Vagabondism #89 "The opposite of good isn’t evil. The opposite of good is good-and-evil."
http://tinyurl.com/6xvgzz8
Monday, July 4, 2011
I'm A Yankee Doodle
It's not enough to get the breaks, you gotta know how to use 'em.
Huey Long
*****************
THE DAY I HALTED THE PARADE
------------------------------------------
It was the Fourth of July back in the early 50's. I was living in a small town, a suburb of New York City. I managed to scrape enough money together delivering papers to buy a uniform, so I joined the Boy Scouts.
I knew there was going to be a parade down main street ad that the Boy Scouts were invited to march in it. At first I was reluctant to join them. It was a holiday, a day off, a day to relax, take it easy, listen to the radio and do nothing. But eventually I decided to go, so I put on my uniform and went downtown. That was my first mistake. When I got there the parade was about to start. I found where the scouts were lined up on a side street and got on the back of the line.
Mr. Tuttle was the town recreation director for school kids. He was the one who took care of our summer programs, took us to the ballpark and kept his eye on us in the playground. On this day he came up to me at the back of the line and asked me to come with him. I did. That was my second mistake.
Whether it was because I was taller than the other scouts, or whether he wanted to honor me (which I doubt) or whether it was my diabolical destiny, he said "I want you to carry the American flag."
I was taken to the very front of the parade and given a leather brace with a cup to hold the bottom of the flag pole and the flag. I took it. That was my third mistake. It was a heavy flag with gold braids hanging from it and at the very top a golden eagle.
Next to me was someone I didn't know carrying the New York State flag. Behind me was the high school marching band. Behind them was an open air car with the mayor and some other dignitaries. Then came a float from the Kiwanis Club, a fire engine loaded down with children. Then I think I saw some baton twirlers but I don't remember what else was back there. Soon everyone was in place, Mr. Tuttle gave the signal, the band began to play "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and we started marching all together, proudly down Main Street.. But the parade went for less than 50 feet before it came to an abrupt halt.
There were only a few trees hanging over the main street of that town, but I immediately found one. The eagle on the top of the flag pole got tangled up in it's branches and would not shake loose. I pulled, tugged and twisted. No good.
Mr. Tuttle and one of the other men came up, They pulled, tugged and twisted. No good. The eagle had landed.
A shop keeper came out with a step ladder, but even standing on the top of it he couldn't reach the eagle. Meanwhile the band was playing through it's whole repertory of Sousa marches.
Finally somebody produced an A ladder, set it up, climbed it and freed the eagle. After waiting for them to take down the ladder and carry it away, the parade went on to entertain the curious and frustrated spectators.
When we reached the village green, I surrendered the flag and went home, which is where I should have been in the first place.
Since that embarrassing day no one has ever asked me to carry the American flag, or any other flag. Which is just as well.
DB - Vagabond Journeys
**************************
WEEKEND PUZZLE FOR THE DANCE OF THE INDEPENDENTS
All of these questions have to do with United States history.
(Wikipedia here they come.)
1. In which hand does the Statue of Liberty hold the torch?
2. Who was Martha Skelton?
3. Which was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
4. Who was Emma Lazarus?
5. What happened on Christmas, 1776?
6. Who was Alexandre Eiffel?
7. Which was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
8. Who was Martha Custis?
9. How many stripes on the US flag are red?
10. Who was Frederic Bartholdi?
11. What does the Statue of Liberty hold in her other hand?
Good luck
********************
SUMMER QUESTION
It's a long, hot, sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question for you. Don't let the recent New York State decision rob you of your thunder.
Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
dbdacoba@aol.com
7 answers so far.
You have until the last day of summer, but don't dally.
I eagerly await your answer.
DB
************************
Huey Long
*****************
THE DAY I HALTED THE PARADE
------------------------------------------
It was the Fourth of July back in the early 50's. I was living in a small town, a suburb of New York City. I managed to scrape enough money together delivering papers to buy a uniform, so I joined the Boy Scouts.
I knew there was going to be a parade down main street ad that the Boy Scouts were invited to march in it. At first I was reluctant to join them. It was a holiday, a day off, a day to relax, take it easy, listen to the radio and do nothing. But eventually I decided to go, so I put on my uniform and went downtown. That was my first mistake. When I got there the parade was about to start. I found where the scouts were lined up on a side street and got on the back of the line.
Mr. Tuttle was the town recreation director for school kids. He was the one who took care of our summer programs, took us to the ballpark and kept his eye on us in the playground. On this day he came up to me at the back of the line and asked me to come with him. I did. That was my second mistake.
Whether it was because I was taller than the other scouts, or whether he wanted to honor me (which I doubt) or whether it was my diabolical destiny, he said "I want you to carry the American flag."
I was taken to the very front of the parade and given a leather brace with a cup to hold the bottom of the flag pole and the flag. I took it. That was my third mistake. It was a heavy flag with gold braids hanging from it and at the very top a golden eagle.
Next to me was someone I didn't know carrying the New York State flag. Behind me was the high school marching band. Behind them was an open air car with the mayor and some other dignitaries. Then came a float from the Kiwanis Club, a fire engine loaded down with children. Then I think I saw some baton twirlers but I don't remember what else was back there. Soon everyone was in place, Mr. Tuttle gave the signal, the band began to play "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and we started marching all together, proudly down Main Street.. But the parade went for less than 50 feet before it came to an abrupt halt.
There were only a few trees hanging over the main street of that town, but I immediately found one. The eagle on the top of the flag pole got tangled up in it's branches and would not shake loose. I pulled, tugged and twisted. No good.
Mr. Tuttle and one of the other men came up, They pulled, tugged and twisted. No good. The eagle had landed.
A shop keeper came out with a step ladder, but even standing on the top of it he couldn't reach the eagle. Meanwhile the band was playing through it's whole repertory of Sousa marches.
Finally somebody produced an A ladder, set it up, climbed it and freed the eagle. After waiting for them to take down the ladder and carry it away, the parade went on to entertain the curious and frustrated spectators.
When we reached the village green, I surrendered the flag and went home, which is where I should have been in the first place.
Since that embarrassing day no one has ever asked me to carry the American flag, or any other flag. Which is just as well.
DB - Vagabond Journeys
**************************
WEEKEND PUZZLE FOR THE DANCE OF THE INDEPENDENTS
All of these questions have to do with United States history.
(Wikipedia here they come.)
1. In which hand does the Statue of Liberty hold the torch?
2. Who was Martha Skelton?
3. Which was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
4. Who was Emma Lazarus?
5. What happened on Christmas, 1776?
6. Who was Alexandre Eiffel?
7. Which was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
8. Who was Martha Custis?
9. How many stripes on the US flag are red?
10. Who was Frederic Bartholdi?
11. What does the Statue of Liberty hold in her other hand?
Good luck
********************
SUMMER QUESTION
It's a long, hot, sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question for you. Don't let the recent New York State decision rob you of your thunder.
Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
dbdacoba@aol.com
7 answers so far.
You have until the last day of summer, but don't dally.
I eagerly await your answer.
DB
************************
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Vagabondism 88
Vagabondism #88 "If your life is true, strong and innocent it can pass through the lives of evil men and still remain pure."
http://vagabondjottings.blogspot.com/
http://vagabondjottings.blogspot.com/
Freedom Fun
Idleness is not doing nothing. Idleness is being free to do anything.
Floyd Dell
*********************
Ah, the weekend, time off, a holiday, a vacation. There will be relaxing in the summer sun, cavorting on the beach, splashing in the ocean or the pool. There will be the barbecue, the fire works, the fire crackers, the sound of fire engine sirens, dancing under the stars to your favorite tunes. There will be parades. There will be good food, good company, good conversation. There will be visits with the in laws and the outlaws. The will be great exhausting fun. There will be drinks and laughs. There will be challenges and games. There will be romance. There will be tears. There will be all the things that humans can think of to have a good time because that's what a holiday is for.
As for me, my rent is paid, my refrigerator is full, my birds are fed, I have my coffee, my cigarettes, my books, a bottle of wine, my computer is up and running and I'm feeling okay in my aloneness.
I wish everyone the very best of holiday bliss.
---------------------------------------------------
Never give up.
DB
Vagabond Journeys
***********************
WEEKEND PUZZLE FOR THE DANCE OF THE INDEPENDENT
All of these questions have to do with United States history.
(Wikipedia here they come.)
1. In which hand does the Statue of Liberty hold the torch?
2. Who was Martha Skelton?
3. Which was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
4. Who was Emma Lazarus?
5. What happened on Christmas, 1776?
6. Who was Alexandre Eiffel?
7. Which was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
8. Who was Martha Custis?
9. How many stripes on the US flag are red?
10. Who was Frederic Bartholdi?
11. What does the Statue of Liberty hold in her other hand?
Good luck
********************
SUMMER QUESTION
It's a long, hot, sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question for you. Don't let the recent New York State decision rob you of your thunder.
Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
dbdacoba@aol.com
7 answers so far.
You have until the last day of summer, but don't dally.
I eagerly await your answer.
DB
************************
Floyd Dell
*********************
Ah, the weekend, time off, a holiday, a vacation. There will be relaxing in the summer sun, cavorting on the beach, splashing in the ocean or the pool. There will be the barbecue, the fire works, the fire crackers, the sound of fire engine sirens, dancing under the stars to your favorite tunes. There will be parades. There will be good food, good company, good conversation. There will be visits with the in laws and the outlaws. The will be great exhausting fun. There will be drinks and laughs. There will be challenges and games. There will be romance. There will be tears. There will be all the things that humans can think of to have a good time because that's what a holiday is for.
As for me, my rent is paid, my refrigerator is full, my birds are fed, I have my coffee, my cigarettes, my books, a bottle of wine, my computer is up and running and I'm feeling okay in my aloneness.
I wish everyone the very best of holiday bliss.
---------------------------------------------------
Never give up.
DB
Vagabond Journeys
***********************
WEEKEND PUZZLE FOR THE DANCE OF THE INDEPENDENT
All of these questions have to do with United States history.
(Wikipedia here they come.)
1. In which hand does the Statue of Liberty hold the torch?
2. Who was Martha Skelton?
3. Which was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
4. Who was Emma Lazarus?
5. What happened on Christmas, 1776?
6. Who was Alexandre Eiffel?
7. Which was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
8. Who was Martha Custis?
9. How many stripes on the US flag are red?
10. Who was Frederic Bartholdi?
11. What does the Statue of Liberty hold in her other hand?
Good luck
********************
SUMMER QUESTION
It's a long, hot, sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question for you. Don't let the recent New York State decision rob you of your thunder.
Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
dbdacoba@aol.com
7 answers so far.
You have until the last day of summer, but don't dally.
I eagerly await your answer.
DB
************************
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Vagabondism 87
Vagabondism #87 "Sometimes we are ignorant, and sometimes we are wise. We must be forgiven for both."
dbdacoba@aol.com
dbdacoba@aol.com
Mending
If you tell the truth about how you're feeling, it becomes funny.
Larry David
********************
I am better today. The fight is to beat back the intruders and return to the aches and pains I'm used to. I am very thankful for all the good wishes I received from the readers of my journal. They were very helpful.
Tuesday and Wednesday I was useless. I couldn't spend more than a few minutes at the computer and I had a hard time maintaining a vertical position most of the time. Thursday, thanks to my neighbor, I made it to Walmart to buy some seed and a whistling kettle. I staggered around the place painfully until I found the kettle and then bought two large bags of seed.
I felt sorry for the birds since I imagined they must have some full nests of wide mouthed young ones somewhere. Friday morning, as soon as I was sufficiently awake, I filled the feeder and within a half hour there was a full frontal attack upon it by finches and other small feathered aircraft. And they let me know about it. Not exactly shock and awe, but close.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening.
When I got the whistling kettle home the first thing I found out is that it doesn't whistle. Beside the fact that we all need bells and whistles in our lives, why do I need a kettle that whistles? I am a senior citizen. I do NOT leave my keys in the refrigerator, I do NOT write my rent check and forget to mail it and I do NOT take off my shoes and put them in the trash. But I DO put the kettle on and forget about it. It merrily boils away, silently. So far I haven't burned out the bottom of the kettle or set fire to the house.
It's an old kettle and it used to whistle, but one night some scoundrel snuck in while I was asleep and stole the whistle. (I suspect Ken Riches. That would have been the same night that rascal hid my mouse pad under the table.) So it's back to the old kettle and me.
In Bangkok, at twelve o'clock, they foam at the mouth and run,
But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
So yesterday afternoon I risked it and walked the four blocks to my tobacconist to get my fix and to cash in my $6 lottery ticket (WOW). I took my cane but didn't really need it until the last block or so on the way back. There is some shade on the way and a very small, pocket park with benches, trees and a fountain, one of the few rest stops left in Bristol. It has become a regular stopping off place for me.
So, though not completely back to normal, whatever that is, I feel ornery enough to annoy you with a big weekend puzzle contest.
Never give up.
DB - The Vagabond
***********************
WEEKEND PUZZLE FOR THE DANCE OF THE INDEPEN
All of these questions have to do with United States history.
(Wikipedia here they come.)
1. In which hand does the Statue of Liberty hold the torch?
2. Who was Martha Skelton?
3. Which was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
4. Who was Emma Lazarus?
5. What happened on Christmas, 1776?
6. Who was Alexandre Eiffel?
7. Which was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
8. Who was Martha Custis?
9. How many stripes on the US flag are red?
10. Who was Frederic Bartholdi?
11. What does the Statue of Liberty hold in her other hand?
Good luck
********************
SUMMER QUESTION
It's a long, hot, sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question for you. Don't let the recent New York State decision rob you of your thunder.
Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
dbdacoba@aol.com
7 answers so far.
You have until the last day of summer, but don't dally.
I eagerly await your answer.
DB
************************
Larry David
********************
I am better today. The fight is to beat back the intruders and return to the aches and pains I'm used to. I am very thankful for all the good wishes I received from the readers of my journal. They were very helpful.
Tuesday and Wednesday I was useless. I couldn't spend more than a few minutes at the computer and I had a hard time maintaining a vertical position most of the time. Thursday, thanks to my neighbor, I made it to Walmart to buy some seed and a whistling kettle. I staggered around the place painfully until I found the kettle and then bought two large bags of seed.
I felt sorry for the birds since I imagined they must have some full nests of wide mouthed young ones somewhere. Friday morning, as soon as I was sufficiently awake, I filled the feeder and within a half hour there was a full frontal attack upon it by finches and other small feathered aircraft. And they let me know about it. Not exactly shock and awe, but close.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening.
When I got the whistling kettle home the first thing I found out is that it doesn't whistle. Beside the fact that we all need bells and whistles in our lives, why do I need a kettle that whistles? I am a senior citizen. I do NOT leave my keys in the refrigerator, I do NOT write my rent check and forget to mail it and I do NOT take off my shoes and put them in the trash. But I DO put the kettle on and forget about it. It merrily boils away, silently. So far I haven't burned out the bottom of the kettle or set fire to the house.
It's an old kettle and it used to whistle, but one night some scoundrel snuck in while I was asleep and stole the whistle. (I suspect Ken Riches. That would have been the same night that rascal hid my mouse pad under the table.) So it's back to the old kettle and me.
In Bangkok, at twelve o'clock, they foam at the mouth and run,
But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
So yesterday afternoon I risked it and walked the four blocks to my tobacconist to get my fix and to cash in my $6 lottery ticket (WOW). I took my cane but didn't really need it until the last block or so on the way back. There is some shade on the way and a very small, pocket park with benches, trees and a fountain, one of the few rest stops left in Bristol. It has become a regular stopping off place for me.
So, though not completely back to normal, whatever that is, I feel ornery enough to annoy you with a big weekend puzzle contest.
Never give up.
DB - The Vagabond
***********************
WEEKEND PUZZLE FOR THE DANCE OF THE INDEPEN
All of these questions have to do with United States history.
(Wikipedia here they come.)
1. In which hand does the Statue of Liberty hold the torch?
2. Who was Martha Skelton?
3. Which was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
4. Who was Emma Lazarus?
5. What happened on Christmas, 1776?
6. Who was Alexandre Eiffel?
7. Which was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution?
8. Who was Martha Custis?
9. How many stripes on the US flag are red?
10. Who was Frederic Bartholdi?
11. What does the Statue of Liberty hold in her other hand?
Good luck
********************
SUMMER QUESTION
It's a long, hot, sticky summer, so here's a hot, sticky question for you. Don't let the recent New York State decision rob you of your thunder.
Same sex marriage. Should it be legal or not? If so, why? If not, why not?
dbdacoba@aol.com
7 answers so far.
You have until the last day of summer, but don't dally.
I eagerly await your answer.
DB
************************
Friday, July 1, 2011
- 1/2 -
Thank you for all the well wishing. I am a bit better today. I couldn't even sit at the computer for more than a minute on Wednesday. I did make it out to Walmart yesterday for bird seed and a whistling kettle to replace the old one which stopped whistling a long time ago. But alas the brand new Walmart whistling kettle doesn't whistle. I washed it out, put some water in it, put it on the fire and let it boil. Nothing. Silence. It looks real cure sitting on the stove, but it's useless to me. How sad.
At least the birds will get fed. I won't make it back to Walmart for a couple of weeks. I will go for a walk today to see how I do and if it goes well I'll be providing you with more verbose and purple prose on Saturday.
DB
*****************
At least the birds will get fed. I won't make it back to Walmart for a couple of weeks. I will go for a walk today to see how I do and if it goes well I'll be providing you with more verbose and purple prose on Saturday.
DB
*****************
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)