A Very Moving Experience

   My son and his best girls are in their
new home as I write this.
   But getting there was half the fun!
   They closed on the house on Friday.
   Then, on Saturday, the move began.
    A U-Haul van provided space for
the "big items."
    My son, son-in-law, and grandson
provided most of the muscles to get
those items out of the old place, into
the van, then out of the van and into
the new house.
    My wife and I were assigned to
4 of our grand children.
    One was visiting for the weekend,
one required some basis "babysitting"
attention, and two simply needed
some pickup and feeding services.
    There were, I admit, times when I
wished I was lugging baggage and
furniture in and out of the van! I can
only hear the song "Bingo" so many
times.
     On Sunday, the U-Haul was gone,
replaced by a couple passenger cars
and my minivan!
     My son was still providing most
of the muscle. But he was aided by
my daughter and me. Well.....my
daughter anyway.
     I was under the impression the
"big items" had been transported
Saturday. Even though that's true,
my son has accumulated various
tools and related supplies that, if
worth their weight in gold, would
allow us to have a comfortable
living for the remainder of our lives!
     Few of these things are actually
designed to be carried. Or even lifted
for that matter!
      Maybe it's just that gravity has
become stronger as I've aged. It
certainly was pressing pretty hard
on those things I was trying to
carry!
      I found myself wishing for the
tune "Bingo!"
      At least the others carried their
weight, and much of mine, and the
things that needed to get moved got
moved.
     Since my daughter plans to move
into a new home next month I now
have enough experience to know I've
got about 30 days to find a hiding
place!
     Hope you're all settled in, and
that all your NEWS is good!

The Egg and I

    There was still a slight coolness in the
air when we got up yesterday morning.
     We gathered two grand kids. One boy
and one girl and headed up the mountain
to Bear Creek Township.
     There, at the Township's recreational
fields, we joined what seemed like ten
thousand other children and their parents
just outside the fence around a combination
baseball/soccer complex.
     As we waited the loud sound of a fire
truck siren echoed through the air, getting
ever closer.
      Perhaps we didn't have a permit for
this assembly? Or, maybe, another one
of those troublesome brush fires had sprung
up in the woods just beyond our gathering!
      Nope. None of the above.
      It was the Easter Bunny who, it seems,
now makes his annual arrival via Fire Engine!
      In the field just beyond where we stood
he had placed hundreds of colorful Easter
Eggs just ripe for the picking.
      And that, of course, is what the kids did
the minute they head a voice on the loud
speaker yell      "GO!"
      Suddenly those ten thousand kids, OK
so maybe it was only a couple hundred,
ran towards the field. Fortunately, I stood
off to the side at the time. It would have
been a terrible way to go....trampled to
death by the infant to 3-year-old crowd!
     The scene was then repeated for the next
age category of kids.
      All those kids, whatever the final count,
came away with candy. Some lucky ones
also gathered eggs with a Prize alert inside!
      There was something for all the children
including enough candy and sugar to keep
them active through the entire weekend.
      A lot of sponsors and volunteers worked
hard to make the day a success. And it was!
They all deserve our thanks.
       One again, I must have missed the call
for the 70-year-old plus age category.
       I wonder if those two grand kids took
the time to count their candy?? Hummmm!
       I hope not.....and that all your NEWS
is good!

Kimosabe

    I watched the movie "The Lone Ranger"
again the other night. I had seen it in the
theater when it was released last year.
   I won't debate the quality of the film.
   Many critics panned it. I liked it.
   But seeing it again brings some thoughts
to my mind.
   When I was growing up kids played
cowboys and Indians. Not cowboys and
"Native Americans."
    Little boys had cap guns and when
we weren't being the Lone Ranger or Roy
Rogers we were probably playing Army.
    I thought about that when, in  the opening
scene of the movie, a little boy dressed in
a cowboy outfit, complete with mask, and
cap pistol 6 shooter runs into an aged Tonto
in an old west setting.
    These days if a kid came to school dressed
like that for the annual Halloween Parade
he'll likely be expelled!
     I don't remember any school shootings
or mass murders when I was growing up.
     Of course our "exposure" to violence
was pretty much limited to the movies back
then.
     The Lone Ranger was one of our heroes and
you'll notice that even though he wore a mask,
he had a White hat! That was usually the tip
off as to who was the "good guy" back then.
     And, as I recall, whether it was the good
guys or the bad guys getting 40 or so shots out
of those "6 shooters", it was pretty rare for
anyone to actually get killed!
     And talk about being Politically correct!
     The Lone Ranger and Tonto were
partners! Even the Indian was a good guy!
So kids could play either role.
     Maybe it's just me but I think kids could
use a dose or two of the old Lone Ranger
these days!
      Hope you appreciate those "thrilling days
of yesteryear" Kimosabe and that all your News
is good!

       

National Pet Day!

      Welcome to National Pet Day!!
       This unofficial "holiday" was
founded in 2005 by Colleen Paige
who also founded National Dog Day,
National Puppy Day, and National
Cat Day (among others).
        I never had a pet when I was a
kid. Well not exactly.
        I do remember my Dad rejecting
my pleas for one of those little
chicks that came with every 5 gallons
of gas every year around Easter.
        I vaguely remember having one
or maybe two of those little turtles
that sometimes came with something
painted on their shell. You know. Like
"Cuff and Link." The ones Rockey
Balboa had.
       Turtles are suppose to live a long
time. But mine apparently didn't know
that. They were both buried during
brief ceremonies held on a small plot
of dirt just outside my back door not
too very long after I got them.
       I never wanted a pet while my
wife and I were raising our family.
      We liked to go camping and travel
when ever we could and dragging a
pet along seldom fit that lifestyle.
       Around the time I retired my wife
decided we ought to have some Fish.
       That was just fine with me! I
love fish! Usually served with a little
lemon.
        Of course she was thinking of the
kind you keep in an aquarium.
        Next we learned of a lady who was
moving and would only be allowed to
keep either her dog or her Cockatiel.
        My wife was asked if we might
adopt the bird and,though I initially
questioned the move,I have learned
it's good to have someone in the
house that listens to me...and talks...
but very little!
      We've become accustomed to these
critters now. They eat very little and
don't have to be taken for walks.
      We do have to change the newspaper
in the Birdcage. The fish don't seem to
be a problem in that regard.
      A few neighbors must think we're
missing something as they allow
the two dozen or so cats they feed to
visit our yard every day.
      I wonder if you're allowed to own
a wolf?
      Hope you and your pet enjoy the
holiday and that all your NEWS is
good.   
        


     
     

Breaking Up Is........

       Well, it's happened again.
       First is was Abbott and Costello.
       Then Martin and Lewis!
       Even the Everly Brothers went their
separate ways
       Now, another famous team is breaking up.
       And, as Neil Sedaka, told us, "Breaking
Up Is Hard To Do!"
       After years of working on various
television projects together Judge Tom
Munley and I are ending our partnership.
       Tom and I first worked together at
WYOU TV when he, as a lawyer, offered
basic legal advice on "The Law & You."
        I occasionally worked camera for
Tom when he was in our Scranton newsroom
and actually wrote one of his holiday shows
for him.
        Later, after Tom became a judge in
Lackawanna county, we pooled our efforts
to make people aware of FREE services and
events available to them on our weekly show,
ECTV Live.
       As of this writing we have produced
 208 of those programs, each of which
airs a dozen times a week. That's nearly
2500 hours of Public Affairs programming!
      That's got to be a record!
      Our program will continue each week
on Comcast Ch19. But Tom's judicial
obligations are forcing him to hang up his
microphone.
       I'll miss him on the set.
       But our "split" will be a lot like that of
 the old Laurel and Hardy comedy team. Even
after their film careers ended those guys
remained friends......for life!
        I must admit though, after learning of
Tom's decision, I was tempted to say.........
"Here's another fine mess you've gotten me
into."
        Well, I'll see you on ECTV all week
and Tom.....well......yep....he'll see you in
Court!
         Hope you'll spend more time with me
than him......that way all your NEWS will
be good!

Sinking The Ark

   We've heard a lot about expeditions
searching for the remains of Noah's Ark
over the years. Most are centered around
Mount Ararat in Eastern Turkey.
      I hope none of them are looking in Movie
Theaters!
   My wife and I went to see the feature "Noah"
yesterday. It's one of the few we've seen
lately that doesn't claim to be "Based on actual
events." After seeing it I understand why!
   In fact, I feel obligated to raise my periscope,
aim, and fire at least one torpedo into this
Flick!
   Whether you believe in the Biblical story
of Noah or not you've got to admit that's
where the story originates. Given that fact
you might assume the screenwriters and
producer might have wanted to follow that
original story a little more closely.
    We came expecting that. Instead we
found ourselves viewing an epic that seemed
to be some sort of cross between Indiana
Jones and Transformers!
    There were, for instance, these creatures
made of rocks who actually build the Ark
and help fight off all those folks who
didn't have tickets when the rain began to
fall.
     Then there's that stowaway guy! What
story did he come from? Or, perhaps, was
he the real Jack Dawson?!
      I half expected to see this Ark ram an
iceberg instead of the top of a mountain!
     I found myself wondering...where's
Cecil B. DeMille and Charlton Heston
when you need them?
     On the other hand I suppose I should
give credit where credit is due.
      The movie did feature a very large
boat  with animals.
      Hope you're read the book and that
all your NEWS is good.

You'll Get A Charge Out Of This!

   Yesterday began on a rather NEGATIVE note.
   My car wouldn't start.
   It was the second time in four days I've had
a problem.
   Last Friday my vehicle refused to come to
life. But that was "my bad."
   I was parked outside school waiting for
my grandson for about a half hour. The radio
was on and I was adjusting the power window
from time to time. What I didn't know was
that I had left the headlights on when I first
pulled up. Headlights eat electricity!
    My wife's car and a set of jumper cables
brought the van back to life and it worked
just the way it's suppose too......up until this
morning!
    This time I used a Jumper Box, a sort of
portable battery, to get the car going again.
    But my success was short lived.
    After my morning walk and taking time
to dress for my ECTV program I returned
to the car and found it refusing to start
again!
     I made a call and arranged to have a
new battery waiting at a regional Auto
Parts Store. The only question was.....how
would I get the car there?
     I tried it just in case and, wouldn't
you know it, it fired right up!
     Kind of like that tooth ache that
suddenly disappears just when you show
up at the Dentist's office!
     So, the question became, did I really
need a new battery? I'm not sure I know
the answer. But, since the mechanic
determined my existing one has been
cranking away for at least seven years,
I took the POSITIVE approach and bought
a new one!
     I know it must be a powerful.
The price alone was shocking!!!!!!
     Anyhow, the battery's in, the lights
are off and the ACID test will come
sometime today when I turn the key!
     Hope you got a charge out of my
story and that all your NEWS is good!