Chicken or the Egg

What comes first, the chicken or the egg? Today, in my house, it was the egg. We had eggs for lunch and will have chicken for supper.

Bagels

I was reminded this morning about the Seinfeld show where they sold only muffin tops. I was having a bagel at the time and I realized that I always cut my bagel in two, toast it, butter it, put on cream cheese and I always eat the top last. For some reason I feel it is the best part. There are only two types that I like, Raisin and Everything. I also don't like them too big and puffy.
I told you the story about my toaster. I actually have a second toaster which I bought at a yard sale for $5.00. A back up toaster maybe, but actually a toaster for bagels. Bagels don't fit in the other one.
I remember the first time I had a bagel. It was in New York City, visiting my cousin and after Mass on a Sunday morning we went to a Bagel store. It was like a Donuts Shop. In front there was six cash registers and behind trays and trays of cream cheese. Who would have guessed how that would go.

Sounded Great at the Time

When the chickens come home to roost has little to do with chickens. It is more about decisions taken in the past, resulting in conditions we now face. One example would be slavery.

World Problems

This is crazy. I think I went to bed one night and woke up in an alternate universe. My world doesn't have people wearing face masks, unable to get a haircut and no coffee at McDonald's. I used to go there once a week with a friend of mine to discuss and solve the problems of the world. Now it looks like the world will have to find its own way out of its problems.
In Mar. it was wear gloves, wear gloves, wear gloves, don't wear masks. Now it's wear the masks but don't wear gloves. You can tell that the powers to be know what they are doing.
I see  they are now telling restaurants to use outdoor space like sidewalks and parking lots to get the physical distancing. That may work fine for Florida but we actually have a winter here. I guess they are hoping all will be normal by then.
I learned a new word. Vloggers. I believe it is people who are unable to put two sentences together but have a camera.

Witch Hazel

While working outside the other day, I was bitten by a black fly or something. It was right between the first two fingers on my right hand and it itched like hell. I told my friend about it and he said to put Witch hazel on it. He said I would have to get it from the Pharmacist as it wasn't sold over the counter. Told my wife about it and she said to go to the bathroom and check the cabinet. Looking in there, I thought I would never find it. But it was the first bottle I looked at. Put some on and it worked like a charm. Itchiness all gone. But it might have some side effects because later on, while walking past a broom on the patio, I had this strange feeling that I wanted to fly.

"Black Soul' (Titan #4) by TJ. Brearton

This is the last in this series and I have to say that I did not find it enjoyable. The main character is William, a man with a perpetual temper tantrum. His partner is his on and off love, interfering with his concentration on the business at hand. He goes from one personal struggle to another helped by his faithful partner, up to a point. Memories of past failures haunt him.

Toaster Autopsy Report.

I did my autopsy on GE yesterday. I can do this myself  because in the Air Force I was an electronics tech. So this was a piece of cake. That reminds me. I want to thank all the seniors who paid taxes because it was their taxes that paid for my training. That out of the way, now on to the autopsy. I'm happy to say it was not a homicide so my son is off the hook. It came down to cholesterol. I think it was all that white bread he toasted before it became cholesterol free and we switched to whole wheat and multi-grain.
One of the veins was burnt out and had to be replaced. With the new cord, he went back to work with no sick leave. As a point of interest, I found a blog entry where I had fixed this toaster 10 yrs. ago. At that time I had written that it was 42 yrs. old. It was also a cord at that time also.
Here is a picture of my toaster with his friends showing of his new cord. What a publicity hound.

Requiem for a Toaster.

On the 26th. of May, 2020, a chrome toaster that went by the name of GE passed away at the age of 52, from what is believed to be electrical shock. A faithful toaster who worked daily since his conception in 1968, was made in the U.S. of A. and was purchased as a wedding present at a CANEX outlet in Baden, W. Germany. He had travel experience in Europe and Canada and loved being with his friends coffee maker, Nutri Bullet and Magic Bullet who will sorely miss him. Also missing him will be his extended family of plates, knives and spoons.
Funeral arrangements have not been made because of an autopsy planned for tomorrow. There is some suspicion of foul play with the main suspect being my son. He was the last one to see it functioning and told no one that it no longer worked. His alibi is that it worked fine when he used it. It must have been the next person who is at fault. Since I was the next person to use it, I find his statement to be untrue. As of yet, it is not known if it was a homicide, suicide or just plain old age. The results of the autopsy will be posted at a later date.

Against the Wind

My son asked me if it was windy because he doesn't like doing his walk in the wind. I told him to go half way, if it is windy, come back.

Toilet Paper

I think that around the country there are people with a lot of toilet paper.

"Back Of Beyond' (Highway Quartet #1) by C.J. Box

This is the first story of this series. It is a modern western with an alcoholic detective with the DT's stumbling through his case. When I finished the first chapter, I knew I was in for a good story. I was not disappointed. It's a real page turner, with a good amount of suspense and mayhem. A great replacement for the Pickett series.

Paul Davis

I was up in my office, on the computer, when I heard this beep, beep, beep. Looking out the window, I saw a Paul Davis truck pulling into my neighbors driveway. First time I saw one of those. Don't know what that is about. Then I went downstairs to turn on the news and the first thing I saw was a Paul Davis advertisement. Outer Limits time.

Friendships

Friendships between nations are always fragile and precarious even though they may appear to be friends.

Truth

When you think you want to know the truth, stick with ignorance, it weighs less.

To Do List

So, it's spring and I have to make up my to do list. Not my wife's list, but my own. things I have to do, around the yard, house and shed. First I write them all down and number them.
#1 is, Make a list.
#2 is, Check list
#3 is, Revise list if I have to.
That depends on #2. Next is my wife's list which is #4. That can change daily.
After this list is finished, I use a black marker and strike out #1 because I've made my list.
Then I check to make sure I have all the items. If I have everything, I can strike out #2.
If I need to add to my list, I go to #3, make the addition and then strike out #'s 2 and 3.
You can never strike out #4. No explanation needed here.
After that I feel great because I already have 3 items off my list and I never even left my chair.

"Governor Ramage R. N." by Dudley Pope

This is the fourth in the Ramage series with a very boring start. The first chapter was a complete loss and the second was a synopsis of previous books. He seems to have vague memories of his loved one and in his heart he has a willingness to be unfaithful. Throughout the whole book the articles of war are continually repeated and a court martial is never far from his mind. And of course he loses another ship. 
The book is lacking a story, going from one event to another, finally settling on a hunt for buried pirate treasure. The direction for finding the treasure is a bit far fetched. At the end, he finally has his long awaited court martial.

Memories

A bad memory will stay with you forever while a thousand good ones just drift away.

James Bond's "M"

In the James Bond movies they should have promoted Bond to "M".

PUEBLO FLUTE DANCER

This is an original 1952

Santa Fe Railway

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Sweeping The Floor

This morning I caught my wife sweeping the floor with her slippers.

Maori: A Novel by Alan Dean Foster

This book is what you expect - white men, natives, a clash between their cultures. It is not up to par with other epics I have read. It is a sum of facts overrun by fiction. There were some interesting parts about the Maori culture but it was mainly about English settlers and greed. I found that most of the characters had a violent ending. When I attempted to anticipate where the story was heading, I was always on the wrong track. The story moves along at a fast pace, right up to a disaster at the end.

Future

Everyone falls down but what is important then, is what happens next.

Food Truck

This is a 1966

Volkswagen Bug

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To Be Said

Is there anything left to be said or has it all been said?

Free Money

The government is giving $500. to eligible seniors. I volunteer to be eligible.

Zoom

A friend of mine had an anniversary last week and he got together with his family on Zoom. Asked him how he liked it. Said he didn't, too much lag time. Hoped he never had to use it again.

Regrets

We all have silent regrets.

History

I love reading history. The only problem is that there is so much of it.

New To Baking

A lot of people taking up baking for the first time. For most of them, the novelty will soon wear off, when it becomes work instead of fun.

"Twelve Days (John Milton #14)" by Mark Dawson

John Milton is a recovering alcoholic, ex government hit man who is unable to find his place in the world or peace within himself. He returns to England to check on past friendships and becomes embroiled in the world of boxing. The tension moves higher and higher as he tries to do what is right and after some stumbles, he is able to accomplish this. 
It is a good story, although  it is prone to having too many cliche descriptions. It all turns out well in the end and he even gets a good Christmas dinner. 

Prices Going Up

Shortage of meat on the horizon so prices are going up. This is no surprise, we've seen prices going up forever. But, when have you ever seen prices go down? Once they go up, they rarely come down.

"Circus" by Alistair MacLean

This is a book of Cold War intrigue but not a book to keep you up late to read the next chapter. To steal plans from a lab in eastern Europe, you would expect an elite team to be sent in or at least a James Bond. In this story, they are sending in a circus. The first thing I noticed was that the author was getting rid of characters fairly soon, narrowing the field for heroes. 
The main character is an aerialist and mentalist whose feats are far-fetched and greatly exaggerated. I find the character unlikable. The main female character is an inept CIA agent, chosen for her looks rather than her intelligence. It's an easy read and might even be considered a YA yarn.

Swear Magnet

I think my wife is a swear magnet. I'll explain. I'm watching a movie on TV and she will walk through the room. At that moment someone on TV will say the four letter word. It may be the only swear word in that movie but it will happen when she walks through that room. I'm thinking that as soon as I see her coming, I should cut the sound.

Snowbirds Flypast: A Short Story

Heard them. Went out. Gone.

Military Budget

Funds for protection are always reduced in the times of peace when there are no problems. Why spend money on the military? It seems like such a waste. That money can be put to better use. Only hindsight will tell us what a mistake we have made. Of course then it is too late. And when the danger has passed? Have we learned a lesson? Probably not. 

Fish

When it comes to killing fish, I'm a pacifist even though yesterday I had smelt for lunch and fish cakes for supper.

"The Lion's Den" by Philip McCutchan

This is episode four in the James Ogilvie series. In this episode, the story confronts the subject of homosexuality in the British army and the stigma attached to it. Throughout the whole book, it is the underlying story with a sad ending.
It starts of with Ogilvie getting away from crawling over dead bodies to take up teaching native recruits. Even then he still ends up at the Khyber Pass with snipers and skirmishers, outnumbered and fighting his way out. A good story with not as much blood and gore as usual.