Summer Wind

When I was a  bartender back in the day, at one particular venue I would use music to set the mood for the night, hoping the ladies would enjoy the selections. Yes, it was all a plan! Musical seduction I called it.

Frank Sinatra was still big back then.

Some songs are timeless. This is one of them.

Shake Off The Stuffing, Play The Funky Music

All the groaning should have subsided by now. The swollen belly reshaping it's self. Out and about for Black Friday. Another song from my walk list to help you along!

Happy Thanksgiving

Norman Rockwell did it best.

click on title for picture link.

"Work Horse" Part Two

I guess I had too much time on my hands last night. When I received this water color, I thought I might try to draw it myself.  Last night was the perfect time. It is not a tracing in case you are wondering. Thank goodness it is a bit longer in length. Stupid light!

My son looked at my drawing and said he can do better, one upping me as the case may be.

This is his effort. I might have been out done!

Recent addition!
College daughter said to remember she can draw too!

I think she outdid me too!

Jump and Jive and Wail

The key I think to playing music as you run or workout or in my case a lot of walking, is to make sure it blocks out how boring it is what you are doing. I have 400 to 500 songs that get the heart beat and your step going.

This is one of them. That is the way to dance!

I Will Focus-- I Will Focus-- I Will Focus-- Look A Chicken!!!!

Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care

Just a bunch of guys having some fun!
the bearded guy, jeff lyne from elo, tom petty, bob dylan, roy orbison, and george harrison

Enough Is Enough, Don't Fly Damn It!!!!

Money talks. It takes millions of dollars each day to run an airline. Almost all of the money comes from you the passenger. Yea, Yea, I know, 9-11.

9-11 is used as a reason for everything that goes on today.  9-11 this, 9-11 that. Put them through this, put them through that.  They want to get there quickly, flying is the only way. They will put up with it.

They cross the line again and again. Slowly take away your privacy and rights in exchange for security. You are getting neither.

They are taking away your freedom. And humiliating you at the same time.

Cancel that flight. Take a train. Drive your car.  Don't put up with this crap anymore.

Empty planes? Do you think they would notice that maybe they have stepped over the line this time. and last time, and the time before? Just maybe things would change.

Do you want to go over seas?  Take a cruise ship.  Not a vacation cruise, but a boat to get from one place to another.

I guess we have to go back to a simpler time.

Of course, unless you think it is all a good idea, until it is your turn.

Work Horse!

Work Horse

This is a copy of the art work I was given!

I have been helping out my next door neighbor with some outside work the last  few weeks. Some landscaping here and there. 

A small thing actually but with big results to the outside look of her house. She has been very happy with the effort on my part. I had volunteered. It was unexpected. I wanted to do something, expected nothing, in fact I had repeated many times nothing was expected back from her.

Instead I was bestowed a treasure of some of her art work. It is framed and ready to hang in a special place in my home. It came in a basket with other goodies, a fine book on how to draw and some of my favorite beer which will not go to waste, I can assure you. I knew she was an artist but had no clue how prolific and world renown she was.  

To walk into her house is to view an art gallery upon her walls. Stunning and mesmerizing. Her son is an artist as well. His work also adorns the walls. Art everywhere! One can not take it all in with glance.

If the art work (which is a reproduction of an original water color) is the perception of how outsiders see me, I am very pleased. I am still stunned with her generosity.  Her art is very witty, pointed commentary, droll sense of humor, a way of thinking I am very familiar with.  I told her I would write about her, which also surprised her.

Please check out her website. I think you will be pleased with your effort and time.

Rollin McGrail

rollinmcgrail.com

So You Really Want To Eat That?

Oh Yummy, Chicken Mc Nuggets.
Kids love it!
So Tasty!
So what is in a Nugget?
Chicken , right?

And?

Do you put dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent made of silicone, in your chicken dishes?

How about tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a chemical preservative so deadly that just five grams can kill you?

These are just two of the ingredients in a McDonalds Chicken McNugget. Only 50 percent of a McNugget is actually chicken. The other 50 percent includes corn derivatives, sugars, leavening agents and completely synthetic ingredients.

Some more stuff such as

"White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary).

Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.

Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent."

Antifoaming agent?

According to McDonald's, their chicken nuggets are "made with white meat, wrapped up in a crisp tempura batter." But as the article above shows, these chicken nuggets are a far cry from what you might expect, based on that description.

About half of it is actual chicken. The rest is a mix of corn-derived fillers and additives (most likely genetically modified), along with a slew of synthetic chemicals, including:

• Dimethyl polysiloxane, a type of silicone with anti-foaming properties used in cosmetics and a variety of other goods like Silly Putty
• Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a petroleum-based product with antioxidant properties

The latter, TBHQ, is typically listed as an "antioxidant," but it's important to realize it is a SYNTHETIC chemical with antioxidant properties – NOT a natural antioxidant.

The chemical prevents oxidation of fats and oils, thereby extending shelf life of processed foods. It's a commonly used ingredient in processed foods of all kinds, but you can also find it in varnishes, lacquers, pesticide products, as well as cosmetics and perfumes to reduce the evaporation rate and improve stability.

Yummy?

Any other reasons needed to not eat at Mickey D's? I guess if the only other choice is no food at all.

click on title for more information.

Today It's Your Birthday-Happy Birthday To You!!

Yep today is my birthday, November 15th, 19 something or other. Feeling older or younger, depends on my mood and the time of day. Of course I need a musical salute, so here we go!

Sunset Grill

I can't believe this song came out in 1984. it became a favorite of mine immediately. Where has the time gone?

The following tells about the grill in question, information I was unaware of until now.

Sunset Grill" is a song by Don Henley from his 1984 album Building the Perfect Beast. The song peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart in January 1985. Released as the fourth single from the album in August 1985, it peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1985.
Patty Smyth sings harmony vocals on this song, while Pino Palladino plays fretless bass. Randy Newman arranged the synthesizer programming for the song.
The title and lyrics of the song reference the Sunset Grill, a hamburger restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California.

Copyright: Warner Chappell


This song is for Deborah at Fashion Plate. I hope you like it.

You Got It

Everyone looks for that moment, or tries to find it again. It could be around the corner or right next door, but it is out there if you open your eyes and your heart once again. Then You Got It!

Politics And Me, Once Upon A Time, Part Three

Please read part one and two if you haven't already, thanks!

One note before I continue. Before the election there were meetings with various power groups who wanted to back a candidate who would vote the way they thought would be best for them. Business concerns wanted it to be known they would want influence within the city one way or another.

I did not get their backing.

There was an interview with the local major newspaper. I barely got a mention, no picture.

So here was the end result. There was a three way race for mayor.

I came in third. The winning candidate got over 5,000 votes, I got 1,000.  But money-wise, every vote was gotten at no cost dollar wise.

A funny thing happened after that. I came into the next city meeting. People made room for me to sit down. A kid came up and asked for my autograph. There was a bit of a buzz when i walked into the room. All the council members acknowledged me.

There was an attempt afterwards to start a grassroots movement to force some changes. I was asked to attend those meetings and to act in a leadership position.

I was a member of the local city chapter of the Coral Springs Democratic Club. They voted me in as the president.

One of the jobs was to bring in guest speakers and now I was in contact with the movers and shakers in the cities and county in politics.

After one of our club meetings, I was approached by a gentleman who informed me that I was being considered for bigger things down the road. I was floored.

At a state function, I met the governor of Florida. I met the local state representative and senator. When Clinton came into town, I was invited to hear him speak.

But all things must come to an end.

All this was a constant strain on my family. We worked different shifts. We had three very small  children. Getting a sitter was a problem.  My work days were very long and I was always tired. I didn't have the money or status of many people trying to succeed in politics. I ran out of gas.  I resigned all positions. I felt I had let down many people.

But I tried. I put myself in a position out of my comfort zone. I tried to improve myself. I think I did ok,  I left a small footprint. But a foot print never the less.

That is my story. I hope you liked it.

Thanks.

Politics And Me, Once Upon A Time, Part II

Please read Part One first if you haven't already. Thanks!


So I had my first get together. Who was this guy? Doesn't he know this is closed to outsiders? He doesn't have a chance.  Friends wondered WTF is he doing? Wasn't I voted mostly Likely to......no I was never voted most likely anything by anyone.

The invitations started to come in by various groups around the city, various civic groups, lodges and such. In the mean time, I went to city hall (had to find it first) walked in to the council meeting area, saw the chairs and sat in the one for the mayor. It felt just right! I imagined how it would be. Back to work.

All the while I had to rebuild a store I was given, another Color Tile store to manage. Combining the two would prove a challenge.

All in all, I gave over 26 talks, speaking engagements, without the rubber chicken dinners. I existed solely on many cups of high octane coffee. My days turned into 14-16 hour days, It was quite exhausting!

My crowning moment came with my last talk. It was televised on the local cable channel to the whole city. It consisted of a moderator asking all the candidates, three for mayor and four I think for some open council seats, a series of questions, each of us taking our turn.

I later saw myself on TV. I looked calm, but in reality my mind was racing a mile a minute trying to figure out what to say without sounding like an idiot. I had no prep for the questions and was relying on my salesman speaking to pull me through. Hanging by my fingertips!

It was over. I was on fumes. I didn't want to say another word to anyone.

The running around was over.

It was election night.

To be continued.

Politics And Me, Once Upon A Time.....Part one

We had moved down from Chicago in 1988. At the time I was working for Color Tile, having managed one store up north, we had embarked on a new and difficult adventure in South Florida, a family of four and soon one more on the way.

It was the move to Coral Springs that started it all for me. The people running the city were, with a few exceptions a mess, incompetent, and embarrassment to the city and a laughing stock in the newspapers.

I wondered if I could do better.

I knew no one. I had no money. I worked long hours daily. My wife didn't think much of the idea.

The odds were against me.

Perfect.

I walked into the local chamber of commerce and announced my intentions. I fumbled my way through the election process. The filing fee was $450. I didn't have the money. I had to borrow the money from Mom!

Now understand this, one normally has the backing of many people to raise funds, learn the topics, election signs to be bought, and many people to keep up your spirits for the long hall.

I had no one.

The first get together the city had to meet everyone I walked in alone. I felt myself shaking, A huge knot formed in my throat as I walked into the room. I shook hands, introducing myself. The first test.

My political career had started.

Did I mention I was running for mayor?

To be continued.

Did You Vote? Did It Matter?

Did you vote, I did. Did it matter, I don't know. Yes, it was part of the vote count, a bit of democracy acted out on my part.

But as one gets older, one notices that the differences between the parties gets slimmer each time there is an election. Politics has become the politics of do nothing. Everyone promises what they can't deliver.

One tunes out the rhetoric of the other side. But it becomes like ones horoscope, mix it up and you still think it is about you.

Bills are proposed, no one reads them, Bills are voted on, no one read them. Money, hate, love and war.

I could go on, but why. We will do this again in 2 years. The anger, the desperation, my party is better then yours. Really?

That is like being the smartest stooge.

What is the point to it all?

Ah, The Married Life

Guess which one is the husband.....

Let me tell you about that husband of mine
















We just want to hang out with the boys and have some fun

Pieces Of The Puzzle

What I have noticed from all the reading I do of the different blogs and posts is that all are affected by a number of things in life,some very good and wonderful,  some emotional, some physical, sometime self inflicted, some times victim of abuse and many other things that happen that shape the way we are and what we have become today.

Not all things that happen are bad, it is just more noticeable. Like the fact that a car accident gets your attention, not the fact that you made it to work without incident.

Nobody is left out. Slights and hurts while growing up or a helpful hand, someone showing the way, it all counts.

There may be triggers that send one spiraling out of control for the rest of your life. Or an act of kindness that corrects the path one is on and pushes you on to a type of greatness one could only hope to achieve, something that would be read about in a fairy tale.

A lack of respect may spur you on to greatness, a mean comment could trigger problems that never go away.

People are fragile, wrapped in a shell of self confidence, or a monument of self doubt which  has been built over the years. Can a moment in life open the doors to a mental or physical frailty?  Or close the doors on a chance at greatness? The possibility does exist.

An affliction can hinder ones self growth, building a wall around a chance for self improvement. Something not diagnosed makes one feel ostracized without not knowing why.

This post does not offer answers, but does pose many questions,and a sense of wonderment on why things are like they are.  Do I have issues? Of course, I am human too.

It all counts, it is all pieces of the puzzle that make us what we are.