Saturday, January 31, 2009

Wordzzle

As always click on the button to see the guidelines.
And don't forget to go to Raven's Nest to see all the others.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: snow and ice, vegetarian chili, pampered kitty, anthropology, do you own a home, coronation, you can change the world, hideous curtains, stammering, premonitions

Mini Challenge: Is there a doctor in the house, blowing in the breeze, shadows, comedian, sleeping disorder

Rhonda ran to the sleeping Phrog. She looked down at him and said "Don't worry, he is just asleep. He has a sleeping disorder don't ya know."

Sallyie looked at her and said, "Oh Rhonda, you are such a comedian. Look over there in the shadows and find the cymbols. Then smash them together near Phrog and see if he is asleep or if you are just blowing in the breeze."

"No Sallyie", said Saydie, "you mean blowing in the wind".....She ran to the auditorium and asked, " Is there a doctor in the house?"

"Oh, girls" said Rhonda, "here is Doctor Williams. He had some funny premonitions tonight and brought his "kit" alog with him, He will look at poor Phrog.

Dr. Williams had a stammering problem and he took one look at the hideous curtains hanging at the windows and said "You you ccccan ccccccchange the world. if you channggge the curtains. Now let's get Phrog up and about again so the he ccccan have his ccccoronation as the leader of the Order of the Salamanders. By the way do you own a home, Phrog?"

Phrog said that he did but that he was selling it and donating the money to fund an anthropology chair at the pampered kitty school for those who love vegetarian chili. Now get me some snow and ice so that I can heal myself.

Next Week's 10 Word Challenge: author, Wall Street, rage, lemons, channel changer, cookies and milk, candelabra, Pine Cone Motel, illusory, fluffer-doodle.

And the mini challenge: war, wooden shoes, flabbergast, chimera, vodka martini

The end of the week

Kurt and Craig at the Iowa York Rite College. Someone else was in the original but he was ugly so I cut him out. These two guys are more that just Lodge Brothers. They are incredible friends.
Iowa this morning. It was much prettier than this but I like the picture. I took it this morning as I started out for the York Rite College meeting in Marshalltown.
This is Max, It is one of his new favorite spots to sit. He is waiting for the carpet to dry after being cleaned. He is so sweet (except when he is barking)

Last night was the stated meeting of Specialis Procer Lodge U. D.. After our short (40 minute (or less) meeting we went to Felix and Oscars to a private room for dinner and to listen to a talk by Brother John Klaus.
Our Worshipful Master blogged about last night's meeting here.
I totally agree with him. Yesterday I worked with Kurt in the Consistory Library. (He has now finished putting the entire collection on-line here. It has some fascinating books in in and it was great fun to find plates and engravings to look them over.) I am retired and not used to working that hard. Plus we had to set up the Lodge room and then went to dinner. But I will say this. I love this Lodge. The brothers are all interested in finding out more about masonry and we all seem to get along very well and work to make this a very special lodge to attend. And of course, I love the eating out with my friends aspect of the Lodge.

John Klaus presented the paper and he spoke for about 40 minutes about the things we learn from the opening (only) of the First Degree. I learn something every time I attend a degree and even with that I had never thought about some of the things he brought up. All in all it was an excellent week and it was topped of by the meeting last night. Thanks for stopping by. j

Iowa York Rite College

Governor Radloff
Jason Wolcott and Wade Sheeler

Iowa York Rite #37 held its Mid Winter Meeting in Marshalltown.
Last minute studying (Charlie got put into a part he wasn't expecting)
Doug Heatn (Recorder) received the York Rite College Service Award. Only one is given in the state each year. Congratulations Doug. (that is Doug's girlfriend Mrs Heath. (Kathy))
A surprise Gold Honor award was given to Governor Don Radloff
Gold Honor Award Recipients. Bob Seiler and Dale Robertson and their ladies
The newest members of the College.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Found For Friday



Judy Wallman, a professional genealogy researcher here in southern California , was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Harry Reid's great-great uncle, Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. Both Judy and Harry Reid share this common ancestor.

Harry Reid

_The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows in Montana territory.

On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: 'Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889.'

So Judy recently e-mailed Congressman Harry Reid for information about their great-great uncle. __Believe it or not, Harry Reid's staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:

'Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory . His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.'
__NOW THAT is how it's done folks! That's real SPIN.


THE TINY CABIN
A social worker from a big City in Massachusetts recently transferred to the Mountains of North Carolina and Georgia and was on the first tour of her new territory when she came upon the tiniest cabin she had ever seen in her life.

Intrigued, she went up and knocked on the door. 'Anybody _home?' she asked.

'Yep,' came a kid's voice through the door.
'Is your father there?' asked the social worker.
'Pa? Nope, he left afore Ma came in,' said the kid.
'Well, is your mother there?' persisted the social worker.
'Ma? Nope, she left just afore I got here,' said the kid.
'But,' protested the social worker, 'are you never together as a family?' \
'Sure, but not here,' said the kid through the door.

'This is the Outhouse!'
(Government workers are so smart)

One sunny day in February 2009 an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.

He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, 'I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.'

The Marine looked at the man and said, 'Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here.'

The old man said, 'Okay' and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, 'I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.'

The Marine again told the man, 'Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here.'

The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U.S. Marine, saying 'I would like to go in and meet with President Bush.'

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, 'Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush.

I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the president and no longer resides here.

Don't you understand?'

The old man looked at the Marine and said, 'Oh, I understand.

I just love hearing it.'

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, 'Yes Sir! See you tomorrow.'

A man and a woman were asleep like two innocent babies. Suddenly, at 3 o’clock in the morning, a loud noise came from outside. The woman, bewildered, jumped up from the bed and yelled at the man ‘Holy Shit. That must be my husband!’

So the man jumped out of the bed; scared and naked jumped out the window. He smashed himself on the ground, ran through a thorn bush and to his car as fast as he could go. A few minutes later he returned and went up to the bedroom and screamed at the woman, ‘I AM your husband!’

The woman yelled back, ‘Yeah, then why were you running?’

h/t Madpriest

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.

My wife asked, 'Do you know her?'

'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.'

'My God!' says my wife. 'Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'

And that's when the fight started.....

I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Miller Light for $14.95. Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95. I told her the beer would make her look better at night than the cold cream.

And that's when the fight started.....

When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take her someplace expensive. So, I took her to a gas station.

And that's when the fight started.....

I am sending this only to my smart friends.
See if you can figure out what these words have in common. _

1 Banana
2 Dresser
3 Grammar
4 Potato
5 Revive
6 Uneven
7 Assess
Are you peeking or have you already given up?
Give it another try . Look at each word carefully._
(You'll kick yourself when you discover the answer.)
This Is Cool.

_ Answer: No, it is not that they all have at least 2 double letters. (Thought I had the answer, but I did not go far enough.)
_
Answer:
In all of the words listed, if you take the first letter, place it at the end of the word, and then spell the word backwards, it will be the same word.
Did you figure it out? Just send it to more people and stump them; then, you'll feel better, too

Thursday

It was a busy, productive day. I got up at 7:00 AM and took the car to the service station. I have had a noise which we thought might be a bearing going out or a tire or whatever and wanted to have it checked out. So they fixed something but I still have the noise but at least it is OK to drive. He suggested that I could just put up with it or spend $800.

Then the Mediacom guys came out and they had to give me a new DVR. I did not have Audio on C-Span and I do like to watch that sometimes. So they gave me a new DVR. Unfortunately they lost all the stuff which I had saved and not watched. Oh well it will be back on again. (I hope) At least it is fixed and it is easier to work now.
This afternoon I had the carpet cleaned. The dogs had done a number on it and there were spots from where they had gotten sick and also where Bailey had deliberately used it (I was going to say had an accident but it was no accident). Any way it is cleaned now and the boxes are covering spots where he put sme chemicals to help pull up the stain. I have some new "stuff" to clean up future "accidents." I used a guy from Ankeny to do the carpets and I am really satisfied. His web site is here.
Miss Cassie decided to sit on one of the boxes that covered the chemicals. Isn't she sweet?
All of my living room furniture is in the kitchen, Max's bed room and the hallway so the place is a mess and I left and went out to the friendship/fellowship night at the Lodge.
Some of the guys played ISU monopoly and some sat around and visited. All of us ate pizza.
On the way home the moon and Venus (?) were just beautiful Low hanging crescent moon and bright, bright star (planet) - I almost drove off the road looking at it. I was able to take a picture of it. My camera is not as good as Bob's so I tried to call him to tell him about it but he was on the phone. So I sent him an e-mail. I hope he went out to take pictures. But if not at least you have my poor attempt here.
Today I also went out to Heartland Technologies and picked up Jon's Computer. He dropped it the other day and broke it so it had to have a new part. Fortunately they have a really great guy there who I trust with everything. He fixed it and so now when Jon's new cord comes (he ordered it off the Internets) - So there was a lot of things happening today and I feel really good about having the house cleaned up. Now if I can figure out a new way to arrange the furniture. . . . but I probably won't. Tomorrow I plan to help Kurt in the Library and we have a stated meeting of Specialis Procer Lodge and Festive Board. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Friday. I will probably put up found for Friday tonight before I go to bed and because I have to be in Marshalltown on Saturday morning so I won't get to my wordzzle until later on Saturday. ARTYAL, Hugs, jcs

Bill Sent Me This - Running on Hope

And the funny thing is that I took my Jeep in today. 121,000 miles and it is still running. Anywhy this is good.

Running on Hope from Douglas Sarine on Vimeo.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

More Pictures from Bob

Bob just sent me some more. These I put in a slide show. Enjoy!

Frosty Morning

Iowa was beautiful this morning. It was cold but when I went out to drive to Des Moines I looked around me and saw the trees and shrubs were all covered with a beautiful frost. As I pulled up onto the interstate I drove through a low cloud (fog) and worried about the drive but fortunately it was just in that one spot. I wished that I had my camera with me but I had left it behind because I planned on working in the library with Kurt all day (and I did) - I saw a sun "puppy" (not big enough to be a real sun dog) and kicked myself again. I almost called Bob to tell him to get out there and take those picture. I needn't have worried. As he did. Tonight he called me and told me he had some photos to send me. Aren't they lovely? Thanks for stopping by. Hugs, j




Ames York Rite Installation

Tonight the Ames York Rite Installed Companion and Sir Knight Fredrick Killian as High Priest, Illustrious Master and Commander. Sir Knight David M. Dryer Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery was the Installing Officer.
Here are some pictures of the event.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Bailey


Bailey had a check-up today. He is over his cold but it was time for one of his shots and Brenda Bright stopped by to give it to him and check him out.

He is 13 and 1/2 years old and I worry about the day when he won't be here but he is is good shape - His heart and lungs were good sounding and while he has a cataract forming Brenda said it was nothing to worry much about. She said she could see his retina and if she could see it then he could see us.

My mother died in January 14 years ago. The house was very lonley and I wanted a dog. I had always wanted a Yorkie. Some friends of mine had one in the 60's and I really liked the breed. I almost had one but the dumb owner sold it to someone else. I can remember she said that the person she sold it to acted like they really needed it. My reply was - "So did I" - You see she had told me I could have it but I had to teach so I didn't get there until the next day and she sold it right out from under me. I was disappointed.

However it worked out because I found some folks in Boone who had some puppies. Bailey was born on August 25 and was about 6 weeks old when I got him. I fell in love with him instantly and he has been my companion and friend ever since. I kept him in a kennel when I was at school for awhile but pretty soon he let me know that he really didn't like it and so pretty soon I gave him the run of the house when I was gone. He was fine.

In the day if I am sitting in my recliner he is most often leaning up against my leg. At night both he and Max (my nephew's (and sister's) sheltie) both sleep in the bedroom with me. Bailey has a little step stool so he can climb up on the bed and Max sleeps at the foot of the bed. Bailey leans up against me but he does not like to cuddle.

If you look at the picture above you will see Bailey with his "ball" it is almost bigger than he is. He grabs a small (or large) stuffed toy and pushes the ball with his front feet. He is pretty good about it and is obsessive. He won't quit so most of the time the "ball" is up in the cupboard.

Anyway I am probably boring you. My blog used to be subtitled "the most boring blog in the universe." I fear that sometimes it gets that way again. I started out to tell you about Brenda and wound up telling you about Bailey. Brenda is a super vet and she makes house calls. I used to hate taking the animals to the vet hospital. With Brenda coming to the house it is much less stressful for him and the neat thing about it is that she lives about two blocks from me on the same street.

So Bailey got a clean bill of health and is good to go. By the way the little guy's Kennel name is Bailey's Irish Gizmo because he used to look like the Gizmo in the movie and also because the initials spell out BIG.

Thanks for stoppng by. Hugs and Always Remember That You Are Loved. jcs

Walk Around the Block

Bob says:
Suffering from Cabin Fever this afternoon, I put on my ice grippers and parka, and with my camera went on a stroll around the block, and these images caught my eye!


Des Moines York Rite Site Updated


Click on logo to visit.
(Also linked in sidebar)

Monday, January 26, 2009

Recommended Reading


Over at the Illustrious Order of The Three Ruffians there is a fascinating article called The Geometry of God.

The Square and Compass of Freemasonry represents the succinct ideology and the most sacred wisdom of the Order

Bear's (I mean Boar's) Nests

Last night I began to notice a noise coming from the basement. It was a groaning noise and I began to worry. I have hot water heat in my home and I love it but the boiler is old. (and dirty) I got up this morning and called the boiler guy and now I am $350 poorer and I have a new motor on the boiler.

Such fun. But it could have been a lot worse.


I don't let people come into my house right now unless they are really good friends. My place is a mess.
Jon dropped his computer last night and so I picked him up from school and we took it out to the Connecting Point to see Troy and see if it could be fixed. It could so it is in being fixed. Then he shut his backpack in the door of his car and broke it. He decided he could sew it together and while it would not be adjustable at least he would not have to pay $60 for a new one. So when he said that I took him to the shoe repair guy and his backpack is in being fixed.
Why Men Need Women - Boar's Nest
He then made a fatal error when I took him home. He invited me in to see the new basement that his housemates have just remodeled. It is quite nice but my house no longer looks so bad. I mean I can clean it up in about 10 minutes if I want to.

Jon lives with two guys. They own the house and he rents a room from them. I thought you might like to see the place.

















This is the laundry room and the new sound studio in the basement.







They really have done a nice job.

Jon says the new bathroom will be the nicest one in the housel




Stove needs cleaning Jon!
The upstairs, living room, etc Five (at least) empty Pizza boxes on the dining room table

Reminds me it is supper time. You can click to enlarge and see the detail. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs, j