Double Your Pleasure!

      OK gang! It's the last day of September. So let's send the
 month out with a bang! Well...let's make it a Pop!
      You see September 30th is Chewing Gum Day!
       Nobody seem to know the origin of this unique "holiday."
       But chewing has been around for a very long time. The
 first chewing gum making machine was patented by Thomas
 Adams in 1871.
       He's the guy who came up a licorice flavored gum called
Black Jack!
       Of course there's all kinds of flavored gum these days in
addition to sugar free chewing and bubble gum.
I still get in trouble when I chew my gum around my wife.
She says I chew "too loud" and sometimes "like a cow."
       It  doesn't sound that loud inside my head and, anyway,
cows don't chew gum!
       I began chewing gum to avoid waste. It came in my
 pack of Baseball Cards.
       I think chewing gum is good for people. It keeps some
from smoking or eating too much. And think of all its other
features!
       Gum can be used to plug leaks (temporally of course).
       Some gum still comes wrapped in tin foil. That wrapping
can complete electrical connections! In the days before circuit
breakers gum wrappers used in place of a dead fuse have kept
the lights on in some houses (usually just before they burned
to the ground!).
       And there's always some gum around. Always in stores
and often under the seats in stadiums!
      Gum has only three natural enemies. Mothers, wives, and
 teachers! Chewers should try to avoid all three and never get
 caught blowing a bubble in the vicinity of any of them!
      You might want to celebrate the day with some Double
Mint or, perhaps, some Double Bubble!
      Remember, though, should you come across a Mom, Wife,
or a teacher try to dispose of your gum properly and avoid
swallowing it!
       Hope your chewing gum keeps its flavor on the bed post
 overnight and that all your NEWS is good!

Home Is The Sailor...

    We went sailing again yesterday. My wife and
I joined our good friends on their Pontoon boat as
another couple, also close friends, came in from
New York State for a cruise on Lake Wallenpaupack.
     We sailed from one end of the lake to the other.
     We rode the wakes of other boats, dodged Jet
skis as they darted  here and there, and marveled
at the real sailors who used the wind to power
their vessels. I still don't understand how they can
sail into the wind!
     My friend Bob, who has taken pictures of nearly
everyone he's ever met or landscape he's ever past,
took a turn at the wheel for awhile. That was the
only scary part because he insisted on keeping his
camera on his lap! This is the equivalent of giving
a teenager a cell phone on which to text while
driving on the Interstate!
     We acted as extra eyes when, from time to time,
hands went from the steering wheel to the Cannon
to take some photo he didn't want to miss.
      So how do you top a picture perfect day on the
lake?
      With Spaghetti Sauce of course!
      With a quick switch of lakes (Wallenpaupack
to Lake Henry) we joined some great folks at an
All you can eat spaghetti dinner held at the Clayton
Recreational Park to benefit the Lake Ariel Faith
Fellowship.
      Welcoming our group to an "All you can eat"
dinner is dangerous! I've seen how much food we
can devour! And yet, the portions were so
generous, none of our crew had to ask for seconds!
       And then came the desert!
       There was ice cream, brownies, brownies topped
with strawberries, brownies topped  with ice cream or
all of the above. All of the above seemed like a very
good choice to me. After all, sailing under the hot
sun can make one very hungry!
        It was a great feast. And Bob has pictures to
prove it! So do I!
        Hope your lookout is on the bridge, your galley
 is stocked and that all your NEWS is good!

?

    As a former news reporter this day has special
meaning to me.
    September 28th is "Ask A Stupid Question Day."
    It was established by teachers back in the 80's
who were trying to encourage students to ask more
questions in the classroom.
    It has often been said there is no such thing as a
stupid question. I would have to disagree. Some of
my colleagues in the media prove that on an all too
regular basis. Not that it's limited to them.
    I often wondered why ,for instance, when you've
checked yourself into an emergency room, the first
thing the doctor asks is "How are you?"
   How about the guy who drives up in a bright,
shiny car with the purchase sticker still on the
window who is greeted with questions such as
"Is that car new" or "is that yours?"
    How about the boss who sees you come in
10 minutes after your starting time and asks
 "You're late, aren't you?"
    Still those in the media usually get the Stupid
Question Award.
    You see them at the scene of a fire, usually the
 "Cub reporter" approaches the home owner and
 asks "How are you doing?" I'm surprised more
 haven't been answered with a slap upside the
 head!
    Of course there's also the "hopeful reporter"
 who asks the alleged killer "Did you do it?"
 They're hoping for a stupid answer such as
 "Sure I did and I wanted you to be the first
 to know."
    In any case today all bets are off! You can
ask anything you want. In fact it is suppose
to be stupid! So ask away!
    Hope you get a sensible answer and that
all your NEWS is good!

(Stupid is as stupid does: Forest Gump)

CRUSHED!

   That settles it! There must be a "Holiday" for everything
known to man! Unknowingly, I've been "observing" the
latest I've found pretty near every day!
    You see September 27th., is "Crush A Can Day." I kid
you not!
    People crush cans for a number of reasons. For some it
relieves stress! They stomp on the can as a way of dealing
with the frustrations of the day.
    I, on the other hand, do it for financial gain! I can get a lot
more cans into a garbage bag if they're crushed. More cans
equal more weight.
   When I get a garbage bag full of crushed cans I take it to
the recycling center and trade them in for cash! It's better than
working! Last time I made nearly five bucks! If I only drank
more I could get rich! (Soda by the way!)
    While the "holiday" itself surprised me I was just as stunned
 to learn my method of flatting the aluminium is not the only way
to do it. And the other is rather impressive!
    Here is the way it is described on one Web site:
1. Fill a large pot with three quarts of cold water.
2. Put one tablespoon of water into an empty aluminum soda can
 and heat it on the stove until it boils.
3. Let it boil for 30 seconds and then carefully remove it with tongs.
4. Invert the can and quickly dip it in the pot of cold water.
    The can will collapse immediately, impressing women,
 captivating  small children and frightening the family dog.
    I may have to give this a try..although we don't have a family
 dog.  Not sure if that makes a difference or not.
   Anyhow, which ever method you decide to use, I encourage you
 to celebrate by crushing all the cans you can find.
   Hope they're empty...and that all your NEWS is good!

           

 

 

   THE SANDMAN GETS SOME REST!
     
   The new Yankee Stadium was the stage
for another of those monumental moments
that mark the history of this legendary
team. I've been a Yankee fan since I was a
kid. But you didn't have to be one to
appreciate what happened.
   It wasn't the longest home run ever hit.
   It wasn't a nail biting no hitter or a
perfect game.
   In fact the team was losing again and
was already well out of the running for
a championship this season. 
  In the 9th inning, with two outs, veteran
players Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte were
sent out on the field to take Mariano
Rivera , "Mo", out of the game.
   Rivera, the greatest closer in major
league baseball history and known as the
"Sandman," is retiring this year.This was
his last appearance on the mound at Yankee
Stadium.
   All three of the players came up through
the minor leagues together and joined the
Yankees at the same time.  They're true friends!
   The big leagues are tough. But the tears
in Rivera's eyes as he hugged Pettitte remind
all of us there's a lot of little boy in most
every guy who plays Baseball!

     Turns out there is crying in baseball. And

well worth every tear!
     The fans and the players, on both teams,
were applauding this humble man as he left
the field. This was truly a Class Act!
     With all the controversy over a hand
full of players who used performance
enhancing drugs to advance their careers
it was nice to see everyone acknowledge a
player who leaves with his record and
reputation in tact!
     I still pitch softball from time to time.
     I'll probably get applause if I ever
decide to call it quits. It will be coming
from the opposing players who will
undoubtedly want to say thanks for all the
hits they've racked up against me!
     That's a hint Moe! Our team can use a
good reliever!
      Hope you enjoy your retirement and
that all your NEWS is good! 

 

 

The Sandman Gets To Rest!

      
   The new Yankee Stadium was the stage
for another of those monumental moments
that mark the history of this legendary
team. I've been a Yankee fan since I was a
kid. But you didn't have to be one to
appreciate what happened.
   It wasn't the longest home run ever hit.
   It wasn't a nail biting no hitter or a
perfect game.
   In fact the team was losing again and
was already well out of the running for
a championship this season. 
  In the 9th inning, with two outs, veteran
players Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte were
sent out on the field to take Mariano
Rivera , "Mo", out of the game.
   Rivera, the greatest closer in major
league baseball history and known as the
"Sandman," is retiring this year.This was
his last appearance on the mound at Yankee
Stadium.
   All three of the players came up through
the minor leagues together and joined the
Yankees at the same time.  They're true friends!
   The big leagues are tough. But the tears
in Rivera's eyes as he hugged Pettitte remind
all of us there's a lot of little boy in most
every guy who plays Baseball!
    The fans and the players, on both teams,
were applauding this humble man as he left
the field. This was truly a Class Act!
     With all the controversy over a hand
full of players who used performance
enhancing drugs to advance their careers
it was nice to see everyone acknowledge a
player who leaves with his record and
reputation in tact!
     I still pitch softball from time to time.
     I'll probably get applause if I ever
decide to call it quits. It will be coming
from the opposing players who will
undoubtedly want to say thanks for all the
hits they've racked up against me!
     That's a hint Moe! Our team can use a
good reliever!
      Hope you enjoy your retirement and
that all your NEWS is good! 
   

 

Dam!

           THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th.

      Before you get all excited, the title of this Blog
simply identifies our destination yesterday!
      It is not intended to reflect my reaction as our
friend's Pontoon boat cruised over the wakes of
other vessels in our vicinity on Lake Wallenpaupack
although one does tend to express one's self when
one's tummy rocks in time with the waves.
     The lake is a wondrous place.
     It was built by Pennsylvania Power and Light
Company long before the utility dropped the "&"
from its name and became just PPL.
     Water channeled by that Dam still provides
electricity while the lake attracts sportsmen and
vacationers throughout the summer. I wondered
just how close we really were when I saw the
warning to "Keep back 500 feet!"
     In order to form the lake the company had to
flood what had been the town of Wilsonville and
its surrounding valley. I'm told divers still come
across the foundations of buildings at the bottom
of the lake. I prefer to stay on top of the water
and well above any submerged obstacles!               
    Thus it was with slight trepidation that I
watched as my buddy allowed my grandson to take
the helm for his first instruction of seamanship!
Visions of Captain Smith flashed through my mind
although I admit the likelihood of running across,
let alone into, an iceberg was pretty remote.
     Wallenpaupack 's maximum depth of 60 feet
is no where close to the deep Atlantic either.
But 60 feet is still pretty impressive when you're
only 5'11.
     But speaking of impressive, the grandson did
just fine with some simple instruction from our
skipper and the voyage turned out a lot better
than Gilligan's three hour tour! Still, I learned
where all the life jackets are located...just in case!
      Hope you're still afloat and that all your NEWS
is good!

Roadside Sightings!

     My wife and I took to the road again yesterday.
With a sunny sky and temperatures in the high 60's
the Miata top was down and we were on our way!
     I was headed towards World's End State Park
where, 45 years ago this Sunday, my wife and I
were engaged! She OK'ed the ride anyway.
     The view from the scenic lookout there is
fantastic! On a clear day, and it was, you can see
mountains 20 miles away.
     But we also saw some neat things right along
the roadside!
     There was, for instance, a garage totally
covered with old License plates! All sorts of States
were represented although Pennsylvania and
New York seemed to outnumber the rest. A few
were plates bearing the names and logos of
schools and products. This collector has saved
himself a few bucks on siding! I'd like to have
seen his house too!
     We spotted some deer on a path just outside
a church in Eagle's Mere! I couldn't tell if they
were coming or going from service. But they
didn't seem at all bothered to have us pull up
and take a couple snap shots!
     There were other animals in a field nearby.
 I took a picture of a couple of old goats
(animals that is) I saw there. But I stopped
short of photographing some of the sheep
sharing the grass. That's because I thought I
saw a home owner peaking out a window.
      This was God's Country. But he isn't
the only one who lives there and many of the
others that do are know to collect Windchesters
and Remingtons in addition to sheep and goats!
      I happen to catch a glimpse of a used car
too. I will admit it's not unusual to see pre
owned vehicles along the road. But 50's vintage
Studebakers are not all that common these
days. The Pickers might have enjoyed this
trip.
     But I've got to wonder how many of
today's "kids" would have seen any of the
above? Texting and "Angry Birds" seem to
take a lot of eyes off the wonders to be seen
right out the window!
     Hope you're paying attention and that all
your NEWS is good!

Coming Attraction!

     Regular readers of my Blog already know I've
been very impressed with the improvements I've
been seeing in Downtown Pittston. Central city
is looking pretty good.
     And the latest plans there have me really
excited. Those plans involve bringing a Movie
Theater back to the downtown!
     Petula Clark might be surprised to know there
are not always movie shows to go to Downtown
these days!
     What's unusual about Pittston's plan is the
fact that it envisions a single screen theater with
a usable stage! Who builds theaters with stages?
      Most theater complexes have to have a lot
of screens so they can keep movies in long
enough to make any money.
      I took a look at the proposed site yesterday
and it's easy to see why Pittston's plan doesn't
include several movie screens. There isn't
enough room for more than one. Unless they
plan to build a skyscraper with one screen per
floor!
     The space, as it currently appears, looks a
lot like an ally between two existing buildings.
      The plan, as I understand it, will be to show
"second run" features in the new movie house
and allow local stage groups to present plays
there as well. I'm hoping "Second run"
includes Cartoons! I could stand a little
Road Runner every now and then!
       I remember when Pittston's American
Theater was still around. It was the classic
big theater that you used to find in every
big city's downtown.
       There were some efforts to save it after
it closed. But they didn't work.
        I'd like to see this new plan succeed! I
wouldn't have to go quite as far to get fresh
popcorn! Small as the space may be they
should be able to include a concession stand!
         Hope to see you at the movies (in
Pittston) and that all your NEWS is good!

Proposed theater
site in Pittston.

American Theater
Pittston.

Who Called Off Summer?

    
   What's with all this Autumnal Equinox stuff?
And all these announcements that Summer has
ended! I'm not buying it!
    I mean, let's look at the arguments.
   First, the word "equinox." It's Latin. And
everybody knows Latin is a dead language. So
it shouldn't count.
    Next we're told the days, henceforth, are
going to get shorter. But we all know there are
24 hours in a day.....no matter when you have
it.
   OK. Maybe there will be a little less light
each day. But what if we all leave our
porch lights on? Maybe we can make up for
what we lose in sunlight.
    As far as those leaves changing color, maybe
if we start right away, we can use green spray
paint and keep them green a lot longer!
     I, for one, refuse to surrender. At least for
 a little while.
     Temperatures may have hovered around
60 when that Autumnal Equinox rolled through
at 4:44PM Sunday (by the way I didn't notice
anything happening) but the top on my Miata
was still down at that very moment!
     I checked a couple forecasts on line and
there were little sunshine symbols everyday
during the coming week and temperatures
above 72 which, I have always been told, is
room temperature! That's good enough for
me!
     And we still have "Indian" , or has that
been changed to "Native American," Summer
to anticipate!
     So...that settles it! Summer ends when I
say so..at least around this BLOG!
     Hope you've got some suntan lotion left
and that all your NEWS is good!

Hazards Of The Game!

     There were two very challenging soccer games
on our schedule Saturday. And the challenges were
not limited to the opposing teams!
      Still nursing some seasonal allergy problems I
secretly hoped that long line of storms might show
up a little earlier than forecast. Since it didn't we
erected our folding chairs on the sidelines as our
grandson and, later, our grand daughter played their
respective games.
     The early game was played in Forty Fort. There's
a beautiful recreational complex there I never really
knew about. It's located south of another set of
playing fields operated by the County.
     The challenge, for players and spectators, is to
keep their minds on the game while planes from
the nearby Wyoming Valley Airport take off
directly overhead. You can't help but glance up
and listen to their engines under full power.......
especially if you know that a power failure will
most likely turn the soccer field into an emergency
landing strip. And you know that if you remember
the one, several years ago, that did just that.
    Fortunately no one was playing there at the time!
It would be difficult to take a shot at the goal if
you're dodging a Cessna!
    Our second game was at the home field in
Bear Creek.
    The challenge there is trying to keep warm!
We've attended at least 4 games there this "summer"
and each has required the use of heavier jackets
and sweaters. Even a blanket in one instance!
     Yesterday was no different. By the time I
got out of the drivers seat and opened the rear
hatch to pull out the chairs I had to switch to my
fleece lined jacket to sit out the game. At least
the players are running around!
     Since we're' now entering Fall maybe
someone should consider building the "Bear
Creek Dome!"
     Soccer can be a rough game...even for the
spectators!
      Hope the runway's clear, the temps are up,
and that all your NEWS is good!

       
(Old photo. Still as cold!)      

Bar Hopping!

     SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st


      My wife and I found ourselves in two
bars in as many nights.
      For those who don't know us all that
well this revelation should come as a
shock!
     Consider the fact that my wife's typical
drink order is "Water with lemon but no ice.
I'm the one that drinks the hard stuff. Either
Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. I will admit to
having a regular Coke once during the past
week and a half.
     It's not that I'm against drinking. I have
enjoyed a glass of wine from time to time.
     I just don't happen to like the taste of
Beer.
     So how is it that we found ourselves
surrounded by drinkers for two straight
nights?
    Well, on Thursday, we took advantage
of a delicious special of Pulled Pork at a
neighborhood bar in Dunmore. The fact
that our niece, an excellent Chef, was
preparing the meal had us rushing for those
bar stools!
    Last night we joined another crowd at
a local establishment which was playing
host to a reunion of former WILK radio
employees!
    Ironically there was not a microphone
to be found. That's too bad.
    The stories we recalled were funny and,
in some cases, enough to drive a man to
drink! It's surprising  how many stories
know by media people never made it to
the media!
    How great to spend an evening with
old friends and colleagues and to share
laughs, stories, memories, and a drink
or two...even if it was water or Diet
Coke!
    Here's a toast to good friends, and
good NEWS to all!

   

A Pear Of Fruits!

                 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

     That Harvest Moon everybody has been talking
about is apparently shining to celebrate a very big
harvest.
      We stopped by Heller's Orchards in Wapwallopen
the other day. Their trees were filled with all sorts of
good looking apples! And the samples we crunched
from the bag we bought were among the best we've
ever tasted.
      But those folks work year round nurturing their
fruit as it develops. You'd expect, barring really bad
weather, they'd get a really good crop.
     So how do you explain our neighbor?
     Several years ago he planted a tree in his yard.
     He thought it was some kind of shade tree.  It
wasn't!
     Within two years, three at the most, this growth
started to produce pears! And it's never stopped!!
      These past few evenings you haven't been able
to see the Harvest Moon until it rose high enough to
clear the branches and fruit growing, jungle like, in
his front yard.
      Understand, thus guy does nothing to or for the
tree! Maybe the Moon beams are affecting the pears!
       Some of the branches are now bending down to
the ground from the weight of the fruit.
       The bad news is the pears are not perfectly
formed. The good news is he doesn't eat pears. I do!
       So, being the helpful neighbor I am I have been
relieving the tree of some of that weight. I have his
approval by the way. And  whatever their shape they
taste just great!
       I'm hoping he buys another "shade" tree to see
what it will yield!
       Hope the full Harvest Moon doesn't produce too
many "Fruits" and that all your NEWS is good!