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!