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1) I LOVE reading about how marvelously THIS world has become BIZARRO WORLD.
2) The cats need something to put on the floor around their litterpan.
With that said, let's proceed WITH caution today and observe the unposted speed limits, because we never know WHAT idiot is lurking around the next corner...fair enough?
*** Today is the SUMMER SOLSTICE (and the druids are happier than pigs in sh*t, I suppose)
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From here, they only get shorter (again) folks...until the winter solstice
Now, there IS a high-falootin' explanation for all of this, and can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_solstice
It's also one of FOUR of the EQUINOXES that occur every year (this one being the SUMMER one - how convenient)
Amazing how that works out...
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Yeah, WAY back in 1997, Wifey decided to see how it would be to lasso herself to this old fart.
Tell 'ya one thing...it's NOT been all that boring!
We don't really "plan" anything...we just WING IT.
Traditionally-speaking (because I CAN speak "Traditional" as well as a little Chinese, Spanish, and German) I'm supposed to get something IVORY in nature.
Okay, so let's run down the "list"...
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Strike that one.
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-- Another gift is AGATE.
We have TWO gates, and not just A gate.
(oh, you mean the OTHER agate, like the gemstone, pronounced "aggit"...got it)
Pass on that.
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-- How about "vegetable" IVORY?
Also called the TAGUA PALM NUT (of South America).
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It IS considered a HARD NUT (again with the innuendos), which means cracking it will be problematic (sounds just like our GOVERNMENT in some perverted way, doesn't it?) at best.
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(that just does NOT sound right one damn bit)
Gonna take a pass on this one, for obvious reasons.
-- You're gonna love this one...GOLD is also considered a 14th anniversary gift.
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That doesn't seem right either...'ya gotta do a "50" with gold...like "25" with silver and "75" with diamonds.
But as a 14th year gift?
Nah...actually getting gold would be more of a NECESSITY these days, considering the devaluing of OUR currency (thanks George Soros...you bastage) Strike that one from the list.
I'm still liking the SOAP idea...
-- They DO have "resin-ivory" fountain pens...
Nah, that won't work...Wifey has trouble keeping the cheapy BIC pens she already has (and often borrows one from me at the store), so why get a nice pen she'll misplace. Now, if it came with a NECK LANYARD...that "might" work.
And then the police would find me strangled with said lanyard.
(at least I wouldn't be so confused about NEXT year's gift, right?)
Ahh...WTH. Let's just go ahead and "wing it" again...more spontaneous and "fun" that way.
(besides, Wifey has QVC, HSN, and the JEWELRY CHANNEL to watch...she might find something there...again...this week...for the 6th time)
Ahhh, the days of young love...were DID they go?
Meanwhile...back at the Fortress...
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Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110621/NEWS03/306219946
And that reactor in NJ that's mentioned is none other than...OYSTER CREEK.
It's a decent read and does mention the potential for problems that won;t soon go away.
*** This is a story that in some manner or fashion manages to show up EVERY year, and for the obvious reasons.
Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110621/LOCAL/306219967
I've heard them as EARLY as late MAY, thanks to stores that are open (apparently) ALL YEAR LONG.
Now, I come from Philly, where such things are BANNED, and rightly so.
At least back THERE, we don't have people burned or have parts blown off of them due to careless handling of such pyrotechnics.
We have sparklers and that's about it for the "neophytes" in the group.
In other words, they leave it TO THE PROS for demonstrations of pyrotechnic feats of display.
Here in Fort Wayne, the totally irresponsible folks take to shooting fireworks off whenever the mood strikes them (when they're not shooting off the guns they have in their possession).
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Some people simply DO...NOT...THINK...period.
Luckily for US, we have most of THEM living around us, so the police should KNOW where to find them (to date, with more than several nights of fireworks, none have been cited to my knowledge).
Well, you have to have cars PATROLLING in order to make that happen...(gee, what a feeling of DEJA VU when I said that)
A city-wide ban on aerials and large fireworks should be in place.
I'm not being a stick-in-the-mud...just a cautious person who wants everyone to ENJOY fireworks the way they should be presented.
*** Lastly today, yes indeed, the 4th of July IS beckoning, and will be here before we realize it.
And safety procedures need to be in place.
There will ALWAYS be people that need to be protected FROM THEMSELVES, and if that also means the REST of us are protected as a result...all the better. That does not take freedom from some...it gives more freedom to all.
You protect people from themselves by instituting LAWS to follow...not "suggestions"...or "guidelines", but LAWS.
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Some just won't get the hint...so you have to enact a LAW to inhibit such behavior, in the hope they WILL get THAT hint, and get with the rest of the civilized folks. Everyone enjoys the SAME freedoms in this nation, but that does NEVER include the freedom to be stupid or act in an irresponsible manner with themselves or to another person.
And when that is realized, and adhered to, we ALL breathe a bit more easily.
We don't need some government holding our hands, but we DO need to MAN (or woman) UP and get OUR own heads screwed on proper and take responsibility for OUR lives and OUR families and OUR children.
THAT is what makes this nation separate from others...that level of freedom.
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"Here endeth the lesson."
(Jimmy Malone/Eliot Ness - The Untouchables)
Enjoy your solstice.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.
6 comments:
Happy Anniversary to you and the Mrs., Bob.
John D.:
Hey, thanks for the kind sentiments. It means a lot, honestly.
(but I swear if the missus keeps stealing my SWISS CHEESE, there's gonna be hell-to-pay...LOL)
Yeah, it's the little things in life that you "enjoy" together...
Thanks for taking some time to stop on by today.
You roll safe out there.
Happy Anniversary to the two of you! Here's to repeating this message annually for a long, long time.
I want to wish you and Donna a very Happy Anniversary. I wish you good health and much happiness in the future.
I tried to send you an anniversary wish earlier but I guess it did not go thru. The word verification was giving me a very hard time.
CWM:
Your wishes have fallen on listening ears here at the Fortress...and are very much appreciated.
(don't forget to thank Scrappy, too)
Thanks for stopping by to comment today.
Stay safe up there.
MSN:
May the two of us always strive to live up to your wishes for us.
(as long as Wifey stops swiping my SWISS CHEESE...lol)
And I thank our creator for the opportunity to have friends like you.
It is truly a blessing.
Thanks so much for stopping by today.
Stay safe down there.
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