tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72856110451195106082024-02-20T01:24:27.861-08:00Burrel's World--News From the Briar PatchShare your morning cup of coffee with me in the safety of the Briar Patch!Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-77994042944202434672013-08-28T19:39:00.001-07:002013-08-28T19:44:41.233-07:00Now is a good time to take care of Rhubarb bed! <span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2808" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2807" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div class="yiv0179436083MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2799" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2798" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2797" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2803"> </span>I always get misty this time of year, because one of my duties when I was a kid back in Maude, Okla., was to take care of my Aunt Lucy's Rhubarb bed. All of my family were big Rhubarb pie eaters and Aunt Lucy, in addition to being a great pie maker was also a Pott County Fair Blue Ribbon Winner with her Rhubarb/Watermelon preserve.</span></span> <br />
<div class="yiv0179436083MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2794" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2793" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2792" style="font-size: small;"> I don’t get much Rhubarb these days. Knott’s Berry Farm use to serve it, but they turned it into a sweet, watery sauce that is substituted for a salad with their fried chicken and biscuits. I haven’t been there in years, so I don’t know if they still have it on the menu.</span></span> <br />
<div class="yiv0179436083MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2758" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2757" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2756" style="font-size: small;"> Rhubarb is one of a handful of perennials -- like horseradish, asparagus and dandelion -- that make a tasty and nutritious harvest in exchange for a minimum of work. Once established in its bed, Rhubarb sprouts vigorously and consistently throughout late spring and summer. Common pests and diseases that harm other garden plants leave Rhubarb alone. Pioneers could plant it, forget it, and get on with the business of taming the wilderness. When they were ready for the first pie of spring, so was Rhubarb.</span></span> <br />
<div class="yiv0179436083MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2812" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2811" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2810" style="font-size: small;"> So consequently each fall I would thin out the bed and replant any plants that had died or were over- harvested. My biggest problem with the Rhubarb bed was keeping Grandpa’s hounds out of it. For some reason the hounds just loved to leave their scent on the plants. So I devised a special fence to keep them out. Before my Uncle Everett would eat any Rhubarb pie at our house he would have to be reassured that I kept the dogs out of the bed.</span></span> <br />
<div class="yiv0179436083MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2815" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2814" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2813" style="font-size: small;"> Rhubarb can be used for many dishes, but pie is rhubarb’s manifest destiny. The basic pie recipe calls for nothing more than chopped Rhubarb stalks, sugar, and flour mixed and poured into a pie crust. Dot the mixture with butter, lay more crust over the top and bake.</span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Refinements include first boiling the stalks to soften them and eliminate stringiness, then adding lemon juice. In Wisconsin, I understand, where they are partial to diary products, pie makers abide by the adage that says a great Rhubarb pies must contain a full quarter-pound stick of butter.</span></span> <br />
<div class="yiv0179436083MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2819" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2821" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2820" style="font-size: small;"> Indiana pie makers favor custard-style pie with a couple of eggs added to the mixture. In Illinois they’ve been known to compromise their integrity and their waistlines by adding an equal measure of fresh-picked strawberries to the Rhubarb in the pie. Even more shameless are the Minnesota’s who skirt the bounds of decency by discarding the pie crust and adding gelatin, heavy cream, and vanilla to transform plain old pie into Rhubarb mousse. Here in California, the pie makers tend to bake a mean Rhubard/Strawberry pie that I really enjoy and recommend.</span></span> <br />
<div class="yiv0179436083MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2816" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2818" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1377743703633_2817" style="font-size: small;"> Aunt Lucy always used the basic recipe. Our family has a saying -- you can have any kind of pie you want -- just so it’s Rhubarb.</span></span></div>
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Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-30135695284935141872013-08-02T10:33:00.001-07:002013-08-02T10:37:26.501-07:00On the road with Aunt Lil<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><strong> </strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
wouldn’t recommend hitch-hiking to anyone in these violent days, but 70 years
ago it was a respected and popular means of free transportation. I only
remember two times I ever did any serious hitch-hiking. Once when I was a
19-year-old GI, and when I was nine years old.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was 1942, and everyone in Maud, Okla., was mobilized to do their part to win
W.W.II. School was out for the summer and my brother Dillon Jean who was 12,
and I were having a ball playing army and collecting scrap metal. Our Mom who
was building airplane at the Douglas plant in Okla. City, wasn’t too happy
about us running loose without any adult supervision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s probably why she gave in so easily when
our great-uncle Burr and Aunt Lil, who were staying overnight, invited us to
spend the summer with them on their Texas Panhandle dry-land farm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before
Mom could change her mind, we were packed and ready to go, and early the next
morning before daylight, we were barreling down Highway 66 in Uncle Burr’s new
1940 Dodge touring car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
made a short food stop in Elk City, hamburgers and Pepsi Colas for us boys, and
Uncle Burr’s usual lunch of a cold bottle of beer and a hot cup of coffee. Aunt
Lil said she wasn’t hungry and could wait until she got home, and besides the
prices were too high.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Uncle
Burr was the closest thing to a hero my brother and I had. He was about 6’4”
with a full head of white hair, and always with a week’s growth of whiskers.
His lower face was red and sunburned except for his forehead when his 10-gallon
wide-brimmed black felt had kept the sun off. We thought he looked just like
Randolph Scott. He was probably close to 80-years-old at this time and he had
only one ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
always told my brother and I it was cut off my a wild Comanche Indian when he
was a boy, but Dad said it was probably skin cancer from too many days in the
hot and windy high plains weather. Uncle Burr was my Grandpa’s younger brother
and he homesteaded in Wheeler County, about the same time by Grandpa made the
Oklahoma Land Run. When my Dad was nine, he father died and he was raised by
Uncle Burr and he’s the one I’m named after.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Aunt
Lil was a different breed of cat. She younger than Uncle Burr, but she was a
Brindle, and Brindle women were tough. Now I don’t mean physically tough,
although shed could still chop cotton with the best, but I mean strong-willed
would best describe her. Uncle Burr said she could out baulk any one of his
mules.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
Aunt Lil had a weakness it was hitch-hiking. Even though there was plenty of
transportation on the farm, she dearly loved a free ride. Aunt Lil wouldn’t
waste her time sticking out her thumb like everyone else. No sir! Her favorite
method was to stand in the middle of the road, and it was either run her over
or give her a ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
one of her favorite things was the movies. She was just as big a fan as Dillon
Jean and I, but she would never pay admission. Twenty-five cents she said was
just too much to pay for only a double feature, newsreel, cartoon and a Buck
Roger serial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
every Saturday afternoon we would all pile in the Dodge and drive to Shamrock.
Uncle Burr would head for the pool hall to play snooker and drink beer with his
cronies and Aunt Lil and us boys would patronize the Lone Star Theater. My brother
and I would pay our dimes, but Aunt Lil would just walk in and sit down with
us. The ushers knew better than to ask her for a ticket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
summer passed faster than we wanted it too. Two weeks before we were due to go
home, Dad sent Aunt Lil $10 to pay our Greyhound bus fare. Aunt Lil said it was
a shame to waste our Dad’s money on bus fare. She convinced Dillon Jean and me
we could make enough money picking beans and peddling them door to door in
Shamrock, and that just what we did. We made $17 between the two of us and Aunt
Lil took charge of the money . . . for safekeeping she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
day before we were to leave Aunt Lil decided why waste our hard earned green
bean money on bus fare when we could hitch-hike home. Dillon Jean and I thought
that was a heck of a lot more fun than riding the Greyhound Bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
the next morning, bright and early, there we stool, a 75-year-old lady and two
boys standing next to the most traveled highway in the U.S. with our thumbs
stuck out. Early on Aunt Lil had decided that her usual habit of standing in
the middle of the road might not work this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally
after a while, a kind hearted motorist pulled over and offered us a ride. When
Aunt Lil told him that Dillon Jean and I were the only passengers, he said no
way would he be responsible for a couple of kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
a couple of more unsuccessful attempts, she finally decided that the only way
we were going to get home was for her to go with us, so when the next car
stopped we all got in and away we went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
took us only seven hours and five rides to travel the 300 miles to Maud. Dillon
Jean and I had the time of our lives. The only expense we had was two Pepsi
Colas because our lunch was paid for by a kind traveling salesman who picked us
up outside Clinton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
we got home Aunt Lil gave Dad his $10. He thanked her for seeing us home and
shook his head in disbelief. She also gave Dillon Jean and I our $17 we earned
selling bean, minus 10 cents for the two Pepsi Colas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
next morning Aunt Lil was up bright and early and Dad took her out to the
highway to hitch-hike by to Texas. Needless to say my mother made sure my
brother and I were occupied the next few summers and we didn’t get back to
Uncle Burr’s until after the war was over.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-3624026177141021002013-07-12T11:56:00.000-07:002013-07-12T11:56:58.134-07:00After 60 years, ‘Forgotten War’ is not forgotten!
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Sixty</span> years ago on July 27, 1953, the
Korean War officially ended. Before it was over the United Nations forces
suffered 995,601 casualties, killed, wounded and missing. U.S. forces lost
29,550 killed and 106,978 missing and wounded. No one knows the number of
Korean civilian men women and children that were killed and wounded, or the
Chinese and North Korean troops were killed or missing, but it was probably in
the several hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;">It almost seemed that no one knew a war was on unless you
knew someone who had been there, or you were there yourself. Remember this was
before the daily 5 o’clock TV news and instant CNN communication. News traveled
slower and the most that could be hoped for was a couple of news items and a
wire photo or two in your local newspaper. Like now, our politicians wouldn’t
even admit we were at war. President Truman called it a ‘Police Action’ and
Congress never officially declared war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;">I might be wrong, but I would suspect that most history
books in our school systems today, only gives this forgotten war, very little
reference (if any). Yet, in my opinion, it had a more important impact on our
country than the Vietnam War. Remember, before the Korean War, our leaders
believed that nuclear superiority was all we needed to protect us. When it
started on June 25 1950, our army was the smallest it had been in 50 years and
in the first months of combat our untrained and inexperienced troops paid for
this neglect with high casualties. The defense build-up that followed this war
gave our economy a boost that did not end until 40 years later with the
break-up of the Soviet Union.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A lot of things were forgotten
about this war. Until the publicity that Vietnam MIA’s received, it seemed that
no one was too concerned for the thousands of our troops that are still listed
as missing after all these years. It also seemed like the Korean War Memorial
in Washington DC, was built as an afterthought because of the popular Vietnam
Memorial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Those Korean War missing in
action troops are not forgotten by my family. I had a cousin who was listed as
missing when the Chinese came in the war during that first cold winter. My
aunt, until the day she died, believed that he was alive and would come home
some day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;">We were simply discharged and mustered out with something like
$300 and a bus ticket home. That was not bad when you consider I was only
getting $120 per month as a PFC. Of course the best thing for most of us, was that
we were eligible for $125 a month, plus tuition for schooling under the GI
Bill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
too young for WWII and too old for Vietnam. Going to Canada or enrolling in
college was not an option; the draft took care of that. It was the only war my
generation had, and we were called up and we served. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell
Holmes Jr., a veteran of the Civil War, put it best when he wrote that “In our
youth, our hearts were touched with fire, and we were changed forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-67679664994041328882013-07-11T21:36:00.000-07:002013-07-11T21:36:00.599-07:00Cecile K. Bosworth: An Unsung Heroine!
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><strong> </strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reading
the Obituary Page is not one of my daily pleasures, but by accident recently
I happen to glance at an LA Times obit that caught my attention. It read:
“Cecile K. Bosworth: Promoter of G.I. Bill and Armed Forces Day has died.” This caught my attention, because in a sense,<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>my generation is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a product of
the G.I. Bill. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
one piece of far-sighted legislation has probably changed our society and
culture more than anything else that has happened in the 20th Century. Perhaps
only the Homestead Act that also came out of our American Civil War, another
terrible conflict, would come close to the impact that the G.I. Bill has had on
our nation.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Homestead Bill opened up farm ownership to millions of families and the G.I.
Bill has enabled untold numbers of men and women to have a college education
who under normal conditions would never be able to afford it. These newly
educated Americans went on to become the doctors, the lawmakers, the educators
and importantly the scientist who won the race to the moon. These men and women
were able to earn more income and in turn they could afford to their children
college. The majority of the second generation of G.I. Bill students now enjoys
one of the highest standards of living in history.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Born
in Philadelphia, Cecile Bosworth moved to Hollywood with her
family when she was a toddler. She attended UCLA and then worked as a film
researcher. Her husband was Hobert Bosworth, silent screen actor and Paramount
Studios co-founder. He was the star of the first full-length motion picture
shot in Los Angeles.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
she was widowed in 1943, she became the keeper of his early film props, diaries
and other memorabilia and was an unofficial historian of motion pictures.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
she was much better known for her civic activism and activities on behalf of
servicemen.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bosworth
established a club for servicemen shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor,
her volunteers offered coffee, sandwiches friendly smiles and even spare rooms
or beds to servicemen on leave.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Throughout
the war, Bosworth worked with California congressmen to create what became know
as the G.I. Bill of Rights to help servicemen step back into civilian life. The
far-reaching legislation provided funds to finance college education and
low-interest loans to purchase homes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
1943, she proposed and lobbied for a joint resolution of Congress establishing
an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American</i> Services Honor Day, which
is now observed annually as Armed Forces Day.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
many men and women do you personally know that have a better life today because
of the G.I. Bill. How many families own their homes today because of the low
interest Veterans Administration home loan program that the G.I. Bill set up.
Personally the $125 per month plus tuition and books that I received years ago
made a difference for me.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thank
you Cecile! Even though, in my ignorance, I was never aware of what you did for
me, I hope you were happy and enjoyed life. I know you made life much better
for millions of veterans. It’s unfortunate that sometimes those who deserve it
don’t get the recognition they deserve in their lifetime</span><strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></strong></span></div>
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<o:p><strong><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span></strong></o:p></div>
Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-55359992652805841502013-07-11T16:46:00.002-07:002013-07-11T16:51:23.513-07:00Oh Canada Eh!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Jan and I, plus Bob and Carolyn Traylor just got back from a trip to Niagara
Falls and Canada. It was to celebrate the Traylors’ 50<sup>th</sup> Wedding
Anniversary. We were joined there by Carolyn’s Banning High School buddies.
Dick and Susan Coombs. Susan by the way was Carolyn’s Maid-of-Honor those 50
years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I have to admit that Niagara Falls was on our bucket list and we were duly
impressed with it all. To us Southern Californians, seeing all that free
flowing water made us mighty envious and nervous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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We shanghaied Dick to serve as our chauffer. Bob and I figured that him being
a retired rocket engineer or whatever, he would be the most qualified to
figure out those Canada highways. (You notice I wrote Canada highways instead
of Canadian highways. They are sensitive, I think, about using the word
Canadian.) Anyway Dick did a great job, and too the best of my knowledge, the
Mounties have not, as yet, put out any wanted bulletins on him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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One of the highlights of the trip was attending Canada’s longest running
dinner show, “Oh Canada Eh?”It has been more than 19 years, over 4,000
performances, since it opened in Niagara Falls City. It is in a rustic log
cabin theater seating 250 guests. In between scenes they served the best
family style meal this side of Oklahoma City.</span><br />
All in all, it was a great vacation and an outstanding Wedding celebration for the Traylors.<br />
<br />
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Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-73942906824477820352013-07-11T13:52:00.001-07:002013-07-11T13:52:25.433-07:00A shining example to his community
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to the laws of probability it is not likely that lightning will strike again in
exactly the same place under ordinary circumstances. However, you would have to
reconsider the circumstances if you were acquainted with Mr. Oscar Brownson,
who farmed the section next to our<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>homeplace in Maude, Oklahoma.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was documented during one three year period in the 1940’s, that Oscar, known as
‘Sparky’ to everyone in Pottawatomie County, was struck by lightning on the
average of once every 15 months and survived. On top of that, Sparky wasn’t one
to take unnecessary chances either. He installed lightning rods on each corner
of his house and he even put them on his dairy barn and corncrib. He also hired
a construction firm from Oklahoma City to install a giant lightning rod on the
windmill next to the barn. In his efforts to protect himself, he even
mail-ordered all the way from North Carolina, a special pair of safety shoes
that were equipped with ‘anti-gravity’ soles. As another precaution, he also
dragged a chain from the rear axle of his pickup truck to cut down on the
static electricity.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For all his trouble and expense to
ground himself, Sparky wasn’t that successful. It was said that at one time or
another, lightning had knocked him out cold, burned off his hair, damaged his
hearing, ripped shoes off his feat, and hurled him 10 feet or more through the
air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If fact, some people were so
afraid to be around him during a storm, that he was once asked to leave a
Wednesday night prayer meeting when a sudden spring squall knocked out the
lights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
have a 1947 newspaper clipping from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pott
County News </i>that described what happen to him when he was once struck down.
The headline reads “Sparky Brownson hospitalized after starting a grass fire”.
The story quotes Sparky as saying: “There was a terrible storm about ten miles
away. I was plowing and stopped my tractor and when I got down to watch it, I
noticed a small black cloud near me. Then I smelled sulfur and my hair was
standing on end. When it struck, I felt as if I was being cooked. My hat caught
fire. The bolt traveled down my body, burning me and setting my underwear on
fire. It knocked me down and one of my shoes was been ripped off. Luckily I was
close to the windmill and was able to put out the fire in my underwear in the
water tank.” The story also reported that Sparky spent four days in the
hospital recovering. It was after this incident that Sparky started wearing
‘flash-proof’ underwear that he bought at an army surplus store in Shawnee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all his problems Sparky was popular at
barn dances and outdoor bar-b-cues. He was know as the hi-light of most parties
because he would hold a lightbulb in either hand and light up the gathering.
Children simply loved him. He was always being asked to referee their afterdark
games. He seemed to have a glow about him that gave you a sense of security.
When he passed away from natural causes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>later on in life, our city fathers ran a electrical line from his grave
to power Maude’s only stop light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-58673520058203785122013-07-11T13:49:00.000-07:002013-07-11T13:49:17.584-07:00How to Speak Oklahoman
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.5pt;">
</span></i></b>The University of Oklahoma football season is just around the
corner, so for all those wantabe Okies out there, it’s time for The Briar Patch
to release secret family information on “How to Speak Oklahoman.” Remember in
football if you first teach your opponents to speak the language, then their
hearts and minds will follow.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FOE</span></strong> (noun)--More than
three.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">BECON</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 21.5pt;"> </span></strong>(noun)--A pork product that’s good at
breakfast.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">PLAY-IT</span></strong> (noun). A
serving device that you use with a knife and fork. "Honey ... git me
another play-it of beckon and aigs"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">AINT</span></strong> (noun)--The
sister of one of your parents. "Come over here an give your aint some
sugar."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">ALL</span></strong> (noun). A
petroleum-based lubricant. "I sure hope my brotherin-law puts all in my
pickup truck."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">ARGON</span></strong>
(noun)--Northwestern state where it rains a lot. "You from Yurp?"
"Nah ... I's from Argon."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">AWDUH</span></strong>
(noun)--Obedience to the law. "The Marshal brought law an awduh to the
town."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">BAHS</span></strong> (noun)--A
supervisor. "If you don't stop reading these Okie words and git back to
work, your bahs is gonna far you<strong>!"</strong><br />
<b><br />
<strong>BALD</strong></b> (adjective/verb)--Cooked in very hot water.
"Bring me some bald shrimp and another moon pah!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">BIDNESS</span></strong> (noun)--A
commercial venture.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">OWNNA</span></strong>
(phrase)--"Ah'm ownna git me inta tha Moon Pie bidness!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">BLEEVE</span></strong> (verb)--To
accept as true. "Ah bleeve ah'll have another moon pah!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">BOB WAR</span></strong> (noun)--A
sharp, twisted cable. "Boy, stay away from that bob war fence."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">CHICK</span></strong> (verb)--To
inspect or monitor.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">URAL</span></strong>
(noun)--Petroleum product belonging to the person being addressed. Usage:
"Chick ural, mistah?"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">CLINICS</span></strong> (noun)--A
brand-name paper tissue. "I'd best git me a box of clinics before I sneeze
agin."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">COAL</span></strong> (noun)--A common
sickness. "I aint coming to work ... I has a coal."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">COAT</span></strong> (noun)--A legal
gathering. "All rise ... this coat is now in owduh"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">EAR</span></strong> (noun)—A
colorless, odorless gas (unless you are in LA). "He can't breathe ... give
'em some ear!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FAR</span></strong> (noun)--A
conflagration. "If my brother-in-law doesn't change the all in my pickup
truck, that things gonna catch far."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FARD</span></strong>
(verb)--Terminated. "Bubba don't work here no more ... we fard him."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FARN</span></strong> (adjective)--Not
local. "I cudnt unnerstand a word he sed ... must be from some farn
country."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FAWL</span></strong> (noun)--Aluminum
wrap for storage of food items. "Could you please wrap my leftover chicken
livers in fawl?"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FAY-IR</span></strong>
(verb)--Anxious concern. "The only thing we have to fay-ir is fay-ir
itself!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FRAIZIN</span></strong> (noun)--Not
warm. "Shut dat dar winda, it's fraizin in here."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FRAUD</span></strong>
(adjective)--Cooked in oil. "That Southern fraud chicken sure was
good."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">FUSSED</span></strong> (adjective)--A
premier position. "You been here before?" "Nah ... this is my
fussed time."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">GROAN</span></strong> (noun)--To
increase in size. "My, how you've groan!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">HERBAL</span></strong>
(adjective)--Terrible, awful. "He's got hisself into one herbal
mess."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">HOWSCUM</span></strong> (a
question)-- "Howscum Bubba tore down the bob war fence?<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">LAYMAN</span></strong> (noun)--A tart
fruit. " Sugar, git me some more of that layman aid!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">LILAC</span></strong> (verb)--An
untruth. "He's a nice enough feller, but he can lilac a dog!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">LOWERED</span></strong> (noun)--A
deity. "Lowered, bless this pick up truck and don’t let my brother-in-law
wreck it."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">MILL</span></strong> (noun)--Food
consumed during a certain time period.<br />
<br />
Usage: "Bubba, turn off Hee-Haw and eat yur mill!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">MUNTS</span></strong> (noun)--A
calendar division. "My brother-in-law bard my pickup truck, and I ain't
herd from him in munts."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">PA</span></strong> (noun)--A baked
pastry dish. "This pecan pa is the best ah ever et."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">PRIOR</span></strong> (noun)--A talk
with God. "As long as teachers continue to give their students tests,
there will be prior in school!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">RAFFLE</span></strong> (noun)-A
firearm. "Son, fetch me ma raffle."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">RANCH</span></strong> (noun)--A tool.
"I think I left my ranch in the back of that pickup truck my
brother-in-law bard a few munts ago."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">RETARD</span></strong> (verb)--To
stop working. "My granpaw retard at age 65."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">SURP</span></strong> (noun)--What you
put on pancakes or waffles. "Pass me the surp!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">TAR</span></strong> (noun)--A rubber
wheel. "Gee, I hope that brother-in-law of mine doesn't git a flat tar in
my pickup truck."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">TIRE</span></strong> (noun)--A tall
monument. "Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I sure do hope to see
that Eifel Tire in Paris sometime."<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">TUBAFOR</span></strong>
(noun)--Lumber. "Don't make me have to whomp ya upside the head with a
tubafor!"<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;">YURP</span></strong> (noun)--A
collection of countries located across the Atlantic Ocean from 'Marika.
"The QE2 takes you from New York to Yurp."<br />
<br />
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Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-24145227405329512692012-12-01T16:30:00.000-08:002012-12-01T16:30:03.520-08:00Hot off the press---2013 Horoscope The author of this blog does not hold astrology to be an exact science, but my next door neighbor Frederick does. Therefore to cover all bets, we publish the following horoscope that Frederick annually compiles. We offer no guarantees and most certainly we are not responsible for any idiot who takes his advice seriously. His main source of information seems to have been: 1. His mother-in-law; 2. Flipping a coin; 3. His personal library consisting of back issues of Playboy Magazine, with many notations in the margins such as ‘wow’ -- ‘well written!’ and ‘I didn’t know that.’ So with apologies to all, here it is:
<br />
<br />
AQUARIUS--Waterman, Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
Lucky day Thursday--Unlucky day, any day that ends in day. Lucky number 70. Persons born under this sign are restless, indolent, economical, pleasing and agreeable. Greatest fault is they are perfect.
<br />
<br />
PISCES--Fishs, Feb. 19 to March 20
Lucky day Monday before noon--Unlucky day Monday afternoon. Lucky number 18. Person born under this sign are natural lovers, fickle, fruitful, easily led, honest, sensitive. Greatest fault is they are always behind in alimony payments.<br />
<br />
ARIES--Ram, March 21 to April 20
Lucky day Thursday--Unlucky day Monday. Lucky number 0. Persons born under this sign are noted for their energy, push and executive ability. They are obstinate and independent. Greatest fault is they don’t make good mother-in-laws.
<br />
<br />
TAURUS--Bull, April 20 to May 21
No lucky day or number for this bunch. They should stay in bed all day. Persons born under this sign are fearless, kind, gentle, strong of mind and body. Greatest fault is not having a lucky day.
<br />
<br />
GEMINI--Twins, May 21 to June 21
Lucky day Friday--Unlucky day Sunday. Lucky number 2. Persons born under this sign usually have dual personalities. They are skilled at negotiations and crafty. Greatest fault is they make good politicians.
<br />
<br />
CANCER--Crab, June 21 to July 23
Lucky day Friday between 3 and 4 p.m. Unlucky day Monday. Lucky number 83. Persons born under this sign are endowed with strong determination, intuition and purpose. Greatest fault is they nag their husbands about taking out the trash.
<br />
<br />
LEO--Lion, July 23 to August 23
Lucky day Sunday. Unlucky day Tues., Lucky number 5. Persons born under this sign are faithful, courteous, brave and enthusiastic. Greatest fault is they keep bugging their neighbors to publish junk like this in his blog.
<br />
<br />
VIRGO--Virgin, August 23 to September 23
Lucky day Saturday night. Unlucky day Sunday. Lucky number 85. Persons born under this sign are systematic, loyal and generous. Greatest fault is they can’t say no.<br />
<br />
LIBRA--Balance, Sept. 23 to Oct. 23
Lucky day Friday. Unlucky day Sat. Lucky number 63. Persons born under this sign are well-balanced, handsome, graceful, tasteful and make good newspaper columnist. Greatest fault is they are faultless.<br />
<br />
SCORPIO--Scorpion, Oct. 23 to Nov. 22
Lucky day Tuesday, Unlucky day Monday. Lucky number .005. Persons born under this sign are self-controlled, courageous, polite and courteous. Greatest fault is they won’t keep the door shut and let in many flies in.
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SAGITTARIUS--Archer,Nov. 22 to Dec. 22
Every day is lucky, expect Christmas Day. Lucky number is 3. Persons born under this sign are impulsive, honest, quick and fond of sports. Greatest fault is they never get birthday presents because they were born to close to Christmas Day.<br />
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CAPRICORN--Goat. Dec. 22 to Jan. 20
Lucky day is Friday the 13. Lucky number is 1040. Persons born under this sign are economical, careful, secretive, resourseful and usually make good IRS Agents. Greatest fault is they usually are IRS Agents.
Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-42499048644040659652010-07-15T09:48:00.000-07:002010-07-15T09:51:52.746-07:00Art and Literature is where you find it!I’ve never been know to be a nosy person, but I have discovered something important lately. What I have found out is that some of the best artwork and literature is found in the decorations hanging in the suburban bathroom. The following outstanding work of literature was found artful displayed in a close friends bathroom (I won’t mention any names). It was apparently taken from a book by H. Jackson Brown Jr., and is titled:<br /><em><br />Life’s Little Instructions--Vol. II.</em> Believe in love at first sight * Volunteer--sometimes the jobs no one wants conceal big opportunities. * Overpay good baby-sitters * Discipline with a gentle hand * Never laugh at anyone’s dreams * Never drive while holding a cup of hot coffee between your knees * Never be the one to break a family tradition <br /><br /> * Don’t judge people by their relatives * Talk slow, but think quick * Remember the 3 R’s: respect for self, respect for others, responsibility for all your actions. * Plant zucchini only if you have lots of friends. * Don’t overlook life’s small joys while searching for the big ones. <br /><br /> Ever so often, invite the person in line behind you to go ahead of you. * Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. * Steer clear of any place that has a “Ladies Welcome” sign in the window. * Always put something in the collection plate. * Do the right thing, regardless of what people think. * Never wash a car, mow a yard or select a Christmas tree after dark. * Don’t confuse comfort with happiness. <br /><br /> * Don’t confuse wealth with success. * Be the first to forgive. * Check for toilet paper before sitting down. * Don’t stop the parade to pick up a dime. * Be an original, if that means being a little eccentric, so be it. * Open your arms to change but don’t let go of your values. ]<br /> <br /> Everybody deserves a birthday cake. * Never celebrate a birthday without one. * When you say “I love you” mean it. * When you say “I’m sorry,” look the person in the ey.e. * Win without boasting. * Lose without excuses. * Read more books. * Watch less TV <br /><br /> * Every so often let your spirit of adventure triumph over good sense. * Trust in God but lock your car. * Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams.<br /><br /> Never sell your teddy bear, letter sweater of high school yearbooks at a garage sale. You’ll regret it later. Accept a breath mint if someone offers you one. * Don’t eat any meatloaf but your Mom’s. * Learn the rules. Then break some. * Always try the house dressing. <br /><br /> * Never swap your integrity for money, power or fame. Never be ashamed of honest tears. * Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. * When friends offer to help, let them. * Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. * Follow your own star. * Remember the ones who love you. * Go home for the holidays. * Don’t get too big for your britches.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-46140953853942995642010-06-21T19:51:00.000-07:002010-06-21T19:53:51.025-07:00Pets have a tendency to ‘Hog’ all the attention!Modern life is full of stress and everyone needs at least one pet they can call their own. Personally I use to have a fat old cocker spaniel named ‘Fergie’ that kept me going for years. Consequently, in the 1980’s it became very fashionable to own an unusual or exotic pet. First it was pet rocks, then couch potatoes, and not surprising pet pigs.<br /><br /> Not the barnyard variety of pigs that are full of steroids and pig pellets, but smart, table mannered miniature porkers that one enterprising Orange County pig breeder is reported to be selling for as much as $2,000 each.<br /><br /> Pet miniature pigs were so popular that one was even featured in a major magazine. It was reported that this pig (Sir Francis Bacon by name), was so intelligent that he would put most newspaper editors to shame. Admittedly knowing newspaper editors as well as I do, I’m not overly impressed by his intelligence.<br /><br /> Anyway, it was reported that Sir Francis was not only housebroken and slept at the foot of his master’s bed, but he also had his favorite TV shows, and was even a Los Angeles Laker fan.<br /><br /> Personally I can understand this fondness for pigs. Remember that great film titled ‘Babe’ about a cute little piglet who gave an Oscar winning performance. Also when I was growing up in Oklahoma, we always had a large pig population on our family farm. If fact some of my earliest memories are of pigs. My Grandfather could always forecast the weather by watching pigs wallowing in a mud hole, and I had the distinction of being one of the pioneers of modifying pig behavior patterns.<br /><br /> It happen this way: All pigs like to scratch themselves. My brother Dillon Jean and I found this out when we were boys. Pigs scratch because they have pig lice. The more the scratch, the more the lean, and if anything leans far enough, it will fall over.<br /><br /> Dillon Jean and I tested this clinical principle out by scratching one fat old sow with a broken hoe handle. Our subject reacted as we had anticipated. She began to lean. It felt wonderful, the pig lice scurried under his bristles to safety and he grunted with relief. Encouraged I scratch harder until, heaving a blissful sigh, down he went.<br /><br /> Pleased with the result, we scratched another, then another, until every pig in the pen was lying down. If one started to get up, one of us flew over with the hoe and scratched him a little, and down he would flop. Being active little devils, we could keep a herd of pigs supine for any length of time. To us, there was no greater sense of power than seeing ight or nine pigs stretched out flat. Scratching pigs was so much fun that it soon became a daily routine.<br /><br /> This sport would probably have gone on indefinitely if my great-aunt Lil hadn’t found pig lice in Dillon Jean’s hair, resulting in a family crisis and both of us being treated with coal oil, now commonly know as kerosene. After that, the magic of playing with pigs faded for us.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-51679306450384688082010-05-06T11:07:00.000-07:002010-05-06T11:09:06.115-07:00It almost happens every Spring!You’ve hear of the old saying: “Each Spring a young mans fancy turns to thoughts of love”, or something like that? Well maybe they should also add baseball to that fancy. Anyway, last weekend I made my semi-annual journey to Anaheim Stadium and witnessed the Angels playing the Detroit Tigers. It was a great game, with the Angles’ coming from behind in the 8th and winning 6 to 5. <br /><br /> I like to watch the home plate action so we were sitting directly in back of the batters' box. I expected, as usual, to see the same old, scratching, spiting, and hangover looking ballplayers that made baseball America’s favorite pastime. Or at least the dumpy, wisecracking, know-it-all, over-the-hill ballplayers who always seem to coach at 1st and 3rd bases. <br /> <br /> Was I in for a surprise, I must have been in a vacuum or in hibernation for some time. Because now, all professional baseball players look like a young Steve Garvey, before he went Hollywood. They are young, good-looking, well fed with vitamins, cold sober, well built with designer haircuts and most of them look like a stockbroker on the way to the bank. Anyone of them would pass for an actor on “Real People”. <br /><br /> Not one player had a beer-belly hanging over their belts. Not one of them had that hard-hungry, professional look that Catfish Hunter and Johnny Bench had. I couldn’t even detect any chewing tobacco stains on their pants or shoes. <br /><br /> Don’t get me wrong, these bubble-gum chewing professionals are just as good, if not better than those heroes of my youth and the game now is probably played better and is just as exciting. <br /><br /> The final shock of the night was when the plate umpire appeared in a RED SHIRT. Can you believe it, a red shirt on a home plate umpire. They might as well have instant replay of balls and strikes. How can you be tough when someone kicks dirt on your shoe in a red shirt. A red shirt might be OK on a fireman, but not a home plate umpire. <br /><br /> Back in Maude, Oklahoma, we took our baseball seriously. I had some uncles by on my mother’s side of the family who had a family baseball team. Every brother had a special position that they played until aches and pains slowed them down, and then their sons took their places. Personally I was never much of a baseball player. I was always the last player to be selected when we choose up sides for a game. <br /><br /> The first professional major league game that I ever attended was in 1948 when the World Champion Cleveland Indians were playing an exhibition game with their Texas League Farm Club, the Oklahoma City Indians. Satchel Page started the game and Bobby Feller and another guy finished up. Needless to say I was very impressed. I also remember that these ‘World Champion’ guys didn’t look like ‘Fortune 500’ pin-ups. They were just average ballplayers with hangovers and alimony, like the rest of us. <br /><br /> I really shouldn’t complain about what the player look like now. The game is the same and I enjoy it as much as I always have. Computers haven’t changed the rules. You still get three strikes before you are out. Where else in life can you get a guarantee like that.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-13593065379173055902010-04-19T20:18:00.000-07:002010-04-19T20:20:28.680-07:00Thoughts while waiting in line at the Post Office . . .J. Edgar Hoover is probably turning over in his grave . . . today I might have discovered one reason why our crime rate might be so high! They have removed all the ‘Wanted Posters’ from most of our Post Offices. No longer while waiting in line to buy stamps can you look at a ‘Rogue’s Gallery’ of black and white wanted posters and say to yourself; “Boy, he looks just like a criminal.” Or, “I sure wouldn’t buy a used car from him!”<br /><br /> For years I have gotten a kick out of examining those sometimes out of focus and foreboding pictures. In a way you could say they also helped me learn to read. My cousin Billy Rae and I would sneak into the post office in our home town of Maude, Okla., and by reading the posters we discovered words like ‘habitual’ or phases like ‘flight to avoid prosecution.’ We even thought the ‘Mann Act’ had something to do with the theater until my older brother told us different. Miss Bolderjack, our third grade teacher could never figure out where some of the new words we tossed about came from. <br /><br /> Unfortunately, today when you go into most Post Offices there’s not an ax murderer or serial killer in sight. All you have to look at are pretty pictures of famous dead movie stars like Lash LaRue or Marilyn or Elvis. As for reading material, you have to be content with Post Office promotions telling you to use overnight Express Mail instead of that unnamed company on the TV commercial.<br /><br /> The postal people tell me they still get the posters, but it’s optional whether they put them up. Don’t get me wrong. I would never, never criticize or take on the U.S. Mail. That would be wrong and un-American and could lead to being investigated by the FBI. I can’t even criticize them for advertising their services, because without newspaper advertising I would not be able to satisfy my golfing addiction.<br /><br /> Even with the posters gone, the United States still has the best and most economically delivery of mail in the world. I even used to work for them in a way when I was overseas in the Army. In a moment of weakness I once volunteered to be temporary company mail clerk in order to get out of guard duty.<br /> <br /> The postal officials do have one big problem however. They were a little too fast in putting Elvis on a stamp. He’s not dead, I saw him last week delivering pizza in Moreno Valley.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-7025529784329373642010-03-05T15:01:00.000-08:002010-03-05T15:05:56.740-08:00The worst possible opening sentence for a novelThis is an article that my Maude High School English Teacher, Miss Emma Bolderjack (not to be confused with her sister, Miss Edna Bolderjack, my fifth grade teacher), would be proud of. I’m going to share some interesting items from my collection of amazing if sometimes useless facts about English grammar and other anecdotes and pleasantries.<br /><br /> From the annual “worst opening sentence” competition conducted by the English Dept. at Oklahoma Lutheran University, to which more than 4,000 entries were submitted from all over the country as well as from Thailand, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Saudi Arabia, here is the winner:<br /><br /> “The lovely woman-child Kaa was mercilessly chained to the cruel post of the warrior-chief Beast, with the barbarian tribe now stacking wood at her nubile feet, when the strong, clear voice of the poetic and heroic Handsomas roared, ”Flick your Bic, crisp that chick, and you’ll feel my steel through your last meal.”<br /> For that, Clyde Avery of Tuttle, Okla., won a word processor. Second place was so bad that even I won’t print it.<br /><br /> It is not uncommon for our English language to utilize a specific word to describe the plural of certain creatures -- such as a school of fish, a litter of pups, a flock of sheep or a swarm of bees.<br /><br /> Some, of course, are far less used than others -- such as a murder of crows, a pod of seals, a rafter of turkeys, a gang of elk, a fall of woodchucks, a drift of hogs, or a tidings of magpies.<br /><br /> And then there are those yet to be used -- such as a flush of plumbers, a wince of dentist, a piddle of puppies, a wrangle of philosophers, a sneer of butlers, a float of dancers (female), a horde of misers, an ambush of widows, an overcharge of repairmen, a score of bachelors, a slant of journalists, a rascal of boys, a charge of taxis, an ingratitude of children, a click of photographers, a no-no of nannies, a sprinkling of gardeners, or a galaxy of astronomers.<br /><br /> It can go on and on with -- a bunker of gofers, an alley of bowlers, and a line-up of baseball player. Don’t forget our national asset of elected officials just think what we could do with them -- such as a junket of congressmen, a public trough of assemblymembers. And of course, a confusion of columnists.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-51643701718151627142010-02-06T13:33:00.000-08:002010-02-06T13:39:34.929-08:00Oh My Goodness!!!READ TO THE VERY END! VERY ENLIGHTENING!!! AND VERY DISTURBING!!! <br /> <br /><br /><em><strong>By Dewie Whetsell, Alaskan Fisherman. <br />As posted in comments on Greta's article referencing the MOVEON ad about Sarah Palin. </strong></em><br /><br /><em><strong>Due lack of space, I've done some simple editing--BW</strong></em><br /><br />The last 45 of my 66 years I've spent in a commercial fishing town in Alaska . I understand Alaska politics but never understood national politics well until this last year. Here's the breaking point: Neither side of the Palin controversy gets it. It's not about persona, style, rhetoric, it's about doing things. Even Palin supporters never mention the things that I'm about to mention here.<br /><br />1. Democrats forget when Palin was the Darling of the Democrats, because as soon as Palin took the Governor's office away from a fellow Republican and tough SOB, Frank Murkowski, she tore into the Republican's "Corrupt Bastards Club" (CBC) and sent them packing. Many of them are now residing in State housing and wearing orange jump suitsThe Democrats reacted by skipping around the yard, throwing confetti and singing, "la la la la" (well, you know how they are). Name another governor in this country that has ever done anything similar. <br /><br />2. Now with the CBC gone, there were fewer Alaskan politicians to protect the huge, giant oil companies here. So she constructed and enacted a new system of splitting the oil profits called "ACES." Exxon (the biggest corporation in the world) protested and Sarah told them, "don't let the door hit you in the stern on your way out." They stayed, and Alaska residents went from being merely wealthy to being filthy rich.. Of course, the other huge international oil companies meekly fell in line. Again, give me the name of any other governor in the country that has done anything similar.<br /><br />3. The other thing she did when she walked into the governor's office is she got the list of State requests for federal funding for projects, known as "pork." She went through the list, took 85% of them and placed them in the "when-hell-freezes-over" stack. She let locals know that if we need something built, we'll pay for it ourselves. Maybe she figured she could use the money she got from selling the previous governor's jet because it was extravagant. <br />Maybe she could use the money she saved by dismissing the governor's cook (remarking that she could cook for her own family), giving back the State vehicle issued to her, maintaining that she already had a car, and dismissing her State provided security force (never mentioning - I imagine - that she's packing heat herself).. I'm still waiting to hear the names of those other governors.<br /><br /><br />4. Now, even with her much-ridiculed "gosh and golly" mannerism, she also managed to put together a totally new approach to getting a natural gas pipeline built which will be the biggest private construction project in the history of North America. No one else could do it although they tried. If that doesn't impress you, then you're trying too hard to be unimpressed while watching her do things like this while baking up a batch of brownies with her other hand.<br /><br /><br />5. For 30 years, Exxon held a lease to do exploratory drilling at a place called Point Thompson. They made excuses the entire time why they couldn't start drilling. In truth they were holding it like an investment. No governor for 30 years could make them get started. Then, she told them she was revoking their lease and kicking them out. They protested and threatened court action. She shrugged and reminded them that she knew the way to the court house. Alaska won again.<br /><br /><br />6. President Obama wants the nation to be on 25% renewable resources for electricity by 2025. Sarah went to the legislature and submitted her plan for Alaska to be at 50% renewables by 2025. We are already at 25%. I can give you more specifics about things done, as opposed to style and persona Everybody wants to be cool, sound cool, look cool.. But that's just a cover-up. I'm still waiting to hear from liberals the names of other governors who can match what mine has done in two and a half years.. I won't be holding my breath.<br /><br />Make up your own mind about Sarah. <br /> <br /> <br />If you've read this far ................................................ <br />First Lady Michelle Obama's Servant List and Pay Scale<br /><br />First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants <br /><br />1. $ 172,2000 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff) <br /><br />2. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C . (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)<br /><br />3. $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary) <br /><br />4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady) <br /><br />5. $100,000 - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady) <br /><br />6. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady) <br /><br />7. $84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady) <br /><br />8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady) <br /><br />9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady) <br /><br />10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary) <br /><br />11. $64,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary) <br /><br />12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady) <br /><br />13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Dir ector of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady) <br /><br />14. $57,500 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady) <br /><br />15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady) <br /><br />16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special=2 0Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady) <br /><br />17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady) <br /><br />18. $43,000 - Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office) <br /><br />19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady) <br /><br />20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary) <br /><br />21. $35,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant) <br /><br />22. $35,000 - Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)<br />(This is community organizing at it's finest.) <br /><br />There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life.One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense, when even Hillary, only had three; Jackie Kennedy one ; Laura Bush one ; and prior to Mamie Eisenhowersocial help came from the President's own pocket.<br />Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe .<br /><br />FRIENDS.....THESE SALARIES ADD UP TO SIX MILLION, THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($6,364,000)FOR THE 4 YEARS OF OFFICE????? AND WE ARE IN A RECESSION????? WELL....MOST OF US ARE. I GUESS IT'S OK TO SPEND WILDLY WHEN IT'S NOT YOUR OWN MONEY?????<em></em><strong></strong>Due toBurrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-88885323977171679472010-01-16T11:23:00.000-08:002010-01-16T11:26:10.265-08:00The Amazing CucumberThis information was in TheNewYork Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.<br /> <br /> <br />1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.<br /> <br /> 2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.<br /> <br /> 3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.<br /> <br /> 4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.<br /> <br /> 5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!<br /> <br /> 6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!<br /> <br /> 7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation..<br /> <br /> 8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.<br /> <br /> 9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!<br /> <br /> 10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.<br /> <br /> 11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.<br /> <br /> 12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.<br /> <br /> 13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!<br /> <br /> Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems..Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-10643977079098649202009-12-02T10:40:00.000-08:002009-12-02T10:44:14.735-08:00Annual Christmas Card verse contest winner!It’s that time of year to announce the winner of my annual “Best Christmas Card Verse Contest.” Every year I consider it my duty to search out a bit of pose that, in my opinion, sets the mood for the Holiday season. <br /><br /> Personally, I love to get Christmas Cards and I delight in reading their cute verses. I always keep a very accurate list of those who send me cards, so I can return the favor the next year. I firmly believe that if Longfellow or Shelley were alive today, they would be in Nashville writing songs or in New York City writing verses for greeting cards. I use to worry about how we would get rid of all the surplus wire coat hangers, but now there are so many Christmas cards sent each year, that someday we will have to send bundle them up and shoot them into space.<br /> <br /> This year’s winning verse is longer than usual. Technically it’s not really a verse on a card, but was actually a typewritten sheet of paper inserted into the card sent to a dear friend. Also it might have been published elsewhere, but it is new to me: <br /> <br />MY CHRISTMAS BOOK <br />By Anonymous <br /><br /><em>There is a list of folks I know <br />All written in a book, <br />And every year at Christmas time <br />I go and take a look. <br />And that is when I realize that <br />These names are a part <br />Not of the book they’re written in <br />But of my very heart. <br /> <br />For each name stands for someone <br />Who has touched by life sometime, <br />And in that meeting they’ve become <br />The “Rhythm of the Rhyme.” <br />I really feel I am composed <br />Of each remembered name, <br />And while you may not be aware <br />Of feeling quite the same, <br />My life is so much better <br />Than it was before you came. <br /> <br />For once that you have known someone <br />The years cannot erase <br />The memory of a pleasant word <br />or of a friendly face. <br />So never think my Christmas cards <br />Are just a mere routine <br />Of names upon a list <br />Forgotten in between. <br />For when I send a Christmas card <br />That is addressed to you, <br />It is because you’re on that list <br />Of folks I’m indebted to. <br /> <br />And whether I’ve know you <br />for many years or few, <br />In some way you have had a part <br />In shaping things I do. <br />So every year when Christmas comes <br />I just realize anew <br />The biggest gift that God can give <br />Is knowing folks like you! <br /><br /> </em> Now that the judging of this award is out of the way, I can concentrate on trying to remember what I did with the list of people who sent me cards last year.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-39937497727523981692009-11-20T12:18:00.000-08:002009-11-20T12:19:47.379-08:00Divining the WatersAsk your friends if they’ve ever heard of rhabdomancy and chances are they will give you a blank stare. But if you mention water witching or divining, you’ll find a lot of folks know what you are talking about. The art of divining for water and other materials goes back to ancient times and no one knows just where it originated.<br /><br /> I have personally seen divining in action, and the best dowser (what we called them in Okla.), was my Grandpa Young on my mother’s side of the family. Most of the water wells in Maude, were located by him.<br /><br /> Grandpa was really good and he always said that a hazel stick was the only rod he used, but in a pinch a willow or peach rod would work. I’ve heard of dowsers who used welding rods, coat hangers or even buggy whips. However, Grandpa always said that natural material were best.<br /><br /> Before he started he would dip the end of the stick in water and grasp the two ends in his hands and start roaming over a likely area. After a while, if he was lucky, the butt-end of the stick would start bobbing up and down when he was over water. He claimed that he could always tell how far down the water was located by the shaking of the stick.<br /><br /> This ability to find water by means of a divining rod is a gift that only a few posses. It can’t be taught or acquired, but it sometimes runs in families. I’ve tried it several times , but I just don’t seem to have the talent.<br /><br /> No only water, but other things can be found by witching. Family legend (not verified, but a good story) has it that one time old Mr. Burton who made the best corn whiskey in Pottowatamine County and originally farmed the section next to our place in Maude, got sick and thought he was going to die. It seems that Mr. Burton wanted to ‘take it with him’, so before he went to the hospital he buried 50 gallons of his best vintage somewhere on his property for safe keeping. Well, lo and behold, he did up and die without telling anyone where he’d buried all that good stuff.<br /><br /> His son, Sid Burton, according to legend, offered Grandpa $5 to locate the whiskey. Grandpa said that he figured Mr. Burton was drunk when he buried his stash, so when he started witching, he concentrated on a 100-yard radius around Mr. Burton’s still.<br /><br /> Grandpa Young claimed that he located the whiskey in less that 30 minutes. He said what really helped him, was that he repeatedly dipped his stick in whiskey so he wouldn’t be bothered with water reading. Grandpa said he really hated to take Sid’s money, beings he was now an orphan, so he just settled for a gallon of whiskey. Grandpa was a teetotaler, so he gave the booze to Grandmother Young to use in her cold and rheumatism medicine.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-53623257812859913882009-11-09T19:25:00.000-08:002009-11-09T19:36:48.818-08:00"Be kind to cvil Servant Month"Well, we’ve survived another local election. I take my hat off to all the candidates, winners and losers. It takes a lot of guts to put yourself on the line and have your neighbors approve of you.<br /><br /> To celebrate the end of a another political season, I want to propose that the rest of this month be declared as: “Be kind to a civil servant month !” Everyone else has their month, and as far as know civil servants have been left out, so why not.<br /><br /> I also propose that we include paid government staffs in this proclamation. Be they city, county, state or federal. This later group has taken a lot of shots lately, they have been accused of everything from not teaching Johnny to read, to cheating on their golf scores. <br /><br /> To be fair and honest, improprieties by public servants do surface from time to time. However, a large part usually can be laid on understaffing or untrained personnel or uninformed elected officials. But, on the balance, these civil servants are guilty of far less infractions that their fellow citizens in the private sector.<br /><br /> One example of some of the good they do for society is while on the public payroll, they have made some important technological breakthrough. Just a few of those inventions or systems are:<br /><br /><em><em>• The CATscam. which enables doctors to diagnose cancer, brain disorders, and other diseases;<br />• Plastic wrap, used in covering food at stores and a home;<br /><br />• Teflon, the non-stick coating found on many home cooking utensils;<br /><br />• Plastic corneas, which have given eyesight back to thousands of people suffering from disease affecting their eyes;<br /><br />• Solid state technology, which has brought us transistor radios and miniature TVs;<br /><br />• Titanim, and other new, stronger, light metals;<br /><br />• Advanced fishing nets, which allow fishermen to increase their catches by 30 percent;<br /><br />• Lasers, which are being used for many varied things in medical science and etc.;<br />• The first computer;<br /><br />• Power from nuclear fission’s;<br /><br />• Many designs of commercial and military aircraft;Instrument landing systems used by airports all over the world.</em></em><br /><br /> Inventiveness by American’s public servants has helped to make our nation a world leader in industry, the military and agriculture.<br /><br /> So remember, the next time you criticize a DMV clerk or a receptionist at city hall, hold your tongue. He or she might be working on a cure for the common cold.<br /><br /> Therefore, by the power invested in me (by being a member of the fourth estate). I hereby proclaim the rest of this month as: “BE KIND TO A CIVIL SERVANT MONTH!”Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-47067364701336043182009-10-25T19:15:00.000-07:002009-10-25T19:21:07.138-07:00Raffling MulesCurtis & Leroy saw an ad in the Starkville Daily News Newspaper in Starkville, MS. and bought a mule for $100.<br /><br />The farmer agreed to deliver the mule the next day. The next morning the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry, fellows, I have some bad news, the mule died last night".<br /><br />Curtis &Leroy replied, "Well, then just give us our money back. "The farmer said, "Can't do that. I went and spent it already."<br /><br />They said, "OK then, just bring us the dead mule. "The farmer asked, "What in the world ya'll gonna do with a dead mule?"<br /><br />Curtis said, "We gonna raffle him off. "The farmer said, "You can't raffle off a dead mule!"Leroy said, "We shore can! Heck, we don't hafta tell nobody he's dead!"<br /><br />A couple of weeks later, the farmer ran into Curtis &Leroy at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store and asked.<br /><br />"What'd you fellers ever do with that dead mule?" They said, "We raffled him off like we said we wuz gonna do."Leroy said,"Shucks, we sold 500 tickets fer two dollars apiece and made a profit of $898.<br /><br />"The farmer said,"My Lord, didn't anyone complain?" Curtis said, "Well, the feller who won got upset. So we gave him his two dollars back."<br /><br />Curtis and Leroy now work for the government.They're overseeing the Bailout Program.<br /><br /><strong>Limit all US politicians to two terms.<br />One in office<br />One in prison<br />Illinois already does this! </strong>Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-16719192962609687872009-10-22T13:40:00.000-07:002009-10-22T13:45:14.847-07:00Sleepless in YucaipaMy neighbor Frederick and I share more than just a back fence. Both of us are free with advice to each other, and I have to admit that my advice is usually better. However, every once in a while he comes up with something worth passing on to my readers.<br /><br />It all started last week when he was relating to me how he and his wife were in the habit of clipping interesting articles from the Daily Planet and taping them on their shared bathroom mirror.<br /><br />He told me that with the best of intention, he happened to post this jewel from ‘Dear Abby” or someone, which ended with “Most wives don’t look like Sharon Stone, so make the best of what you have . . . flirt with him like you suspect his secretary does . . . he’ll love it! -- Happy in Little Rock.”<br /><br />Frederick said nothing happen for days and then one morning he found a clipping taped on the mirror that read: “My husband raises the dead with his snoring. I’ve read that heavy snorers can endanger their health. Will anything stop this constant sleep noise? -- Separate Rooms in Tulsa.”<br /><br />I knew Frederick needed help, so I could hardly wait to tell him about this doctor I saw on Oprah that dealt with this very problem. The doctor pointed out that there are generally no ill effects from snoring. Unless you are suffering from sleep apnea, a condition in which sleepers can stop breathing for as long as two minutes.<br /><br />Indirect effects are another matter said the doctor. He cited this guy who came home late from a Moose Lodge meeting. he was slightly intoxicated and managed to get undressed and into bed without waking his wife. Later his snoring woke her up, she smelled booze on his breath and hit him with a flower pot. The doctor said this was one example of indirect effect.<br /><br />The doctor went on to say that more than 400 anti-snoring devices have been patented -- everything from gags to nose straps. Hypnotism, acupuncture and magic spells have been tried. He said the Japanese have perfected the most successful surgery -- its called Uvulopalaopasty, and its very expensive. But, the doctors said, if you can’t afford the surgery there is hope because everyone snores, actors, politicians, the rich and the poor. Some of the more famous snorers are Winston Churchill and Jessie Jackson.<br /><br />Two days later I asked Frederick if any of my information helped his cause. He told me that he pointed out to his wife that he was in a good crowd of snorers. Even Former President Bill Clinton snored and Hillary never made him sleep in the Oval Office. She commended back to him that Hillary had to handle her own problems.<br /><br />Later Frederick said they went to bed, his wife fell asleep immediately and he finally dozed off trying not to snore. The next morning she was gone, her blanket was gone, and he was nearly frozen. He later found a note taped on his side of the mirror that said. “Laugh and the world laughs with you. Snore and you sleep alone.”Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-72856802264377723242009-09-07T09:43:00.000-07:002009-09-07T09:48:28.952-07:00Pets have a tendency to ‘Hog’ all the attentionModern life is full of stress and everyone needs at least one pet they can call their own. Personally I used to have a fat old cocker spaniel named ‘Fergie’ that kept me going for years. I also remember back in the 1980’s when it was very fashionable to own an unusual or exotic pet. First it was pet rocks, then couch potatoes, and not surprising pet pigs.<br /><br />Not the barnyard variety of pigs that are full of steroids and pig pellets, but smart, table mannered miniature porkers that one enterprising Orange County pig breeder was reported to be selling for as much as $2,000 each.<br /><br />Pet miniature pigs were so popular that one was even featured in a major magazine. It was reported that this pig (Sir Francis Bacon by name), was so intelligent that he would put most newspaper editors to shame. Admittedly having known many newspaper editors, I’m not overly impressed by that ability.<br /><br />Anyway, it was reported that Sir Francis was not only housebroken and slept at the foot of his master’s bed, but he also had his favorite TV shows, and was even a Los Angeles Laker fan. Personally I can understand this fondness for pigs. Remember the great film about a cute little piglet named ‘Babe’ who gave an Oscar winning performance.<br /><br />Growing up on an Oklahoma dry-land farm, we always raised a lot of pigs. If fact some of my earliest memories are of pigs. My Grandfather could always forecast the weather by watching how pigs wallow in a mud-hole, and I had the distinction of being one of the pioneers of modifying pig behavior patterns.<br /><br />It happened this way: All pigs like to scratch. In fact if you don’t keep an eye on them they’ll scratch themselves right out of the pig pen. Also pigs scratch because they have pig lice. My brother Dillon Jean and I discovered this when we were boys. The more they scratch, the more the lean, and if anything leans far enough, it will fall over.<br /><br />Dillon Jean and I tested this clinical principle out by scratching one fat old sow with a broken hoe handle. Our subject reacted as we had anticipated. She began to lean . . . it felt wonderful, the pig lice scurried under her bristles to safety and she grunted with relief. Encouraged I scratch harder until, heaving a blissful sigh, down she went.<br /><br />Pleased with the result, we scratched another, then another, until every pig in the pen was lying down. If one started to get up, one of us flew over with the hoe and scratched him a little, and down he would flop. Being active little devils, we could keep a herd of pigs supine for any length of time. To us, there was no greater sense of power than seeing eight or nine pigs stretched out flat. Scratching pigs was so much fun that it soon became a daily routine.<br /><br />This sport would probably have gone on indefinitely had not my great-aunt Lil found some pig lice in Dillon Jean’s hair. This resulted in a family crisis and both of us being treated with coal oil soap. After that, the magic of playing with pigs faded for us.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-29458045322524822122009-08-23T08:57:00.000-07:002009-08-23T14:13:48.587-07:00Peace and Hominy Grits to everyone!And as a result of my recent visit back home to Maude, Oklahoma, I was reminded that there is an indeterminate geographic “grits line” somewhere South of the Kansas-Oklahoma state border. North of it when your order breakfast, you usually get hash browns. But south of the ‘grits line” when you order breakfast it comes with grits whether you like them or not.<br /><br /> Hominy grits have been around for a long time. Most adult males of a certain age know all about grits. That’s because they were exposed to them while in the service. Most Army bases used to be located in the South, so if you went off post and had breakfast, you had grits.<br /><br /> Grits don’t have much nutritional value, they aren’t much to look at, and they don’t have a lot of taste. But they do go down smooth and fill an empty morning stomach with a broad, comfortable blandness. Ham and eggs with a side of grits could possible hold the key to eternal happiness.<br /><br /> For the those readers who have never benefited from being exposed to grits a little education could be helpful. Grits start as hard shelled corn. It requires a boiling bath in a mixture of water and lye to eat away or separate the indigestible hull of each kernel before it is ever considered for human consumption. Rinsed many time to remove the lye, the grain is then cooked for several hours until the whole kernels are soft, making hominy, or dried and ground to a consistency just short of the fineness of cornmeal, making “raw” grits. At this stage, the substance is portable and its preparation is so easy and fast that it has to be the forerunner of “fast food”: you just add water, salt to taste and boil until done. The finished product look a lot like ‘Cream of Wheat’ breakfast cereal.<br /><br /> You either love grits or hate them. There is not middle ground. One of the benefits of eating grits (According to a rumor going around in the late 1940’s) was that they sopped up any radiation your body might have accumulated. <br /><br /> My mother had five sisters. They all lived fairly close when I was growing up and the six were pretty much divided down the middle on the use of homemade grits or store bought grits. Thank God, my mother was on the store bought side and the grits we ate at home were always consistent in taste and texture.<br /><br /> Aunt Mary Sue on the other hand went all out for homemade grits. In her backyard she had a ten gallon iron pot to boil her grits in. It would sit on three rocks with a fire under it. My cousin Joel Don was in charge of keeping the fire going and keeping the mess stirred up. He always tried to be sick or something when Aunt Mary Sue made grits. He would spend the whole day carrying water and emptying out the iron pot. Joel Don claimed making grits was worst than wash day, but I didn’t believe it. Aunt Mary Sue’s grits were not popular with my brother and I because they were always lumpy and had a acrid aftertaste of lye and ash. <br /><br /> Over the years I have lost my taste for grits and nowadays I can take them or leave them. However, whenever I do have them, it’s like a stroll down memory lane.Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285611045119510608.post-22675682351815491572009-08-18T09:57:00.000-07:002009-08-18T10:06:51.536-07:00Is It Made In The USA?Check this out. The Biiar Patch received this interesting tidbit the other day from a Kiwanis buddy. We think it says a lot about what is happening to the economy. <br /><br />"A friend of mine was in Lowes the other day and just for the heck of it she was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China . The next day she was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it she checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA"<br /><br /><strong>So start looking.</strong><br /><br />"In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her! My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now.. I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything."<br /><br />"This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, "Everyday Value.." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio."<br /><br />"So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here. So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets....yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada . The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price! My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - shopping may take just a little longer, but the job you save may be your own, a family member's or your neighbors.If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies! (We should have awakened a decade ago...) Let's get with the program... Help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U.S.A."<br /><br /><br />"And when you go to check out at the grocery store… or any store for that matter… do not use the auto check out… go through the line using a live, standing there cashier. You will be saving someone a job. We need to think of these things… you never know… the job you save may be yours, your son or daughter’s or a relative."Burrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949049999057071405noreply@blogger.com1