Showing posts with label Ramble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ramble. Show all posts

Monday, August 10, 2015

On being asked "What did you do this summer?"

30 years ago, in 1985, I was working for the South Portland, Maine School Department.  I worked in the Business Office where we worked 52 weeks a year.  Every year when the teachers came back one or more of them would ask "that" question; I finally wrote the poem to pass out.

 
What do you do in the summer?
 
Some people ask us what we do when school closes,
  so let me tell you of our bed of roses.
It's not just play, work, sing and laugh,
  they even cut our lunch hour in half.
 
Ralphs out combing the bushes for help,
  and looking to sea in big beds of kelp;
looking to see who's beating a path,
   to our doors wanting to be his better half.
If he doesn't show soon we'll see better days,
  when Ralph goes on Vacation and stays.
 
Lee guards the parking lot chasing off golfers,
  even old ladies with nine irons, and walkers.
He makes many trips to old City Hall,
  the path is well beaten well before fall.
A rumor floats 'round here in the air,
  that South Portland soon will have a new mayor.
 
Ellen's all smiles, and eager to please;
  her new boss is coming, wonder if he swings from trees?
She's very crafty and really thinks BIG,
  spends hours and hours stitching a pig.
 
Fran's out back processing words,
  tells the rest of us it's for the birds.
She wears pretty skirts, and a prettier blouse,
  get down from the chair Fran, it's not that kind of mouse.
 
Judy's been on vacation down at the beach,
  forgot the beeper, real hard to reach.
She's dropping off weight, losing a bunch,
  she still can remember that good Portsmouth lunch.

Elinor takes care of some summer pay,
  I wonder if maybe my check's here today?
She's the one that dishes out what we take,
  then she goes home to her house on the lake.
Now, Elinor, please I know this is awful,
  but there's been a change.  I can't cash a waffle.

Dot Lee's been here seems like all summer,
  but without her it would be a real bummer.
She type's up PO's by the dozen - no by the gross,
  I'll bet she's typed way more than most.
But she keeps out mouths working and stuffin'
  keep it up Dot, make me a muffin.

Jackie's been typing up PO's too,
  she's a real pro, one of us few.
She's very soon moving, and she needs more boxes,
  for Wisconsin apples and famous French loxes.

Hope's been in here scrubbing up walls,
  watch out for her ladder before someone falls.
The windows are clean and the floor is all shiny,
  but you'd better watch out - the toilets all slimy.

This is me Larry, who's writing all this,
  it's just my way of throwing you all a good kiss.
The poem is long and maybe downright sloppy,
  but I just finished stapling "Students Welcome" - 4 millionth copy.

So when someone asks you what you did this summer,
  just smile and look happy and no ones the dumber.
Say we all went to market, and bet on a hunch,
  so we could all enjoy our one half hour lunch!
 



Sunday, January 4, 2015

The geezers days off

  The geezer has pneumonia and little energy.  I'll take a couple of days off.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Beautiful music, made the old way - real old

Shaping up the Cello
Photo: Gabor Degre, Bangor Daily News
  In the City of Bangor, Maine a craftsman plies his trade the old way.  Nathan Slabodkin has made violins, cellos and violas in a time honored fashion.
  The cello being built now is made to a plan formed by Giuseppe Guamen del Gesu in 1731.  In musical instruments doing things "the old way" is found to be best.  The cello here won't be an exact replica but the plans are being used "to do things right".
  Please use the link to view the entire process: http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/bangor-violin-maker-creates-unique-new-instruments-using-very-old-techniques/
Closer to the finish
Photo: Gabor Degre, Bangor Daily News

Friday, January 2, 2015

Watch out! Danger!

Taking a huge risk
Photo: www.pak101.com
  You see that guy?  He is not a real electrician.  Someone else I know also wanted to be an electrician, he work with electricians every day for years, but he couldn't pass the test.
  My friend Roger is a licensed Master Electrician, my brother Lysle is a licensed Master Electrician.  Those two could be trusted with projects that would scare the crap out of the rest of us.  Both are now retired but keep taking the test and paying the License Fee.
  The wannabe?  No such luck.  He just goes around pretending to be whatever each day.
Illustration: www.cafepress.com
Wanders!  see it's already gone

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Somebody could get hurt

First of all Happy New Year.  I have some hope of progress this year, I might have more hope if it were a wee bit warmer - but this is January and it ain't going to happen.

Norton was a bit upset when he arrived yesterday at coffee.  Roger asked him if he'd seen any flying objects.  What Norton really wanted to do was jump out of a high window.  But fearing he'd get hurt he decided to go to the basement and pull himself out of one of those windows.  It wouldn't hurt!

Enjoy the day and we'll all hope for something better for this year.  Maybe the U S Congress will do something, anything in harmony.  That's a crazy thought right there.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

He called it The Flash!

A Meteor during the 2009 Leonid shower - click to enlarge
Photo: www.wikipedia.org
  Yesterday at coffee Norton came in.  He was all excited about The Flash.  He claims to have been walking his dogs in the field at his home when he saw it.  He told us it was 100 feet off the ground and as big as a battleship!  It would have been about 4:30AM he said.
  In all truth a meteor was seen in some parts of Maine about 6:30PM the previous evening, but that's not what he saw, nor is it what he said.  Norton has a way off putting news items in the first person if you will.  Or, often, he just makes things up.
  Now, I'll also submit that a large hole opened on Hammond Street in Bangor (just in the area of yesterdays blog) early in the morning yesterday.  Public Works officials blame a sewer pipe or collector from the 1800s.  I wonder if The Flash fell to earth seconds after being seen in Glenburn.
News Article on www.cnn.com - click to enlarge

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Fire traps and eyesores

The Hayford property at Hammond and Franklin
Photo: Courtesy of Dick Shaw via Bangor Daily News
  The people in the City of Bangor, Maine were worried in 1914 about the condition of some buildings in the City which were dilapidated and a danger.  The City had experience a terrific fire in 1911 and people were jumpy.
  The property in the photo was a topic of discussion among some.  Owned by the Hayford Estate, a wealthy family of the former Mayor, the property had already had a shed burn and people were nervous about the remainder.  The Hayford family responded by moving in a couple of sons of the family so it would be secured as a residence.  It didn't work.  The buildings were torn down, eventually, and replaced.
  That corner became the home of the District Court which is now the U S Post Office, the court having moved to new digs in 2012.
  I should note that the City of Bangor is once again in the process of tearing down firetraps.  There's a cycle you know.
  Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2014/12/21/living/downtown-fire-traps-eye-sores-bothered-bangoreans/

Monday, December 29, 2014

Dependability is 100 years old

1914 Dodge Brothers Model 30
Photo: Dodge Photos
  Dependability has been a word for 100 years.  Really.  The word was "coined" by an advertising man, Theodore McManus, in advertising for the Dodge Brothers new model.
  Using a process known as anthimeria Mr. McManus combined the words depend and ability and the new word was born.
  My own experience with Dodge was in the Navy and a fleet of delivery trucks (like bread trucks) with the slant six engines.  My men weren't easy on the trucks but they lasted and lasted.  I've owned 3 or 4 Dodge cars my favorite ,a Neon, was totaled by my lovely wife Linda one winter day.  All of those were good cars.
1964 Dodge Dart - click to enlarge
Photo: Dodge Photos

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Naked fishing to start Winter Season; and more.

Sunset in the Bangor area for the Winter Solstice
Photo: Mark Silk via Bangor PD Facebook 
  Mark Silk works for the Maine State Police as a photographer.  He also carries a personal camera and he has some free time too.  He took this photo as a "start of Winter" series.
And some people tried to fish naked
Photo: AdamDanielson via Bangor Daily News blog
  And for others there were a variety of starts.  The naked fishing seems to be the most outrageous.  We also had a number of "polar dips" as fund raisers on the first day of Winter.  Maybe I'll try this only in August.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

More ads, more stuff

There's an ad on TV now that I'm sure most of you have seen.  The product is Theraflu and it's that time of year.  It's a good product; I've used it myself.
The ad features an adult man who appears to be a giant in a play house.  He is very ill, red under the nostrils, fever and all.
The man calls his doctor and receives a same day appointment (a miracle in itself).  He is prescribed the Theraflu and upon returning home he takes the first capsule.  Immediately he smiles.  Just swallowed the first capsule and he's healed.  That's some powerful stuff!

I wish there was a product like that for itching!  The Lichen planus is spreading and it itches all the time.  The few products I use aren't a lot of help, but worth using.  I'm open to ideas.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Warm Christmas in Maine

Sunset in Bangor Maine 12-25-14
Photo: Ashley Conti, Bangor Daily News
Photo taken from Brewer, Maine
  It reached 54 degrees on Christmas Day 2014, a new record.  We all know that the "normal" weather isn't far behind, Money I believe.
  I suppose we could have enjoyed to temps except that it rained most of the day, 1.34 inches,  the sun made its appearance about 3:00PM.
  There have been a few times, all recent, where the weather has run amuck of normal.  Normal being ice skating on the ponds and sleds on the hills.  Not this year though.
Sunset through the spruce, or is it fir?
Photo: Ashley Conti, Bangor Daily News

Thursday, December 25, 2014

It's Christmas day, already.

Our tree in 2009
Decorated and Photo by Linda Grant
  Well, we made it to Christmas Day, 2014.
and none of us know yet, what's the final score.
So, go and enjoy this day, in whichever way,
that suits you and yours, and I'm sure you will say;
well, we made it to Christmas Day.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Tipping (the Maine way)

Forest Ranger Hammond checks for tipping
Photo: Tristan Spinski for the New York Times
  Forest Rangers in Washington County are busy the last couple of months each year watching for "tippers".  That's not folks eating in restaurants although they tip too.  Tipping in this part of the world means taking the tips of branches from fir trees to make Christmas Wreaths.  Tippers are people who gather the brush for the wreath industry.  Tippers need a permit from the land owners to gather the tips.  Forest Rangers are on the lookout for people without a permit.
  In Washington County (the real Downeast Maine) people mostly earn their income from seasonal jobs, the work in lobster factories, working the blueberry harvest, and tipping.  Tippers who are hard workers can earn up to $500.00 a day for a ton of brush.  You see their product when you watch the news and see wreaths on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery.
  Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tree-tipping-generates-cash-and-seasonal-woes-in-maine/ar-BBha0FZ

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

As the crow flies

The shortest way there, that works for me,
whatever else could there possibly be?
I don't want to walk from here to the moon,
I just want to get there.  And very soon.

Why do they build all these sidewalks like this?
What could be possibly wrong? Shortness is bliss.
It doesn't matter if we cross some guys lawn,
why that son-of-a-gun would be better if gone.

I'll just go ahead, one little bit don't matter!
If I can't go the shortest way, I'll be mad as a hatter.
I know you're not supposed to go that way,
but what can that property owner possibly say"

It's human nature, this thing "desire path",
we'll go out of the way to cause someone's wrath.
It as the crow flies or it's no way at all,
just another path so the human race can fall.

Desire path.
Photo: www.ubagram.net

Monday, December 22, 2014

Cross between a noodle and the moon?

It's named for the moon coming over the hill,
you just see the top and it gives you a thrill.
We all have a part of the very same moon,
and it always looks like it will all be up soon.

 
It's named for the Luna a name we all know
and it's only real purpose seems to be show.
It's right at your finger tips or very near so,
the Lunule is on your nails.  It stays as they grow.

Lunule (see it?)
www.fr.wikipedia.org

Sunday, December 21, 2014

I want to kiss your purlicue....

I want to kiss your purlicue,
it is a very part of you.
That little piece that you see,
more of it than you see me.

Sometimes it's dirty or warm with sweat,
and at other times as clean as it can get.
Oh, that sweet little piece of flesh,
with it my lips want to mesh.

What is that little purlicue?
That makes me want to do to you.
It is the little "web" that lingers,
between your thumb and your fingers!


Purlicue
Photo: www.answers.com

Saturday, December 20, 2014

It's a what?

  The New Orleans Pelicans, a team in the NBA, has a player named Anthony Davis.  He's a star player and has won awards each year he has played.  He is usually the player with the highest score each game as well as rebounds.  But he has, or doesn't have, on feature that makes him stand out.  He has no glabella.   He has been made fun of because of the lack of on of these.  Sports announcers may say something like "...Davis had 28 points and 12 rebounds and one eyebrow...  
Glabella, the space between eyebrows
Photo: www.innatebeauty.com
  Did you ever see something that looked like a human butt?  Bumps on a tree, pumpkin or a rock.  Quite common in nature the forms are called natiform.  Now we've probably never used that word, but it's there, someone must use it.
Natiform
Photo: www.

Friday, December 19, 2014

That's a lot of money for a VW, but...

A 1955 Volkswagen 23 window bus (not the subject)
Photo: www.kimballstock.com
  Recently, at auction, a bus similar to the photo sold for $245,000.00.  The 1955 VW bus, 23 windows and all was fully restored.  Torn down piece by piece all parts were fully restored, so maybe it was a fair price.  It was a lot of work after all.  And this is a highly collectable and sought after model.
  Read more: https://autos.yahoo.com/news/vw-bus-sells-for-a-groovy--235-000-013502036.html
The Spartan interior (actual bus)
Photo: www.autos.yahoo.com
Engine in the rear and a spare tire too!
Photo: www.autos.yahoo.com

Thursday, December 18, 2014

What about this?

You know, there's not much to write about, on days like this,
now it's still snowing, not much you see, but it didn't miss.
Just enough of it so a cleanup is in the works,
those lying "weathermen"! What a bunch of jerks.

When they say "it's a total miss" then you should look out,
because, you see, those kinds of storms, carry quite a clout.
This one is kind of tiny when measured up against the rest,
Ol' Man Winter hasn't given us his very, very best.

So I'll go about my business, coffee and a list.
And if I'm gone an extra hour that is time not missed.
Go get the broom and shovel, oh, and take out the trash,
it's just a little snow.  No call for something rash.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Can I remember and remember when

Ladies sell Christmas Seals in Bangor, Maine 1952
Photo: Spike Webb, Bangor Daily News
 
  Christmas Seals started to be sold to fight Tuberculosis and to help fund Sanatoriums around the Country.  The Organization currently operates as the American Lung Association which promotes lung health and helps fund the fight against lung cancers.
Christmas shoppers in Downtown Bangor 1954
Photo: Paul Marcoux, Bangor Daily News
  Shopping at W T Grant and Co. stores was a big deal in the 50's and 60's.  The company simply "overbuilt".  Makes me wonder about Wal-Mart, will they ever overbuild?
Hope
Photo: Yahoo Sports
  Yes! Baseball season is only a few short years (I mean months) away.
  Now, what happened yesterday:  I was rushed for time, sort of and I simply forgot.  I know, I know that's hard to believe, but it's true.  I did remember after I'd driven about five miles towards town.  Oh well.  And....the cell phone works fine; it was an "ownership" problem