Another short passage from the "book."

I had just a bit on my mind this morning, and, as often is the case, a passage from my one and only for-real book seemed to fit what I was thinking about.  Here 'tis:

"There was an empty field next to the road between my barracks building and the Officer’s barracks building where the little BX, the Library, and some meeting rooms where our U of Maryland had classes. We had built a baseball diamond there. Softball was the game and drinking was optional. I say optional—can’t think of anyone who didn’t put down at least a few beers during one of our games. Don’t really remember doing this more than a couple of times, though.

"And, while I’m on the topic of drinking, I remember one night at the NCO club when my two newbys and I were sitting at one of the tables, listening to a comedian do his thing. One of the newbys decided he could have a few drinks—actually, he challenged me to a contest. Well, that was his mistake. After about an hour of drink after drink, he literally slid under the table. I got some help and escorted him upstairs to our room. He never tried that again. (Neither did I.)

"And again at the NCO club, actually an EM, “enlisted members” club, (we had no separate club for our enlisted underlings,) one night the entertainer began telling his store of the current in-vogue Pollock jokes. Before he started his fourth “joke,” our training NCO, whose name ended in –ski, invited him off the stage and told him in no uncertain terms that the Pollock jokes were not exactly his favorites and, unless he wanted to step outside to discuss the matter in greater detail, maybe he should change his routine. Poor guy tried, but he was not quite the same for the rest of his routine. Lesson: Don’t mess with the –ski’s."

And, lest anyone get the wrong impression here, my thoughts were gravitating towards a personal friend named "Richard."  And, of course, if anyone were to want to try to guess Richard's last name, would you suspect a good start would be to go with a last syllable of "ski?"  If so, you definitely would be on the right track.  

Thanks for your time.  If you would like just a bit more to this reading, check out Amazon.com, and take a look at page 128 of the book.  (You may have to buy the book first, unless you are an Amazon Prime member.  Membership does have it's advantages!) 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R5KW376/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Just checked--yep, purchase would be necessary (sorry!)

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow

According to a Brookings Institute post, the Covid-19 outbreak began in WuHan China sometime early in November 2019.  Since then, it has gone "viral," amply demonstrating why we have and use that phrase.   Since then, our lives have all changed remarkably.  At that point in time, I was beginning to retrace steps I had taken in our Hitchcock Woods while I was writing environmental articles for an on-line news site.  My days typically began leisurely, awakening with my wife and our trusted companion, TobiJuan, watching the morning news programs, and deciding how I might spend a little time doing things I liked to do with my two trusted house-mates.  Are things really that different now?

Yes they are.  Now, along with me, each and every home on my street has neighbors waking up every morning wondering what might have changed in our world over night that they need to know about.  Many of us are not going in to work that we used to report to on a daily basis, and now, after watching our fill of the morning news shows, our neighborhood is awash with dogs, children, moms, and dads on all sorts of vehicles (golf carts, bikes and feet, mostly) getting out and around instead of heading to work and going through the routine found in that environment.  Everyone is doing things a bit differently these days, and, hopefully, this will end sooner, rather than later, although it doesn't look like this will be happening.

Wife and I will continue with our daily routines, which for us involves taking care of TobiJuan, fixing lunch, and deciding if a trip to the store might be needed.  That's today.  Hopefully, this time next year we will all be thankful this episode in our lives is behind us.  The only thing I might hope for is that what might be learned from this exercise might result in better preparedness the next time it is needed--which will hopefully recur later rather than sooner.  A turn-around needed?  Hopefully it will get more than just a little attention by the leadership of our world's nations.  Think that will happen?  Better stated might be "who thinks that will happen."  A question--just not a very good one.

Of course, one thing might alter our routine just a bit--that thing is called our Presidential election.  I already know how my vote will go, if not who it will be for.  Looking forward to seeing some major changes, in any case, following that vote.  Hope enough are in agreement with wife and me and we have an opportunity to see things change for the better (much better) in the new year!  Thanks, all.

Ciao.

SVG

Corona virus issue 1

I am titling this "Corona virus issue 1" since it discusses who just might be "hurting" the most.  Good luck to all. This thing is bigger than our politicians' capabilities to even try to respond. The problem I see developing is with politicians closing this and regulating that, the little people are suffering even more than they deserve. They are the ones who have the least ability to react to this dangerous time, and they are the ones who are suffering the most with loss of jobs, loss of the ability to pay their rent, to buy food, to do anything. The lowest rung of our society is the one being hurt the most. They need help to just survive. Who will help!!!! And HOW !!!! PLEASE, EVERYONE, ADDRESS THIS MOST REAL NEED !!!!  

That being said, what can be done?  Help me with this, if you can, by writing your newspapers, your politicians, your churches, your everyone who might be able to help in the least!  Do this, and do this today.  

The poor do not deserve to be turned out into the streets, do they?  They do not deserve an enforced diet of whatever, perhaps dandelion because it is edible and growing well these days, but dandelion what--root, leaves, with what kind of dressing?  Why dandelion?  Because they may be found growing at the side of the road, and the price may be all that our lower rung may be able to pay.  

And what if someone in this bottom rung actually catches a cold?  First thing will be to go to an emergency room for treatment, and hope they do not catch Covid-19 in the process, right?  

We all have problems because of this virus but, unless we are in that lowest rung, our problems are minor--until we, ourselves, catch the virus.  Then what is for us--whatever we have to look forward to at that point in time, what would be our situation if we were on that lowest rung of our county's financial society.  

If the hospitals are full, and we have nowhere to go, what will be our fate?  Sick, hungry, out in the weather?  Is that what anyone deserves?  Am I wrong here?  Who will take them in? 

Beat Covid-19? Why not!

3:56 is what my clock says--guess it’s time for a little Morningbrain session. Actually, that morningbrain has already struck. It is why I am up and in my livingroom and not lying in my bed in comfortable repose. And to what purpose has my dear old brain brought me to wakefulness? Well, would the term “covid” be something anyone else may relate to? How about “covid-19?”

Well, now that I have your attention, let me first point out the obvious and then ask one question.

It is obvious that there are people out there who have recovered from an attack from these little viri. These people now are relatively free to live their lives and go about their days with a bit more confidence in their abilities to win should they be attacked again by these viri, and why not--wouldn’t you feel more confident than the average one of us who has not had these individuals’ opportunities to confront the disease and win? Of course you would.

That being said, let me now propose a little swap--a “tit for tat,” so to speak, or, more specifically, a pint for pint.

If the powers that be, and I mean scientific powers that be, not political ones, if those scientific powers that be can determine if this proposal would have the least bit of merit, I would like to propose a swap of one pint of my blood for a pint of blood from one of our successful covid-19 recovered battlers, that pint to be used for a half-dozen of the organizations deemed most likely to have the expertise to take a sample of that blood from that successful combattant and determine what about that combattant made them succeed in their battle with the little buggers. Surely there will be something, something about their blood that just might be used to provide protection for you and me, and, if my hope is correct, that organization just may be able to produce what is needed to give you and me the protection we might need to have should we be attacked.

A worthwhile thought, you say? Well--what to do now? Guess that is obvious, too.   Find that person, collect that pint, replace it with my donation, and let the scientists begin their examinations, determinations, and eliminations of our problems-to-be.

Two pints of blood should do it--shouldn’t it? You tell me. Better yet, tell your congressman. They are the ones who can take this idea and run with it. And, the sooner they do, the better.

SVG 3/23/2020

Internet Info (and military training) Can Be Useful

CPR, Anyone?

  

Now I don't know if you have to have a subscription to the internet’s Medscape (free, of course), but the reference below is to an article about CPR (Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation) and relative survival rates using two types of CPR.  We in the military were taught compression with ventilation, the best type according to the article.  Guess all I'm saying here, is if one is to get into trouble and need help, one would be well advised to have one's problem somewhere where there are military personnel, active duty, reserve, or national guard members, or retirees, around.  Some military training subjects can be useful to anyone, and, in the case of first aid training, it is something many may never have had the chance to learn.  Glad I had the opportunity (might not have had it if the draft and the Vietnam war hadn't been in effect when I was an appropriate age, though.)

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/911248?nlid=129194_381&src=WNL_mdplsnews_190405_mscpedit_wir&uac=154343EK&spon=17&impID=1928898&faf=1

Think Recovery

While flipping through a "composition book" where I keep things like passwords, as well as thoughts I might have when the book happens to be in my hands, I came to this little poem.  Think I'll put it in here (in case I lose the book, maybe the internet will save just a bit of one of my thoughts.)


Think Recovery

Every now and then, my friend,
Or so I sometime think...
I take some paper and a pen,
And write, instead of drink.

There was a time, I'm sad to say,
When this was not the case, though,
A time when thought was washed away,
Down a "Madhatter" infested sink hole.

This arrived without a thought
Thanks only to growing older,
And drink that once was what I sought
Just left my thinking colder.

In time, that changed--changed as it should,
And now things are better for all;
For me, my wife, yes, even our dog,
Trust is now there whenever I call,
                   And trust, my friend, is good.


And, of course, copyright 2019, Stephen V. Geddes
(Should have been around 2010, but I just re-found it.)

Class of '62 "outing"

It was bound to happen !

Morningbrain struck about an hour ago (3:30 +/-.)  Thought about this a few minutes and all I can say, is, "I wonder if maybe Herr Brain sometimes activates due to the sleeping posture and the improvement of the blood/oxygen flow that is bound to occur when one is supine as opposed to having the head at the top of a verticality?"  May be one reason for the sleeplessness that attacks with a certain degree of regularity at night after a certain time has passed and one thing or another, e.g., hydraulic overload (?) requires arousal.

Oh, well, whatever the reason, it just happens.  Today, after Tobi and I returned from our respective dewatering holes, he returned to bed and I turned on the livingroom TV.  So far, nothing interesting there, so I took a crack at this.  Blogger is often neglected, even though, as its name implies, it probably should come first at this time of the day.

Well.  Went to Facebook and, wanting to post something appropriate, immediately perused UTube.  Found it almost immediately, having suggested "Ricky Nelson and Garden Party."  Listened, then posted ( https://www.facebook.com/steve.geddes.792/posts/2214466801980218 ) to memorialize, to a certain extent, a party for "The Graduating Class of 1962" that was set up by Judy Lackey (with assistance from, I suspect, "sigoth" David Ellett, and friend Martha Lockhart,) at Aiken, SC's "Outing Club."  Thanks, Judy, Martha!  Loved it!

It was a great day for it, and quite a few of us were able to be there.  Missed those who did not come and, of course, those who could not come (fewer of us available, the later in life we all are.)

Particularly enjoyed seeing some of my old baseball buddies, Terry Chance, Henry Roberts, Dick Simons, e.g., along with wives and other friendly folks.  I even met one lady who said she had worked with my dad.  Boy, would I like to talk with her a while longer!  Never knew much about what my dad did--workers at the site were reluctant to talk about what must have been highly classified work.  Ran into one Fbooker who didn't seem to want to talk.  Maybe he felt disrespected due to one of my posts.  All I have to say about that is (to use a "fishy" quote,) "Sorry Charlie!"  Guess I'll miss his comments.  So will Saul Alinsky.  Like we miss a terminally sick tooth after a trip to the dentist.  Hah!

Oh, well--what I won't miss, at least not for a while is Ricky Nelson.  Song was good when I first heard it, and still is.  Class of '62, too, was, and still is, a good, very good group.  Thanks again, Judy and Martha, and all others who had anything to do with the outing (at one most appropriate "club.")  Got that, "class?"  We've been "outed!" (All should consider themselves as being "Classy"!)

And thanks to all who came.  (Even Charlie!)       SVG

Not really a poet? Hmmm?

For the Father:  I

Well…I’m not really a poet, (you see,) though try I often do.

And, I’m not much of a singer—now tell me, friend, are you?

So now you know just what I’m not, what might ye think I am?

Tell me, friend, could I possibly be, that long lost King of Siam?

One thing’s for sure, my skin’s not quite right, it’s just a bit too mellow,

For most to say (at least today) it’s definitely not very yellow;

And as for the eyes, you don’t have to be wise, to see too little slant,

To be King or not, is not my lot, I would, if I could, but I can’t!

So, if not the poet, and not the singer, and certainly no King of Siam,

What then, my friend, Something better, perhaps? Better? Is that what I am?

Or so I think, without a doubt, there is that Family, you know…

And more than a poet or singer or King might be needed for Family to grow.

The answer is simple, the answer is true; all know what I know and now say,

With Mother, there is one, and that one is I; I’m the Father to this family!

(All say Hooray!  Say Hooray, today, Hooray, Hooray--for ME!)

Which brings us, friend to our poem’s end: Fini; Fini; Fini!

When Aphrodite calls, Adonis listens.

Hello?  Yeah, hi, Ap—say, it’s blank screen time again, is it?  Well, OK, if that’s the way you want it (just a minute and I’ll turn off the lights here too.  There.  Whatcha want?) 

Hmmm…same old subject, I see.  Well, as I’ve said before, anything you want to talk about is fine with me.  Sure…, “Ap and Don,” back to nicknames again.  Fine.  No!  Wait a minute (don’t disconnect!)  You know how I am when I just wake up.  Yeah, everything’s fine.  Go ahead, “dearest.”

Yeah, I slept fine, too.  It’s just this morning thing is a little trying at times.  Morningbrain is one thing, but morninghead is quite another.  Still waking up.  Give me one more minute….  There!  Coffee always helps. 

What’s that?  Oh, no, Tobi’s fine.  So is Jennie.  They’re both sawing logs in our bedroom.  You’d think it would be full by now, but it seems we always find another place to stash them till we need them.  Me, though, that’s another story.  Morningbrain comes and goes with a degree of regularity it seems.  Logs or no logs, it’s always sitting there in the background waiting on me to grab my trusty HP to record whatever we might come up with (whenever and wherever that may happen!)  And, yes, my dear, here and now is just fine. 

Say again…just a bit louder, this time…Sex is it?   Sure.   I mean, why not?  What else is there when Aphrodite calls?  Adonis has no choice.  Yeah, I’m still here—still glued to my keyboard, so to speak.  What—me first?  Sure….

As you well know, I have had more than my share of locker room experience.  First there was that time in Talladega that we all know about…birthdays come to us all, right?  Then there was that time when I broke my leg and had to be rushed to the hospital.  Again—always another hospital.  And, that’s not even to mention all those times with mom and dad in the night when all I really wanted to do was not to wet my pajamas.  Yeah, locker room stuff comes around regardless—even when we were little kids. 

And then as I progressed to sports there were times when we were here or there and had to dress out.  Yup, again there comes another locker room.  Sports locker rooms beat those times in the middle of the night and those times with docs and nurses taking care of problems we would just as well like not to have to think about.  Sports brought all of us guys together, and required that we take showers before leaving after our encounters on the gridiron or in the gym or on the baseball diamond.  Yes there it was, dearest, me and the other guys all together getting cleaned up in the shower room.  And what did that teach us?  Well, you know what that taught us, us guys, that is!  In spite of what our founding fathers might have written, it was more than obvious that all “men” were not created equal.  Or “boys,” either, for that matter. 

I particularly remember one time in High School when I was showering with a variety of others and one big guy (he was the fullback, mind you,) came in and began to get cleaned up.  Well!  Shoulders like a park bench, slimming down like a Hollywood idol, and no one said a word about what was obvious to all of us.  Size might not matter to a certain degree, but it sure was obvious to all that day.  And did anyone comment on what we all saw?  Did anyone want to be tossed around like a rag doll in the hands of a mad owner in her own room?   Nooooo!  Whatever we saw and thought was buried under a mound of concern as to what this guy might do if anyone said anything the least bit critical about his “physique.”  Oh, Aphrodite, how you girls must wonder about things like this.  I mean, what’s to see in that girls’ locker room (if you’re a girl yourself, I mean!)  What we guys see and avoid commenting on, as opposed to what you might be looking at in your locker rooms is more than obvious.  If anyone wants to know anything more, here, allow me to suggest a trip to a fine arts display.  Aphrodite and Adonis, indeed! 

Your turn, Ap!  Come on, now, I’d really like to hear what you come up with.

Heh, heh, heh…!

To be the Boss, “Deux”

To be the Boss, “Deux”

Listening to today’s morning “News” hours, yep, “Stephanopolis’s,” and, “Meet the Press,” you know what I mean, I can’t help but pass on a bit of commentary about our President, and his government shutdown.  We all heard what he (the Donald) had to say about his shutdown, how it may go on a while, up to, and including, a couple of years, and I think he has a point—misdirected though it is.  He is like that second grader who is threatening to hold his or her breath until he or she gets what he or she wants, and we all know how that turns out!  Well, the same thing will happen in this case, and unless what he really wants is a time-out to go to Maralago to find some substitute for Smokey Daniels to pull around by the short-hairs, which would be a shame, considering the class acts that are our first Lady and his children, a government shutdown is really totally unnecessary.  Please consider the following, Sir!

While you still own the title, let me say, “Mr. President:  Why not, instead of closing down the Government, just close down the Office of the Presidency?  Would this not allow you to go wherever you wish, and do whatever you wish, to include that short-hair business, without impacting our country negatively one bit?”  And, also, if that would come to pass, it would not terribly impact some other pretty fine politicians, like Mitch McConnell, and Lindsay Graham, for example, and would get your point across without negatively impacting (also) hundreds of thousand governmental workers and millions of other Americans who depend on the government for necessary governmental services. 

Why not try that, Boss (and, oh yes, that term is used intentionally—see https://stephenvgeddes.blogspot.com/2012/12/oldie-but-goodie-what-it-takes-to-be.html,) and see what it gets you, but more importantly, see what it gets America.  And thank you for your attention, Mr. President, Boss, wherever you are.  And, of course, “God Bless America.” (We really do so need your help with this, Lord of All, Lord of the Universe, regardless of what some sociopath in a position of power may think is what HE needs to magnify HIS glorious name, and more importantly, HIS glorious pocket-book.)

Thank you, All

Copyright Stephen V. Geddes, Aiken, SC, 06 January 2019.