Friday, June 07, 2013

— A Random Five post [006], This and That —

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Night Scene in Jim's Backyard

My new camera is running on full automatic.  I think to take moon pictures (I covet all those) there must be special settings made.

Anyway, the moon wasn't peeking out the other night so I got this for you.  Picasa helped me with the effect.

==> I am linked up today with Nancy at A Rural Journal. She conducts her "A Random Five" blog hop there. Click that link to read other "A Random Five" posts or join in with your own.
Sign found at Troon, .. . .. .
 Ayreshire, Scotland .. . . . .
(link to Jim's earlier blog) . . .
1.  How does one become aware when he or she is getting old?  For me it was gradual.  I was back in college and the banks had special life-time no-fee account for college kids.  They must be under 30.

Why not 35?  That bothered me but one day they did change to 35.  But by then I was over 35 (still in college, when I went back I spent eleven years going to night school for three degrees).  Getting old.

If you went to college back when I did there were long lines of us out amongst the trees waiting for our turn to pull class cards.  Our lines were arranged by alphabetical order. 

This particular time when I was given my class cards one of the young ladies whom I considered my contemporary and would like sit somewhere near in class surprised me.  She addressed me as "Sir."  Getting old.

Those eleven years and three degrees were a signal that I should stop taking classes.  I did vow to take a Shakespeare Literature class but haven't done that yet. I soon began to teach a Business Law evening class at the community college where I got the first of those three degrees.  In about three years I was offered a professor job there, teaching a full load.
 
One of my classroom innovations was to move around to the front of the teacher desk and sit up on it so students on their way out could stop and talk, make an office appointment, perhaps give me a thumbs up, or whatever.
 
I don't know if it was a conspiracy or not, but it all happened at one time, like when I was still in school they called me "Sir."  The students began patting my leg.  Getting old.

Now, I get patted a lot. The patting is mostly done by women but a few men pat me.  Shoulders or when sitting my legs are their favorites. 
 
Last week I went to see my dermatologist about some sores and rashes that I could not get rid of.  One of of those involved a drop-your-drawers-so-I-can-see episode.  I thought his nurse might leave but she stayed busy over by the lavatory. 

After my doctor was finished and gave me a new prescription (and my pants were back up) I saw the nurse  throwing away my older prescription tube of medicine.
 
I said to her, "You are throwing my medicine away."  She smartly said, "It says 1999 on the tube."  End of that.  But on the way out, she gave me the nicest pat I have had for a long time.  Getting old.
 
2.  Got gas for Mrs. Jim last week and this car was ahead of me.  I decided this would make a nice "Read your car" feature.

Back a couple of years a had a weekend feature called "Read Your Car." It didn't go over real big so I stopped doing it. (link)

I could see that the driver was a lady.  A lady who was lazy and wasn't too into getting it done very fast as she was sitting inside her car.  She should have been washing her bug smeared windows or watching for the filling to finish.  I felt like honking at her to get her attention and then ask if it was still filling or wasn't maybe she was finished.  She must have had it on slow.

I don't fault her for not buy American.  That has gone out of style now for a long time and Honda does make a good car.  Most now are made in American but the profits go to Japan.  I still buy American.

Did you notice the fish symbol on the back of her car?  But the words inside say "Darwin."  I had not seen one of these before (see picture below).  Her blatant fish says she is one of the of many vocal evolutionists.  Personally if I had a fish it would be telling the world the standard fish message of Biblical origin which includes the world being created by God in seven days.  To me that is a Big Bang if I ever could dream of one and I believe it (creation theories search).

Note also the license plate frame, saying "Harley Davidson."  The lady might be a biker but I am thinking her husband or male friend put that on for her. 

Can you read the price of gas?  It was $3.02 here that day.  The locals are having a little gas war because a new grocery store (H.E.B) has moved in.
 
This gas was from Kroger and was $3.22 before my 20¢ off.  Still though, 16 gallons cost a lot.  In our car $48 will get us about 320 miles.
 
 
  
3.  You know you are getting old when your friends are having their 50th wedding anniversaries.  Our friend decided she could not get into her wedding dress anymore.  Can you?

Guy stuff, I don't even have my wedding suit.  I grew and it shrank.

4.  I played golf with my friend  on Wednesday.  We played at Panorama Village and the course was nice (link).  My ball was in front of this tree and a little squirrel was watching me from in back of the tree.

The squirrel's brother later tried to steal my peanut butter and cracker sandwiches.  He didn't get away with that but he did contaminate my food.

5. I read a lot of stuff on my computer besides blogs, Facebooks, e-mail, etc. My computer starts up every morning with MSN News. Then the news items change as the day goes along.

This item came along on Wednesday. I am a big fan of Van Gogh (my blogs) and really like this video.  It was neat:
Check out this great MSN video - Van Gogh's paintings come to life

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# posted by Jim : 6/07/2013 12:03:00 AM  15 comments

Friday, September 05, 2008

Have you had your car read lately? #005 -- My friend's retirement car

What kind and model do you think this car is?
Remember, my retirement car is a '98 Mustang GT Convertible
(link).


[large picture] [super sized]

First, I will read this car. It is owned by a man and is his retirement car. He didn't have to buy it for himself like I did, his company bought it for him!

In fact, his car brand name is the name of his company.



[large picture] [super sized]

This looks better, we can see my friend. Still doesn't really show what brand it is. We can see a '450 SL" plainly on the right hand side of the trunk lid.

My friend is a happy fellow, we can see that from his car. But one look at him affirms this. I didn't have Adi that day, he would have like to have taken Adi for a nice 'top down' ride.




[super sized picture, left][super sized picture, right]

You probably are way ahead of me and have enlarged the picture above before these, but here it is shown that the car is a 450 SL SnapOn. There are just a few SnapOn cars in existence.
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I got a watch from my company. Well I did get two watches, one from San Jacinto College and another from Elgin Watch company where I was working before being drafted into the U.S. Army.
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This Friday feature for JIM'S LITTLE BLOG helps me tackle the blogging problem of writer's blahs. So my advice is "when you don't feel like writing anything, post a picture." That's what is happening here.**
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** This is not an original idea. Reading cars came from a sermon I heard last Sunday, brought by Dr. Roger Yancey, Director of Missions, Tryon Evergreen Baptist Association, of which our church, First Baptist Church of Conroe Texas, is associated. I believe my count of 118 was pretty close (link for you to check yourself).
I saw a few cowboy churches and quite a few Hispanic churches. All are within a 35 mile radius of our home.

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# posted by Jim : 9/05/2008 12:00:00 AM  7 comments

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Have you had your car read lately? #020 — Six Word Saturday — Three Youthful Finds

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Do you remember your youthful driving?

[Click on any picture for larger viewing.]

I am thinking that the drivers of these three cars are progressively older as shown here. They probably didn't have the bad experiences totalled together of six accidents as I did by myself. Three of them were not my fault.

That doesn't count knocking down a road barrier before school. My sister wouldn't count knocking down the neighbor's mailbox either. I feel a little bad about that as I taught her how to drive. Plus, I think Dad was with her when she did it.

This first car goes nowhere fast. Very fast. Just one look at this driver and you will know that she is related to me, Jim. In fact, she is my grand-daughter, KP, out for a spin.

Her race care is in the Incredible Pizza restaurant in Conroe, Texas. The car tipped from side to side as it made it's journey around the track. KP did not like that. I asked Mrs. Jim if the car had a seat belt as that would help stabilize her. Mrs. Jim said yes, but that KP did not like it.

Since she does not like foolishness and the out of ordinary for her involvement in car riding I predict that she will become a very safe driver. She watches out for people approaching her on either side. This car did not have a rear view mirror but she did turn around often to see if other racers were catching up with her. KP definitely gets an AAA+++.

This car arrived downstairs from Karen's and Billy's London flat in the middle of the night. I have it in my mind that it was about two in the morning. Bars close there at 11 PM so they didn't just come from a bar.

The occupants were very noisy and seemed to care less about waking the neighbors up. After some more loud giggling, more discrete chatting and whispering, one jumped out and ran into the building. Eventually the car drove off.

These people were teens out having fun for the night. The car surely was not stolen or they would be more discrete. Probably a concert had been in order and then a light breakfast type meal afterwards. For their sake I do hope no one was in trouble for being out that late. My rating here is ABB+
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The driver of this car is obviously on an errand. I believe he or she is delivering a family meal to a flat upstairs above these stores.

There is no Cafe Lidos here on St. Johns Wood High Street (Westminister, London, U.K.). The closest one is down by the Paddington Station, a little over two miles to the South. It is too far to pick up supplies so I am saying a delivery.

Our delivery person then is probably a young male in his early 20's. He dresses well or could be in a Lido's uniform. Probably he is not married, because of the connections he is in position to make, he has a special friend.

The driver obviously flaunted the parking rules as he/she is not in a regulation parking place. Do notice that cars are parked heading either way on this street. The car, even though now being driven in the rain, has been flawlessly kept. I give an AAA+++ for the driver, the car, and the business.
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Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.
Six Word Saturday, Click the box --> to visit Cate's blog with Mr. Linky showing all the other blogs participating this week.
Cate is the boss at Six Word Saturday. She would like for you to participate.

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# posted by Jim : 5/07/2011 12:26:00 AM  12 comments

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Have you had your car read lately? #011 -- The little car that did



This is a wonderful two-owner car! It has over 233,000 miles on it and is still running top notch. Nothing was ever done to the engine or transmission except to replace some belts and dip-phugolator.

More interesting is the history of this car. It now belongs to a young college student from Illinois.

Before that it belonged to his grandfather who supported a family of eight kids and his sister. He rented a small farm of 80 acres which was always planted with corn and oats.

These grains he fed his cows, chickens, pigs, and feeder cattle. Most of the animals furnished food for the family either in produce or in their sacrifice as meat. Grandpa did have a large garden. The surplus produce and slaughter animals were sold to purchase family items which required cash.

As the family grew up and left home there was not one left to help with the farm. Grandpa did not have a tractor and all but one of his horses had died. So then he rented only the house and surrounding yards and the garden.

He won this new car at a poker game which was very fortunate for all of them. Now he could get a paper route to help support the two children still at home and the sister. The paper route was quite prosperous and provided ample income for those left at the home place.

Finally grandpa became bedridden and could no longer do the paper route. He was now all alone with the two kids gone and his sister had died. Who would take care of him?

The alert grandson saw what was happening to his now ragtag grandfather who had to spend most of his days in bed. Twice a week the oldest daughter who worked seven days a week would come in and leave food by the bed, wash grandpa's clothes and bedding, help him bathe, and visit for the entire day. She also repaired the car when as it needed.

Now this grandson approached his grandfather. "If you would let me use your car to do your paper route then your money problems would be over" he announced.

Quickly things transpired, the grandson ran the paper route, it grew even past its former number of subscribers, and financially things were in the black again.

The grandfather said, "son, you could live here with me and save yourself a lot of money to help with your school." This arrangement worked well. To the surprise of everyone, with the grandson now living there in the home, grandpa became able to get up and no longer be bedridden. He could pretty well take care of himself and even helped some in the garden.

Grandpa gave ownership of the car to the grandson. He charged no rent and gave the grandson whatever amount he needed for support and college. This arrangement worked well for eight years until grandpa died. The grandson was taking good care of the car so it would last many, many, more years. Rumors are that even a new puppy was found in the little household.

Those eight years are still hazy but things did work out.
Things will be more clear with history's report.
What will happen now remains to be seen.

We were seeing the actors and missing our play. It is currently playing in theatres near you.
The cast:
Bill Clinton is played by Grandfather
Barack Obama is played by Grandson
Various Congressmen voted out of office and an unsuccessful vice president candidate are played by the seven forgetful selfish children
The United States of America is played by the car (alternate actor, the farm)
Hillary is played by is played by the one caring daughter who has a job and works seven days a week -- and also does work on the car
A new and aspiring health plan is played by the food, clean clothes, etc for grandpa
The economy is played by, well you know that
Other characters not named in this review are played bit you might recognize
Credit is also given to the stage hands without whom this play would not be possible
The current president was not in this performance as the actor, G.W.B, was vacationing on his Texas ranch--in the script he was a major contributor to the sad state of repair of this little Ford car


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# posted by Jim : 11/06/2008 09:51:00 PM  11 comments

Friday, June 23, 2023

Letter "Y" -- Friday's Weekend Roundup 10 / Reflections and-or Street/Candid Captures

 - Tom's Prompts Start with "Y."  A Favorite. Yard.
 - James' request, "Reflections and/or Street Photos/Candid Captures." 
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Start with "Y."  Yemeni!  These cars on SM506 avoided a bad pileup but it caused a Mayhem.  The '34 Ford Hotrod and the Orange Racer were racing and bumped sides, both spun out. 

I have 29 of these Matchbox toy cars that I've collected over the years. The orange racer in the left lane has been in my stable since my childhood.

A Favorite:        Saturday, May 07, 2011

Have you had your car read lately? #020 — Six Word Saturday — Three Youthful Finds

Do you remember your youthful driving? 

I am thinking that the drivers of the three cars shown on this and previous pages are progressively older as shown here. They probably didn't have the bad experiences totaled together of three accidents as I did by myself. None of them were my fault.


That doesn't count knocking down a road barrier before school. My sister wouldn't count knocking down the neighbor's mailbox either. I feel a little bad about that as I taught her how to drive. Plus, I think Dad was with her when she did it.

This car goes nowhere fast. Very fast. Just one look at this driver and you will know that she is related to me, Jim. In fact, she is my grand-daughter, KP, out for a spin.

Her race car is in the Incredible Pizza restaurant in Conroe, Texas. The car tipped from side to side as it made it's journey around the track. KP did not like that. I asked Mrs. Jim if the car had a seat belt as that would help stabilize her. Mrs. Jim said yes, but that KP did not like it.

Since she does not like foolishness and the out of ordinary for her involvement in car riding I predict that she will become a very safe driver. She watches out for people approaching her on either side. This car did not have a rear view mirror but she did turn around often to see if other racers were catching up with her. KP definitely gets an AAA+++. 

https://jimmiehov.blogspot.com/2011/05/have-you-had-your-car-read-lately-020.html 





Tom's Request, "Yard": We have a rabbit in the back yard and a duck in the front.  When she gets thirsty the duck goes across the street to drink excess watering in the curbs of the street.

Conspiring?  I have no idea what they might be saying. 
What do YOU think they are about?

James' request, "Reflections and/or Street Photos/Candid Captures":  We were debarking from our flight to the Isle of Man from probably Scotland. () 
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The Fine Print:   

 - [Click on any picture for larger, click it again for extra-large.] 
 - The pictures mostly are all mine and rights are reserved to me under Copyright Law. 
 - I am linked with Tom of "Backwoods Traveler" (click here, Link, for Tom's Weekend Reviews) 
 - I am also linking again this week with James of "Weekend Reflections/Street Photos" (click here for his Street Folk and Reflections Photos). 
.. 

# posted by Jim : 6/23/2023 06:07:00 AM  6 comments

Friday, August 19, 2022

Letter "G" -- Friday's Weekend Roundup 09 / Reflections and-or Street/Candid Captures

 - Tom's posting prompts: This "Week's Prompts Starts with "G." A Favorite. "Grand".

 - James wishes for our Reflections and/or Street Photos/Candid Captures
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Taken in 2013 at Hyde Park, London, U.K. 

"Half is better than none," or so they say.  Others will argue, "It's all or none"

Starts with "G":   This one-legged Goose wants to be my G-Word today.
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Click on pictures for larger viewing, most will click again for a full size view.


A Favorite:  This couple, Matt and Claire Abrey [google them and also click the picture for a full screen look at this nice car], are driving down Piccadilly Street in London.  They may have been returning from the filming in London of an episode (episodes) for Top Gear.  There were £200million of British cars around for this. (link).

I could not find much about this specific car we see.  In races the Abrey's enter it in the pre-1920 class. (road rally link picture)  I was not sure exactly looking to find more. 

BUT ANYWAY, THEY WERE THERE, ON THE STREET BESIDE OUR CITY BUS. 













Tom's choice,"Grand":  The last beach where we played was at the Seven Mile Beach at Grand Cayman Island. 

We always call him, no matter where he is or who he really is, the Friendly Stranger.   A Friendly Stranger took this picture, it has been cropped to portrait size.  

Aside, he had been drinking a lot but was able to snap this one for us.  We hope he didn't drown; the warm water may have sobered him up, I wonder?

Do you know how to make chicken jerk? 
You sneak up on it and holler BOO!!!!
Highlight the blank area above to find out.
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Reflections and/or Street Photos/Candid Captures: Students intently (??) listening to their Bible Study teacher.  The lesson was from 1 John 3.



A Lagniappe #1:  There's a lot of Gaff that teachers have to put up with.  It is no wonder that so many are retiring ASAP, most Gaff comes from the politicians and some also by the mislead parents.

The pictures are some books that teachers, and libraries, have no discretion but to follow new rules to ban them. 

For this week's post I've circled all that have a prominent "G" letter in the word and its usage.

From top to bottom the words are as follows:  
    Ghost; Gay; Gay; and Gender.   
I agree, some are not suitable for all ages, but adults should be able to read as they wish.

A Lagniappe #2:  BTW, I bought a used book today, "Animal Farm" by George Orwell.  Both Mrs. Jim and I had read excerpts but not the entire book.



A Lagniappe #3:  I like the comics, a.k.a. funnies, but I read only about ten of the many of those in my Houston Chronicle.  Five I make a point of reading and then five or six more if I feel like reading more.  The top five are Peanuts, Mother Goose and Grim, Hagar the Horrible, Blondie, and Beatle Bailey.  

Peanuts is my favorite, I like Beatle Bailey because he is an Army Private and I started my five years as a Private also.  The other five or six I often read are Bizarro, B.C, Family Circus, Ziggy, Rymes with Orange, and F-Minus.  I hardly ever read anymore. 

In peanuts right now, Snoopy's brother, Spike, is visiting.  He is in bad shape with the drought in the desert where he lives and came for help.

Questions for you:  
    Do you read the comics?
    If so, how many on average?
    What is your favorite?

Growing up I used to read Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annice, and Little Abner which terminated in 1977 (read more).  I still have my 127 Dick Tracy camera.
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The Fine print stuff:

 - [Click on any picture for larger, click it again for extra-large.] 

 - I am linked with Tom of "Backwoods Travel" (Link is here to click for Tom's Weekend Reviews) 

 - I am also linking again this week with James of "Weekend Reflections/Street Photos" (click here for his Street Folk and Reflections Photos).

 - The pictures mostly are all mine and rights are reserved to me under Copyright Law. 

 -The one-legged Goose photo was previously posted in April 2015 with several other photos with a slightly humorous poem I wrote, it is posted at the link below  on my other active  blog, 
_ _ _ _ 


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# posted by Jim : 8/19/2022 12:23:00 AM  4 comments

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Thursday Memes -- Things in a row -- Two Questions

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Okay now, what color is your car? In Texas it officially would be one of these sixteen (16) colors.

Don't you just love the rows of color patches here?

I found this neat little color chart at the County Assessor and Tax Collector's office. Every station had one. The owner of a person registering his car for the first time must choose one that closest matches his or her color.
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See what color your car officially would be in Texas. Click on the picture to make it big enough to read. Click again or whatever to make it bigger yet.

For more things in a row please visit Pat's Things in a Row post.
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And now for my Thursday Two Questions: (See Thursday Two Questions by Poetic Shutterbug for more reading. You could also make your own by checking in at this link.)

Last week we answered questions about our learning typing (keyboarding now) and teaching the kids this skill. One reader said that if her kid's school didn't teach them then she would. Good going!

Here are the two questions for this week:

1. Using my color chart what color is/are your car(s)? What color did the window sticker call it (if you still have it or know this)?

2. How long do you keep a car and when do you trade it in?

My answers:

1. My 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Tudor is BLACK
...the 1974 Mustang II Ghia is GREEN (major color) with a WHITE (minor color) vinyl sunroof
...the 1998 Mustang GT Convertible is BLACK (top is also black) -- this car was my retirement present to me. It was owned by a lady having 49,800 or so miles on it and was two years old. Eleven years later now it has 94,500 miles.
...the 2006 Cadillac DTS four door sedan is GRAY (window sticker called metallic something exotic)

2. We don't trade cars in. And we have NEVER purchased a NEW CAR during the thirty-nine (39) years of our marriage. When they become undependable then we go looking for a low mileage, under 20,000, three year old replacement preferably owned by a LOL (Little Old Lady).

Bonus Question: What will you do fun for Mardi Gras?
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Mrs. Jim and I will probably rent a Red Box movie, Midnight in Paris (IMBd link). We saw it at the movie theatre and want to see it again. It lets us relive some of the times we have visited in Paris.

Here is what we might have done except Mrs. Jim said "NO" (but I like the menu):

Mardi Gras Soiree
Saturday February 18, 2012
6:30 pm at the Country Club
$23.95++
Click Here to Register Online
Join Chef Byron in celebrating his cajun roots at this fun event complete with a Mardi Gras float, bead throwing, and live music by LT & the Zydeco Mob Band!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Menu
Fruit and Cheese Display
Garden Vegetable Montage with Dips
Boudin BallsSoft
Shell Crab Sliders
Chicken and Andouille Gumbo
Peel and Eat Shrimp
Mini Catfish PoBoys
Crawfish Etouffee'
JambalayaKing Cake

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Read all about our new social club...The Mystics
Krewe of Bentwater!
We are now forming the
Mystics Bentwater Krewe. Membership privileges will allow you to participate in
exclusive parties and events throughout the year. The fun times will include a
Krewe crawfish boil, Cochon de lait, a golf tournament, discounts to select Club
events and a whirlwind trip to New Orleans for gambling and golf.
Membership is limited to the first 150 club members to register. First opportunity to become a founding member of the Krewe will be at the “Bentwater Mardi Gras Soiree” on February 18th.
Come see us at the Mardi Gras float to become a member. The Mystics Krewe membership fee is only $25 a year and includes a special welcome gift and year of exciting fun.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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Note: Wikipedia has all about what we call Mardi Gras. You might celebrate it? ""Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday; in English the day is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday, from the word shrive, meaning "confess." at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras .
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Oh well, Mrs. Jim can make all this food when she wants. Her gumbo is the best anyone has ever had and there isn't any problem with her making the rest. After all, she is originally from Louisiana.

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# posted by Jim : 2/16/2012 12:03:00 AM  12 comments

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