I bought a cheap antenna for the idea that if the cable goes out I can still watch t.v. on local channels.

Of course, after hooking it up and trying it out, it does work.

I can get three channels. All of them for the one local PBS station.

I will work on this.

~

In 1961, as a nine year old lad, t.v. was everything. Only three broadcast channels: ABC, CBS and NBC. PBS and premium channels like HBO weren't even thought of yet and everything was broadcast in glorious black and white. I found this nostalgic collection of commercials on Youtube. The first one is remarkable for two reasons: It was made in color and it shows something I don't remember seeing, a rear engine Chevrolet Corvair station wagon.


If nothing else, the first segment is worth watching, with Dinah Shore singing and some now classic Chevrolet's on display.

My man Mitch left me a comment on my last blog. He stated that he speaks and writes French, his native language.

I had a friend that I lost contact with (unfortunately) who lives in Romania. She told me that she wrote better English than most people whose native language is English

BUT

she didn't speak a word herself.

To me, that is fascinating. I know snippets of terms or phrases in several languages (gleaned from t.v. and movies over the years), but would have a hard time reading them.

My freshman year of high school, we had our first opportunity to learn a foreign language. I wanted to take a course in either French or German, but our school only offered (because freshmen were still separate from regular high school at that time, still with 7th and 8th graders) Spanish. Spanish didn't appeal to me then, so I didn't take the class.

Hindsight being 20/20, I sometimes feel a little foolish for not taking the course then. Of course, I had no idea the amount of growth there would be of the Latino population in the United States.

One of the things on my Bucket List for when I retire: Learn Spanish.

~

People will believe what they want to believe and with the internet, it's easier to find so called 'facts' to back up those beliefs.

'Running lights' on an automobile are what we used to call 'parking lights' and it was against the law to drive with just your parking lights on. Of course, we all had to drive with them on until it was dark enough to turn on you headlights (now called headlamps).

Any time you opened a car door, the 'dome' light came on. Now called a 'courtesy light'. We used to take the bulb out so that cops couldn't see what we were up to inside. lol

When I was growing up, one only had to be 16 to buy cigarettes. They've changed that law twice since: From 16 to 18 to (recently) 21. I still see teenagers smoking everywhere - if they're not vaping.

In the late 60's, early 70's, all the stes around my state (Indiana) lowered the drinking age from 21 to 18. The reasoning was that since soldiers were being sent to Vietnam and were dying, they should be allowed to drink. Indiana didn't change the law (the governor did a 'pocket veto' of the bill that had passed, stating that he had three teen daughters and didn't want to worry about them going into bars). No matter what part of the state you lived in, teenagers were driving to the closest state to drink, or got a fake I.D. There were no picture I.D.'s in those days, so it was pretty easy to change a green driver's license. To this day I believe the drinking age should be 25. Why? Because the frontal cortex of the brain, where decision making is found, is not fully formed until age 25. From personal experience, I can tell you that bad ideas plus alcohol makes a terrible combination.

My last observation is a simple statement: All wars should be fought nude.

Have a pleasant evening y'all.

`

Everyone knows by now about the rule of staying 6 feet apart while out in public.

What if it were just the opposite?

I had a dream last night that the Coronavirus had mutated and the only way to stay safe was by being literally attached to another person.

Can you imagine eating, sleeping, working, showering, going to the bathroom and anything else with another person on your arm 24 hours a day? And in my dream, you didn't get to choose your 'partner'. The health officials just randomly stuck you with a stranger. It could be anyone.

After waking up, I thought about it for a while and decided that in our own odd way, we're better off in isolation.

Heed the advice of an old man -

It could be worse.

~

Work has been shut down this week, so I've been trying not to spend any money.

Monday and Wednesday I went for long walks. Tuesday and today I've spent time on the 'puter and watching t.v.

But today, I need to restock some necessities, like food and beer, which means I'll be driving my car for the first time since Sunday. Luckily, it's not winter so I don't have to worry about the battery running down.

Yes, I'm spending a little money today. I also ordered a couple of books online, but at $9.00 I don't think that will break me. BTW - AbeBooks.com is an excellent place to buy used books cheap and they usually give you free shipping.

So I failed at not spending any money. I did receive my paycheck (direct deposit) today and rent comes out Friday (direct withdrawal), but I will be ahead for this pay period. We'll see how this week off is handled on my next paycheck.

All clear. Life goes on.

~

I heard this song on the radio and then sought out the video. We need to appreciate the fact that we are alive and embrace life, even if it's on a limited scale sometimes.


Don't live in fear. I saw that the people at Oxford University are working on something right now that could be available by September in the fight against the Coronavirus.

Take heart everyone and please think smart and be safe!

~

... on Interstate 65.

The time is 1978. I had just finished my shift (afternoons, so it was 11:30 pm) at the local GM plant. I was heading to another town to see a young lady I was seeing at the time, about 65 miles away.

When this song came on the radio, I amped my speed from 65 to around 100 mph. Don't ask me why, I was just feeling the music vibrate through me.

No one was hurt, I didn't get a ticket and I got to see my lover a little bit sooner.

And the best part is that it raised my spirits after a hot, sweaty night.


I just heard this classic on the radio. Funny how the music can trigger such vivid memories.

~

I heard this oldie on my computer today and it had me thinking:

Who was the rapper, or, pick up artist in your school?


?

We have two Walmarts in my little town. I did some shopping in one Saturday.

Contrary to popular postings on social media, I did not have to wear a mask to enter, although I did carry one in my jacket pocket in case it was needed. The employees all were wearing masks though.

Aisles are all now one way, clearly marked by signs and markings on the floors. Of course, this being Walmart, people were frequently ignoring all signs.

Lastly, for the first time ever, I had a shopping cart that didn't wobble, squeak or pull to one side. It made my trip easier and smoother, so I celebrated by buying a triple chocolate cake.

Life remains good here in the little town where I live.