The new "Blogger" format is interesting and I may start posting again to my blog. Currently I an focused on several home projects, but once they are completed (target date Oct 31 I will revisit my blog.

New Blogger Design

i've changed the look of my blog; after five years of postings it was time for a fresh look. i will need to become familiar with some new procedures effecting updates for my site. To be continued....

Duck Soup!

These guys dropped in on us today. I guess they mistook our pool for the lake that is a couple of blocks away. They didn't stay long, but I did manage to get a few pics from our kitchen window. Quite a site!

Hitch Has Departed

Hitch died on Thursday. No more, "To Be". He'll be missed. Fortunately, there is a lot of footage available to view him in action... you know - like when you're in the mood for a reality check. Below is a good clip to get a feel for how he expressed what he believed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k1Jr0fp0dE

Imagine?

Is it just me, or what? Dolly's version of "Imagine" just doesn't have the same effect as when I listen to John sing the lyrics to his powerful song, It's too much of a stretch for me to imagine Dolly ever embracing a world with no countries, no religion and no possessions - especially the no religion part.

Lennon met his death on Dec 8, 1980, so I felt it was appropriate today to acknowledge his contribution to music and the arts. Parton has also made a significant contribution to music, as well, and some of her songs really do resonate - but for me ~ not when she tries to interpret John Lennon. You decide:

Dolly's version of ,"Imagine":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwSkXj0PWB8

John Lennon singing, "Imagine":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxLnIRVVwIM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Nice Thing About Retirement

After my college days, I rarely found the time to enjoy the many experiences I had while attending a university. Now, in my retirement years, I have the time to revisit "Hamlet", without the concern for test questions and essays regarding my thoughts. Of course, my understanding of the words are much different than they were during my youth. The words have much more meaning today. Truly, "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all".

Hamlet- Act 3 - Scene 1 - Soliloquy (two versions)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JD6gOrARk4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdp6dpiK8Ko&NR=1


Hamlet:To be, or not to be, that is the question:Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troublesAnd by opposing end them. To die—to sleep,No more; and by a sleep to say we endThe heart-ache and the thousand natural shocksThat flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummationDevoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there's the rub:For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,Must give us pause—there's the respectThat makes calamity of so long life.For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay,The insolence of office, and the spurnsThat patient merit of th'unworthy takes,When he himself might his quietus makeWith a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,To grunt and sweat under a weary life,But that the dread of something after death,The undiscovere'd country, from whose bournNo traveller returns, puzzles the will,And makes us rather bear those ills we haveThan fly to others that we know not of?Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,And thus the native hue of resolutionIs sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,And enterprises of great pitch and momentWith this regard their currents turn awryAnd lose the name of action.

Jumpin" Jack Flash

They just get better with age! Check out these videos to see what I mean -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD5rxVHfAlo&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULitGKV3pJ8

Flip Videos

These videos are not of the highest quality, they were made with a very inexpensive Flip camcorder, but they will suffice to introduce you to two new and very different automobiles making their debut for the 2012 model year.

Fiat 500:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ0gcGl1s3s




Hyundai Veloster:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNjEg7rowkE&feature=feedu

saabkyle04 reviews the 2000 Plymouth Prowler

Kyle Lindsey does some of the best interior/exterior auto reviews to be found on the Internet. He is very knowledgeable of many types of vehicles and his You Tube channel has received over a million views. The below link will take you on an interesting tour of a Plymouth Prowler, one of the most unique vehicles ever manufactured and sold by Chrysler. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFWAKjFqsPY&feature=related

You Got Me Rockin

Want to get your feet moving? Check it out with Mick and the Boys -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDTbuoCd3ho

Halloween 2011

The trick-or-treaters started ringing our doorbell around 6:30 pm. The last ones left our house at 9:30 pm. By that time we were down to our last dozen or so pieces of candy. All and all - we had a little over three hundred visitors this year.

It was great fun, as you can see from our pictures. Chili greeted a few trick-or-treaters early on, but she soon grew tired of having to run to the front door from the kitchen and instead decided to take a nap in the laundry basket. Nancy did most of the work putting together the Halloween decorations and wrapping the candy.

I had all the decorations down by ten fifteen. Afterwards we watched the DVR of Dancing With The Stars and tried to figure out who might be the next to go. The dancers danced to Halloween themed music in their creative costumes. It was a nice way to end the day. HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL and DON'T EAT ALL YOUR CANDY IN ONE NIGHT!! YOU'LL HAVE A TUMMY ACHE IF YOU DO!!

Fleetwood Mac

This link will take you to a very poor quality video that has bad lighting, less than stellar audio and a few sound glitches - but forget about all that and just enjoy the pure emotion Fleetwood Mac is able to convey via Lindsey Buckingham singing, "Go Your Own Way". Pure Rock and Roll at it's best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SAE6yuqlYg&feature=related

Den Window

It's been in the works for some time, but the entry-way/den window is finally installed. Laine and Duane did an excellent job of building and installing this framed work-of-art. The window was originally in the form of french doors manufactured by Feather River Doors. They are part of the Diamond Collection, a series of etched glass doors that have to be ordered through Home Depot and manufactured to a specific size determined by Feather River. The opening where these doors were to be installed did not fit any of the sizes offered in the Feather River Diamond Series, wouldn't you have guessed that, so... Laine had to cut the doors to fit the opening and by doing so alter their appearance so they would look more "window-like'", than "door-like" - not a simple task. He also had to make sure that by cutting around the glass portion of the doors that he did not substantially weaken their structural rigidity. Additionally, the doors had to be stained oak on one side, to match the entry-way railing along the stairs and a dark cherry-espresso on the other side to match the furniture in the den. Duane managed that rather challenging endeavor with aplomb. He was spot-on for both sides.

The installation took about four hours and involved a sixteen foot ladder that was extended to its full length. Laine made a good choice for a partner on this project, as Duane is a retired fireman and not ad versed to climbing up a tall ladder. The install went without a hitch and the outcome looks fantastic - from both the entry-way and the den.

Check out the blog pics to see the result of their work.

Lafayette Life Leaves After A Hundred And Five Years

My cousin's company, Lafayette Life Insurance, recently made the news with an announcement by its CEO and President, Jerry Stillwell (my cousin), regarding the company's decision to leave the city of Lafayette, Indiana, after a stay lasting a hundred and five years. The company, with Jerry staying at the helm, will move to Cincinnati, Ohio by the end of June, 2011. As you might imagine, this was a significant loss for the city of Lafayette, as the company employs a hundred and fifty people.

I'm impressed with how far my cousin has climbed the corporate ladder over a nearly forty year span in insurance, but I certainly don't envy how difficult it must have been for him to tell his employees about the move to Ohio. Many of you West Enders will remember Jerry from his high school years in Louisville and from his talent as a musician in several well known Louisville bands. Continued good fortune to Jerry and his company with the move to Cincy.

You can see a clip of the announcement, carried by a local Lafayette television station, at the link below:

http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/on_the_money/company-ends-105-years-in-lafayette

Talking Heads - Live In Rome June 1980 - Take Me To The River

Talking Heads, accompanied by several performers, doing what I think is their best version of the classic song - "Take Me To The River"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25E0ACkA6uo

Wayward Turtle

Chili and I saw something unusual on our walk this morning - a turtle. Chili, at first, was taken aback, but she was still curious enough to take a good long look, and sniff, at this shell that was lying on the sidewalk. A young girl and her sister were also checking out the turtle and they quickly decided to take it to the lake and release it near the water's edge. We watched as they carried the turtle a block or so to the lake. Chili wanted to venture all the way up to the water, but I vetoed that plan - it was too muddy for her to be traipsing around in all that mud and gunk. I would of had to hose her down when we got back home, if she went down to the lake.

The girls said the turtle's release went fine and the turtle is now back in it's own habitat. As it turned out, the Wayward Turtle make for a rather interesting morning walk! Something different!

Belmont Time

We're only a week away from the last leg of the Triple Crown. I've made my choice for this lengthy race - it's Nehro. I'm certain he has the stamina to go the mile and a half distance. He also has great ears, and that makes for an unbeatable combination. Fast feet and great ears. Just like my Chili Dog! Remember my motto - 'BET THE FARM' (*).

* Note - occasionally stuff happens and other horses in the field will run faster than my pick. If that should happen (again), just say - "Oh Well" - a couple of times - and you should feel better in nothing flat. Oh, and sorry about any farms that you may have lost from my previous handicapping, but farming is a rather overrated profession, don't you think? Anyway, this pick is a sure thing.! However, just to be on the ultra safe side, bet Nehro to show. That's right - to show - not to win. This way, you can't lose. Remember, it's a sure thing! So, go ahead,"Bet The Farm"!

And The Winner Of The Preakness Is...

OK, let's keep it simple. No long explanation for why you'll want to bet this particular horse in the Preakness race coming up Saturday - just the facts, mam! So, go ahead and bet whatever might be left of your farm on - "Dance City". A very fast horse with great looking ears - kinda like my Chili Dog's (see photo)! Plain and simple. This one was so easy to pick!*


*caveats and disclaimers, stated in previous blog posts, do apply to any and all selections made by this expert handicapper

Remember my motto - "BET THE FARM'

Stuff Happens - Dialed In Sorta Dialed Out!

There was a slight glitch in my pick (Dialed In) to win the Kentucky Derby. My horse just couldn't run fast enough to beat the other horses. I'm sure glad I added a caveat to my blog post, prior to the running of the race. You saw it, didn't you? At least I think I made the posting of the disclaimer? As you probably know, I'm getting a little bit old, and at times forgetful. Oh well, anyway... as you may recall, I believe I did make the following statement sometime last week: "if the other horses run faster than my horse, the outcome of the race could be considerably different from my original prediction". Hopefully you paid attention to that warning, before you bet the farm on Dialed In. As mentioned in the title of today's post: Stuff Happens - Dialed In Sorta Dialed Out!

As a matter of fact, I found this year's race to be very difficult to choose a favorite, because there was no standout horse in the field. Even Uncle Mo, who was scratched one day before the race, was not a sure thing, as he had a less than stellar race just a few weeks before the Derby. As a result, this Derby provided one of the several unproven horses a chance to shine. And that is just what happened! Animal Kingdom ran a great race, but you couldn't readily ascertain the likelihood of that happening from his past performance.

Not to worry! We'll get back on track (no pun intended) - with our winning way - by picking the winner of the next leg of the Triple Crown. We'll just use the Charlie Sheen approach - WINNING!!! So... stay tuned for my next big pick and don't worry if you lost your Derby bet. We'll get it all back and more when they run the Preakness. I'm almost pretty sure of it. WINNING!

Easter Greeting

Nancy, Chili and I, along with our bunny friends, want to wish you a very happy Easter. Hope you like our video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5y6vXvoF-w