"Thank You for Coming" - how odd

It's almost 1 PM and I turned the furnace on here. The air conditioner had to work overtime for the past few weeks and now the lazy furnace can pitch in and help. Right now it is 49 degrees outside. That is not cold but it isn't Springtime weather.

And he told we jurors "thank you for coming"

I told you about my jury summons and the day (Monday) that I spent watching television and getting paid $25 (check still forthcoming) for nothing after hearing all of the charges and "meeting" the defendant, the lawyers, the bailiffs and the judge. I have been keeping a close eye on the case in the local paper (mostly because I am nosy and I wanted to know if my hunches/impressions were correct. I learned that most of the jury was made-up of female jurors (probably because women are smarter than men and they can make better, more rational decisions - so that was smart). If you wanted to know what I told Cha Cha was "worse (that murder) in my mind" I will add a link to the newspaper and, as you can imagine, it is the lead story but be sure you want to know one of the worse things than murder - HERE IS THE LINK. It might ask you to sign-up for the paper but you can read enough of it to get the gist. The bottom line is that this guy was sentenced to 90-450 years in prison with a minimum of 100 years. I am sure he will not enjoy prison as, even among most incarcerated men, even among most incarcerated men, what he did was , (in my words), "worse than murder - in my mind."

Yesterday the people who were supposed to be here with the mulch never showed up. Jill called them this morning and the guy said something like there was not enough money in them to come her for Rockford. He said something about her sending photos of the yard and he would get back to her. She called someone in town and they are coming out to look at the yard and give her an estimate. I have done it ever other year but I suppose I didn't do a good enough job? I will keep that up. My ear buds fall out over and over again when mowing. I even tried two different pairs. My ears must be oddly shaped. At least I got the yard entirely mowed before today's rain.

I have not feeling well but I think it is just a slight bug from the temperature fluctuations. I am run-down a bit and it may be that I have not been sleeping very well, as usual. Is it Autumn already? I think I missed summer but that's okay.

One of my bosses quit on Monday. We're not sure why but we were all told toward at the end of our second break. I will find out why because I have been a journalist for many years, worked at the police department and, as I have said and as you know, I am nosy, nosy, nosy. I am not much of a gossip but I just want to know everything that I feel that I should know and that is everything. I am a know-it-all wannabe.

I have been watching a movie/documentary called Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon on Netflix while writing this which is why this us taking so long,; not that you would know how long this is taking me. I had always liked Saturday Night Live, Second City Television (SCTV) amd The National Lampoon and this is pretty much about how they all got started and kind of morphed into SNL.

Wow, it's almost quarter after two now so I should end for today. I will probably blog tomorrow but Splenda and Andy and Fabio are all coming over tomorrow, I think. It may be Sunday because that is the actual Mother's Day day but I think Andy and Chloe are staying over night and they work quite a bit further east than here. I hope it is tomorrow because I work on Sunday. This will be the first year without my mom on Mother's Day. Okay, have a great rest of your day and I may blog again tomorrow but that depends on the social calendar and the information contained earlier in this paragraph.

Thank you, as always, for giving me a reason to stretch my fingers on this keyboard. TTTT (probably)...MIYM (out). If I don't get back here tomorrow I wish all of you mothers a very happy Mother's Day.

House Arrest and Licking

It is 14:04 already and I am still under house yard arrest waiting for the mulch, and the mulchers, to arrive either today or tomorrow. While waiting I mowed the backyard. If they do not come today that means I will be under yard arrest again tomorrow also. Makes me happy that I have four-day weekends.

I went to the library yesterday and got the three books from three other libraries. I got: Black Gun, Silver Star from the Kankakee Public Library, Kammie on First from the Malta Township Library and A Game of Their Own from the Rock Island Public Library. They are all due back by May 30th. I mention the due dates because, when I checked them out, the receipt said that I have an outstanding balance of 60 cents. I am a library scofflaw. I did not pay the balance because I did not have any cash. So, I will take in some change when I return these at the end of the month. I thought the buzzers were going to go off when I walked through those scanner things but they did not.

I finally finished the book that I got for Christmas from Splenda, Lincoln (a novel) by Gore Vidal. It is a very good book. I may be going out on a limb here but I think Abe Lincoln was a better President than what we have right now. Anyway, Black Gun, Silver Star is a book about Bass Reeves who was a frontier Marshal. He is the real man that they based the Lone Ranger character on. And, of course, since our country was still a closet racist country when the show was on Clayton Moore (a white man) portrayed him in the television show. And then, in 2013, Armee Hammer played him in the movie and Johnny Depp was Tonto. At least Jay Silverheels, who played Tonto in the television show, was really Native American. Since Reeves was African American he lived among Native Americans who accepted people more than the white folk and Tonto was based on a sidekick of Reeves'. Perhaps he had different sidekicks based on situations? Maybe The Lone Ranger wore a black mask on television and in the film to honor the real Lone Ranger?

The other two books are about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). I suppose, when the league was started during World War II, women were still kept down then like African Americans and Native Americans were during The Lone Ranger's days. Our country has come a long way baby but, I am afraid that, we will never be totally un-biased when it comes to: race, gender, religion, creed... in the world. Most of us, I hope and believe, are not prejudice but there will always be the people that are prejudice in one way or another. That thought makes me sad.

I have become obsessed with the AAGPBL. I guess finding that photo of my mom at the Peaches' baseball field flip a switch in me. I cannot wait for the celebration at the end of the month. I am considering putting the book that I am working on hold and write a story about women's baseball. There are books, obviously since I just checked two out of the library but there should be more. Of course, if I write and publish a book about women's baseball I will dedicate it to my mom.

I am still watching a lot of The Beverly Hillbillies, now and then, and Paul Winchell played a guy named Homer Winch. I could not place the face at first but he sounded like Tigger from the Winnie the Pooh movies and it was easy to know who it was after I heard his voice. I could also hear a little of Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff  as well  as other cartoon characters in there.


I saw a news report about a Boston Bruins' hockey player named Brad Marchand who is constantly licking faces of opponents. What the hell is that? Has been warned by team and the National Hockey League (NHL) to stop but he continues to do it. People in the crown hold up signs that say thinks like, "Hey Marchand, Lick This!"

It is almost 15:20 so I am off to accomplish something else. I may start by clipping my toenails. I hope you have a super rest of your Thursday. I will be able to blog again tomorrow because I will be here reading and waiting for the mulch people to show up. It better not be raining. Thank you for coming by and do not let people lick you unless that's what you're into. I cannot believe NHL players don't knock that dude out. TTTT kemo sabe...MITM (out).

May the Blog Be With You, Always!

well, that's a fine kettle of mulch

Holy Moly, it's already 12:52. I have gotten several things done today with the main one being getting the front yard mowed. I would also have done the back yard but there are things on the clothes line and I don't want them to get full of grass stains (especially the white bed spread). Sure hope it doesn't rain before it dries. I really wanted to get the front mowed because we have a load of mulch coming either tomorrow or Friday, Jill found a company out of Rockford that delivers the mulch and then: aerates the yard, pulls the weeds and spreads the mulch all for $100. I was tired of having to lug several bags of mulch home and then have to set the bags all around the yard and then spread it but for only $100 it would be stupid to not do this instead.

I only worked three days of my three because I had jury duty on Monday. I was there ALL day and then didn't even get selected. We all heard the details of the case and then went back down to the jury room and waited to see of our names were called to go up and be drilled by the lawyers to see if we were chosen as a juror. I was there ALL day and they filled the juries (they were selecting juries and alternates for two juries). Jill has been called many times for jury duty but, even though I vote ever single election (even the stupid ones like for dog catcher and stuff and she just votes for the biggies), I this was my first time. I was not selected and I am pretty sure why I was not. On the form that we had to complete and send  back one of the questions was "former employer." I wrote "Northern Illinois University Police Department" and I am fairly sure that is why I was not chosen. So I made $25 (check forthcoming) for sitting around and listening to nine heinous charges against the defendant and watching American Pickers in the jury room because that was what was on in there. I see why I don't watch that show.

We were allowed to use our phones and such (not in the courtroom itself, of course) so I texted Cha Cha a few times. One time she wrote, "maybe you'll get a murder trial." I wrote back something like "I wish because, based on what I have already heard in the court room, In my opinion this is much worse." I am trying to follow the case in the DeKalb County Chronicle newspaper because I am nosy. Why do you think I like working at the police department for so long? I felt like I was living a John Grisham novel but I was eliminated before chapter six. Grisham is one of my favorite authors though I have many favorites.

That reminds me that I need to head over to the library to pick up some books that I ordered from other libraries. I think that is pretty cool that, if your library doesn't have the books that you are looking for, you can put in a request and have them sent over from those libraries.

I am going back to St. Louis nest month for another Cardinals' game. This time I am going with Fabio (I think I mentioned a few weeks ago) that the last to time I was at a Cards, game was in 2006 for the World Series. So, I believe that was the last time that Noah was there. The night we're going on June 13th for Star Wars' night. A portion of the proceeds for this night goes to Stand Up 4 Cancer; does that mean that the tickets are tax deductible?  I already ordered the tickets and they may arrive today in the mail. In case you are looking to take me out I will be in Home Field Box, section 148, row one and in either seat number 3 or 4. I will be the old man of the people sitting in those two seats. We even get black jerseys with the Cardinals sitting on a light saber rather than on a bat on the front of the jerseys. I sure hope it doesn't rain that night because that is a long drive for a make-up game. Hey, the mailman came while I was mowing - I will be right back. I am going to go see if they arrived today or whether it is just a bunch of damn bills and junk mail. No tickets yet and mostly junk, as usual, but there was a paper shopping bag in the box for "National Association of  Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive." That is something that we will do. In addition to buying things specifically for this it will let us get rid of some things that we thought we needed and didn't use. Somebody else can benefit from our (mostly my) impulse buying.

It is looking a little dark outside so I am going to go out and check on that bed spread before it gets washed again, this time, by Mother Nature. "It's not nice to fool (with) Mother Nature." It was still a bit moist but I brought it in anyway because I believe it is going to rain very shortly. Don't tell Cha Cha but I put it in the drier for a bit. It will be fully dried very quickly.

I should probably figure-out something for dinner. Oh yeah, last night we had Noodles & Company dishes that I mentioned a day or two ago here that use zucchini noodles rather than pasta. It was pretty good (I had the pesto with grilled chicken) and I liked it. The one criticism I would have is that there was a lot of water at the bottom of the bowl when I was done. Jill said she experienced the same thing.

Okay, the drier just buzzed so I guess that is the end of the fourth quarter so I am going to wrap up. I am sure, since I am on a four-day weekend, that I will blog again tomorrow. Thank you for stopping by. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Cinco de Blogo!

It already 14:08 on Saturday de Mayo. Jill has been gone most of the day to the doctor and getting her toenails of fingernails or some nails done. I have been doing laundry and various other chores around the house. Tomorrow I go back to work after having an eleven day weekend. If we are slow tomorrow and they offer to people the opportunity to go home I may do that; I like to spend as much time with Cha Cha as possible.

I contacted one of my work buddies from my previous job at the police department last night. I was curious if they have openings for me to return. I was delighted to hear that there is a position open and that they would love to have me back after a couple, or more, of years being gone. I don't know if I want to risk getting over there, working nights, just to find out that the night shift would kill me. The problem with me having to leave last time is that I was trying to work nights and stay awake more during the day too because the kids were younger. I loved the job and the pay and the benefits but I also like to be alive. Actually, I don't remember not being alive so there is nothing to compare it to. The shift would be the same as before - 22:00 - 06:00. decisions, decisions.

Of course, I start writing this and I hear the garage door going up. Guess who is home. I wonder what we will do for dinner on this Cinco de Mayo. Do you think our President celebrates Mexico's (sort of) 4th of July? I suppose, being a Saturday and all, every Mexican joint in the city will be packed. Last night we went for salads and I ended up having two bloody marys (no blue cheese olives, damn it) and five margaritas. Probably not the smartest choices given my trying to be more healthy. Bloody marys are mainly tomato juice and some salad fixin's and vodka the margaritas are a little more dangerous when trying to watch my Mattly figure.

Wow, now it's 16:02.and we had better think about getting to that Mexican restaurant (probably Eduardo's) before the place fills up. I will see if mama is ready to go. I will end again for awhile but will be back before you can say Jack Robinson. Since you just read that I guess I was wrong.

18:08 now just in case you are keeping a score card. I am going to end now and get a few more things done.Thank you for coming by and maybe, just maybe, I will blog again tomorrow even though my work week begins. TTT?...MITM (out).

Oodles of Zoodles

I think it's Friday. Yes, it is Friday "May the 4th Be With You Day" and tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo. I have been watching what I eat and carbs are a tough one to avoid for me. But, I guess Noodles and Company has something new called "zoodles" that are noodles made from zucchini rather than pasta so it sounds like Jill is picking that up on her way home from work.  I don't really care for zucchini much but I don't like to be fat even more than I dislike zucchini. I was told that you can have whatever dishes they usually offer with the zoodles rather than having the regular pasta noodles. Okay, I investigated further and you can substitute them with any of their dishes for a 75-cent up-charge.

Then, on Sunday, it's Matt goes back to work after 11 days off in a row day. I am fairly sure we will go out for Mexican food tomorrow though I bet all of the Mexican restaurants will be packed. I would say that Mexican food is my favorite food. I wonder if they'll have zucchini tortillas and chips?

My dad just called and, while I was talking to him, I looked out of the kitchen window and I see that it is almost time to begin the weekly lawn mowing fun again. The fun parts are getting swatted by tree branches and stepping in dog land mines (poop). The last time I mowed I wore my red hardhat and I was happy that I did. The front yard isn't a hardhat zone but the back certainly is one. Then, when it gets warmer, there will be the mosquitoes.

The addiction I have for the Beverly Hillbillies lately is raging on. I never cared for the movie that was made in the early 90's with: Cloris Leachman, Dabney Coleman, Jim Varney, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, Zsa Zsa Gabor... However, I did think it was funny that Buddy Ebsen, who played Uncle Jed in the original television series that I am watching just about every day now, was in the movie but played another of  his television characters, detective Barnaby Jones. Did you remember that Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz? Actually, he was going to play The Scarecrow at first but Ray Bolger wanted to be The Scarecrow so they swapped roles. Then, Buddy was allergic to the silver paint of the tin man and had to back-out all together. See what being a nice guy gets you Buddy? Weeeeell Doggie! I wonder if Bolger ever felt bad about that; I know I would have.

I just learned who the most famous comedian was the year I was born. In 1963 the most famous comedian was Jerry Lewis. Buddy Ebsen was the most famous comedian in 1966. I did not go looking for this but it just popped-up on my page. Oddly, the list begins with 1963 (the year I was born). Should I have an American comic when I was not born in this country? I don't know if there are any funny people from Germany.

I am going to have to go to the store today because I have a crisis on my hands - we are out of bananas. Yes, we have no bananas! But we will have more bananas today. We have apples and oranges to hold me over during these desperate times. I even ate the last of the grapes last night. What is this place coming to? There are always zucchini noodles on the way.

I have to go start some laundry as work resumes in a few days. Be right back.

I'm back.

I was one of people who got their password hacked on Twitter. Apparently, it happened to thousands of people. Twitter says that trolls are doing this kind of thing all of the time. This reminds me of The War of the Worlds. Is it just a coincidence that this happens right after I get back on Twitter or was I the target? Maybe we should all buy a bunch of stamps and go back to the old days of mailing paper letters?

Okay, as usual I have droned on again. Thanks a lot for stopping by. I will be able to blog again tomorrow. Have a great day - the weather is nice here right now and I hope it is where you are too. TTTT...MITM (out).

A Baer of a Blog

It is almost 11:00 on Thursday and I am in a hotel room in Evanston, actually sitting at a desk, writing the blog. It seems weird and like a job when I am sitting at a desk. To make it worse there is a mirror in front of me and I keep seeing my ugly mug now and again. 


I want to warn you that if you follow my personal Facebook page that there is a very disturbing video on there about a very young child being badly beaten. I saw it and added it in hopes that someone would see it and know the person and get it to the proper authorities. One of my friends, who works in law enforcement, commented that the person had already been dealt with by the child's father and the justice system. I am not sure of any more details nor do I need any but I am glad that, in my mind and heart, the person was exposed and dealt with though I am not sure how I feel about the father dealing with the woman in like fashion. I try to think how I would have felt had I seen a video of my child being treated in this way. I know I would have freaked-out but, by nature, I am not a violent person. I will leave it at that though, as you know me, I have plenty more on my mind about it.

Time to move on so I don't dwell on this sadness and viciousness.

So, I am in the hotel room with a "late check-out" - 13:00. After I leave here I am going over to Skokie to the Old Orchard shopping center to find a rain coat for her. I am kind of her valet / bodyguard in many ways; maybe more like her Alfred and her being Batgirl or something. Or her Mr. Blackwell. I don't know much about picking-out ladies' raincoats. If I do poorly  I will return it next week.

I think I have told you that I have been watching a lot of the original Beverly Hillbillies shows on Amazon Prime. It is so funny how television has changed. I am not talking about color vs. black-and-white but more the sponsors. They show the sponsors on a billboard that the Clampetts drive by in the opening and some episodes it will Kellogg's and some episodes it will be Winston cigarettes. They will even work the two sponsors into the opening theme song and the show, on occasion. And, during the end credits there will be a photo included of a pack of cigarettes or a box of cereal. Boy, has television changed. They can't even advertise cigarettes on television anymore. I also find it amusing that they have the actor playing Jethro as Max Baer when he is actually Max Baer Jr.. Do you suppose that they were garnering more viewers by making them think that that the heavyweight boxing champion for 364 days in 1934/1935. You may also remember him as fighting James J. Braddock in Cinderella Man and losing the title to Braddock. Baer was portrayed as kind of a jerk in the film but I suppose that has been most boxers personas throughout the history of any kind of professional fighting.

 I didn't know Miss Jane smoked (Jed - not surprised) 

Last night I went and saw Avengers: Civil War with Fabio. I like the movie but I am not sure that I am entirely sure what happened. The movie was almost three hours long. My favorite thing was that Peter Dinklage was in the film and he was a giant. That amused me because he is 4'5" tall in real life. You may know him as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones. We saw the movie in 3-D. I think I would like anything in 3-D but I had not followed the series of films very closely so I was lost most of the time. It was definitely full of action and violence which were better in three dimension.

I have to wrap-up so I can get packed and checked-out and onto my raincoat shopping. I thank you, as always, for dropping in.

Tails and Cox

How am I supposed to keep track of that many characters?

It is so funny how things change so quickly. Yesterday I wrote that I was going to go to Rockford today but that has changed. Fabio stopped by and asked if I wanted to go to the theater to see Avengers: Infinity War or go to the driving range. He has a certificate for a free bucket of balls or something. I said I would be up for either one. So, he went outside and started shooting baskets. I went out and rebounded for him for awhile and then came back into the house to see what time the movie starts. The first showtime here in town is at 4PM (in 3D) and it plays in our neighboring town of Sycamore at 6:45. It is now just a bit before 2PM and the movie is like three hours long. Mind you, he has already seen it. My guess is that we will not do either one. He wants to see it at IMAX now. There is one in Batavia at 3:10. I went outside and he doesn't want to go to that showing because it is so nice outside. So I got the tickets for the 6:40 show. I will be the superhero that is snoring. Those reclining seats make it tough to stay awake.

Tomorrow I am going to go to Evanston with Jill again. I will do my usual wandering around town and finding a different place to eat. The Evanston Public Library is right by our hotel and the Northwestern University is close too. Cha Cha just texted me and she said the hotel room is free (as in no charge). I am not sure if that is because of Hotels.com or our membership in the Hilton Honors program but free is free no MATTer how it happens. Maybe they like the publicity in the blog?

I spent most of the morning reorganizing my closet. It will be nice to be able to find everything more quickly for a few weeks. I also threw out a lot of things. We are regular Goodwill and Salvation Army donors (if "donor" is okay to use in situations other than diving blood and plasma and organs and such). I give blood and plasma too. Last week I finally got all of the towels and sheets over to the TAILS Humane Society to be used as bedding for the animals there. There are a lot of great animals over there if you are in the market for a new best friend. Mostly dogs, thankfully, because I am allergic to cats.

 May 30th and June 1st - 3rd 

Summer is here and I totally missed Spring. Do we only have the two seasons now? If I were to vote on the two season that we would keep they would be Spring and Autumn (Fall). The humidity isn't too bad today but we all know that is coming soon. I may have to get the hammock hung-up soon.

I spent a great deal of time in the local library yesterday amidst all of my running around. The books that I wanted were not available at this library but I requested they be sent here from three other library branches (one book from each of the three libraries). Now he walked in and asked me a question about the movie in another town and walked back out.

I just called my dad and spoke with him for awhile. He wanted to know about the Rockford Peaches' event in Rockford in at the end of this month and the beginning of June. There is a lot going on that weekend around the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) that weekend. Here is a link if you are interested - http://www.internationalwomensbaseballcenter.org/.

I will be right back - I have to start a load of laundry. I am back which is probably obvious to you since you are reading this.

Mr. Peepers / Wally Cox

Now that I am back I think I am going to wrap this up and maybe take a short nap. Is there a no snoring policy in theaters? I paid my money so I should be allowed to sleep if I want to sleep. Do they have outlets for C-PAP machines? I don't want to have to haul an extension cord into the place.

Thank you for stopping by. I may not write tomorrow depending on when we get to the hotel and all of that business. We should have our own regular room at the Hilton -Evanston (Hotel Orrington). I was curious about what famous people were from Evanston and the list is kind of long - Marlon Brando, Oscar Mayer (yes, the hot dog guy), Seth Meyers, Kevin Cronin, Chuck Heston, Peter Uebberoth, William Christopher (Father Mulcahey), Donald Rumsfeld, Wes Parker, Wally Cox (I loved him), Tim Kazyrinsky, Jeremy Piven, Eddie Vedder, The Cusacks (John and Joan)...many more. TTTT (probably from a hotel room again)...MITM (out) TA!