanced the books!
          Like many others I hate to see the place go.
         But, let's face it, the Sterling they're taking down
isn't the Sterling we remember. That died many years
ago!
         Maybe they'll put a nice restaurant on the lot!
         But I'll bet there won't be any free lunch!
        The Sterling's history is worth remembering
so even if you never checked in, check it out!
         Hope all your NEWS is good!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

      BLOG FOR MONDAY, JULY 29TH.

     Yesterday's weather forecast was dismal at
best! It was with some trepidation, then, that we
set out after church for my grand daughter's
Tumbling Team picnic at Knoebel's!
      There's something not very amusing about
rain at an Amusement Park!
       We arrived at the appointed pavilion a little
early. The pizza arrived a little late.
        That gave us a chance to eat it and the 40
or so extra sweet treats parents brought along
to make sure the kids would have enough energy
to handle all the rides.
         It also gave us a chance to be under cover
when the downpour hit! As I watched the deluge
I thought about that old rhyme, "Rain, Rain, Go
Away." I'm sure it was in the mind of all the
children who have heard or recited it.
        And what do you know? Just about the time
the last piece of fudge or spoonful of "Pink Fluff"
was being consumed.....the sun came out! And
there, in spite of the weather forecasts, it stayed
throughout the entire afternoon!
         Now since most people read or listened to
those "day long rain" reports, or saw some of the
30 minute downpour, they stayed away. That made
for much shorter lines so the kids could quickly
board those terrifying rides that, God willing, I
shall never have to endure! They tell me they're
so much fun. But the riders continue to scream!
       I did eventually share the front seat to a
small power boat with my grandson at the wheel.
I did not scream (though I was tempted as our
bow and stern alternately whacked the channel
walls.)
      In the end I do not believe it was mistaken
weathermen, or a childhood chant that made for
a sunny afternoon. It was, undoubtedly, my foresight
in bringing two large "golf" umbrellas to carry
all day. When you're that prepared, rain doesn't
stand a chance!
      Hope you had a sunny day and that all your
NEWS is good!

 

 

Home Again, Home Again.....

      BLOG FOR SUNDAY, JULY 27TH.

   Well our annual vacation to the Jersey shore, like
all good things, has come to an end.
    It's so much fun going there, It's so much fun
being there. It's so much....of a pain...coming back!
    We usually leave late at night. That's because
between there and here we've got Philadelphia.
     Philly, as you've probably heard, is "the city of
Brotherly Love." Apparently no one has told that
to the people driving through it. (Of course in all
fairness, most of the license plates I saw swerving
in front of me were an off white and bore the
initials N.J.)
      Leaving late gives us a fighting chance to avoid
about a thousand of the ten thousand cars speeding
through the city to get where ever they're going.
When there are that many cars in front, behind, and
to both sides of you even 45 miles per hour seems
very, very fast! Darkness and the glow of oncoming
lights add to the adventure!
      Of course the folks working on the northeast
extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike seem to
appreciate the late hour too! Their work lights
provide plenty of illumination for the crew and
another bank of bright beams to make you squint
as you try to negotiate between the workers and
the huge concrete barriers about 6 inches away
from your vehicle!
       Thank you Allentown! Never has a Rest Area
looked so good!
        I'm back now and it's quiet around here. In
fact it's so quiet that we didn't even have any
would be burglars to notice all the newspapers
we cancelled but were delivered anyway during
our absence!
        Hope you avoid the Schuylkill and
Turnpike and that all your NEWS is good!

 
 

  












      

Out To Sea!

   BLOG FOR SATURDAY, JULY 27TH.

     After spending a week at the shore with an
occasional dip in the water we decided it was
about time we actually went out to sea!
    We chose a Dolphin watching cruise for
our adventure.
     After arranging for the tickets, and making
sure my son-in-law purchased his supply of
Dramamine, we boarded a popular sight
seeing vessel that makes three trips a day into
the open ocean just off Wildwood and Cape
May.
    I immediately noticed some very pleasant
sights!
    There was a life saving ring right in front
of me and more than enough life jackets to
handle all of our passengers. In fact, there
were less than two dozen people on board
a boat that can probably handle a hundred
or so! It was like a Charter cruise!
     As we passed the breakwater boulders
near Cape May and hit the actual ocean
two things became very apparent.
     First, there were plenty of Dolphins
to be seen if you looked quickly as they
rose for air then suddenly dove under
water.
     Second, it was good my son-in-law
took his Dramamine!
     As the boat slowed to allow a better
view of the Dolphins you either got your
"sea legs" fast, or grabbed for anything
that wasn't moving to stay upright!
     By the time we returned we were
"old salts" eager to have other boats pass
so we could rock in their wakes!
     Then, as if from a scene in "The Birds"
the Captain allowed those who wished to
throw bread out over the stern! Hitchcock
would have loved the Seagulls waiting to
come after the crumbs!
      Soon we'll set our compass for home
and sail back to northeastern Pennsylvania.
      I'm wondering if the Schuylkill
Expressway and/or Pennsylvania Turnpike
will be smooth sailing? Perhaps I can
borrow some of my son-in-law's Dramamine!
     Hope you've kept things ship shape while
I've been away and that all of your NEWS
is good!

Under (On & Around) The Boardwalk!

   BLOG FOR FRIDAY, JULY 26TH.

    Don't let those old song lyrics fool you!
    There's nothing happening "Under The
Boardwalk!" In fact there are places where
you've got to have a permit to go under
those boards!
     It's certainly a different story on top!
     There....they see you coming!
     It's like a three month long carnival.
     The flashing lights, loud music, and
barkers are all trying to attract your
attention AND get your money!
      Take the squirt gun games! I clearly
remember when my wife, an ace shot with
a water pistol, used to put her quarter down
and either break a balloon or push a monkey
to the top of a tower in order to win some
"fantastic prize", probably worth a nickel
or so.
     The guns are pretty much the same today.
     The targets may or may not have changed.
     But these days it takes three bucks to win
the prize! Must be the higher water bills!
      There are other "new" things on the
Boardwalk too. Polish Water Ice is a big
seller these days. I'm not sure how different it
is from Italian Ice.
       Speaking of Italian, you can still find
Bocce Courts just off the Boardwalk. Players
of varying ages roll the big balls as close as
possible to the little one (called a Jack
or Pallino) while tunes like "That's Amore"
or "Al Di La" play through a loud speaker
system. You won't find much Polish Water
Ice here!
      There's a Fudge shop every few blocks.
Each offers the best fudge on the Boardwalk
and a "Buy one pound, get a free box of Salt
Water Taffy" Special. Not wanting to blindly
accept their claim we have been forced to
take their free samples each time we pass the
shops.
         Smart visitors. realizing that no clerk
can possibly remember the thousands of faces
passing by, can simply walk back and forth
enough to gather a pound or two for free!
           Meanwhile, under the Boardwalk,
there's a general peace and quiet. Perhaps
some of the muffled sounds from up above
and an occasional Quarter that falls through
the cracks.
          The extra money might be nice but,
as I've already pointed out, a quarter won't
even get you a seat in the Water Gun games
these days!
          Better just settle for a nice game of
Bocce Ball!
          Hope you'll play "above boards" and
that all your NEWS is good!

Now You See It...Soon...You Won't!

      BLOG FOR THURSDAY, JULY 25TH.

      I guess my grand kids hear a lot from me
about how things were "back in the day."
      That's why I like to take them to Sunset
Beach during our visit to the shore each year.
       There's so much to see there. And, in one
case, so little!
       I remember when my Dad and Mom first
took me there many, many years ago and told
me about the Atlantis.
      During World War I somebody came up
with the idea of making cargo ships out of
concrete. Sounds like something I might
think up. But I wasn't around then!
      They actually floated. But they were very
slow! Gee,,,Pendot works with concrete too
doesn't it!?
       Any how, years later they were taking one
of these ships to Cape May with the intention
of sinking it to make a breakwater for the Cape
May Ferry Boat. It was the Atlantis.
      Well as luck would have it, bad luck at the
time, the vessel broke loose during a storm and
floated to the nearby Sunset Beach where it
was grounded. They tried to move it. But that
was like trying to move a New York City
Hotel with a John Deer!
      When I first saw the wreck it still had the
form of a ship. But years of sea and storm
gradually ate away at the concrete and it's
been deteriorating more and more every season.
      I guess I realized just how much yesterday
when we visited and my grandson observed...
"I guess there will be nothing left when I bring
my grand kids here."
      I suppose he's right. But I hope he brings
them just the same....shows them the old photos,
and tells them the story of the Atlantis.
     I hope he remembers to tell them the concrete
ship wasn't my idea! I actually had the idea
for the concrete airplane. But that idea never
got off the ground. Sorry.
    Hope you're giving the younger generation
information about the "good old days" and that
all of your NEWS is good!

1926










                                                                               

1950









Yesterday!

Love Letters In The Sand!

    BLOG FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 24TH.

    There are songs I always associate with my
visits to the shore.
    Around these parts Bobby Rydell's "Wild,
Wild, Wildwood Days" can still be heard on
the PA system at the Convention Center as
a recorded announcement lists the week's
activities and coming attractions.
     But another of my favorites is Pat Boone's
classic "Love Letters In The Sand."
     I never realized it was originally published
in 1931. I only remember Pat's version from
1957. It came out in June or July that year,
just about the time I would have been with my
family on our annual vacation to the beaches
here in Wildwood.
      I wasn't in a love letter phase of my life
back then. And the song was actually a sad
one about a love that didn't work out. Still,
I liked the tune and it made me think of the
beach and the ocean.
      You don't find many letters, let alone
love letters, in the sand these days. Most of
the letters you find are on signs planted in the
sand or on banners towed by airplanes flying
over the sand.
       The aerial letters are sometimes hard to
read. And they're usually not real important.
Just advertisements for various business
places trying to lure the tourists in.
      Some of the letters posted in the sand
and a lot more important. Especially the ones
that read "Caution, Sharks." Admittedly
I haven't seen any sharks. And if I did, I'm
not sure how I would caution them about
anything.
      Yesterday though, I was thinking about
Pat Boone's song.
      I was on my morning walk along the
Boardwalk when I noticed a small crowd
gathered off to my left. They had cameras
and cell phones aimed ahead at what I first
thought was an injured man.
      As it turns out it was a young man, on
one knee, proposing to his girlfriend!
      I only wished I had my camera along.
      I did bring it back to the spot though.
      For just off the Boardwalk, carefully
carved in the sand, was the young man's
written proposal to his love within the
outline of a large heart! They were his
"Love letters in the Sand!"
     They read "Marry Me Steph?"
     You should know, by the way, that
Steph said "Yes" and everyone applauded!
      I met the young man's sister and told
her of a similar sand carving containing
my wife and my initials, drawn on a beach
in California just a few years ago. I told
her to wish her brother and his girl at
least the same 44 plus years my wife and
I have enjoyed.
     Sometimes the real Love letters in the
sand work out a lot better than those in
the lyrics of an old song!
     Hope that's the case for that young
man and Steph....and that all your NEWS
is good!


    

The Claw!

       BLOG FOR TUESDAY, JULY 23RD

        It sits there silently waiting for its prey!
        I know it's there. And I know it's just
waiting to get its hooks on......my grandson!
        I call it "The Claw." It is, perhaps, more
commonly known as "The Crane."
         It is a game found in all of the Boardwalk
attractions remembered by some of us as the
Penny Arcade.
         Of course the last time pennies were used
here Harry Truman was President and Trolley
Cars still carried people to and from the
amusements.
         The 'House" fills these machines with
merchandise like Pro team sports shirts, popular
stuffed animals, even knock off IPhones.
         The "Mark", that's the customer, one of
whom is my grandson, places money in the
machine and manually moves a three arm claw
over the item he is trying to grab. A countdown
clock activates, limiting the time he has to
position the arms just where he wants them to
be. If he's set before the clock hits zero he
pushes a red button and the claw descends
usually grabbing the item, then begins to lift
it out. In most cases the treasured item slips
from the grip of the claw within two seconds,
prompting the player to utter those all too
famous words...." I almost had it."
        One can't of course, surrender after
coming so very close to success. The usual
procedure then is to insert some additional
cash so you can try again.
         After witnessing this time after time
I can safely say your odds of retrieving the
prize in question are far less than at any
casino slot machine!
         And remember the "penny thought?"
         You pay a buck a shot to work the
Claw. Or you can lose six times for five
dollars.
          Now don't get me wrong. People
have been successful at getting the prize
now and then. And, when you stop to think
about it, the Claw has a 100% success rate
.......at grabbing my grandson!
       Hope you win your prize and that all
your NEWS is good!
         

Watch The Tramcar Please!

    BLOG FOR MONDAY, JULY 22nd    


     We watch for three separate and distinct signs
that verify we're in Wildwood every summer!
      The first is the sent of salt in the air. Next, an
airplane towing a banner of some sort. Finally
there's the sound of an announcement recorded
Lord knows how many years ago...."Watch the
Tramcar please!"
      The Tramcar is an electric powered "train"
that carries people back and forth on the
Boardwalk. It's recorded warning, activated like
the horn on a car, is an attempt to get people
out of the way so the "people mover" can keep
moving!
     Yesterday I took my morning walk to the
Boardwalk. I had no worries about watching
the Tramcar because it doesn't run until later
in the day.
     I am thinking, however, that's its caution
might somehow be transplanted onto the
million or some bicycles that compete with
joggers and walkers, like me, for a little bit
of Boardwalk space!
    The two, three, and now four wheelers
heading at you at least give you a chance.
You can see them!
     It's the ones going in the same direction
that are most frightening! They're faster. And
for some reason I don't quite understand,
you seem to become invisible when you're
just ahead.
     The problem may stem from the fact
that most of the riders are either kids who
have no idea they're sharing the place, or
adults who haven't been on a bicycle for
years and are more concerned with balance
that looking at the road, and people, ahead!
      It's a great challenge though!
     I not only get exercise from the walk. I
get some lateral movements as I attempt to
dodge the Schwinns!
     Tonight I plan to hit the Boardwalk to
get some practice in! I'll walk along the
Tramcar patch and  try listening as it
approaches and before it can sound its
warning. Then, tomorrow, I'll be ready
to take on those bikes!
     Hope you look both ways before
crossing and that all your NEWS is good!

If You Can't Beat Them.....

       BLOG FOR SUNDAY, JULY 21ST

       Every year most of the members of my
family get together for a summer vacation
in Wildwood, New Jersey. It's the place
Bobby Rydell sang about a fear years back.
      I've been going there long before the
song. In fact me earliest memory of the
Jersey shore is of my Dad allowing me to
blow the car horn as often as I wanted and
going to a restaurant where they literally
piled food in front of me. Far more than I
could ever consume!
     I know know that I was 3-years-old and
that was VJ Day!
     I've been coming back almost every year
since then. I don't think I'm allowed to blow
the horn anymore. Certainly not as much.
And I haven't seen that much food set in front
of me since that day in 1945!
    A lot of other things have changed over
those years. There is, for instance, 50 times
more traffic these days. At least it seems like
50 times more!
    The worst area, as you might imagine,
begins with the Schuylkill Expressway.
     This is the not so super highway that
runs through Philadelphia and was obsolete
about a year before construction was completed.
     The traffic jam, especially on weekends,
extends onto the Atlantic City Expressway
and the Garden State Parkway.
     A few years back we can up with a plan
to beat the traffic. It involved me crawling
out of bed at about 5am and leaving home by
6. It did allow us to avoid most of the very
heavy traffic.
     Yesterday I followed the plan and was on
my way before the sun could totally fill the
sky.
     The 4 hour trip, given one rest stop, went
fairly smoothly with only an ocassional
slow down here or there.
      We had called the folks at our vacation
house to let them know about our plans to
beat the traffic. We requested an early check in
and they said they'd do their best.
      There "best" turned out to be 2 o'clock.
      So we equaled out! 4 house on the road
and 4 more parked in front of our home away
from home until we could actually unpack
bags of luggage and coolers full of food for
the week.
      I guess next time I'll have to join them,
the traffic that is, and, at least, get 4 more hours
sleep! I'll need the first two days here to catch
up on mine! I'll start with a nap in the pool!
      Hope all your roads are clear and all your
NEWS is good!

     
     

By The Light, Of The Silvery Moon!

   MY BLOG FOR SATURDAY
                 7/2013

   Welcome to July 20th everybody.
    It's "MOON Day!"
    Now before you make the kids look away
this unusual "holiday" has nothing to so with
the display of a body area better left covered!
    Nor is it connected with any of the songs
with "Moon" in the title. By the way there
are about 43!
    July 20th has been labeled "Moon Day"
because it is the date, in 1969, when the
first man, specifically Neil Armstrong, set foot
on the lunar surface! I hope he wiped his feet!
    I remember watching that "One small step
for man...one giant leap for mankind." live on
television. That's 44 years ago!
    I always wondered why they brought back
rocks!
    We already have so many rocks! I've got
plenty around my place I would have been
glad to lend or give to them.
     I thought for sure they'd bring back some
of that green cheese! I was always told the moon
was made of green cheese.
    Of course I didn't really believe that. Anybody
can tell the moon is usually either white or
yellow. It's more likely made up of either
American or Mozzarella!
    And what ever happen to "Tranquility Base?"
    Most of our Bases are fully manned with
barracks, training facilities, and even a PX.
    I know we left a U.S. Flag there. I suppose
that Star Spangled Banner still waves. I think
there's still a Golf ball up there somewhere
too!
   And they never found that man who, I
was told, was somewhere in the moon. I
remember hearing about him when I was a kid
too. Of course, if he was there, that would have
made Armstrong the 2nd to set foot there!
    Maybe on this "Moon Day" we should
start thinking about going back. Or at least
take a moment to appreciate the amazing
feat our country was able to accomplish
all those many years ago!
     Think about that a bit today and, perhaps,
hum a few bars of one of those  43 or so
"Moon" songs!
     Hope you have some cheese on hand too
and that all your NEWS is good!

    

If They Come Here..They Will Come!

      There is a rumor......well to be perfectly honest.....
I have started a rumor.....that the Scranton and Wilkes-
Barre Chambers of Commerce are involved with
Voodoo!
       I believe those organizations, perhaps in concert
with the Visitor's Bureau, have been sticking pins in
little dolls, each resembling players on the New
York Yankee Baseball team!
       I have come to this conclusion based on two
simple facts.
       First, the boys from the Bronx have been
dropping like flies since last year.
       Second, as they work their way back to the
Big Leagues they do some time as players on
the Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders
Team. And when they come our local stadium
fills up like a kitchen sink with a plug in the drain
and the spigot wide open.
      Derek Jeter was in for a few days a week or
so ago to rave reviews and sellout crowds.
      Last night Alex Rodriguez began a
rehabilitation assignment with the local team.
      Rodriguez doesn't enjoy as much umblemished
support as Jeter. Indeed he actually got a few Boos
as he ran onto the field. That's undoubtedly because
of allegations that he had used performance
enhancing drugs in the past. Charges, by the way,
which he denies.
      The Boos disappeared pretty quickly when he
came to bat and hit a long fly to deep right
center field. It was an out. But a long out!
      There were no Boos, just wild cheers during
his next at bat when he hit a home run !
       I was happy to see that homer!
       I used to hit home runs in my earlier
Softball days. And consider this....I AM on
medicines that are suppose to enhance my
performance these days...you know..."Water
and Blood Pressure pills...and I haven't hit a
homer in years! How do you explain that?
       I don't know how long ARod will be
around or which Yankee the Chamber will
be pin-sticking next. But it's great to see
all the people showing up in our area to
check out the sites, have some dinner, and
take in the Old Ballgame!
      Hope you're swinging for the seats and
that all your NEWS is good!