AND THEY'RE OFF!

    SATURDAY, MAY 7TH., 2016
          AND THEY'RE OFF!

     It's "Derby Day!" The run for
the roses at the Kentucky Derby
at Churchill Downs in Louisville,
KY.
      My late uncle and his wife
never missed the big race when
they were still around. They
were at the track more often
than not and, I'm sure, enjoyed
their share of the traditional Mint
Julep.
     I followed the circuit on the
news last year thanks to all the
excitement over a triple crown
winner.
     Other than that my experience
with "the ponies" has been limited
to an occasional visit to Pocono
Downs where I have experimented
with a betting "system" that has
proved very successful......sort of.
       I put two dollars on the number
3 horse to Show. He's running the
center of the track and I've got 3
chances to make money. And I've
won with that system several times!
       Of course my take is usually
two dollars or less. So it will,
admittedly, take awhile to make my
million this way!
       I used to work with a sportscaster 
who refused to recognize horse racing
as a Sport. Since it's been know as
"the sport of kings" for years I failed
to understand his stance.
        I suspect I'll sneak a look at the
Derby today. And I'll be cheering
for #3 to Show!
        Hope you pick a winner and
that all your NEWS is good!  

'   

BLAST OFF!

    FRIDAY, MAY 6TH., 2016
             BLAST OFF!

 Welcome to May 6th everybody!
 Welcome to "Space Day!"
  Space Day is an education and public
outreach initiative that takes place annually
on the first Friday of May. It was started
in 1999.
   Although many of you may not know
it I count myself as a true pioneer of the
space program!
    I have an extensive history of looking
into space. I did a lot of it in school. I
called it research. Various teachers used
some other descriptive terms.
    Truth be told my interest in outer
space probably started with those glow in
the dark stars that were pasted on my
bedroom ceiling.
    Then, there was Flash Gordon and his
arch enemy...Ming The Merciless! Now
there's a real villain's name! I watched
those chapters on TV as often as I could
get away with skipping Sunday School.
They always ran on Sunday mornings.
     Next, I enlisted in the Rocket Ranger
Corps! It was a television series about
space and I even got an official Rocket
Ranger shirt! My wife tucked it away in
one of our closets waiting for the day I'm
called back to active duty.
   I still remember our song...well at
least the last part. "From the sands of
Mars out to the distant stars, we're the
Rocket Ranger Corps!"
   The star of that program was Cliff
Robertson who went on to become a
movie star. You may remember him
playing John Kennedy in the movie
"PT 109."
    I met him in later years but never
realized the connection we had as Rocket
Rangers!  He autographed a photo for my
Dad who was a projectionist.
    Lest you think all of my space activities
were limited to movies and TV I think it
only fair to tell you I was trying to launch
a rocket into the atmosphere long before
NASA!
    I had a red rubberized rocket that was
suppose to lift off with pressurized water.
    It worked. But not to my satisfaction.
    So, being a sort of "Scotty" of my time
(Star Trek people will understand) I tried
using a Cherry Bomb as the power
source.
     I don't know exactly how high the
rocket went. But I do know I saw some
stars!
     The authorities (in this case my
parents) prohibited any further
experimentation on the proving grounds
(my back yard) and so, my career hopes
were dashed! At least at that time.
     I still find myself staring into space.
     And I'm pretty sure I still have that
red rocket packed away somewhere around
here! Now, if I can just find a Quarter Stick,,,,
who knows have far I can go?!
     Hope you're not spaced out on this "Space
Day," and that all your NEWS is good!

                                                       

FOR THOSE WHO WAIT!

     THURSDAY, MAY 5TH., 2016
        FOR THOSE WHO WAIT!

      I spent Wednesday morning in
the hospital. And I wasn't even sick.
My wife was scheduled for some
tests which required us to be up at
6 to be at the hospital for 7.
       Just to be clear, I'm not a big
fan of 6am! There were days when
I was anxious to get up even before
that terrible hour to do a morning
DJ shift. But I was young and
foolish then. Now I'm just foolish.
       In any case after my visit I
am now convinced that hospitals
need more beds! Not for patients!
For those who wait!
       While patients are wheeled
around from one test to another
the 'waiters" sit in a room with
a TV usually tuned to some
"women's show" or try to read
some magazines that tell you how
to lead healthy lives. (A little late
wouldn't you say?).
       As I struggled to keep my
eyes open a young lady just about
ten chairs away lost her battle and
promptly fell into a snoring pattern
that assured the rest of us would
get no rest.
       I was about ready to volunteer
to take my wife's place!
       Hope I can rest today and that
all your NEWS is good!

DAYS AT THE PARK.

      WEDNESDAY, MAY 4TH., 2016 
              DAYS AT THE PARK! 

     Our favorite Amusement Park, Knoebels,
got some more national recognition Tuesday.
I'm not surprised. It's been a favorite stop for
my family for years. And it's outlasted a
surprising number of other parks that used to
exist right here in our own backyards!
      I was thinking about some of them as I
watched a TV special on Knoebels. I wonder
how many you remember?
      Hazle Park, in West Hazleton, was already
on its last legs when I was a little kid. But I
still remember a merry-go-round and a whip
ride that were running up until about 1952.
       Toby Park was just a small place set up
along Route115 not far from Blakeslee Corners.
I remember riding the little train that ran around
the grounds there. In fact I still have a photo of
the place.
       Lakewood Park at Barnsville in Schuylkill
County lasted till 1984. It's on site theater was
the site of my wife and my first date!
       Many of you probably recall Rocky Glen
and Hanson's at Harvey's Lake. Or how about
Angela Park in Drums outside of Hazleton.
Like many others it fell victim of rising
insurance rates and stiff competition from
the large Corporate parks like Disney World.
        So many memories from those parks
that used to be! We're lucky to have one
like Knoebel's still around to make new
memories for today's kids!
          Hope you've made some good ones
over the years and that all your NEWS is
good!

     

CLEANING UP!

  TUESDAY, MAY 3RD., 2016
          CLEANING UP!

     I'd like to believe my blog had
something to do with it. But it's far
more likely a coincidence that a
large group, probably students, took
to the road near my home last week
and began to pick up trash and litter.
      The small army, dressed in
reflective safety vests, and armed
with huge trash bags, made its way
up hill from an area near the Wilkes-
Barre Vo/Tech School, or whatever
they call it these days, and gathered
everything and anything they could
pick up.
      The "take" always surprises me.
There's the usual ton of food wrappers
from McDonalds, Burger King, and
every other fast food joint within 5
miles or so, along with discarded
tires and beer bottles. I stress
bottles because the "can collection
crews," individuals who come by
every so often, had already claimed
most of the available scrap metal
to sell to area recyclers.
      Some items, however, were a
bit of a surprise to me. Who, for
instance, took the time to dismantle
their toilet and haul it off to a grassy
spot just off the roadway? With all
the Joe Johnnies around I sort of
doubt it had been in use somewhere
in these woods.
      In any case it, and all the other
junk has been identified and bagged
and is now........sitting along the same
roadside!
      Hope somebody picks up the bags
and that all your NEWS is good!

  

TOUGH ACTS TO FOLLOW!

    MONDAY, MAY 2ND., 2016
   TOUGH ACTS TO FOLLOW!

   To say last week was a busy one
might well be the understatement
of the year for our family!
    In the space of that week my
wife and I attended a pre trip briefing
for an upcoming tour of Italy, had a
series of medical examines, went to
the polls to vote, hosted a wedding
rehearsal dinner while, at the same
time celebrating our anniversary,
then spent a full day preparing for
and enjoying our son's wedding!
Oh, and we also saw our grandson
off to his Senior Prom.
     Finally back at home, but still
facing a full upcoming schedule,
we found ourselves pretty much
drained and in need of some fresh
energy.
     So we turned to our neighbor.
Which happens to be a Dairy Queen
outlet! And we followed those
'tough acts" with a couple of
Blizzards!
   Hope it's enough for the next
48 hours or so and that all your
NEWS is good!



  

INTO EACH LIFE.....

SUNDAY, MAY 1ST., 2016
     INTO EACH LIFE!

    Well the ceremonies are over
and my son and his bride officially
begin their lives as man and wife.
     The wedding was beautiful.
 The Bride and her party stunning.
 The groom and his men handsome.
 And a fantastic day and evening
shared by many family and friends.
The sky was just cloudy enough to
remind us all that "into each life a
little rain must fall."    
      And, sure enough as my wife
and I awoke this morning we could
hear the water falling.
      Unfortunately, in our case, it was
falling inside our motel bathroom!
Seems someone in the room above
ours had left water running in a sink
or tub that wasn't draining! Well, at
least not down the traditional drain.
      So an hour before we had decided
to get out of bed we welcomed a
maintenance man and his Shop Vac
into our room and tried to rest a bit
longer as he dried the floor and got
us some fresh towels.
       Life truly is an adventure and
it's best not to worry too much because
you'll never get out of it alive anyway!
       Hope we can get a discount when
the Manager comes to work....and that
all of your NEWS is good!