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What I Heard This Week! 10-21-2021

What I Heard This Week October 20, 2021

Hooters has decided, after quite an uprising from employees, that employees can now choose from their traditional uniforms or the new updated uniforms that have shorter bikini-style shorts that are too revealing, uncomfortable, and cause a perpetual wedgie. Hmmm. Such a tough decision. There are so many benefits to being older and wiser. And sensible, knowledgeable, responsible, reasonable, practical, level-headed, and sober.

Kanye West has now officially changed his name to Ye. No middle name, no last name, just Ye. I thought that was what you call someone when you cannot remember their real name. Ok, maybe that is Yo. You know, “Yo, buddy.” One person noted that he can now be Ye Olde West. Giggle. Yo might be a man with a troubled mind. He says the change is for a personal reason. Mel Brooks is finally making History of the World, Part II. He says, “I can’t wait to once more tell the real truth about all the phony baloney stories the world has been conned into believing are HISTORY!” Robert Durst, the millionaire convicted of murder, is on a ventilator with Covid. McDonald’s is facing two more hot coffee spill lawsuits, both at drive-thru windows at separate locations in San Antonio. The Coast Guard rescued five people from a 20-foot-long sinking boat close to the mouth of the Brazos River. They were able to tow the sinking boat to a marina in Freeport. In Waller County, 21 people survived a fiery plane crash during take-off. They are calling it miracle on the runway. Everyone was heading to Boston for Game 4 between Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox. (Astros 9 – Boston 2, series tied, I watched the condensed version on FilmRoom, and it was more like the final moments of a great basketball game.)

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.  Oprah Winfrey

A woman staying at an Airbnb found a receipt for over $1000 worth of surveillance technology under the bed. She posted a video on social media and well, the rest is history. Hosts are supposed to disclose all security cameras and other recording devices in their listings. And actually, it was not even the same house as what was advertised in the listing’s pictures, along with roaches in the kitchen. I would need more information in order to form an opinion on this one.

I loved this. A dog owner says that she dyes her Labrador’s tail different rainbow colors because, as a service dog, it makes her distinguishable from most other dogs of her breed, and less of a target by dog thieves. Labrador retrievers are among the top ten most stolen breeds, with dogs with this type of training bringing as much as $2,000 when sold. The owner also noted, “Service dogs are also one of the most sought out dogs to steal because of how well trained they are.” Teller the Wonder Dog agrees.

After shopping I returned to my car to find I only had 23 pounds of air in one tire. It was 5:30 on Saturday afternoon, so I ran over to Discount Tire thinking that they would be open until 6. Nope. So, I ran next door to Midas just to ask them if there was something I could pick up at an auto parts store just to temporarily save the tire until Monday, when I could get to Brazosport Tire. Those sweet Midas guys plugged the tire for me and did not charge a thing. Thank you to T.J., Kevin, Jason, Deandre, and George. They went above and beyond for a late Saturday afternoon stranger. If you need anything done, head on over to Midas at the Brazos Mall. They are great. Then on Tuesday, at my appointment with David Novosad at Brazosport Tire, his guys were able to save the tire and did not charge me. I don’t care what you say, small town is the best. And if you are looking for new tires, call David. 979-265-7434. Those guys are just the best. They also do brakes.

RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Artist Peter Max is 84. Actor John Lithgow is 76. Singer Jeannie C. Riley is 76. Harper Valley PTA. Singer Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers is 73. Rapper Snoop Dogg is 50. Actor Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners is 97. Trixie Norton. Paul Butterfield Blues Band. TV judge Judy Sheindlin is 79. Actor Christopher Lloyd is 83. Doc Brown in Back to the Future. Actor-dancer Ben Vereen is 75. Singer-actor-talk show host Marie Osmond is 62.

Author Anne Rice is 80. Country singer Dwight Yoakam is 65. Singer “Weird Al” Yankovic is 62. Country singer Leroy Van Dyke is 92. Walk on By. Actor Lori Saunders of Petticoat Junction is 80. Actor Susan Sarandon is 75. Singer David Lee Roth of Van Halen is 67. Country singer Tanya Tucker is 63. Country singer Gene Watson is 78. Singer Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates is 75. Singer Sam Moore of Sam and Dave is 86. News host Chris Wallace is 74. Actor-singer Susan Anton is 71. Actor Catherine Deneuve is 78.

Actor Hugh Jackman is 53. Child actor Adam Rich of Eight Is Enough is 53. Musician Paul Simon is 80. Country singer Lacy J. Dalton is 75. Actor Demond Wilson of Sanford and Son is 75. Singer Sammy Hagar is 74. Model Beverly Johnson is 69. Actor Linda Lavin of Alice is 84. Musician Richard Carpenter of The Carpenters is 75. Singer Tito Jackson is 68. TV chef Emeril Lagasse is 62. Actor Angela Lansbury is 96.

Betty Lynn, the actress that played Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show, died at 95. She reprised the role of Thelma Lou 20 years later in the made-for-TV movie Return to Mayberry, in which she and Barney finally got married. She served as an ambassador at the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, NC, where she made her home, making regular appearances to sign autographs and speak with fans. Such a simpler time.

Colin Powell, a retired Four-Star General, White House National Security Advisor, Secretary of State to George W. Bush, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died from complications from Covid at age 84. He was fighting multiple myeloma, so he had a very weakened immune system, in addition to Parkinson’s. Despite full vaccination, his body was unable to produce enough antibodies to fight off Covid. Please get vaccinated.

There is no end to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit. Colin Powell

If you are taking a deep breath right now, thinking that hurricane season is past us, stop. August, September, and October are considered the busiest 3-month period of hurricane season and now we have to worry about the arrival of La Niña. Yes, La Niña conditions are present again for the second winter in a row, which seems to make it more desirable for hurricanes, but according to the National Weather Service, no new tropical cyclones are expected in the next five days. They will not ever use the Greek alphabet again to name storms because it was too confusing last year when they ran out of names. The only name left this year is Wanda, then they go to a new list.

I pulled out my 2021 Farmer’s Almanac from its safe-space and turned to the Texas column. Nothing much expected after October. It says that our first average frost is expected around December 20 and the last average frost around February 8th. Hmmm. Wait just a minute. What about the Great Texas Freeze of 2021 that happened during Valentine’s week last year? You remember! It brought snow, sleet, and freezing rain to Southeast Texas, and extreme cold temperatures that lasted for days. This was one of the most impactful winter events in recent history that brought road closures, power outages, loss of heat, broken pipes, all huge impacts for our area, the state of Texas, and most of the country. Let’s hope that does not happen again…

Friendship is so weird… you just pick a human you’ve met and you’re like “Yep, I like this one” and you just do stuff with them. Unknown

The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs. Charles de Gaulle

For the past several months, we have all heard rumors that movie star Matthew McConaughey has been thinking about running for the governor of Texas. Now, I’m not too sure what to think of this. He seems to be just a really normal, down-to-Earth, likeable, and approachable guy. Even when he is playing the bongo drums naked. I would care to say, especially when he is playing the bongo drums naked. I enjoyed his book, but governor of Texas. Hmmm. Actually, as I write this, I can think of several hundred less positive things that could happen. McConaughey was born in Uvalde, graduated from Longview High School and UT, and now lives in Austin. He is a current professor of communications at UT and minister of culture. He was a part of a group of investors that provided funding for a basketball and multipurpose arena at UT. He is a co-owner of Austin’s first Major League Soccer team, Austin FC. His “We’re Texas” virtual concert raised more than $7 million in a matter of hours after the deadly freeze in February, prompting the Texas Monthly headline “Matthew McConaughey and Beyoncé Did More for Texas Than Ted Cruz.”  The filing deadline for the March 1 primary is Dec. 13. In a poll last month by the Dallas Morning News/UT at Tyler, 44% of voters favored McConaughey, 35% favored incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, and the rest would choose another candidate. But it is unclear what party McConaughey would join. Democrat Beto O’Rourke of El Paso, former congressman and candidate for president and Senate, is also investigating a campaign for governor.

Three dogs have been stranded for a month in an abandoned yard covered with volcanic ash on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. The volcano continues spewing lava, so emergency authorities have been dropping food and trying to figure out how to rescue the dogs because helicopters are banned from flying to the area. The hot gas can damage the rotors. They have decided to go in with a 100-pound remote-controlled drone and will have just four minutes to encourage a dog over to the containment net and another four minutes to fly it out over the lava. Three times. What great people.

OK, last week, because it is Breast Cancer Month, I shared my story about my own breast cancer in 2003. Now that you have that information, what will you do with it? I cried a little when I wrote it because it is not something that I dwell on often. After this many years, it still hurts, but believe me, IT IS NOT THE WORSE THING that ever happened to me. Just another bump in the road of life.

What I did not tell you was to get your mammogram, so I will tell you now. Get your mammogram. Encourage others to do the same. When you go, always ask for copies of your reports and YOU compare them with the previous year. Doctors are super busy people. Bottom line is that you really need to make yourself somewhat responsible for your health care. When I was diagnosed in 2003, there were eight ladies working in my office. Three of those eight women found something on their past or present reports that someone had not mentioned or found important, or they received their new mammogram and actually had a questionable situation. This resulted in one biopsy, one ultrasound, and one woman was put on special watch for several months. Just from my office alone.

If you know someone going through any kind of cancer treatment, then remember to drop them a card in the mail, a funny joke, a funny meme or text, a cupcake, dinner, a pretty pin, or a box of chocolates – just something/anything to let them know that you are thinking about them. Let them know that you are praying for them when you sit waiting for the light to turn green. I received something on the day that I needed it most

On a more humorous note, I found out there are several men in town that really, really like bald women. I heard, “Haven’t you ever seen Star Trek? She’s a babe.” “Bald is so sexy.”  “There is nothing wrong with bald.”  Their visits brought me so much joy. If they were lying, they were certainly able to put a big grin on my face. Success. I loved it. Your secret is safe with me.

Lisa

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What I Heard This Week! 10-14-2021

What I Heard This Week October 13, 2021

Well, it is now October and that, according to all the advertisements, means it is Breast Cancer Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of an awful disease. So, instead of telling you to schedule your mammogram, or encouraging you to inspire someone you love or even like quite a bit, to get their mammogram, or even wearing a pink ribbon on my lapel, I am going to tell you a story. I have shared pieces of this story many times in church or other places, but I will take a chance, repeat it again, and hope that it is something you needed to hear.
        It was 2003. I was a 48-year-old mother to two beautiful children, wife, business owner, and friend of so many special people. I had been an officer or committee member in more organizations than I can remember, and one of many volunteers that always say yes. It is safe to say that I dabbled in much. I gardened. I read books. I helped at the school. There was even an occasional lunch out with a friend. It seemed like a perfect life. I was so blessed to have my children here with me each day at the office so I could raise them myself. It felt like I had achieved most everything I could have wanted or needed.

August 2003: It was my regular yearly checkup, and I was told that I could wait a year for my mammogram, but I had already scheduled and marked it on the calendar, so I kept the appointment. Good job.

September 2003: This first mammogram showed areas of concern, so I was scheduled for another mammogram in one month.

October 2003: At the second mammogram appointment, the radiologist explained that the new films were showing a few more areas of calcification when he compared them with my mammogram film from the previous year. He suggested I visit a facility in Houston for something called a stereo-tactic biopsy. No sweat, in the past I had several biopsies, including one the day before I left with friends to hike in the mountains of Arkansas. I was tough, so it was no big deal.

November 2003: I did quite a bit of studying about stereo-tactic biopsies. The way I understood that it worked in 2003, was they would ‘shoot’ you with a little stereo-tactic GUN (obviously named by a man) that traveled 123 MPH…with a tiny little needle, an even smaller spoon at the tip, and a little bit of suction. The little spoon would travel straight to the biopsy location, scoop, then suck up the questionable area to be evaluated. The whole time I was attached to a mammogram machine (that should make you wince right there) and the technicians were taking pictures from many different angles. Oh, yes. That is where the word stereo comes in. They could also leave a little titanium disk at the biopsy site so doctors would know exactly where the biopsy had been taken from.
        During one of these many x-rays (I quit counting at 34), they found an area that had not shown up on my previous mammograms done in LJ. The technician explained what he had seen and suggested that perhaps he could go ahead and biopsy the suspicious area while he was already in there. Uhh! Yes! What was supposed to have been a 45-minute procedure had already taken over 2-1/2 hours. I am typically not a complainer, but this was NOT a FUN TIME. I very nicely explained to them that they were more than welcome to do whatever they wanted to do at THIS visit, because I was NEVER coming back. EVER.
        Additional note: the biopsy area that I had been sent for turned out to be nothing, but the area that they found on that day and biopsied, had a little more story to it. If they had not found it on that day, it would have been one more year down the road before it was discovered. For this, I am so thankful.

December 2003: Days passed very slowly, and the biopsy report took several weeks to come in. Bless their hearts. I drove my sweet doctor crazy, popping in just to say hello… and by the way, “Have you seen my report yet?” On the day that they finally took me back to a room, my doctor came in, put his hand on my shoulder and said that he was so sorry. In my heart, I already knew, but I did not cry or ask why… I just knew that I needed to get to work and find the best care for this situation. Everything else would take care of itself. M.D. Anderson. If people come from all over the world to see them, why wouldn’t I drive one hour? It was settled and I started my phone calls.
        MDA set up my first consultation appointment the latter part of February 2004, two months away. That was too long to wait. Months had already passed since I started this journey. The MDA liaison assigned to me was so very patient when I called EVERY single day to try and get in earlier. On one particularly stressful day, I left a message saying, “This is Lisa Baker, and this is my patient number. I cannot wait for 2 months to have my first appointment. I have a 4-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son, and I plan on being here for their graduations. What exactly are your ‘begging procedures’? I will follow all your rules, but I need to know exactly where I am supposed to be to start begging? What length of time do I need to beg, and how do I begin? I am a rule follower and if I’m going to beg, I want to do it properly.” I left this same message several times before Jesse called me back. He was such a joy to work with, kind, compassionate, and so, together we talked until a solution was found. The head of the melanoma department had agreed to do my surgery because he hated to see patients wait. My surgery was scheduled for January 23, 2004, a whole month ahead of the original schedule. Squeaky wheels. Things were looking up. For this, I am so thankful. I went by to see Jesse after my first appointment, and he explained to me that I was the first person to ever come by and say thank-you.

Surgery: Up until surgery time, MDA continued to do their part to educate me about lumpectomies and radiation. Their job is to make you feel that you have all the information you need, so you think you have input and have made some decisions on your own. Nursing my babies was absolutely one of the proudest moments of my life, but it was now time for the next stage. I would have been a nervous wreck waiting each year for the next mammogram, so after much thought and studying, I opted for bi-lateral or double mastectomies with reconstruction, something I have never once regretted. Do I miss them? Of course. I would be lying to you if I said I did not. But, at every hospital visit preparing for surgery (and there were plenty) I always seemed to sit next to one more patient with a story to tell, and a purpose that I needed to hear. For each one of those individuals, I am so thankful.

Chemotherapy: I am a pretty positive person, or at least I was in 2004. 😊 I was so positive, that I had convinced myself that I would not need chemo. I was going to be the very first person to have breast cancer and no chemo. I kept putting off my oncologist. I read and asked questions, made charts, anything to delay the start of that evil chemotherapy, praying that the doctor would change her mind. They threatened to start charging me by the minute. Several visits later, they told me that I MUST decide. Aaugh. I just wanted my life back. The life I thought I deserved.
        Chemotherapy was not fun. I had long blond hair, so I cut it short and told the kids that it was JUST hair. No big deal! I bought two wigs. I explained to my children’s classmates that the doctors were going to give me some medicine that would make my hair fall out and when it happened, they could rub the top of my head and it would bring them good luck. I was sad but not emotional. My fabulous office family gave me a hat party. They even included a black baseball cap with pearls, to match my go-to outfits. The day after the final whisps of hair left me, I walked into my office and told my co-workers that they needed to get used to seeing me without a hat, or a wig, or a scarf. Who was I trying to fool? Everyone in town knew I was bald. The treatments continued and I was so lucky that I only missed one day when I was too sick to go to work. A friend had told me that I could feel bad anywhere, so to go ahead and do everything that I would normally do, when I could. I took this as a challenge. When Gage told me that I had chemo face, I used more self-tanning cream, my go-to solution for everything. If one application didn’t do it, then I lathered on one more. I had the most amazing group of friends that sent hundreds of cards, baskets of delicious foods, coloring books with freshly sharpened colored pencils, flowers, and so much more. I took it upon myself to have chemo presents waiting for my kids, wrapped and on the breakfast table, every chemo day. Wow. They looked forward to the next chemo gift, but not as much as I did… there was a cookie cutter made from a xerox copy of their own handprint etched with their name and age on the inside, a pillowcase with their name on it that said, Gage and Anne-Elisabeth, I Love You, Mommy. Little satin comfort pillows that they used for years, and that we continue to own. Just little things that I could look forward to giving to them, so I didn’t dread the next treatment. Because food and liquids really don’t have any taste when you are undergoing treatment, we went to Goode Seafood to eat delicious campechana. Juicy tomatoes, grilled chiles, olives, avocados, and seafood. I am very thankful for friends, self-tanning cream, chemo gifts, and campechana.

Progress: I continued to tell myself “I have breast cancer, but breast cancer doesn’t have me.” “Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” I imagined Pac-Man (one of my favorite games) was chomping through my veins, eating up all the cancer. Don’t Stop Believing by Journey was my humming song, and I sang aloud, “Every little cell in my body is happy, every little cell in my body is well. I’m so happy, it’s so swell. Every little cell is happy and well.” I drank beet juice from a crystal wine glass because I knew it was good to cleanse my organs, but it tasted better in a pretty glass.
        I just wanted life to be as normal as it could be. I know there is a plan for my life, but I also believe that God figured I was far more valuable to Him here, than any other place. I continue to believe that and work hard to keep Him convinced that He made a good bet on me..

EPILOGUE: (ha-ha) So, what am I telling you? Well, I am not going to try and persuade you to beg your mother, your sister, your aunt, your neighbor, or best friend to get in for an exam. Men have breast cancer too, but go ahead and look the other direction if you want. Someone will bring up the subject at Thanksgiving. Nope, I am not going to drag you into any conversations about mammograms. All I will tell you is that because of that one mammogram, I am here now to see my kids get older. It is such a short season raising children, and my heart is always in my throat now because I am just not finished yet. It is different now with them both back at college, like being on the sidelines watching the players in a football game. I live for face-time calls, letting me know that they still might need me on occasion for advice, a recipe, the weather, to proof homework, or to just fill me in on the million things that happened in their day. I get to watch new adult discipline as it kicks into gear, and I always learn something surprising and magical about each of them, every single day. I so appreciate the smallest of opportunities, like cooking a favorite meal, shopping for wool socks, sharing a TV show, splitting a beer, or meeting Anne-Elisabeth half-way to drop off something she needs, even though I know she just wants to see the dog… I am so happy to be here to watch them become adults and responsible people.
        But sometimes I am selfish and think only of myself. In the mornings, I take my cup of coffee to the back porch and watch hummingbirds and butterflies fight for nectar. I plant flowers, vegetables, and trees. I get dirty. I walk the dog and play ball with the dog. Sometimes late at night, he and I sit on the front porch together in complete silence. There is so much joy in life. So, my dear friends, these are just a few of the absolute best things in the world, and all credit goes to that one mammogram. Now, get busy and make some good choices. You know what you need to do.

Thanks for reading us this week. If you want a cling-on pink breast cancer ribbon for a window or glass door, call our office. I will give you one. Please note that they are too big for a car window. LISA

“I don’t want to be known as the oldest guy in space. I’m bloody Captain Kirk!” William Shatner exclaimed. Then he stammered in a faux-panicky voice: “Captain Kirk, going where no man … I’m going what? Where am I going?” He confessed, “I’m Captain Kirk and I’m terrified.”  WAY TO GO SHATNER! You absolutely, positively, inspired us.

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What I Heard This Week! 10-07-2021

What I Heard This Week October 6, 2021

This column might be a little shorter this week. In the past, I told you that the dog ate my column, but Teller the Wonder Dog would never consume something like that unless it had small (or large) food remnants attached to it and was stuffed in the trash can. This week it was black sesame seeds from a broccoli dish I made. Black sesame seeds everywhere. I thought I had bugs of some kind for just a little bit. You can take the free-roaming, dumpster diving stray dog out of downtown, but you cannot take the downtown, stray attitude out of the dog. He just loves anything and everything that I put in the trash. The truth is, this is my income tax time, and I didn’t want my wonderful female accounting team to divorce me this year, so I took all my income tax containers home, spread it out on the kitchen table and put aluminum foil on top of all my piles when I left so the cats wouldn’t bother it (cats are not supposed to like aluminum foil.) News alert. It does not work. They napped on the foil and looked at me, as if to say, thanks for the new blanket. I turned in everything to the accountant the night before you get to read this column. I mentioned to my neighbor that the column would be shorter this week, and she rejoiced, suggesting that we can just make it look bigger by changing the size of the text so it will be easier to read. So, when I got to the office, Connie & Tina also suggested that it would be easier to read. So, here it is. A little less information but bigger. Don’t get used to it. On a normal day, I have much to say.

My favorite uncle shared this with me. Perhaps you have seen it before, but I am going to share it with you. Many of you may relate. For those that do not, you should be able to do so in just a few years, but only if you are lucky…
     I am a Sen-ager aka a Senior Teenager. I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I am paid an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license and my own car. The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant and I don’t have acne. Life is great. But there have been some big changes.
     Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers. I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out of the way much faster now. I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row. I decided to stop calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.
     Old age is coming at a really bad time. When I was a child, I thought nap time was a punishment. Now it feels like a small vacation. The biggest lie I tell myself is, I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it. Hah. I don’t have grey hair… I have wisdom highlights! I’m just very wise. If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would have put them on my knees. Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven’t met yet. Of course, I talk to myself. Sometimes I need expert advice. At my age getting lucky means walking into a room and remembering why I went in there. I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can’t remember their names.
     Now I’m wondering: did I give this to you, or did you give it to me? Love, Mac

The auto industry is not doing so well. Carmakers worldwide are so frustrated by the microchip shortage. The shortage of these parts will lead automakers to build 7.7 million fewer vehicles globally than planned. In May, they thought the shortage would be 3.9 million vehicles. Quite a difference. Chips are just one disruption we face. There is resin, steel, and labor shortages. Guess I will be keeping my car. OK. What about the other shortages? Truckers are getting big pay hikes, but there’s still a shortage of drivers. It is a great time to be a truck driver. Again, Costco is limiting how much toilet paper you can buy. Other possible shortages include canned goods, turkeys for Thanksgiving, chicken, pet food, Lunchables, and bottled water. Labor shortages, supply-chain issues…simply not enough people to make the goods, move the goods, and sell the goods. If buyers don’t panic and continue to buy just what they need instead of panic-buying, we will be ok. But we all know that will not happen.

Why the brightly colored balls along power lines? I had actually never thought about it. They weigh about 17 pounds each, come in yellow, orange, white or red, and are sometimes required by the Federal Aviation Administration, especially near airports. So, those balls are there for the safety of flying aircraft and to protect the electrical infrastructure. I remember seeing so many around the Grand Canyon area.

Time spent with cats is never wasted. Sigmund Freud

Forty-one cats were found packed, along with furniture and boxes, into the back of a U-Haul as the owners moved from Florida to Idaho. The truck did not have ventilation of any kind. Washington Prime Group, a major mall owner of more than 100 locations across the United States, filed for bankruptcy, citing pandemic-related shutdowns. The volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma has intensified. A U.S. passenger on a flight from Colombia used an emergency exit and walked out onto the wing of the plane at the Miami International Airport just after the plane landed, claiming he was in danger. Hmmm. Yes, I would say at this point, he is in danger. United Airlines says that only 232 employees face termination after its Sept. 27th Covid vaccine deadline mandate for all 67,000 workers. In an Ecuadorian prison riot, at least 116 people were killed and 80 were injured, including (yikes) dismemberment and five beheadings. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has a stupid idea for the U.S. Postal Service to cut costs. Slower delivery standards. So, when your bill payments don’t arrive on time, please do not blame your local mail carriers or the nice people at the post office. They are doing the absolute best they can do. Bring them cookies. #FireDeJoy

A dad, somewhere, got his undies in a wad about something, and paid his FINAL child support payment with 80,000 pennies, dumping them from a trailer in the street in front of his child’s mailbox. Hmmm. What dads do not understand is that they can be mad at the mother of their child, but do not involve the child. Wrong. The mom and daughter donated the $800 to a domestic abuse shelter.

Have a small piece of candy before bed – a jellybean, tic tac, or something like that. But put a LABEL on your candy jar that says sleeping pills. A study found that the simple act of taking a pill, even if it is a fake one, prompts your brain to relax. On average, you should fall asleep 16 minutes faster, and stay asleep 79 minutes longer. It is the placebo effect, where if you think a pill will make you sleep better, it will, even if it’s a tic tac in disguise. I am not sure who did this study, and I am sure not saying that it doesn’t work, BUT…

So, the newsfeed said something about Your Side Part Makes You Look Old. I didn’t read it, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the little thought worm entered my brain a few times when I combed my hair in the mornings. Google, my sweet friend. The article started out, “If the phrase “the Lawrence Brothers” moves you in some type of way, chances are you part your hair to one side and have an extensive collection of skinny jeans in various shades of indigo and black. These are just facts!” Well, I didn’t have a clue who the Lawrence Brothers were (but I do now), and I have never owned skinny jeans. But I do part my hair on the side, so more information was needed. Upon reading, this information was directed entirely towards people born in the 80’s, not lived in the 80’s. Whew. I haven’t worn my hair parted in the middle since the 70’s. Remember there are so many advantages to being older, if you just look for them.

Thanks for reading us this week and do not forget to schedule your mammogram, or just encourage someone you love to do the same.

LISA

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What I Heard This Week! 09-30-2021

What I Heard This Week September 29, 2021

My sister sent me a text. “When you’re feeling down, just remember there is a flower called Hanging Naked Men. Isn’t nature wonderful!” She attached a picture. She was not kidding. Oh, my gosh. The little flower looks just like, well, hanging naked men. You should probably look it up right now, just so you’ll have something to talk about at dinner this evening. So funny. This orchid comes in all sorts of shapes and, umm…sizes. The Naked Man Orchid is classified as threatened status, perhaps because of its popularity as an anti-diarrheal, anti-flatulent, and aphrodisiac. They’re also used in making the drink Salep (also called Turkish Delight). Because the Naked Man Orchid has a threatened status, it is illegal to export true salep powder from the Mediterranean regions, so put down your credit card.

There is also a plant called Sexy Lips (aka Hooker’s Lips, Hot Lips, Flower Lips). It belongs to a tropical tree found in Central and South America, and the plant apparently changed to look bright and lip-like to attract pollinators. It is beautiful. Another one is the Peter Pepper. I remember my grandma growing these when I was a kid. A few months ago, I ordered some of the seeds. I’ll let you know. But wait, there is more. The Devil’s Hand is native to Mexico where the Ancient Aztecs held it in especially high religious regard and harvested the claw-like flowers for use in treating a variety of conditions. There’s the Parrot Flower and the Bee Orchid and Swaddled Babies. All of these are worth a look, I promise. Nature IS so wonderful!

The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go.

Ten years ago, honky-tonk and country music superstar Alan Jackson was diagnosed with a degenerative nerve condition affecting his ability to walk. (Upon hearing this news, I immediately let my sister know, especially since she has told us numerous times that he will be her next husband. I felt that she should know before the wedding.) Jackson said his late father also had the disease with no cure, as did his paternal grandmother and older sister. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) affects the nerves that control muscles, and is relatively common, affecting an estimated 2.6 million people worldwide. Jackson said that he wanted people to know why he stumbles and loses his balance on stage sometimes, but it hasn’t affected his voice.  “It’s not going to kill me,” Jackson added. “It’s not deadly, but it is related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.” I will mention that he has been married to his high school sweetheart for 41-years. I need to tell my sister.

Hey, remember when you didn’t need coffee to function, and buying jeans didn’t make you cry? Good times.

The Biden administration is to require all companies with 100 or more employees, to ensure their workforces to be inoculated or face being tested weekly. Once the policy is in place, businesses that ignore the policy could face up to $14,000 per violation. It will also be required that all health facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid funding to vaccinate their workforces. All federal employees would be vaccinated without an option for those that prefer to be tested instead, hoping this will create a model that state governments and private companies will adopt. I wish.

Eight-million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year. EVERY year. 121 stranded juvenile sea turtles from Queensland Australia were examined for plastic ingestion. They all were full of plastic. A starving turtle from the Indian Ocean had eaten 343 pieces of plastic. In one turtle. A hundred young turtles washed up dead in Florida and all of them had plastic in their stomachs. What can you do? Ask your favorite restaurant to swap out plastic and Styrofoam take-out containers for paper, then leave the plastic utensils behind, which btw, will wash up nicely in your dishwasher. Once you start washing out your plastics and/or taking them to a recycle center, you will have a difficult time ever putting that plastic into the trash again. We all have to do something starting now.

RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Singer Chubby Checker is 80. He is credited with the popularity of the Twist and the Pony dance style, because of his songs. Singer-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac is 72. Blues singer Keb’ Mo’ is 70. Singer Gwen Stefani is 52. Author Anne Rice is 80. Actor Lori Saunders of Petticoat Junction is 80. Bobbie Jo Bradley. Actor Susan Sarandon is 75. Actor Glynis Johns of Mary Poppins is 98. Mrs. Winifred Banks. Singer Arlene Smith of The Chantels is 80. Singer-guitarist Steve Miller is 78. Astrophysicist and “Cosmos” host Neil deGrasse Tyson is 63.  Actor Britt Ekland is 79.

Author R.L. Stine of Goosebumps is 78. Musician John Mellencamp is 70. Actor Paul Hogan is 82. Actor-comedian Chevy Chase is 78. Actor Sigourney Weaver is 72. Singer Robert “Kool” Bell of Kool and the Gang is 71. Actor Stephanie Zimbalist of Remington Steele is 65. Singer Jackson Browne is 73. Actor John O’Hurley of Seinfeld is 67. Singer Sean Lennon is 46. Country singer Scotty McCreery is 28. He won the 10th season of American Idol in 2011. Actor Jill Larson is 74. Opal Cortlandt on All My Children.

Publicist Bobby Zarem died at 84. In his career, he represented countless stars including Kirk and Michael Douglas, Jack Nicholson, Diana Ross, Michael Caine, Al Pacino, and Mick Jagger, but was best known for the “I Love New York” campaign. In 1978, Donald Trump said Zarem was responsible for every cent he had ever made after Manhattan property values tripled in the six months after the launch of that I ♥ NY campaign.

The Star-Spangled Banner Protection Act went into effect in September. Ten of the 13 Senate Democrats joined all 18 Republicans and voted in favor of the conservative-backed bill which Lt. Governor Dan Patrick named a legislative priority, after the Dallas Mavericks stopped playing the national anthem before games. Hmmm. Something that both Republicans and Democrats agree on. That’s a first. It specifies that teams need to return government funding if they don’t play the song. I guess we will know when pre-season begins. The NBA says every team must play the national anthem in their arenas.

Thank you: Debra for the Monarch and Swallowtail butterfly chrysalis. Later she handed me the butterflies so I could release them. True magical moment. To Julie for being so patient at Office Depot, when my coupon wouldn’t work. To Stacie at Haak Vineyards in Santa Fe, for the donation of a tour for 10. The Brazosport College Scholarship Soiree appreciates you and will put it to good use at the Friday evening fundraiser. Thank you, Amber, for delivering mail to our office door because no one mentioned that there are mailboxes on this street.

The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river. Ross Perot

On what I guess was a less than newsworthy day, I pulled up movies about food. I just love to watch people cook. I had just finished the movie Chef, and I was enthused.  I found this list. Dinner from Frenzy (excellent), Lady and the Tramp, The Art of Food, Tortilla Soup, The Lunchbox, Babette’s Feast, Chef, Tangerines, Eat Drink Man Woman, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Soul Kitchen, Phantom Thread, Tampopo “A Ramen Western”, Ratatouille (I dare you not to like this one), Eat Pray Love, and Big Night with Stanley Tucci rated 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some of these I have seen, some I have not, but I’m going to watch them all again. I would add Chocolat with Juliette Binoche to this movie list even though it’s about chocolate, which is, I guess, is still a food. A very delicious food. The filming is incredible on these movies, and most have subtitles, but as I get older, I seem to like subtitles on anything I’m watching. It means I don’t have to go back if I miss a word or comment.

Speaking of Stanley Tucci, I have been watching his new show, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, an American travel and food show. The series follows Stanley Tucci traveling around Italy uncovering lesser-known places, exploring their culture, cuisine, and history. Italian food is not just Italian food, it all depends on where you are in the country. The history and stories he shares with you are fascinating. The series received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including one for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series, and was renewed for a second season. It is great to watch while you are cooking.

An elderly hospice patient on a stretcher was delivered to the wrong house. It was all captured on a door security camera while the patient can be heard saying, “This is not my house.” A pill for covid. Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that the White House is investing over $3 billion to advance the development of antiviral pills to treat Covid-19 early in the course of infection as well as future virus outbreaks. This has been a neglected area of research. After being incarcerated for 32 years for the death of his roommate, John Tiedjen left the county jail with his fiancée, who also happens to be the sister of the man he was convicted of killing. He has long maintained his innocence and now awaits a new trial. Laci Peterson was a missing person in 2002, which quickly changed to a murder investigation. Then it was discovered that Laci was pregnant when murdered. Until now her husband, Scott Peterson, has been awaiting execution on death row for the crime. Now because of problems with jury selection during his original trial, in November he will receive a new sentence of life imprisonment.

For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage, or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink, or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness. Andy Rooney

What are Disco Fries? Big thick steak cut French fries covered in gooey, melted, mozzarella cheese, then smothered in savory brown gravy. They gained their name in the 1970s for being a favorite of late-night diners, who often came from dancing at disco clubs. But, Cajun Poutine is a dish of French fries and cheese curds topped with a delicious brown gravy. This dish was created in Quebec in the late 1950s. You can tell that I’m hungry this week.

Recently I have been experimenting with salsas, using fresh peaches that my neighbors brought back from Fredericksburg, and fresh mangos.  Then the next day I take the leftover salsa, add boiled shrimp, crab, or both, for campechana, a Mexican shrimp and crab cocktail. It’s just such a light and refreshing meal for hot days. Lime juice, orange juice, red onion, avocado, shrimp, or crab, cilantro, green onions, tomatoes… the list is long on what you can use. My favorite meal in the world, is the campechana from Goode Company Seafood.  They use fresh oregano, Clamato juice and big chunks of crab. So, while rediscovering the sweet taste of mangoes, I was reminded of the beautiful meal that Pat Shell (former BISD Superintendent) brought to our house when my son was born, 25 years ago. She cooked a perfect beef tenderloin, still pink in the middle, asparagus, and mango salad. Lately, I was craving that salad, so I put one together this weekend. I have been looking for her original recipe but haven’t found it. It’s pretty complicated. Mangos, cream cheese, boiling water, and lemon Jell-o. I told you it was complicated. I’ll keep looking for the exact recipe so I can print it next week. And remember, if you are looking for something to celebrate this weekend, it just so happens that it is Fat Bear Week. 😊

LISA

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What I Heard This Week! 09-23-2021

What I Heard This Week September 22, 2021

Well, that was not fun at all. Hurricane Nicholas came upon us pretty fast. It was the 19th named storm to hit the U.S. in the last 17 months, with some winds 95 mph at landfall… causing much damage and rain, just 70 miles from where Harvey came ashore in 2017.  It is interesting as you Google, “when was Harvey?” it says, August 17, 2017, through September 2, 2017. Yikes. Was it really that long? As Nicholas picked up speed, and the rain traveled sideways, water poured into my bedroom patio door. The carpet was soaked, and I went through every beach towel trying to clean it up, but the carpet looks pretty good now that it dried. That night I rolled up the rug and went to sleep. I never did like that carpet. Nicholas headed northeast, hitting communities that were still recovering from Category 4 hurricane Ida and are still without power. Our area was so lucky. We lost power and were not able to put out the paper, but it could have been so much worse. A week later, Wisconsin is still feeling the effects of Nicholas. Many thanks to all the power crews and technicians that worked tirelessly to repair power for more than a half of a million customers. As I sit here at my computer on the National Hurricane Service, I see Tropical Storm Peter, followed by Tropical Storm Rose, along with two other disturbances, churning in the Atlantic. Yikes.

Pfizer announced recent trials suggest that the Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective for kids ages 5 to 11. Warner Media has sold celebrity news and gossip brand TMZ to Fox Corp, for what is believed to be less than $50 million. Ski resorts are now using snow machines to fight fires. Scientists have discovered a terrifying new carnivorous shark-toothed dinosaur measuring nearly 30 feet long. The bone from the upper jaw is believed to be 90-million-years-old, give or take a few years. Storm Nicholas changed our plans and we missed Dairy Bar’s 70th anniversary celebration at LJ Museum. How we love your fabulous burgers and small cups of sherbet. Congratulations, sweet friends. Alfie, a Jersey cat that disappeared in 2009, has just been reunited with his owner, 12 years later. He was well-known for climbing into people’s cars. American Airlines removed several passengers from a flight following a nine-hour delay, because the passengers would not wear masks. As they left, the very patient remaining passengers celebrated with lyrics from a 1969 song. na-na-na-na, hey hey hey, goodbye.  A woman adopted a 20-year-old cat from a shelter because she didn’t want him to spend the end of his life alone in a cage. ☹

Young people seem to understand that we need to make sure that our Earth can continue to be. Warning: If you are old and/or stuck in your ways and beliefs, then you should read past this to the next paragraph. There is a new and more environmentally friendly way to return bodies back to the Earth after death. It is called body composting.  It’s the same process that everyone should be practicing in our backyards with food scraps and yard waste. This is done in an insulated wooden box about 7 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. The box is lined with waterproof roofing material and packed with wood chips and straw. Two large spool wheels on either end allow the box to be rolled across the floor, providing oxygenation, agitation and the absorption required for a body to compost.  After the first three months, the vessel is opened and filtered for medical devices like prosthetics, pacemakers, or joint replacements. Large bones are pulverized and returned to the vessel for another three months of composting. Teeth are removed to prevent contamination from mercury in fillings. After six months, there will be enough soil to fill the bed of a PU truck and family members can keep the soil to spread in their yards. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, means that your body is made of elements of the earth and will return to earth’s basic elements after passing away. In other words, you are made of dust and return to ashes and dust after passing away.  To continue on Earth, we need to change our hearts & minds now.

Four famous giant sequoias called the Four Guardsmen, were not harmed by a wildfire that reached the edge of California’s Sequoia National Park, because of the removal of nearby vegetation and fire-resistant material had been wrapped around the bases of the trees. Fire crews with hoses and water-dropping helicopters also worked to limit damage. They are massive trees.

RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Actor Sophia Loren is 87. Actor David McCallum of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is 88. Singer Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers is 81. Singer Freda Payne is 79. Band of Gold. Actor Jeremy Irons is 73. Actor-model Twiggy Lawson is 72. TV personality Joan Lunden is 71. Country singer Trisha Yearwood is 57. Comedian-talk show host Jimmy Fallon is 47. Singers Gunnar and Matthew Nelson of Nelson are 54. Author-comedian Fanny Flagg is 80. Author Stephen King is 74. Actor Bill Murray is 71. Filmmaker Ethan Coen of the Coen Brothers is 64. I watched Intolerable Cruelty this weekend while I was cooking. Very funny. Country singer Faith Hill is 54. Actor Luke Wilson is 50. Actor Shari Belafonte is 67.

Actor Alfonso Ribeiro of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is 50. Singer Debby Boone is 65. Singer Joan Jett is 63. Opera singer Andrea Bocelli is 63. Actor Scott Baio is 61. Chachi on Happy Days. Actor Heather Locklear is 60. Actor Anson Williams is 72. Potsie on Happy Days. Actor Catherine Oxenberg of Dynasty is 60. Actor Bonnie Hunt is 60. Singer Julio Iglesias is 78. Actor Paul Petersen of The Donna Reed Show (Jeff) is 76. Actor-singer Mary Kay Place is 74. Singer Bruce Springsteen is 72. Actor Jason Alexander of Seinfeld is 62. Singer Sonny Turner of The Platters is 82. Actor Mark Hamill is 70. Newswoman Barbara Walters is 92. Actor Catherine Zeta-Jones is 52. Actor Michael Douglas is 77. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 74.

Paul Williams, composer, singer, songwriter, actor, is 81. Known for writing popular songs performed in the 1970s, including Three Dog Night’s “An Old-Fashioned Love Song” and “Out in the Country“, Helen Reddy’s “You and Me Against the World“, David Bowie’s “Fill Your Heart” and the Carpenters‘ “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Rainy Days and Mondays“. Williams is also known for his musical contributions to films, including the Oscar-nominated song “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie, and writing the lyrics to the #1 chart-topping song “Evergreen“, the love theme from the Barbra Streisand film A Star Is Born, for which he won a Grammy for Song of the Year and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He also wrote lyrics to the opening theme for The Love Boat.

Ron Popeil, pioneer of ‘Wait…There’s More!‘ late-night Ronco infomercials, selling you everything from Mr. Microphone to the Pocket Fisherman to the classic Veg-O-Matic, died in July at age 86. Sorry, I didn’t see it earlier so I could tell you. Actress Jane Powell died at 92. She was in musicals, TV and the Polident commercials. She was also a bridesmaid for Elizabeth Taylor. Actor Norm Macdonald, comedian and former star of Saturday Night Live who manned the Weekend Update desk, died at 61. It was revealed that he’d been battling cancer privately for nine years. Michael Constantine, who’s perhaps best known for his work as the Windex-loving father of the bride in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, died of natural causes at 94. Boardwalk Empire star, Michael K. Williams, died at 54 of a suspected accidental drug overdose. He was a five-time Emmy nominee. Actor, Willie Garson, best known as Carrie Bradshaw’s best male friend on Sex and the City, died at 57.

Who hasn’t heard of a Brazilian butt lift? Personally, I don’t see any real beauty in it, but I don’t think bodybuilders are attractive either. Back to the story. A 26-year-old woman died last year after receiving an illegal butt lift at a private residence in LA. The procedure was performed by a mother and daughter team with no medical training, who have been charged with murder. The woman received three separate procedures, dying immediately after the third. The woman also shared a video of herself during the first operation on social media. Huh? Police said the women were charging $3,500 to $4,500 for the butt lift, compared to $10,000 to $15,000 that a board-certified professional would charge. Hmmm. They mix medical grade silicone with window caulk not intended for use in humans, so when it hits the bloodstream, it attacks the heart, brain, and kidneys.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Oooh. Another weird one. Death related issues are often quite hard to discuss. If the family of a deceased person, and goodness knows we have had plenty of deaths lately, decides to embalm their loved one, what happens to all the blood and body fluids? I’ve never once thought about it. Several Austin area funeral home embalmers say that it is common practice to pour human blood from corpses down the drain. Austin Water officials say they were unaware of this procedure. Hmmm.

An 87-year-old Southern California woman was found dead inside a freezer in her garage. A relative had asked police to check on the woman, who lived with her daughter, who also gave ‘inconsistent’ statements about the whereabouts of her mother. When officers searched the house, they found hoarding-like conditions and a foul odor. Uh-oh.

Redneck Book of Manners: Even if you’re certain that you are included in the will, it is still considered tacky to drive a U-Haul to the funeral home.

We are supposed to be cleaning fruits and vegetables really well before we eat them. I purchased special cleaner a couple of times, but it was expensive, so I decided to mix up my own. Equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle…spray it on hard-skinned fruits and vegetables, rub it in and then rinse.  For soft-skinned fruits and veggies like berries, tomatoes, lettuce, and broccoli, fill a bowl with equal parts water and white vinegar, emerge the fruit or vegetables for just a bit, then rinse well. The acetic acid in the vinegar kills bacteria and helps to dissolve wax, pesticides, and fertilizer residue. This will also get rid of crawly things that tend to show up in organic produce. Much cheaper than the store-bought cleaner. Today I read in Farmer’s Almanac to use ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide to a sink of water, add your fruits and veggies, let them soak for a bit, then rinse thoroughly. More affordable alternatives for a healthier life.

Gage turns 25 years old this weekend. 9,125 days old. The big 2-5. Ahh, but to be 25 again. Gage, when they were your age, Michael Phelps had won 14 Olympic Gold Medals, Orson Welles wrote, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane, and Charles Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic. Obviously, a lot has changed since your birth a quarter of a century ago, but it is so much fun to see you beginning the journey of building your own wonderful life. I remember being so sad at your first birthday party because I knew I only had 17 more years to be with you…to really be with you. Luckily, nasty Covid gave us an extra 18 months to know that it really was time to go our separate ways. 😊 Remember your first-birthday pictures of Pony Land in our backyard… you cried because the silly party with the huge number of people, massive amounts of food, drinks, and a pony, was for the adults and you were so little. Somewhere between that day and your next birthdays, I think I became much smarter about what was important to you and what was important to me. If I may say so, I think you have done a great job of raising yourself, turning out pretty well indeed. Today, Boston University graduate school, TA, doing your thing. Please let me add a few reminders. Always give 100%, no matter what you encounter or who you work with. Remember to eat healthy, floss, save more money than you spend, and continue to set aside for your retirement, which will be here before you know it. You are now selecting furniture, bedding, dishes, and knives that you picked out yourself. It’s been so much fun to see what you have ordered, and how you plan to decorate. Drink responsibly, be respectful and kind to your friends, even people that you meet on the street, because strangers can make a huge difference in your life.  But also remember that it’s ok to let go of a friendship that has run its course. This is most important. Sometimes people that you once adored, were only intended to be in your life for a short period of time for a reason. Make exercise priority. You are not 18 anymore. Learn to say no. Learn to be alone. The Italians have a great word, Asolare… spending time in a meaningless but delightful way. Learn to just be, rather than always doing. Spoken from a mom that can’t ever sit still. Never take anything or anyone for granted.  If you need to share something important with someone then do it, today. A compliment, a thought, whatever. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Procrastination in life is NOT your friend anymore. Make memories, start traditions of your own. Enjoy the life you have right NOW at this moment because this is not a dress rehearsal. Oh, and I do love your beard. More love to you than you will ever know possible… Happy 25th Birthday, Mom

 

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What I Heard This Week! 09-09-2021

What I Heard This Week September 8, 2021

A Fort Worth man had been ordered to mow his lawn because it was taller than the city’s permitted 12-inches. He refused, so officers, along with a city mowing crew, knocked on his door several times, but no one answered. The city crew got to work mowing the yard, while the owner opened a window and opened fire. The SWAT Team arrived, and after four hours they fired tear gas canisters into the house, and the man came out wearing a hazmat suit and was arrested. Dang. Police officials said there have been issues with the homeowner dating back to 2010. No one was injured. Only in Texas. That used to sound like a compliment, but I don’t think it is anymore.

Instead of a sign that says Do Not Disturb, I need one that says Already Disturbed Proceed with Caution. (Thank you, Kay)

IKEA is launching a program in the US that asks shoppers to sell back their unwanted, gently used IKEA furniture. Great! It’s called Buy Back & Resell. This service will allow you to sell back your fully-assembled and functional IKEA pieces, and those items will be resold in their AS-IS section. You will receive store credit based on condition, age, and functionality. IKEA is trying to become more sustainable, circular, and carbon-neutral, just announcing that they will soon be selling renewable energy to Swedish homes and are on track to become net-zero by 2050. Not soon enough but certainly a worthy start. My son just left for college, and we have done more than our share of Ikea shopping recently, trying to get his apartment set up. It is affordable, yet stylish furnishings. Here’s another story.

IKEA’s famous Swedish meatballs have been around since 1985, selling more than 1 billion every year at their store cafeterias. Earlier in the pandemic, when stores were closed, the Swedish-based company shared its meatball recipe for customers to make at home. Hint: it’s all about the cream sauce. “It’s difficult to do business with someone on an empty stomach,” IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, who died in 2018, said of why the company decided to open up restaurants in stores. Well, recently they were trying to entice customers to sign up for a loyalty card, good for rewards and other perks. 1,925 lucky winners were able to claim a meatball candle.  Yep. Meatball candle. Enough said.

In Pennsylvania, a rare half-male, half-female Northern Cardinal was spotted by a bird-watcher. “I have been birding for 48 years and yesterday (20 February 2021) I had a once-in-a-lifetime, one in a million bird-encounter!” James Hill shared on Facebook. The bird is divided right down the middle. Genetically, the left side is biologically female, while the right side is biologically male.

Since 1953, storms have been given human names to make identifying them more convenient. For 26 years they were given only female names, but in 1979 the male-female alternating alphabetical lists that we use today were introduced. Names associated with storms that cause severe loss of life or property damage are retired by the World Meteorological Organization. In the history of hurricane names, ‘I’ now stands for infamous. In fact, we should watch out for hurricanes with names that begin with the letter “I”. Iris in 2001, Isidore in 2002, Isabel in 2003, Ivan in 2004, Ike in 2008, Igor in 2010, Irene in 2011, Ingrid in 2013, Irma in 2017, and now Ida in 2021. By the time we get to the letter I, it is the heart of the storm season. September 1st was the halfway point in the season, and November 30th, will be the end. Can storms develop in December through May? Good question. YES, because the atmosphere does not own a calendar.

Did you know? Scott from the City of LJ was kind enough to explain to me about deadbolts. If you own a home, you can put any kind of deadbolt on your doors that you wish. But, on rental property doors, you may not put a deadbolt that requires “a key or special skills to open from the inside…” in case of fire.

RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Actor Linda Gray of Dallas is 81. Singer Maria Muldaur is 79. Midnight at the Oasis. Original MTV VJ Nina Blackwood is 69. Actor Rachel Ward is 64. Actor Barbara Bain of Mission: Impossible is 90. Cinnamon Carter.  Actor Eileen Fulton of As the World Turns is 88. Singer David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat and Tears is 80. Actor Jacqueline Bisset is 77. Actor Walter Koenig of Star Trek is 85. Ensign Pavel Chekov. Singer-actor Joey Heatherton is 77. Singer John “Bowzer” Baumann of Sha Na Na is 74. Actor Mary Crosby is 62. Actor Kimberly Williams-Paisley is 50. Actor Tommy Lee Jones is 75. Movie director Oliver Stone is 75. Actor Robert Blake is 88.

Actor Elvira is 70. Actor-singer Janis Paige is 99. Please Don’t Eat the Daisies. She is one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Actor Ed Begley Jr. is 72. Singer David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers is 71. Actor Mickey Rourke is 69. Jazz guitarist Earl Klugh is 68. Illusionist David Copperfield is 65. Actor Jennifer Tilly is 63. Singer-turned-photographer LaMonte McLemore of the Fifth Dimension is 86. Puppeteer Kevin Clash is 61. Formerly Elmo on Sesame Street. Singer-actor Frankie Avalon is 81. Musician-actor Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers is 29. Actor Sam Neill is 74.

Willard Scott played both Bozo the Clown and the original Ronald McDonald on TV, in addition to being the longtime weather forecaster on the Today show, always emphasizing cheerful showmanship over science. Mr. Scott died at 87. He wished so many individuals a happy birthday when they turned 100, until his retirement in 2015. He delivered the forecast dressed as Boy George and Carmen Miranda, even emerging from a large manhole on Groundhog Day…dressed as a very large groundhog. In January 1989, the country’s new first lady, Barbara Bush, broke ranks from the inaugural parade to dart over to Mr. Scott, broadcasting from the sidelines, and plant an impromptu kiss on his cheek. “I don’t know Willard Scott,” Mrs. Bush explained afterward. “I just love that face.” “Everything I do looks like it just falls into place,” he said in 1988. “Part of what I do is make it fall into place. You have to work at being a buffoon.”

There must be a better way to make the things we want, a way that doesn’t spoil the sky, or the rain or the land…  Paul McCartney

Erik Cowie, a Tiger King zookeeper, has died at the age of 53 in NYC. Cowie made several appearances on Netflix’s hit show last year, even testifying against Joe Exotic saying he had seen him order some of the zoo animals to be shot and killed, which supposedly contributed to his conviction and prison sentence. Fifty years ago, George Harrison put together an all-star concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden to help Bengali refugees in India. The Concert for Bangladesh has had a lasting impact on every all-star charity event that has happened since. Mexico has decriminalized abortion, a huge step in the world’s second-biggest Catholic country. Australian Musk ducks have the ability to mimic the human language and sounds. Yes, ducks. Someone brought it to my attention today, that Buc-ee’s does not have their logo on their drink cups right now. When this girl comes back into town from Tennessee each time, she stops at the first Buc-ee’s, takes a picture of her iced tea and posts it.

A 5-year-old boy in Austin grabbed his grandmother’s 40-something year old wedding ring from the bathroom counter, then flushed it right down the toilet. Luckily a plumber was able to successfully retrieve it from the septic tank. I watched the interview and honestly, if the child belonged to me, I would have seriously thought about flushing him down the toilet. The kid was perfectly aware of what he was doing. Hmmm.

Music is probably the only real magic I have encountered in my life. There’s not some trick involved with it. It’s pure and it’s real. It moves, it heals, it communicates and does all these incredible things. Tom Petty

Happy 40th Birthday MTV. On August 1, 1981, MTV Music Television made its cable debut with one of its creators, John Lack, announcing “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.”  The channel changed music as we knew it and popular culture forever. Think back to shoulder pads and permed long curly hair. Not that you care or remember, but in case you do, here are the first 25 videos.
“Video Killed the Radio Star” The Buggles
“You Better Run” Pat Benatar
“She Won’t Dance with Me” Rod Stewart
“You Better You Bet” The Who
“Little Suzi’s on the Up” Ph. D.
“We Don’t Talk Anymore” Cliff Richard
“Brass in Pocket” The Pretenders
“Time Heals” Todd Rundgren
“Take It on the Run” REO Speedwagon
“Rockin’ the Paradise” Styx
“When Things Go Wrong” Robin Lane and the Chartbusters
“History Never Repeats” Split Enz
“Hold On Loosely” 38 Special
“Just Between You and Me” April Wine
“Sailing” Rod Stewart
“Iron Maiden” Iron Maiden
“Keep On Loving You” REO Speedwagon
“Bluer Than Blue” Michael Johnson
“Message of Love” The Pretenders
“Mr. Briefcase” Lee Ritenour
“Double Life” The Cars
“In the Air Tonight” Phil Collins
“Looking for Clues” Robert Palmer
“Too Late” Shoes
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Other things that happened in 1981: Ronald Reagan was president. The AIDS virus was identified, Post-It Notes launched, Space Shuttle USA Columbia was the first reusable space vehicle. This was the year that the word internet was first mentioned, and MS-DOS was released by Microsoft along with the first IBM PC. Lady Diana Spencer married Charles Prince of Wales. President Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O’Connor, first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Raiders of the Lost Ark made its debut in theaters. Pope John Paul II was shot by would-be assassin. The first DeLorean DMC-12 futuristic sports car was produced. Muhammad Ali finally retires with a career record of 55 wins and 5 defeats. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could require parental notification when teenage girls seek abortions. (Oh, my, how we regress.) Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated. The first American test-tube baby was born. The first Frequent Flyer Miles was introduced by American Airlines. Artificially produced Insulin became the world’s first genetically engineered protein to treat the human disease, diabetes.

Have a great week and thank you today and always, for taking the time to read us and shop with us. Please spread the word and sell something. It’s almost perfect garage sale weather. Call for your FREE ad.

LISA

 

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What I Heard This Week! 09-02-2021

What I Heard This Week September 1, 2021

This still has me thinking. There are hot glue guns, Elmer’s, epoxy adhesive, and a multitude of other DIY products to help make your life easier as you repair stuff around your house or stick things together. In India, a 25-year-old man went to a hotel with his former fiancée, wanting to have an intimate moment, but didn’t have any condoms. So, in order to prevent pregnancy, he reportedly used an epoxy resin to seal his privates, basically gluing his penis shut. The next day, an acquaintance found the man unconscious, outside in the bushes. Apparently, he quickly died of what was described as multi-organ failure. Unfortunately, this couple might have also been using drugs, which could have impaired their thinking, leading them to believe that they were building a bird house with balsa wood, or oak. Regardless, this was not a good idea. It is never a good idea to ever use glue on any of your privates. Never. And never drink bleach. Never. Just because it doesn’t say not to do it on a package, it does not give you an excuse to use something in an improper way. If you’re old enough to have a relationship with someone, then do it properly. Ouch. No one mentioned what happened to the girl.

Mike Richards is no longer executive producer of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, effective immediately. He taped five episodes before his world unraveled, which will still air. Hmmm. Talk about going from the top of the heap to discarded coffee grounds, in just mere moments. In our world now, everything we accomplish, or don’t accomplish is public, so watch what you do, watch what you say, or it could take you down later. Remember character is who you are when you don’t think anyone is looking. Ha. Everyone is looking.

The Girl Scout’s 2022 cookie season is still months away, but good news.  Come 2022 the Girl Scouts will introduce a new cookie, Adventurefuls, a brownie-cookie hybrid with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt.

We all have a place at the campfire. It was the Girl Scouts who first taught me that.  Gloria Steinem

The SPCA in LJ desperately needs your help, monetary donations, or donations of supplies. Please provide if you can. A highly contagious distemper outbreak is costing $50 – $75 per animal to test for this incurable virus. Covid has been tough for them, and now this…

Listen up: Effective September 1st, if you or your property are damaged from a defective or dangerous product on Amazon sold by a third party, Amazon will compensate you up to $1,000. The company says it will deal with customer satisfaction and tackle the companies afterward if third parties are unresponsive or unwilling to compensate valid claims. Sounds like buyers are now in charge of testing. Bet there are dishonest people right now figuring out a way to turn this around to benefit themselves.

According to Mayo Clinic, hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm – the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and plays an important role in breathing. Each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of your vocal cords, which produces the characteristic “hic” sound. Hiccups may result from a large meal, alcoholic or carbonated beverages or sudden excitement. While he was working as an anesthesiologist 20 years ago, Dr. Ali Seifi saw many surgery patients in recovery who developed hiccups. The doctor invented a treatment called the HiccAway, which is shaped like a smoker’s pipe. One end is submerged into a cup of water, while on the other end you draw water through the pipe, like a straw. Because of negative suction, it pulls down the diaphragm, which triggers a nerve that regulates your diaphragm. When water enters your mouth, the brain wants to swallow, so it closes the flap in your throat that prevents food or water from entering the windpipe and lungs, also signaling the vocal cords, which eases your hiccups. Just a little more useless, but interesting information.

RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Romance novelist Danielle Steel is 74. Actor Susan Olsen is 60. Little Cindy on The Brady Bunch. Actor-TV personality Arlene Dahl is 96. What’s My Line? Actor Melanie Griffith is 64. Comedian JoAnne Worley is 84. Country singer David Allan Coe is 81. Singer-bassist Roger Waters of Pink Floyd is 77. Actor Swoosie Kurtz is 76. Comedian-actor Jane Curtin is 73. Actor Susan St. James is 75. Actor-comedian Jeff Foxworthy is 62. News correspondent Elizabeth Vargas is 58. Country singer Mark Chesnutt is 57. Actor Tom Wopat is 69. Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard. Actor Hugh Grant is 60.

Singer Gloria Gaynor is 77. Never Can Say Goodbye. Actor Heather Thomas of The Fall Guy is 63. Actor Topol of Fiddler on the Roof is 85. Guitarist John McFee of The Doobie Brothers is 70. Musician-producer Dave Stewart of Eurythmics is 68. Singer Jose Feliciano is 75. Actor Amy Irving is 67. Actor Kristy McNichol is 58. Musician Moby is 55. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 53. Actor Linda Gray of Dallas is 80. Singer Maria Muldaur is 78. Actor Rachel Ward is 63. Actor Angela Cartwright of The Danny Thomas Show & Lost in Space is 68.

Ed Asner, the longtime TV icon who holds the record for most Primetime Emmys earned by a male actor, died at 91. Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant, Rich Man Poor Man, Roots.

Jessica Chastain says the make-up she wore to portray televangelist Tammy Faye was so heavy it caused permanent damage to her skin, plus it took between 4 to 7.5 hours to apply. The actor said the role involved the most prosthetics she had ever worn, and that Faye’s make-up in the film gets heavier as she aged. Until further notice, Memorial Hermann has closed three of its Houston area 24-hour emergency rooms due to the surge of COVID-19 cases and its impact on its system operations. Governor Abbott is now asking hospitals to voluntarily postpone elective medical procedures and surgeries, in order to increase hospital capacity for Covid patients as coronavirus cases rise.

Campbell’s soup cans are getting their first redesign in 50 years. It is very subtle. I couldn’t even tell. In 1962, a little-known artist named Andy Warhol opened a small show at a gallery in LA. His subject was Campbell’s Soup. Each of his 32 paintings portrayed a different flavor in the lineup, from Tomato to Pepper Pot and Cream of Celery. Warhol was almost 34 years old, and it was his first solo painting exhibit. He had spent almost a decade as a top commercial artist, working with high-end advertising clients like Tiffany & Co. and Dior. He was determined to become a real artist, recognized by museums and critics alike. The Pop art style had begun, but his show was not very well received. Another art dealer down the street arranged real cans of Campbell’s Soup in his window, along with a sign that read: “Do Not Be Misled. Get the Original. Our Low Price – Two for 33 Cents.” One of Warhol’s gallery owners from the original show, ended up buying the entire 32 painting collection for $1000, paid out over 10 months. By 1964, the asking price for a single soup can painting not in the original set was costing up to $1,500, and NY socialites were wearing paper dresses in a soup can print, custom-made by Warhol himself, to gallery openings. Campbell’s Soup jumped on the very popular fad of paper dresses, coming out with the Souper Dress, covered in Warhol soup labels. Each dress had three gold bands at the bottom, so the wearer could snip the dress to the ideal length without cutting into the soup can pattern. The price: $1 and two Campbell’s Soup labels. In 1996 The Museum of Modern Art bought the 32 paintings from the gallery owner as a combination gift and sale valued upwards of $15 million. Wow, from a $1000 investment. Even the Souper Dress has been declared a classic. Warhol himself had grown up with Campbell’s soup. He liked soup.  “I used to drink it,” he said. “I used to have the same lunch every day for 20 years.”

The idea is not to live forever, it is to create something that will.  Andy Warhol.

In Temple, a 28-year-old man and woman were having an argument while inside a car; she jumped out of the vehicle, then he tried to run over her. Instead, he crashed his car into a Discount Tire store. Karma. In League City, a 53-year-old man stabbed the manager of a Jack in the Box who asked him to put on a mask. An American Airlines passenger traveling from Dallas to Charlotte, tried to open the cabin door while in the air, then bit a flight attendant before being restrained. A rare baseball card depicting Pittsburgh Pirates legend Honus Wagner just sold for $6.6 million. The card was issued in American Tobacco Co. cigarette boxes from 1909 to 1911 and has been highly desired by collectors for years. The previous record was a 1952 Mickey Mantle card, which sold earlier this year for $5.2 million. Yikes. Insurance companies may start charging the unvaccinated, more for health insurance.

When I go to Target, I always shop the end isles first because they have sale items. Then I shop for what I need. I’m not a big candle person, but there was a candle marked down, called Weathered Birch, Sweet Tobacco – Mahogany. It is so nice, smelling faintly of my Uncle Harlon in his younger years. He smoked a pipe and always had the nicest aftershave, along with the best hugs. Out of stock online.

Reminder: Each residential, business, commercial and industrial building in LJ needs to have street numbers large enough to be seen by the public and shall not be less than 4 inches high. House numbers.

Country favorite, Sawyer Brown, will be the first concert of the season at The Clarion at Brazosport College. The October 16th, opening night concert, is sponsored by BASF. Concerts that follow the season are Jose Feliciano (I was raised on his music and who can forget Feliz Navidad), Tracy Byrd (Holdin’ Heaven was #1 on Billboard Country Charts), Paul Shaffer (yep, David Letterman’s sidekick for 33 years, plus he was part of original Saturday Night Live), Darrell Worley (17 chart hits), and early Thursday special event, Janet’s Planet. A sponsorship sure would look great for your company. Exciting news.

We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

What did the buffalo say when her son left for college? Bison.

Well, my son Gage left for graduate school at Boston University on Sunday. I am proud to say that he applied for and received a three-year tuition scholarship and will soon be an official sound designer. Super proud of that. There were no tears at the airport but regret seeps in slowly, regret about all the things that we didn’t get to do when he was growing up. Regret, I’m sure, that all parents have because no matter how hard you work or play, there will always be unfinished and uncompleted stuff.  That’s because there will never be enough time or enough hours in the day, or enough money, to do it all. We were lucky because we had an extra 18 Covid months to be together. I WILL miss him. Gage is funny, he is a great cook, he is kind and considerate, and ‘most’ things positive. He has work ethic. He picks out good beer. He is a wealth of information about a multitude of topics. I will miss watching Boston Legal with him, but we have a plan. Watch it on our own and talk later about the episode. I will NOT miss going into the bathroom and finding no toilet paper. I will not miss his ongoing list of excuses for procrastination. I will not miss paying $135 water bills. I will not miss smart@&$ answers to my questions. I will not miss going to the refrigerator to make a casserole for breakfast only to find that he didn’t leave me any eggs. I will not miss picking up objects all over the house that don’t belong to me. I will not miss seeing him in the kitchen in his bathrobe at lunch time. I will not miss walking into the kitchen and seeing every single cabinet door open. I will not miss sending him to the store to pick up cheese and having him come back without the cheese. Hmmm. OR WILL I? Maybe, just maybe, I will miss all of those seemingly very unimportant things, plus more. Good luck Gage. It’s your time to shine and start life’s journey to your own future.  Bye, son. I Love You. So much that you won’t understand it until you have a child of your own.

Love, Mom

 

  • What I Heard This Week 10-26-2023

    by on October 25, 2023 - 0 Comments

    Former US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, recently remarried for the fourth time, which also happened to be on the occasion of his 93rd birthday. This time it was to Dr. Anca Faur, his 63-year-old, long-time companion (who looks like she wants to be 27), has a PhD in chemical engineering, and is now the executive vice president of Aldrin’s company, Buzz Aldrin Ventures.  He was first married to Joan Ann Archer in 1954 until divorcing in 1974. The next year he married Beverly Van Zile; they divorced after three years. His third marriage was to Lois Driggs Cannon in 1988 on Valentine's Day, divorcing 23 years later. Looks like he hasn’t given up on ‘love’ quite yet. He has sued two of his children and his former business manager claiming they stole money from him and are slandering his legacy, and that they also undermined his "personal romantic relationships" by forbidding him from getting married. His children say he is also spending money at an alarming rate. Sounds like those children are out of luck. There is a new sheriff in town and her name is MRS. Aldrin. ☹ Notes: Aldrin is also a strong advocate for human exploration of Mars. In 2002, he escaped assault charges after punching a man who demanded he swear on a Bible that the Moon landing was not staged. Good for him. He also said, “Tang sucks. “

  • What I Heard This Week 11-30-2023

    by on November 29, 2023 - 0 Comments

    Former US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, recently remarried for the fourth time, which also happened to be on the occasion of his 93rd birthday. This time it was to Dr. Anca Faur, his 63-year-old, long-time companion (who looks like she wants to be 27), has a PhD in chemical engineering, and is now the executive vice president of Aldrin’s company, Buzz Aldrin Ventures.  He was first married to Joan Ann Archer in 1954 until divorcing in 1974. The next year he married Beverly Van Zile; they divorced after three years. His third marriage was to Lois Driggs Cannon in 1988 on Valentine's Day, divorcing 23 years later. Looks like he hasn’t given up on ‘love’ quite yet. He has sued two of his children and his former business manager claiming they stole money from him and are slandering his legacy, and that they also undermined his "personal romantic relationships" by forbidding him from getting married. His children say he is also spending money at an alarming rate. Sounds like those children are out of luck. There is a new sheriff in town and her name is MRS. Aldrin. ☹ Notes: Aldrin is also a strong advocate for human exploration of Mars. In 2002, he escaped assault charges after punching a man who demanded he swear on a Bible that the Moon landing was not staged. Good for him. He also said, “Tang sucks. “

  • Much Ado About Nothing - Texan in Winter

    by on December 6, 2018 - 0 Comments

    The power went out at my house last night for four hours. While this may not seem like a major catastrophe as it was the middle of the night and […]

  • Much Ado About Nothing - “Human Bait”

    by on January 16, 2020 - 0 Comments

    My dad always told me to have a backup plan in case my current job doesn’t work out. I wasn’t sure what that’d be until I saw this ad: “HUMAN […]

  • What I Heard This Week! December 20, 2018

    by on December 20, 2018 - 0 Comments

    The AK-47 is a type of assault rifle originally manufactured in the Soviet Union in 1949. A 17-year-old Humble High School student accidently shot herself recently with an AK-47 that […]

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