SNEAKING IN!

   SATURDAY, JUNE 1ST., 2019
              SNEAKING IN!  

   My wife's sewing machine has
her on pins and needles. It isn't
working properly and she wants
it repaired.
    It's a Swiss made machine and
the only service facility anywhere
nearby is in Stroudsburg. Well, it's
closer than Switzerland!
     We headed that way yesterday
but decided to make it a road trip.
After we delivered her machine to
it's deliverers, we took a drive
through the Delaware Water Gap
then on a rural road that follows
the river.
      The route was, to some extent,
my old stomping ground as I used
to visit a family that lived right off
the river in an area known as Mount
Bethel.
       Traveling in that area made me
acquainted with the tiny New Jersey
community of Belvidere. I took my
wife, then my girl, on a date to a
movie theater there in 1968.
       It was kind of like sneaking in
to New Jersey. And it still is!
       You see Belvidere is the only
place where you can cross from
Pennsylvania into New Jersey, or
vice versa, for free! There's no toll
booth on the small bridge crossing
the Delaware there!
         The theater is still there but
it's a community playhouse now.
Maybe we'll go back again and
take in a show.
           Hope the crossing stays
free and that all your NEWS is
good!

     

GRADUATION MEMORIES

       FRIDAY. MAY 31ST., 2019
      GRADUATION MEMORIES

    One of our granddaughters received
her High School Diploma Wednesday
evening. Another, and an exchange
student my daughter is hosting, will
graduate one week from today.
     There's a lot of pomp and
circumstance at these ceremonies
which is why they usually play
that march as the students arrive.
      My best friend still recalls our
graduation ceremonies at the
Harmen Geist Stadium in Hazleton.
He tells me we marched in couples
as we entered the stadium heading
to our seats. He can stull tell still
tell me who his partner was on that
march.
       Admittedly I can't recall the
identity of my marching partner.
        I don't remember much of
what was said that evening either.
        I do remember the fact that
in spite of all those ceremonies
we really weren't graduation, at
least not officially, until we went
back to the school,the following
day I believe,to return our caps
and gowns!
        I got mine back as quickly
as possible so that diploma would
be officially mine.
       For a year or so afterwards
I still had nightmares I was back
in school and couldn't remember
the combination for my locker!
       Those High School years
somehow grew fonder as time
went by. I tended to remember
the friends and fun more than
the homework and tests.
        I haven't missed a reunion
since graduation and now
enjoy sharing memories with
that "old gang of mine" which,
alas, is growing smaller as each
year passes.
        My grandkids have all
been involved in their schools
a lot more that I was back in the
day.
        I hope their memories, and
all their future NEWS, will all
be good!

TODAY'S HOLIDAY!

   THURSDAY, MAY 30TH., 2019
           TODAY'S HOLIDAY

    Here's the thing. This is the actual
date of Memorial day and I'm remembering
when we celebrated on this date.
   Then they switched everything and made
Memorial Day a "Monday holiday."
    That leave me with just a couple other
"holidays" to write about.
     May 30th is Mint Julep Day but I'm
more of a Cherry Pepsi guy myself.
      It's also "National Nail Tech Day"
but I haven't had my nails done in
forever so I  can't do a lot with that one
either.
      It is the anniversary of the
Indianapolis 500 but the race, like
Memorial Day, got move around.
     It's my daughter and son-in-law's
anniversary, but that's their day,
      Wait! There's one more!
      May 30th is "National Creativity
Day!' Now that's right up my blogger's
alley.
      But I can't think of anything!
      Hope they move Memorial Day
back to the 30th and that all your
NEWS is good!
         

A COOL NIGHT'S SLEEP!

  WEDNESDAY, MAY 29TH., 2019
         A COOL NIGHT'S SLEEP!

     OK gang. If you haven't made your bed yet

don't!

   If you have, tear it apart again and grab your

pillow!

   If you read this Blog on any sort of regular

basis you know I love to search out bizarre

and little know "holidays." Well, I think I

just hit the Jackpot!!!!

   Today is "Put A Pillow On Your Fridge

Day!" I kid you not!

    While the exact origins are unknown

the idea is to put a pillow on your

refrigerator. And people in the US and

Europe do it! Well....some people do!

     Why? Well it's suppose to bring good

luck and maybe even wealth to your

household! And who couldn't use a little

of either!

      So, just in case you didn't pick the

right numbers in the last Powerball,

you still have a chance to throw your

pillow atop your Frigidaire and hope it

brings you good luck in time for Saturday's

drawing.

      By the way, if you'd prefer, you can

put your pillow inside your refrigerator.

I'd take it out a few hours before bedtime

if you go that route!

      So give it a shot. Celebrate! What have

you got to lose?

     Hope you're "cool" with this  unusual

"holiday" and that all your NEWS is good!

      

       

WITH OR WITHOUT?

   TUESDAY, MAY 28TH., 2019
          WITH OR WITHOUT?

    Chances are you already got a head
start on this holiday on Monday. May
28th is "National Hamburger Day!"
     Hamburgers are a classic
American treat. That's appropriate
because the hamburger was created
here in the U.S.A. They may date
back to the 19th century but that's
speculation.
      Most people like them cooked
up on a grill although burgers are
still the big sellers at "Fast Food"
restaurants, You may have heard
of McDonalds and Burger King.
        The majority of burger
eaters seem to enjoy cheese on
top but the rest of the toppings
vary from person to person.
Lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions,
and bacon are among the favorites.
         It's referred to as a "National
Day" but there's really nothing to
back that up.
         Judging from the number our
gang consumed Monday the burger
probably should qualify for National
status.
         Hope you enjoyed yours and
that all your NEWS is good!

TIME FOR VACATION?

  MONDAY, MAY 27TH., 2019
      TIME FOR VACATION?

    As we all know Memorial Day
marks the unofficial start of Summer.
Most of you are probably enjoying a
day off from work and thinking about
those couple weeks you'll have for
vacation this year.
    I thought about that as we drove
south on Interstate 81 yesterday and
watched a few campers we passed
along the way.
       I've come to notice that many
of those campers bear Canadian
license plates. And I seem to see them
year round. Not just during the Summer
season.
        That got me wondering how many
vacation and/or holidays our northern
neighbors get every year.
         Turns out time off in Canada
varies from province to province
except for Federal workers. But the
average varies from 16 to 30 days off
each year.
           That sounds pretty good. But
it's not the best. If you really want to
get some time off from work you might
want to see if you can get a gig in Burkina
Faso (that's in West Africa) where workers
are entitled to two and a half calendar days
off per month and 15 holidays! That's 45
days each year!
          Bahrain is a county in the Persian
Gulf. Legislation there provides for 30
days of vacation and 14 public holidays.
          In Algeria workers are entitled to
41 days off between vacation and
holidays.
          Here in the U.S. of course the law
gives us...….wait a minute! We have no
legislation requiring vacation time or
time off for holidays! Federal workers
do get the holidays and unions have
negotiated vacation time for their
members in various occupations.
          Otherwise we're all serving at
the pleasure of the bosses!
          Hope they're all rolling out
those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy days of
Summer for you and that all your
NEWS is good!

REMEMBERING MEMORIAL DAYS!

         SUNDAY, MAY 26TH., 2019
  REMEMBERING MEMORIAL DAYS!

   When I was growing up Memorial Day
was always observed on May 30th.
    Of course not everybody called it
Memorial Day. A lot of folks knew the
observance as Decoration Day.
     It started right after the Civil War. In
fact the community of Boalsburg, Pa, is
one of several communities claiming to
have initiated the holiday.
      Since in always was observed on
May 30th it would occasionally mean
we had a day off from school!
       The family would usually take
flowers to the cemetery for those who
had passed and that included everybody,
not only those who served in the military.
        I only just realized  the day
didn't become a Federal holiday until
1971! And that only happened after
it was added to the Government's Monday
Holiday Act which selected a number of
holidays to be observed on Mondays
whatever their original date happen to
be.
          These days it's also become the
unofficial beginning of Summer with
most people celebrating with family
picnics and outings. That's a good thing
but I'm hoping we'll all give some thoughts
to the reason the day was created!
            Hope all your NEWS is good!
             
   
   

RAKING IT IN!

   SATURDAY, MAY 25TH., 2019
             RAKING IT IN!

   My wife's Birthday was a resounding
success thanks, in part, to all of you who
sent along your well wishes.
    After reading those greetings I took
her to a local buffet where Birthday
girls and boys get a free meal. I always
have been a big spender!
     Back at home there were phone
calls from family and a surprise visit
from our 21-year-old grandson who
always seems to find time to see
Grannie and Grandpa when he can.
      As he left we remembered that our
favorite auction house was having
a special Friday afternoon auction.
We decided to make the trip and see
what was available.
      Between the heavy holiday
traffic and one of those insane
"Boot drops" in the middle of the
highway we just made it on time.
       By the time I got settled I
found my wife in the middle of
bidding. That didn't surprise me.
But the object being auctioned did!
        It was a huge wooden rake
the likes of which you'd expect to
see a farmer gathering his hay....in
1796!
        My wife has a beautiful
flower garden but it's in the front
and back yards, not on a 20 acre
ranch!
         She won the bid and followed
that success with the winning bid on
a wooden saw which, again, seemed
to date back to a century before the
advent of electricity!
         Interesting Birthday presents!
         As I carried them out to
the car I told a gentleman I passed
I hoped my wife knew how the
implements worked since I had no
intention of using them myself!
         Fortunately I learned she
intends to use them as decorations
rather than tools! I'm feeling much
better now!
          Hope they look good nailed
to the wall, stay there, and that all
your NEWS is good!
       
           

19 AND COUNTING!

  FRIDAY, MAY 24TH., 2019
        19 AND COUNTING!

   My amazing, wonderful wife celebrates
her Birthday today!
    She was just 19 went we met and fell
in love. And now, 50 years later, she is
still 19!
     Wait! I can prove it!
     True, from a legal prospective, she
qualifies as what society calls "An active
older adult."  Scientifically, however,
she is 19.
     In 2000 my wife's heart was intentionally
stopped while a specialist preformed open
hear surgery. One valve was removed and
another restructured to do the work of two.
      Her redesigned heart was restarted
giving it and her NEW LIFE!
That procedure kept her going  for 17 years!
But then some additional problems
developed.
       Two years ago,on the eve of her
Birthday,that loving heart was again
stopped intentionally so a team of
experts could do a second open heart
surgery. Two valves were replaced and
another repaired.
        Once again the heart was restarted
giving it and my love new life!
         2000 to 2019 equals 19 years!!!!
         And surgeries or not, she'll always
be 19 in my eyes!
         Guess I really did rob the cradle!
Happy Birthday my love! May all your
NEWS be good!

NATIONAL TAFFY DAY!

   THURSDAY, MAY 23RD., 2019
     NATIONAL TAFFY DAY!

  I have to admit I had no idea this
particular "holiday" existed but the
National Confectioners Association
lists May 23rd as National Taffy Day!
  Most of us who live in northeastern
Pennsylvania but vacation along the
Jersey shore know it as "Salt Water
Taffy."
   According to legend that name
dates back to 1883 when a huge
storm hit the coast and flooded the
shops on the Atlantic City boardwalk.
A shop owner  named David Bradley
was approached by a young girl who
asked if he had any taffy. He is said
to have responded "You can have all
the Salt Water taffy you want."
    I've had plenty of taffy in my day
but it's not on top of my candy list.
    It's usually offered as an extra for
fudge buyers on the boardwalk in
Wildwood. Buy a pound of fudge and
get a box of Salt Water taffy.
    My gifts to friends back home
usually came in the form of boxes
of taffy. We ate the fudge!
     I'd say we saved the best for our
friends but that might be "stretching
things" too far!
      Hope you'll celebrate with a
taffy treat and that all your NEWS
is good.
   

ELEMENTARY MY DEAR WATSON!

   WEDNESDAY, MAY 22ND., 2019
ELEMENTARY MY DEAR WATSON!

   Today celebrates my favorite character
in literature! This is "Sherlock Holmes
Day!"
    Of all the interests my late brother and
I shared the adventure of that super
detective Sherlock Holmes would surely
be at or near the top of our list!
     Holmes had keen powers of observation
which would allow him to know almost
everything about a person the minute
he laid eyes on him or her.
     Alas, my wife continues to remind
me that the crumbs I've left behind on
the floor near the couch where I've
nibbled my snacks proves, conclusively,
that I lack Holmes' powers of observation!
      Ironically, she seems to have them!
      Before I've removed a shirt worn
for an hour or two I hear her utter the
words "that goes in the laundry." That
pronouncement comes as she's detected
a tiny spot unseen by my eye!
       Holmes, of course, was a fictional
character. The day actually celebrates
the Birthday of his creator, Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle who penned many stories
about the detective. He, Doyle, was
born on May 22ud of 1859.
        One of the highlights of a trip
my wife and I hosted to Scotland a
couple years back was enjoying
Fish & Chips at the Conan Doyle
Restaurant in Edinburgh overlooking
a small park where stood a statue of
Sherlock Holmes!
         As we left I thought of
that line "Elementary by dear Watson"
so attributed, though never actually
spoken,in a Doyle novel by Holmes
to his faithful assistant
        My wife  interjected a thought of her
own. " That shirt goes in the laundry."
         Happy Birthday Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle. May all those who
continue to enjoy your writings
enjoy good NEWS as well!

BORROWED TIME!

  TUESDAY, MAY 21ST., 2019
          BORROWED TIME!

  I trust that most of you have, for the
most past, enjoyed these past eight
years.
   Just in case the date slips your
memory, the beginning of the end of
the world was to have taken place on
May 21st of 2011 when the "rapture"
was to occur.
    That prediction came from Harold
Camping a Christian Radio Broadcaster,
author, and evangelist. And it had tens
of thousands of people around the world
anticipation "the end."
      I wrote a blog the day before just on
the hunch people would still be around
to read it. I was actually pretty confident
for a number of reasons.
      First, Camping's prediction record
wasn't very impressive. He initially
claimed the end of the world would
come on September 6th., 1994. He
revised that to September 29th and
then to October 2nd.
      Secondly, since the Bible proclaims
that no one shall know the date of "the
end" I found it hard to believe any
Christian, especially a broadcaster, would
claim to have access to that information.
        The end for Camping came on
December 15th of 2013 when he
passed away.
         I am  both grateful that he was
wrong and that I've been allowed to
enjoy life for these 8 years.
          Hope you've used the time
well, have more coming, and that all
your NEWS is good.


       

VICTORIA'S SECRET

     MONDAY, MAY 20TH., 2019
          VICTORIA'S SECRET

    Now that I've got your attention, this
is Victoria Day in  Canada. I think
that's pretty much of a secret for most of
us on this side of the border.
    The holiday has been observed in Canada
since at least 1845, honoring Queen
Victoria's Birthday, although that actually
falls on May 24th. That's the birthday of
another queen, my wife!
     Seems Canada was the first to discover
you could have a long weekend by
moving an official holiday to the Monday
before the actual date that's being celebrated.
       I think Canada has a couple more
holidays than us and there's only a few
that are celebrated jointly. Easter and
Christmas are two examples.
       Our Columbus Day (if we still have
that) coincides with Canadian Thanksgiving.
That caused a bit of turmoil for our tour
group heading home from Montreal
last year.
        I guess Security Officers like to have
holidays off because the checkpoint
at the US-Canada line was understaffed,
causing about a two hour delay to get
across the border!  
         I'm not sure if that will apply
today for anybody headed north but,
if it does, at least you'll know the
secret. It's Victoria Day!
          Hope our Canadian neighbors
have a nice day and that all your
NEWS is good!
    

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

       SUNDAY, MAY 19TH., 2019
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

  A funny thing happened on our way to
a healthy life!
   Over the past few years the physicians,
to whom I entrust my very life, have been
dropping out!
     A Doctor, a good one anyway, becomes
a trusted friend.
     The man I was proud to call my family
physician surprised me by announcing his
retirement several years ago. He'd been
around for quite a while but decided to
end his practice partly because his wife
had become ill.
      I was skeptical I'd find another
doctor I trusted quite as much but, to my
delight, the man who replaced my GP
immediately proved is worth.
      Then, about two years ago, he quit!
      Next came my urologist! He
closed last year.
       Earlier this year my pulmonary specialist
closed his office.
      On Friday my  dermatologist called
to say he was closing down!
       Maybe there's something going around
that causes doctors to retire? Or maybe
they all checked my charts and decided I
had become too healthy and didn't need
them anymore!
         Hope they didn't conclude there's no hope,
and that all your NEWS is good!
 

BACK TO CLASS!

  SATURDAY, MAY 18TH., 2019
            BACK TO CLASS!

  I found myself back in a school
classroom Friday but, thankfully, not
as a student!
   Every year around April or May I'm
invited to talk to students at the Bear
Creek Charter School about the story
of the Titanic.
    Regular readers will remember I
have a connection with the ill fated
ocean liner. I solved a bit of a Titanic
mystery back in 1972 when I learned
the identity of one survivor who had
saved a local survivor's infant son when
the ship sunk in 1912!
      The two never actually met in
person but they did communicate with
one another by phone and mail after I
"introduced" them to one another by
way of my story!
      I am constantly amazed by the
interest young students show in the
story of Titanic which is now 107
years old. Admittedly much of what
they know comes from the movie
"Titanic."
       Fortunately there's enough truth
mixed in with the dramatic fiction to
keep the mystery of the disaster alive
for the next generation.
       Of course I begin by explaining
that I did not actually cover the sinking
when it happened. I'm not sure if they
believed me or not.
         Hope their interest in history
remains strong, and that all their
NEWS is good!      

LET'S GET "SIRIUS."

       FRIDAY, MAY 17TH., 2019
         LET'S GET "SIRIUS!"
 

    Let's get serious folks. But, in this case, let's

spell it "Sirius XM!"

    For those who don't already know Sirius XM

is the satellite radio service that broadcasts just

about any kind of music to your home or car.

   It also offers sports, news, comedy,

talk, and entertainment.

   Much of it is commercial free.

   Subscribers pay about $200 a year for all this

variety.

    But why pay for something you can get for

"free?"

    Well a lot of those "free" broadcasters are

providing the answer themselves! And they're

doing it with their programming!

     I do spend some time listening to WILK,

which at least makes an attempt to present

some local news. The "Talk shows" are

pretty much like the weather, good one day,

not so good the next. And I haven't heard

much of anything that would keep me glued

to the channel. Certainly far too much 

politics!

      One guy called in raving about an area

candidate Thursday. Then we find out he

doesn't even live in the candidate's district.

He just happen to be a good friend of the

person running!  Great objectivity! Not!

    I switched to an area "religious station"

that also offers a call in "talk program."

    But the only talk, through most of the

program, was the announcer who offered

a few comments in between playing music

which can be heard...without talk......at other

times of the day. A forum wasted as far as

I'm concerned.

     I switched stations again, this time to a

"sports station." But the announcers at this

spot on the dial were rambling on about a

sport I don't follow at all!

     I didn't catch any music signals on FM

that interested me and the AM signals in my

car are very poor.

    And speaking of signals, if I did find an

AM or FM, or HD station that grabbed my

attention, I'd probably lose it by the time I

was 20 miles out of town!

    While there are "dead spots" here and there

I could pretty much pick a channel on my

satellite radio and listen to it all the way

across the country!

    I'll never completely give up on local radio.,

    It still has tremendous potential.

    But, at the moment, much of what I hear

reminds me of former FCC Chairman Newton

Minnow's comments about the "Vast Wasteland"

of broadcasting!

    Think I'll pick a 50's or 60's satellite channel,

sit back, and enjoy the show.

    Hope you remember that your radio has a

dial and an "On & Off" switch and that all your

NEWS is good!

TIP TOE THROUGH THE TULIPS!

     THURSDAY, MAY 16TH., 2019
   TIP TOE THROUGH THE TULIPS!

   My wife and I returned to our favorite auction
house Wednesday to pick up some merchandise
on which I had left a bid Tuesday. Our bid won.
    I took "the long way" home which brought
me into the community of Newfoundland.
    Last year we discovered a Garden Shop there
where the owner and her husband really know
their plants. My wife was interested in getting
a better color blend to the flowers in our yard
so she wanted to see what's available.
     The owners greeted us then listened as
my wife expressed her ideas for the yard.
That initiated a conversation I thought might
have involved two nuclear scientists discussing
the specifics of nuclear fission!  
      I can't repeat the variety of flowered plants
that were discussed. First I can't remember all
those scientific names and I couldn't spell them
even if I did remember.
      I identify flowers by colors. There are red
ones, blue ones, etc, etc.
      They discussed annuals and perennials
then specifically considered choices such as
Echinacea and Hydrangea and others I can't
even pronounce!
       In the end, at least for this stop, my wife
followed my advice and bought "those purple
ones."
       Hope they grow, whatever their name, and
that all your NEWS is good!

TELEPHONE, HEAL THYSELF!

   WEDNESDAY, MAY 15TH., 2019
     TELEPHONE, HEAL THYSELF!

   I can't explain it! After all those calls
back and forth to Xfinity Monday to fix
a problem with our home telephone, we
work up Tuesday to the sound of multiple
rings and an actual voice on the other end!
    For those who came in late, our "land
line" had ceased to function. We could
call out but those trying to call us were
greeted by just one ring, then silence.
    We rebooted our modem, tried talking
with voices on an automated company
line, and waited, a long time, while an
actual technician tried resetting our
system remotely. all to know avail.
      When we left Xfinity Monday night
the company had scheduled a representative
to come to our home today to investigate
the problem.
       But on Tuesday morning the problem
had disappeared!
        The only remaining problem was
trying to get through to the company
again to cancel the field technician's visit.
          A text message offered that option
but my text response wasn't recognized.
Perhaps their phone wasn't working
properly. Later an actual human called
and we were able to confirm the
cancellation.
         I suppose I should have just
remembered my mother's comments after
I go a "Boo Boo,"  "It will be better in the
morning" she'd say. And it almost always
was!
        Hope it stays better, and that all your
NEWS is good!

TELEPHONE TAG!.

  TUESDAY, MAY 14TH., 2019
         TELEPHONE TAG!

  Oh for the days when I simply picked
up my home telephone and waited for
an operator to say "Number please."
   I'd give the number I was calling and
she'd connect me in seconds.
  On Monday evening we spent several
hours trying to deal with a problem with
our current home telephone. And, yes, we
still have a "land line" in addition to our
cell phones.
   We realized that no one was able to call
into our house. The phone would ring once
but callers heard nothing else, nor did we.
    We could call out with no problem so,
naturally, we called our carrier which began
a lengthy process of trying to resolve our
prone problem, by phone! That, of course,
lead, initially, to conversations with an
automated response system with which we
lost contact several times and had to call back.
     Eventually, we found a human at the
company.
     They set out so-called "reset signals,"
I was told to unplug my modem then
plug it back, and then sent to my computer
to log onto the system and try to resolve
things from there. My wife had initiated
the call for help but quickly turned the
process over to me when the technician
used the words "modem" and "computer."
      In any case nothing worked.
      The plan now is to send a field
technician to the house to look for the
gremlin!
       Although the appointment has been
set it's occurring to us that this "problem"
could be a blessing in disguise as nobody
can bother us with anything more than one
ring and that includes telemarketers!
        Hope Publisher's Clearing House
doesn't call and that all your NEWS is
good!

SAY CHEESE!

   MONDAY, MAY 13TH., 2019
             SAY CHEESE!

    It dawned on me about the time I
was looking for a picture of my Mom
to post for Mother's Day. My Mom
didn't especially like to have her
picture taken so, even though my
Dad had a camera as long as I can
remember, there are all too few
photos of her available.
     On Saturday my daughter
hosted a party and cook out for
her Italian exchange student. I
snapped 68 pictures at the gathering
and an additional 16 short videos!
     My wife took a few with her
camera and several of those at
the party were taking pictures
with their Smartphones,, today's
equivalent of the old Kodak
Instamatic!
      Add to that the fact that most
everyone at the party probably
had their image recorded at the
gas station or convenience store
where they shopped. Or, perhaps.
on a neighbor's security camera
set up!
      Mom wouldn't  have much
say were she around these days.
Camera's are everywhere and they're
not going away.
     Better accept it and just "say
cheese."
     Hope it leads to you being
"discovered" and that all your
NEWS is good!

ODE TO THE ODOMETER!

    SUNDAY, MAY 12TH., 2019
      ODE TO THE ODOMETER

    While most everyone is observing
Mother's Day today I thought I'd remind
you about another "holiday" that happens
to fall on May the 12th.
     This is "Odometer Day."

    The odometer is that little

device, usually located just below

your speedometer, that tells you

how many miles your vehicle has

traveled since it rolled off the

assembly line.

     Odometers have come a long

way themselves over the years.

There are actually records of an

odometer-like device that dates

from the Roman era! You've got

to wonder if the used chariot

dealers tried rolling the wheels

backwards to knock off a few

miles!

      Back around the time I

started driving (not in a chariot

by the way) most odometers

only displayed 5 digits. We

all longed for the day we'd hit

99,999 miles, knowing our

odometer would then go back

to all zeros as though we had

a brand new car! Of course I

don't remember any of my cars

lasting that long back then!

      These days odometers

can log all the miles you're

able to drive. A major set back

to those used car salesmen!

       So if you haven't glanced

at your odometer lately today

is the perfect day to do so!

       Hope you haven't gone

too far, in your car that is, and

that all NEWS is good!