Existing In BFE

Ice cream was a big deal growing up.  Summers revolved around playing softball.  Winters revolved around snow days.  But everything revolved around a big "deeesh of creeem" every so often.  This phrase came from Herb who would provide the stuff, providing someone else would scoop.  Done!  Marj didn't have it all that often, but we boys and the Pops had it whenever we could.  In fact, our longtime babysitter, Leota, would make it a huge production whenever she was sitting for us.  No stinking little bowls for us.  No, she grabbed Marj's multi-colored baking dishes - yeah, the big ones you mix with.  Wombie would get the smallest blue one, I'd get the medium red and Phillip would get the huge yellow one.  These would be produced with great panache as well.  Leota knew presentation was just as important as production: nuts, cherries and copious amounts of chocolate syrup.  Herb was a toasted almond fudge fan.  The rest of us vanilla, but would take what we could

Big Dipper Big Dipper again.

++++++++++ I know we get older, and our waistlines expand.  Simple math.  But it seems to me that when you are General Maximus Decimus Meridius you should get some kind of special dispensation from simple math.  I watched a recent flick, Boy Erased , and noticed that Russell Crowe has lost his Gladiator look.  Alas, time marches on. ++++++++++ ++++++++++ It was like old times last week.  The kids were sick playing hooky on Thursday and Friday so I babysat.  It was kind of fun. ++++++++++ My newish iPhone I got a few months  ago has a battery issue.  As in, won't hold a charge.  It has been getting progressively worse so went to Verizon to see what could be done.  First Verizon store: two options.  Either buy a new phone or just keep this one.  Hey, douche bag, I've got a third option for you.  Turns out this Verizon store is kind of a Verizon store but it doesn't so this kind of stuff.  You have to go tot he Verizon store you bo

Fall Festival At Plato Academy.  Ayla enjoying the activities.

David Foster Wallace was a university professor, author and writer.  He lived in Champaign, Illinois where his dad was a professor and he was a student at the University of Illinois.  He went on to write books, essays, and teach.   He committed suicide 10 years ago at the age of 48. Commencement speeches are usually quickly forgotten.  In the pantheon of such things this stands out as truly worthy, truly amazing.  Please consider reading it,  you'll thank me.  It will take a while, it's not short.  And I know how you all prefer pictures, but today I am challenging you to take 15 minutes and read.  The sports news and weather can wait.      The now famous This Is Water speech: Transcription of the 2005 Kenyon Commencement Address - May 21, 2005 Written and Delivered by David Foster Wallace (If anybody feels like perspiring [cough], I'd advise you to go ahead, because I'm sure going to. In fact I'm gonna [mumbles while pulling up his gown and ta

Taken at Monmouth Prime Beef Festival carnival while at the car show right next door. 

++++++++++ OK, in the bathroom I blow my nose.  Small room.  I toss the Kleenex toward the waste can.  Its right up against the shower curtain.  How can I miss?  Damned if I don't miss more often than not.  Try it at home?  Try it with the big waste can in the kitchen.  Same thing.  Miss.  Miss again.  I have a theory.  There is an invisible world of benign pixies that run around and try to confound us.  They aren't malicious, unless bending down and picking up that used Kleenex that missed the can qualifies.  All they do is remind us that we are imperfect little nothings in the big scheme of things. ++++++++++     ++++++++++ El Camino: A Breaking Bad movie lived up to its heritage.  Breaking Bad the best ever?  I don't know, it has some competition, but maybe. Saw Sully again with America's greatest living actor, Tom Hanks, and was briefly reminded of how we used to have great stories coming out of this country once

Cruising on Lake Redstone, Wisconsin

My Meaning of Life As one who studied philosophy and theology for 6 years and who should have some idea to hold onto regarding the "meaning of life", I wish I could cut through all the blarney and big words and give it to you in a teaspoon, like our mothers gave us cough syrup.  There are literally mountains of books by writers far smarter and wiser than I who have tried to explain.  Philosophers, theologians, bishops, popes and sinners have all grappled with the meaning of it all.  I may have studied it, but that don't mean I got it. It's early morning in Kitschland, the place is dark except for the snoring of Whizzbang, and the trundling of a cat.  I have lived six decades and this is my Meaning of Life.  I reserve the right to change it tomorrow.   Our universe is wildly chaotic.  It appears indifferent, uncaring, random and by happenstance.  Scientists, in fact, tell us everything is in constant movement.  The universe is drifting, shifting and everyt