What's Up Today In Kuala Lumpur?

     I have an apology to make.  It seems that that's all I am doing lately and I don't mean to insult anyone.  Artistic license can be a hard thing.  I am not ashamed and will continue to mention some things that I guess some people will be mildly offended with.  That's OK, and if you are offended, please comment so that I know.  I have big shoulders and can take the criticism. My feelings don't hurt easily. Please remember that I am just a touch, well mildly deranged isn't the word I guess it would be closer to irreverent to many things.            
     What good is life if you can't laugh at yourself.  A sense of humor and laughing at yourself is important providing laughing at yourself doesn't come at the expense of others. The human experience can be very humorous, and we need to laugh.  there is also sadness in the world as all of us is well aware of.  But, I prefer to see the positive and the best.  Should there be a laugh in it, I choose to find it and to laugh. Laughter is truly the best medicine.

This is not Kuala Lumpur, it's Catalina Island off California and it was cold.

     I noticed that I had someone from Malaysia  read my blog.  I want to welcome you, whoever you are and I hope you enjoy reading.  Have a good laugh on me.  By the way, I checked the weather and it is going to be hot and humid today in Kuala Lampur and partly cloudy.  I am sorry that I wrote that it was going to rain.  I stand corrected and if I caused you any harm, I apologize.

Workout Wednesday, Part Zwei (2)

     You probably were wondering if I did go to the gym today. OK, I got bored out of my mind and the day just wasn't going my way.
      First, it was raining in Kuala Lampur and the weather was hot and humid.  Applesauce does not boil, it kind of bubbles and sticks to the pan, which requires C4 explosives to remove the residue from the pan you have boiled it in.
     I love playing on-line slots, specifically Wheel of Fortune on one site and Pharoah's Tomb on another site.  That wasn't such a good idea today because my luck stunk.  I lost 40K on Wheel and 100K on Pharoah's.  Thank goodness this is not real money, but free tokens.  I was broke by 9:30, with nothing to do.
     If you are planning on flying from Duckwater, Nevada to Belzoni, Mississippi--I like saying and spelling Mississippi--it is very expensive. Plus, it takes you a week to get there.  You can fly to a nearby airport, but the stage coaches run only twice a week and right now the horses are on strike. So much for that journey.
     It was apparent to me that the day was not going to go my way and the wheels of the universe which control all things were against me.  I went to the gym and worked out. Funny thing is, after I gave in and went I felt better, amazingly the rest of the day went quite well. Hmmmmmmm.......

It was raining so hard in Kuala Lumpur that you couldn't see a thing.

      One last thing and I would like you to do me a very big favor.  If you like reading my blog and you laugh or whatever, please tell three other people about it.  Have them click on my blog and see if they like it.  I would love to have them.  Please don't make me beg.
 

Regarding Today's Post

      I am not going to post today.  My mind is blank and there is nothing in my sharp mind to share with you today.  I am sure you will understand, as you know the high standards in which this blog is based.  The temptation is there to write junk and just put words out there for the search engines to seek with the intent of getting hits and visits.  I refuse to do that.  It is not fair to you.
     There is much I could write about today, however I do not feel motivated to write. My job as a writer is to write, but if the creative juices are not flowing it just won't come. My posterior in resting in its writing position and nothing is coming out of the brain. Yes, I have had my coffee.
      Let's see, what could I write about today? I could explore the silliness of online casinos and spending endless hours watching the dials spin on the computerized slots.  What a waste of time, and there could be a lot to write about there.  Not today though.
     How about immigration reform? In the beginning of this blog, I promised that I would not bore you with politics, even though our government is a great source for some laughs. That promise of no politics will be kept.
     The weather is always a great topic to write about.  Yep, it really is.
     My financial situation  right now is a joke, but that is too personal.  I ain't goin there.
     Another option is what is happening with traffic in Fresno and how they are working on the freeway system.  I don't have a car right now and am too lazy to walk to the bus.  Well, maybe not lazy just don't have anywhere to go today.
     How about what the stock market is doing today and the state of the economy? That relates to two things that I have said I am not going to talk about today, the government and my financial situation.

OK, so I like to horse around a lot.

     Yep, I think I am done for today.  Sorry folks but I just am not going to post today.    

Now, Where Did I Put...

     Tell me if you have ever had this happen to you.  There is something that you need such as a particular document because you are doing your income taxes. You know you received the document, but you don't remember where you put it.  The frustration level grows because you search and search but still cannot find it. Come on now, we have all been there and you can admit it.  You are among friends and we won't think any less of you.
     Suddenly, just as the sun comes up over the Sierra Nevada every morning, you remember where you put the darn thing.  Instead of placing it neatly in the pile of important and unimportant papers on your desk, you had the foresight to file it in your filing cabinet in a file designated to the classification of the document you need. Why did you do that?
     I know I am going to take a lot of flak for this next statement, but here goes.  I am not afraid, I can take the heat.  Organization is for sissies. What fun is there in saving time and frustration knowing you can find something right off the bat when you need it?
     Life has a lot of ups and downs which add to the fun of life, so why take away the thrill of not knowing where something is? It is in the nature of man to be a "hunter-gatherer". What amount of practice for honing that instinct is there when you put something away in its place? The "hunting" part of that nature is the fun part.  If something is put away in its place that places you in the "gatherer" category which is not as fun. This is not by any means limited to whether you are a man or a woman either. Without getting myself into trouble and opening a can of worms, that is as far as I go on the male/female discussion.  I will leave sleeping dogs lie and you can think about that one yourself.
     Now excuse me, I am going to do my taxes.  Where did I put that W2 form? What about the receipts for charitable deductions?  I know I put them in this pile somewhere. Maybe it was this pile over here.  Hmmm....

When I really want you to think hard on something, I will  show this picture.

     This is fun!!!!!!!

Respect Your Elders (Part Deux)

     What sparked my post about respecting your elders yesterday?  It was an incident that happened at the bus stop on Thursday.
     I was heading home from an appointment and was changing buses, carrying my briefcase/laptop and my umbrella in my arms. The day was drizzly and I was walking from one bus stop to another to transfer to another bus. At this particular bus stop, there is a shelter with benches and the benches were full.  I must admit that I did look a bit on the "older" side as I approached the shelter and was walking at a very slow pace  My Taylormade golf umbrella looked like a cane.I am still bothered by my sciatica, although I am much better so the appearance of a struggle in my walking could be seen.
    A younger genltleman looked at the guys sitting on the bench in the shelter, got up from where he was sitting and said, "Hey, what's the matter with you guys.  Respect your elders!"
     There was nobody around who was walking toward the shelter but me. As he looked at me I realized he was very kindly giving up his seat to me, whom he thought was "old".  I'm not "old" by the way, just experienced.
     I asked him, "Are you talking to me?"
     "Yes, I am.  Please take my seat." he softly told me.
     "That is so kind of you." I answered.  "Thank you very much but I prefer to stand right now.  The bus will be along in just a minute and I have been sitting all day. Thank you very much for calling me an elder, I appreciate that.  I just want to say that I am not that old, but thank you for saying that."
     We talked some more about how he was brought up to be polite and about the 49ers.  His bus came before mine and that was it, an interesting encounter that I still think about.
     I am not old, although I can tell that I am slowing down.  There are aches and pains in my body in places that I never knew existed.  They are coming more often as well.  I am not old, I am experienced.  The best of my life stands before me, and I can't wait.
     One last thing, and this honestly doesn't have anything with getting old.  Happy Birthday, Patty.  Don't worry Denise, Patty is a cousin whom lives in Connecticut. I love you Denise!












 

Respect Your Elders

     Am I an elder?  The saying goes "Respect your elders".  At 58 sometimes I question in my mind whether or not I have reached that status.

Time flies when you are having fun.  I'm still good looking!  

     I do have some beautiful gray hair, most of which is still there although not as much. Does that qualify me for elder status? My somewhat trim, youthful and athletic build--I wish--has kind of left me for a much more well rounded stature.  No sarcastic comments here please, I know I have gained a lot of weight since my younger days but face it folks, you probably have too.  I'm not pointing fingers, it is just a fact of life. I have gained a lot of weight. But, is this a qualifier for the rank of "Elder"?
     I am a grandparent of four wonderful boys.  My five children, four girls and one boy are all over the age of 25.  Two of my girls are married and one is soon to be engaged and married.  My son still lives with me and my youngest daughter, the baby of the family lives with her mom.  I am divorced after 34 years of marriage. That might disqualify me, but all the other qualifications may outweigh the divorce.  I don't know.
     The spring in my step has been diminished.  This is not permanent though.  As a lot of you know, I suffered from a very bad sciatica attack in October which almost wound me up in the hospital.  My recovery has been slow and the effects are still very apparent.  I am walking without a limp now, but very slowly and deliberately. Since I haven't been exercising and working out in the gym, my endurance is almost non existent, and hope to have it  back soon as I am walking more. This situation is not permanent, so I don't know if this qualifies me.
     I am not as young as I was yesterday.  That may be a qualifier. I don't know, maybe I have become "An Elder".  You know, what's wrong with that?
       

You're a Character, Dave

     To comment on the title of today's blog, I would have to yes I am.  My intentions are to foster that image around the town.  Let's face it, I enjoy it.  Why not bring a little spice into the lives of others around you, especially those who need a little cheering up and a good laugh. If it comes at my reasonable expense, I will boogie on!
     As I have said, I ride the bus now wherever I go in Fresno.  To me, it is interesting to look at the faces of those getting on the bus.  It is something I do to most people and a good number of people have that look on their face that something bad is about to happen.  Tragedy seems to be right around the corner, if you take a look and read their facial expressions. Many times it is just a blank stare, one of "I have my wall up, I don't want to deal with anything now" look.  We all know what I am talking about, and I am just as guilty of putting on that face as the next guy.
     It is my job to at least try to bring some joy into as many people's life as I can.  Riding the bus is just a start.  It can be a simple thing such as a smile and a warm hello.  Many times after I have said hello and smiled to someone, that sully expression disappears and they break out in a smile and a hello right back.  You would be surprised how many times my smile and hello brings on a conversation, as well as easing the tense body language of the person I said hello to. Two people have connected, myself and that other person.  Hopefully, that connection will have changed the other persons day.  Who knows?

Don't know what the heck this picture is, but I am sure that I smiled and said hello to whoever it was. 

     Yes, I am that guy who is always smiling and greeting people on the bus, and wherever I go.  What is wrong with gaining a reputation like that. I hope that reputation grows and I can put still more joy into as many people's lives as I can, if just for a moment of those lives. So, "Good Morning, hope your day is going well.".        
   

January 24, Take Two

     So, the post of earlier today was really not one of my best efforts. There is an explanation to that one.  I know, you have heard it before but today it is very true.  Here it comes, I didn't have my coffee.  That very fact sets up what I have to say in this installment of what is going on in my little brain.  It is scary, and I have to come to that conclusion that it is very scary being me. Let's face it though, it's all I have and I am stuck with who I am. Don't be sad for me, I have accepted the facts and they are what they are.
     This morning, I was out of coffee.  I knew it, the plan being for me to get on the bus and travel the long distance to the Starbuck's in Riverpark here in Fresno to secure a cup for me to consume.  Don't worry, I wasn't going to go to Starbuck's just to get a cup of coffee but like most people Starbuck's has become my office away from the office-wait, I don't have an office-well, you got the idea. At any rate, there is a Target near the Starbuck's and I thought that I would go get a bag of coffee there, whole bean of course. It struck me, it is a long walk across the parking lot from Starbuck's to Target. Do I really need coffee that bad? Excuse me Denise for my language but HELL YES!!!! Is there another alternative to the long and arduous hike from Starbuck's to Target back to the bus stop?
     There it was, big as you please steps away from the bus stop, a World Market Imports the solution to my problem. In I went and was in luck, they had a whole coffee section in the back filled with exotic whole bean coffees.  Having attention deficit, It must be said that I was overwhelmed at the dizzying number of coffees.  I like a dark roast, so I went with the dark roast Kenyan but it was a tough decision. I got back on the bus for the long arduous journey home.  Come on now, I have to change buses.

This picture has nothing to do with coffee or this post, I just thought I would  put it in here.

     I am back at home now and have ground some beans for a pot of coffee which is about to finish brewing.  Because I think of you as being very special to me, I am going to share with you the results of the pot of coffee and whether or not it was worth the trip.  Are you ready, I am pouring-in go the sugar and cream and by the way, if you are a purist and drink your coffee black I'm sorry I like mine with cream and sugar-here goes the tasting.  Ahhhhh!!!!Nirvana.        

Slow Down, You Move Too Fast

     I am taking the bus to get around town these days.  The experience has been rich, one that has added to my life in many ways. After riding the bus for a couple of weeks now and leaving my car at home I find that I really like the bus.  It gives me a chance to slow down and "smell the roses".  I get to see a lot of what I was missing cooped up in my little sports car.
     You meet some interesting people on the bus.  Yesterday I chatted with a man who from his outward appearances I would have never thought of talking to.  I smiled and said good morning to him and that began a wonderful conversation that lasted almost three miles, or excuse me, half an hour.
      It seems he was a 49er fan who was studying to become a videographer.  He and I shared our Christian faith smiling  and joking the whole time we were together.  What was interesting was that the conversation started to grow, and others near us joined in the conversation.  Had I been in my car, this all would have been missed.
     I am beginning to slow down, because I was moving too fast.  This is not because I am getting older but because I have decided to seek a different quality of life. Part of that life is to take the bus and listen to people.  I love to smile and say hello or good morning to people.  Every morning I get on the bus I make a point of giving a smile and good morning or good afternoon to whomever I meet.

Tough Times

      You might find this blog post a little different than normal.  This has been on my heart for a long time, so I wanted to share my thoughts with you.  When times are hard, what do you do?
     Times are very hard for me right now. I am not going to go into details, many of you know the details so I won't share them.  What I do want to say is that I have a choice to make, as most people do.  That choice is  my attitude and actions toward the tough times. I can blame or try to squirm out of the situation as I have in the past or be proactive.
     Part of being proactive is facing the consequences of actions that were ill advised or foolish. I totally accept my actions and foolish decisions of the past and will "face the music" as I am doing now.  It hurts and I want it to stop! Fact of the matter is, it will stop and I will get through this much better and far wiser.  There is an end in sight.
     There is no gain without pain.  I know that this is a well worn idiom but with most sayings there is a lot of truth to it. Look what happens when the pain is over.  How do you feel? Something in your body breaks and then comes the pain.  Pain is the instrument telling the body that something is wrong and that you need to change what you are doing to bring it back to health.  When the pain goes away after healing, you feel much better.
     Right now, I have just been through life surgery, the symbolic morphine and drugs are wearing off.  I say this truly in the metaphorical sense as I haven't had physical surgery in several years when they fixed my stomach. The pain is nevertheless intense. I think you get the point though. The surgery I have just gone through is financial and related to my life's circumstances, but that doesn't lessen the pain of recovery.  The consequences are still there and just as hurtful. Again, after the pain comes the healing and good feelings.
     One more thing needs to be said.  My faith in God has kept me going.  If I wasn't able to rely on God, I would have not survived.  God is truly in control of my life right now and I know that he has a fantastic plan for me.  That plan is beginning to take shape and I am excited. The bottom line is though, I have to go through the pain before I get to the gain. God is getting me through it and has given me strength.
     I hate pain and try to avoid it at all cost.  That is the old me.  That is how I used to view life.  Not any more.  


     

New Career

     Denise is a pianist and knows a lot about pianos. One of her crafts is that she not only is an accompanist, but also tunes pianos as well. I went with her yesterday on a piano call to work on a piano that needed to be fixed. My job was piano "scrub nurse" handing her the tools she needed to get the job done. I may be looking at a new career.
     It was an interesting appointment, watching Denise work on the piano.  She knew exactly what to do when diagnosing the problem and  had the piano apart tackling the problem like a linebacker making a tackle in the Superbowl (Go 49ers). I truly didn't realize how much there was to a piano.  I just thought it was a keyboard and some strings, but when the piano was apart I was amazed.

I was thinking of a new career as a stunt pilot, but the FAA frowned on that one.

     I have a new love for Denise.  She climbed under the instrument and went to work. No fear of a feminine daintiness, she just did what was needed to get the job done. The job was finished and there were no parts left over.  The thought occurred to me that if it was me working on a piano, on anything for that matter, there would be parts left over.  There always is when I work on anything mechanical.  She truly is amazing!
    As far as my new career as piano "scrub nurse", I can do that.

Greetings From The Northland

     The title for today's blog may lead you to believe that I have gone to Scandanavia or some higher latitudes.  I have traveled north, but not that far north. No I haven't gone to Alaska, though I would love to do that some day but not this weekend.  I am in Merced, just 60 miles north of where I live.
     What is the reason for my transit north? Well, I think it is time that I introduce you to the love of my life, Denise.  Yes folks, she is real and I love her very much.  She is the "ladyfriend" that I have been referring to in previous posts. Spending time with her is a joy.  This was a sort of impromptu visit and I cherish each moment I am with her.
     Now you know.    

Hey Sports Fans! Take Two

     I am sitting at home now at my computer in my blog post position.  It is quiet and I am ready to focus. Topping the agenda is to write the post that was supposed to come to you yesterday.  On with the task!
    Tuesday was a good day for me.  I met a former basketball player who played for Fresno State.  Don't hate me for this, but I look up to most basketball players, literally. At five feet seven, uh five foot six and three quarters OK< OK five feet six I am not the tallest person in the world.  When I come to a six foot nine basketball star it is sort of like a strawberry plant looking up to a California Coastal Redwood. There is a bit of a height difference.  That is why I say that I look up to most basketball players. I am not going to say who the player was but I will say that after talking to him, I do look up to him and what he has accomplished for the community as well. This guy is a giant, both in stature and accomplishment and giving back to the community.
     As usual, when I met the gentleman we exchanged a hearty handshake.  I had to ask though where did my hand disappear to? I will admit that I have very small hands, and feet for that matter but we are not talking about feet.  His hands were huge!

I Tried Beer Pong Once...That Was Close To Bball

I Think I will Stick To Golf

     I never was any good at basketball, in fact I think that I have never gotten the ball through the hoop. You don't understand, never. It has been written somewhere in the book of the world that short Greek and Italian golfers should not play basketball.  It throws their putting off.  That may be, but I have never been a basketball player, nor will I ever be.  Maybe the player I met can carry me?   

     I never was any good at basketball, in fact I think that I have never gotten the ball through the hoop. You don't understand, never. It has been written somewhere in the book of the world that short Greek and Italian golfers should not play basketball.  It throws their putting off.  That may be, but I have never been a basketball player, nor will I ever be.  Maybe this guy can carry me?    

Hey Sports Fans

     Yes, I know that I haven't posted for a few days but I have been busy.  New activities and opportunities have come up and I am actively following them.  Please bear with me, I am not going to stop writing and posting as writing is a priority.
     I have a story to relate to you that got me thinking, which as you know can be dangerous. Unfortunately, that was earlier this morning and I have lost that vein of thought, which explains the change of verb tenses in the next few sentences.  I guess I will have to retrench and go in a different direction.  Sorry about that. As you probably know, my mind does have a tendency to wander and not light on one particular train of thought for very long.
     Honestly, I just can't help it.  My ladyfriend wants me to go on medication, but I would go to the medicine cabinet for my medicine in order to take it, have a thought flash in my mind and will forget what I was about to do, ie. take my meds.  Believe me, I have been there before.
     One would think that I was in the early stages of Alzheimer's.  Apparently I have been in the early stages of  Alzheimer's since about age ten. As I kept telling my ex-wife, it is really hard to be me and this is one area of my life that can cause some problems. I totally understand the severity of Alzheimer's and am not making fun of it as is is a serious disease. But, things are what they are and my mind does have a tendency to wander.  Forgive me for that.
     What does the title "Hey Sports Fans" have to do with this post?  I will let you in on a heavily guarded secret.  It doesn't have anything to do with this post.  I intended to write about something totally different than what I have posted today but again that is what is going on in my small brain. The topic I was going to write about is still there and I will explore it tomorrow so stay tuned. Besides, I like to keep you guessing.   
       

I'm So Sorry, Russell

Where is Russell?  Is he gone?

     I would like to deeply apologize to Russell Crowe.  I gave him a lot of grief when I said that he couldn't sing.  It is not as easy as it looks.  I found that out yesterday when I did my duet in my ladyfriends's church.  I did much better than Russell because unlike Russell I can sing.  But it was not my best effort. I sing better in a choir setting.  I can solo, but doing a duet is tough.  You did OK Russell.

Mitch Miller, Help Me Please!

     Hello to all, and a special Wie Gehts to my friend in Germany. I appreciate all of your faithful reading of my incoherent drivel. I noticed that I had my largest numbers of viewers yesterday. I want to welcome those who are new with the hope you keep reading and tuning in. Thank you for being there.  Now it is time to move on and share what is clogging my small brain.  I could have said might brain, but you all have read my posts from the past and would REALLY begin to wonder if I had gone over the mental fiscal cliff. Those three words kind of don't go together, but I thought I would try to use them together anyway. This is after all an experimental blog, and sometimes things work and sometimes they don't.  In the case of my writing in this blog, mostly don't.  I am having fun though and I hope you are enjoying the posts.  If not, what can I say?
     I don't know how many of you know who Mitch Miller was. I have a friend named Mitch Maler, but he is a different guy. There are not that many people named Mitch in this world is there?  I am getting way away from the subject, but you know that is what I do.
     At any rate, for those who don't know who Mitch Maler, sorry, Mitch Miller is, he had a TV show in the 50's and 60's where he had a chorus and they sang songs.  The fun thing about the show was that they wanted the audience out in TV land to sing along with the songs that the chorus sang, and would have the words on the TV screen.  There was bouncing ball that followed the tune and where the chorus was in the song.  That sounds a bit confusing in words, but you know how I can get confused in my head so just go with it for our purposes here.  It was a lot of fun, and those of you who are familiar with the show know what I am talking about.
     You are probably asking me what is the point here with this.  Here it comes.  I am singing a duet with a very good singer today at my lady friend's church.  She is accompanying us on the piano by the way.  I am sort of nervous about the whole thing and this was one of those many times that I "opened mouth, inserted foot."  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy singing and have been told several times I sing extremely well, but they were in the asylum.  Sometimes I question their qualifications as music reviewers. Actually at this point I am not sort of nervous, I am extremely nervous. Mitch Miller where are you? Where is your bouncing ball?
     I need to follow the bouncing ball.  I have my music, but what are all squiggly lines those, lines and balls at the end of sticks and why do they sometimes connect?  Why are there three or four of them connected together. Why do the sticks on the balls point up or down?  Why are there some on top of each other that go up and down? Mitch Miller, I think that's the one not Maler,  HELP!!!!!  

Give the Raspberry to the Apricot

     Yesterday's bit of drivel focused on coffee cake.  I want to take that a step farther and  briefly and talk about a certain coffee cake where the baker has married raspberries and apricots.  I am not totally sure about this one. If there is to be a royal battle in the heavens, it is assuredly going to be between raspberries and apricots.  And I am not even asking the question what do you do with your coffee cake if you don't either have coffee or drink the excellent dark brew.  That question came from left field, I understand but I haven't had my coffee yet and you know what that does to me.
    Back to the raspberry apricot coffee cake so that we may remain on task.  things will get better now as I have poured my cup of coffee. I like raspberries, but I am not so sure about apricots.  We had an apricot tree in our back yard when I was growing up and I ate myself silly goring on apricots.  Maybe that is why I can't look an apricot in the eye, let alone eat it. People have even tried to hide the apricot by cross breeding it with a plum and calling it a plucot.  Now way are you going to fool this cowboy.  It is still an apricot in disguise.  
     Please, if you are an apricot grower in Patterson, California or wherever the wonderful fruit is grown, not take any offense to what I am saying..  Again, this is my opinion sort of like Russell Crowe not being able to sing.
     Getting back to the raspberry apricot coffee cake there is one more comment I would like to bring up and that is the full name of this concoction is Raspberry Apricot Danish Coffee Cake.  It has the flakyness of a danish but is called a coffee cake.  What is the baker trying to do?  I think it is a stealth move initiated by the Department of Defense to get me to eat apricots.  Good try fellas, but it isn't going to work.
     One last think needs to be pondered.  Is it a coffee cake if I don't have a cup of coffee when I eat it?  That's not going to happen, because I always drink a glass of milk when I eat cake.  I do have coffee when I have a danish though. Now I'm confused.  As you probably know, that doesn't take much to happen.      

Coffee Cake

     I don't understand bakeries.  How do they name the creations they bake. I present  coffee cake for example.  Is there coffee in coffee cake?  I think not.  I understand that the reason it is called coffee cake is because I guess you originally were supposed to serve it with coffee.  What happens if we never found the joys of drinking coffee, what would it be called then.  Would it have even been invented. Think about that one for a bit.
     Tea is big in England.  If you follow the logic of  coffee cake, they serve pastries with their tea and the cakes are called tea cakes.  Is coffee cake a response to anglophiles because they call their pastries tea cakes and since we predominantly serve coffee we call them coffee cakes? Do we Americans have an inferiority complex because the English serve tea and we are a coffee drinking nation? You will just have to go with me on that one.
      I love chocolate devil's food cake.  Of course it has to have chocolate frosting lathered thickly on its top, sides and in between its layers.  Do you serve this cake with coffee? I actually prefer a tall glass of whole milk, not 2% perish the thought. You can, but then it doesn't fit the strict definition of coffee cake, does it? A coffee cake, strictly speaking has crumbles on it, or fruit or something bizarre in it. It is normally flavored with almond or something else like cinimonn, uh cinnimmon, uh cinimmon-you know, that brown finely ground stuff  I can't spell it and always couldn't spell it. I missed it on my eighth grade spelling test.  I remember that well.

I couldn't find a coffee cake or devils's food cake picture.  This will have to do.

     Coffee cake always has a strange round shape with a hole in it as a general rule.  It is not raised as well, as is with a normal devil's food cake. Coffee cake also is home of the bundt cake. That brings up another question, why the bundt cake?          

Round and Round She Goes, Where She Stops Nobody Knows

     Let's start out with a question for the ages, shall we?  Here it comes, are you ready?  I am not going to drag this one out.  You have a right to think about it and come up with an answer.  Since it is a question of the ages, you may not have an answer, but at least give it some careful consideration. I will not hold you in suspense any longer.
     Our world is richly blessed because of free online slot machine game sites. How much do online free slot machines and gaming sites impact our world? Now think about this one.  Contemplate all the ramifications to our culture that this question brings.  Think about what our world would be like without online free gaming sites where you can ear unlimited free credits? Your answer to this could impact the world just as the question about the Mayan calendar and the end of the world did in December.  This one is big!

Think about it!

   
     

Back At It Today

     I have been told that since I have retired from teaching, I don't work. That is a completely inaccurate statement.  I have a lot to do, and I am doing it right now.  That realization has hit me and hit me hard, which is a point that I try to make to my friends.  I am a writer and just because I stay home to practice my craft, I am still working.
     Do you know how hard it is to create something every day out of nothing?  After you have the idea in your head, you still have to share that idea with others via some sort of media.  My case just happens to be with print, working very hard to come up with an idea to share every day and it isn't easy let me tell you. Once it is down in print, someone is going to criticize your grammar and spelling not to mention the idea and piece itself.
     Sometimes one must fake it.  Today is a prime example of that.  I woke up this morning and was mulling over in my head what to write.  There was nothing there.  OK, I know what you are thinking and that his how is that different than any other day in my life. You never have anything in your head, which seems to be totally empty one could comment.  Well, I have worked very hard in order to maintain that illusion and there is a lot going on in my totally not so normal brain.  In many cases, there is too much going on in that brain of mine.  Sometimes I can't focus and the thoughts get in the way, and other times there just isn't anything there. In fact, the room is full of smoke right now because I am trying so very hard to create something out of nothing.

Is there something he knows I don't?

     By the way, I have a couple of new sponsors.  Check them out. That's it for today, I have to go rest because I am doing too much of nothing.      

New year's Day Huh?

     So it's New Year's Day today.  The question is, what do you do? I vote for going to a movie later today, but then I would miss the Rose Bowl.  I guess what I will do is break out the munchies and just watch the game.  Stanford is going to destroy Wisconsin.  Remember that limb I was going to go out on as far as my singing?  Well I am out on a similar limb when I make a statement like that.
 

     I thought I had lost this masterpiece in the making that I didn't finish.  I thought I had lost it in cyberspace and this was the beginning to my other post today.  My advice would be to read both and see what you think.

New Year's Day, Huh?

     It's New Year's Day today. The question I pose to you as the first important question of 2013 is what do we do today.  New year's Day to me is almost a non holiday.  Now, since we have the BCS series, the day has sort of lost its significance.  For crying out loud, The Rose Bowl is on ESPN? Why isn't it on one of the real networks.  This really cheapens the Rose Bowl and the day.  

     In my youth, there were three important games on TV and that meant the three TV networks.  NBC sometimes had all three of them and sometimes it was ABC.  How many of you remember?  You would watch The Cotton Bowl in the morning, the Rose Bowl in the middle afternoon, and finished off with the Orange Bowl.  These games had national significance.  Now, the world reacts to the importance of these games with  a very enthusiastic....ehhhhh, who cares. Football has lost its importance on New Year's Day.  We have now the eastern sports establishment Bowl Championship Game or BCS Championship, still based on the eastern sports media. but enough of the talk of this.  I really want to talk about something that has a  much more earth shattering consequence for the Earth in general.

     Here goes, my views of the most important world saving discussion we can have on New Year's Day.  What snacks are we going to have while we are celebrating New Year's?

     I like onion dip with ridged potato chips.  There is nothing better and it takes a lot of love to mix the pint of sour cream and the onion soup mix. One has to be careful stirring the dip because it has to be mixed well and you can cramp your wrist, causing irreparable damage to the tendons in your wrist.  You also have to secure the right potato chips as well, otherwise the chips break in the dip and then you have to go fishing in the dip with your fingers for the chip pieces.  Finger gunk does add more flavor tho the dip, but you want to watch how much finger gunk gets into the dip because you also don't want it to get unhealthy.  You also don't want the gunk to overpover the delicate taste of the extremely salty onion soup. It is a delicate balance.

     There are a lot more favorites as well, am I am not beyond burning a batch of nachos in the oven or dipping corn chips in what I though was mild salsa. Imitation crab dip on wheat thins is good too. My ladyfriend doesn't really like the crab dip and my son has tragically developed s shellfish allergy, so I tried a new cashew chicken salad dip.  It was pretty good.

    That is about all I have to say today.  I want to get back to the insignificant Rose Bowl.  

By the way, no photos today either.  D50 mast have had a good night last night.  He didn't get back until 5:00 AM.