Mandy and Sean Update........

Hi Everybody....
I heard from the kids today.
Please let me bore you with a brief historical background first.
When my daughter was a junior at the University of Michigan, she had an opportunity to spend a year abroad studying at a university of her choice. She chose Prague because the Czech Republic is not on the Euro Dollar, and it is cheap to live there and to get around. She speaks enough to get by, and she has a minor in Russian.
Now the Czech Republic is a bit of an anomalie, because it was NEVER fought over or invaded during WWII. As you may recall from History class, Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of England during the late 30's, got together with the allies and gave up Czechoslovakia without a fight to appease Hitlers lust for power. He called it "Peace in our time". Because of this,Prague is one of the most pristine and original cities in Europe. With bridges and castles dating to the 13th Century. No wonder Mandy and Sean fell in love with the city.
They went over there with the idea of enrolling in a course that would allow them to teach the English language to foreigners. They arrived, and took the course. It was a very intense training course that took one month to complete. While they were waiting to hear from the results of the training, they took a week-end trip to Poland, the round-trip train ticket cost 52 dollors, and a one nights stay at a very nice Hostile cost about 8 Bucks. Cheap eh?
They are now sharing a flat with a guy that works 3rd shift that they never see, and a female Russian lawyer. They have their own bedroom, but share a kitchen, bath, and living room. She E-mails me from the college, and I have a phone plan through Verizon, that lets me call her for 20 cents a minute.
Anyway.....I get a call from her today, and she sounded very excited. She said that both her and Sean landed jobs teaching English to Czechs. It was a full time job, and it paid 250 Crowns an hour (About 16 Bucks)!! The Govt. was also going to assist them in getting permanent Visa's, and they would then be eligable for health care!!
Well...There are not too many job opportunities in Michigan right now, so WTF!!!
Ahhh, to be young and adventurous!!!
Just a little update for those that might have been wondering.....
Now back to your regular programming.
Peace...!!!

Bonds....James Bonds.......

Today on USA they were running a James Bond Marathon called The 6 Faces of Bond. They played at least one movie with each of the sanctioned Bonds.
As a kid, I read all of the Bond novels that Ian Flemming wrote, and I was a huge fan! I had posters, and all of the great John Williams sound track albums.
My favorite Bond was of course Sean Connery. Although I will say that Diamonds are Forever, and You Only Live Twice, were cheap and cheesy. And Never Say Never should NEVER have been made.
The second Bond, that Lazenby guy, had potential, but he didn't want to be typecast as Bond...Where's he at now?
Roger Moore..? Way too campy!
Timothy Dalton?...ZERO personality!
Pierce Brosnon?....He always grimaced like he had a corn cob up his ass!!
And Craig?...Too Short!

So if you are a James Bond fan....Who is, or was... Your Favorite Bond?


Peace...!!!

Friday Flash 55.....

"You know, it's getting kind of late, and I really should be going".

'Oh come on Mary-Jo, the party is just getting started!
Besides, I happen to know that the last ferry to Edgartown doesn't leave till 11:30. We can make it to the dock in plenty of time...I know a short cut"!!




If you or anyone you know has written a Friday Flash 55...
Please come tell The G-Man.
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment...Then BOOK!!!
So from the most gracious host from coast to coast...
Have a Kick-Ass Week-End!
Peace...And R.I.P. FINALLY Mary-Jo...!!!

Thursday Portrait......

My buddy Alex came by after work tonight, and we stopped at our local watering hole for two beers. Diet Beer at that!!! MGD 64...

Lets see, I figure I've had about 55 calories so far...

Hmmmmmmm. 55

Thats reminds me......

Retro Wednesday........

The Heddon Fishing Lure Co. of Dowagiac Michigan, has made quality and collectable fishing tackle since 1902. Of course I have a few in my tackle box. I'd have dug more out, but the mosquitoes were eating me alive!!!
These lures are at least 50 years old, and I have caught many fish with them, but I would never take the risk of losing them now.
They would be worth a lot of money had I saved the original box...Who Knew??
Peace...!!!

TMI Tuesday........

I used to, in my creative early days of blogging, tried to have a feature on Tuesday called TMI Tuesday. This is hardly creative, but it is indeed Too Much Information!!
A very good friend of mine has genital herpes. When this was first discovered, he/she was quite distraught. Trying to cheer them up I did a little reading on the subject. It seems that quite a few famous people has this STD, and lead very normal productive lives.
Well documented public cases include..Robin Williams, Derek Jeter, Davis Hasselhoff, Liza Minnelli, Billy Idol, and Jessica Alba.
This gave me a great idea for a post!!
Since this is TMI Tuesday, do any of you have any strange affliction that you would like to 'come clean' with?
C'Mon, we are amongst friends, it'l make you feel better!! It can be a allergy, a condition, an obsession, something that you swallowed, maybe something that you have had removed. If you are shy....NO PROBLEM!!!
I respect everybody's sense of privacy!
I'll even go first...
I'm a full-blown diabetic, and I've been insulin dependent since 1995.
I go to the Dr. very regularly. Check my blood daily. And count my carbs and do not drink much alcohol at all. I take 65 units of Lantus by syringe every night. And I take 1 unit of Humolog per every 5 grams of carbs by injection pen daily.
I exercise by walking daily to increase my circulation. And I take particular care of my feet. I don't have a glamorous circle of fellow afflictees, I share my disease with Wilfred Brimley.
Peace...!!!


Oh, I also have a hernia that I've been putting off getting fixed. Maybe I'll share that photo on Thursday...hehehehe

Happy Anniversary......

Hi everybody...
I hope your week-end was fun filled and worry free.
When I was born, my Mom and I lived with my Grandparents.
My Mother was a bookkeeper and worked very hard.
My Mom's youngest brother was still at home since he was only 11.
He was the closest thing to a big brother that I had...And still is!
Yesterday was my Uncle Lynne and Aunt Carol's 50th wedding anniversary.
It's hard to believe how fast the years have flown by.
They still look pretty good I think. Do you see any resemblence? Hahahaha
He has ALWAYS had a Hot-Rod toy to play with. The Olds is his current baby..
Peace...!!!

Friday Flash 55.....

Robert Heinlein said..."A self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity."
That MAY be true, but I think that total absence of jealousy, means a total absence of love!
Quite a conundrum Eh?
As Erica Jong says..."Jealousy is all the fun, you think they had!!"



Don't read anything into this 55 folks, I get Philosophizy ever so often. And I didn't want to catch any flak about Doggie Mayhem...hehehehe

If you or anyone you know has written a Friday Flash 55..
Please come tell The G-Man!!
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment, Then BOOK!!!
So from the most gracious host from coast to coast...
Have a Kick-Ass Week-End!!!
Peace...!!!

Thursday Portrait.....

Sorry about this lame pic, but I worked today on my day off, and the 2 deals that I wrote.... the people have crappy credit!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......


This mutt is our family dog ...Lady.
She is mostly Sheltie, and ALL bitch!
After 10 years, she still barks at me like I was Charles Manson.
Idiot!!
I'm thinking about 55 ways to get rid of her...
Say, That gives me an IDEA!!!
Peace...!!!

Retro Wednesday....

Anybody looking for an Ox Yoke?

I seem to have an extra one lying around.....

(Don't ask...)

Peace...!!!

I love the Summer.....

Hi Everybody...
The tomatoes drizzled with garlic/basil olive oil was awesome.
Notice the grill marks on the turkey, I cooked it breast side down over a water filled drip pan for about 4 hours before i flipped it over for the last hour.
I stuffed the cavity with butter and basil.
It ain't Rocket Science....
Peace...!!!

Dog Day Afternoon......

Hi Everybody...
Detroit has a HUGE Summer Event every year called the Woodward Dream Cruise! Hot Rodders and Motorheads cruise up and down the main drag of Motown, and people come out in droves to watch the action. But for people that want similar fun without fighting Mega-Traffic, you ought to check out Flint's Back To The Bricks.
For three fantastic days, Downtown Flint is closed off to thru traffic, and vintage cars park along Saginaw St. for the Flintoids to admire close up.
This event was featured last year on the Speed Channel, and it is growing in popularity. The two old timers standing in ftont of the truck are my friends Barry and Alex. It is ungodly HOT and Humid today, and I'm grilling and smoking a turkey on the Weber. I'm also making Boston Baked Beans from scratch, grilled Yellow Summer Squash, and I'm having sliced tomatoes with sliced Mozorella cheese, drizzled with garlic and fresh basil Olive Oil. I wanted to make the beans in my other grill, but my pan was too big so I'm cooking it in the oven. What an Idiot!! I drove everyone out of the house till they get done.I'll just CRANK up the air, and go down to the family room and watch the PGA by myself...Quietly!!
Pics of the feast of course will be seen tomorrow..
Enjoy the pictures of the relics of a bygone and glorious era....
Peace...!!!

Friday Flash 55.....

For one Glorious Harvest Moon Night.
Your orange armor protected a flickering light.
Sadly, your sinister grin was soon forgot,
You were left alone to sag and rot.
Your top caved in, your innerds scorched,
You turned to mush, and fell off the porch!!
But Mother Nature has a way...
Of reassuring a pumpkins stay!!



Yes thats right Ladies and Gentlemen, It's not quite the Eggplant that ate Chicago, but it's a pleasant and welcome addition to the household.
If you or anyone you know has written a Friday Flash 55.
Please come tell The G-Man.
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment....Then BOOK!!!
So from the most gracious host from coast to coast...
Have A Kick-Ass Week-End!!!!!
Peace...!!!

Thursday Portrait.....

Did I piss Mother Nature off somehow?
I'm standing in front of my beloved Birch Tree.
See the perforated leaves behind my head?
JAPANESE BEETLES!!!
See the bags filled with Japanese Beetles?...hehehehe
The Squash from Hell has grown up wild next to the porch.
I think it's a Squash...I guess it could be a Pumpkin!
It's trying to get in the house!!!

Welcome.....!!

Retro Wednesday....

Sorry for the poor picture quality..
The top pic is one of my original stereo system speakers.
It's an Ultralinear 100 Watt speaker with a 12 inch woofer and a 'shut-off' circuit breaker. I got this about 1978 when I was employed at a midwest appliance chain called Fretter Appliance. These speakers still sound great, especially when I play my Vinyl records through them.
About 1996, I bought the Kenwood speakers to replace the old ones, the old speakers sounded so great I didn't have the heart to dump them yet...
The Kenwoods are in an unopened box...STILL!!

If you are from the Midwest, you may remember this commercial...
If you are REALLY old and from Michigan. You may remember that Ollie Fretter used to end ALL his commercials with..."I'll give you Five Pounds of coffee if I can't beat your best deal. The competition knows me...You Should Too!!!"

We NEVER gave away any coffee...hehehehe.

Peace...!!!

Home Safely......

Hi Everybody...

I wish to thank all of you that visited, commented, and/or contributed a 55 in my much needed absence. I'll catch up to all of you this week. I have a sneaking suspicion that work will be a ZOO!!! Grrrrr.....

Peace...!!!

Greetings From Purgatory.....

Hi Everybody....
It's way too hot and muggy to golf today, so I think a day of air conditioned bliss, cocktails, and some lolling around before I head home to Clunker Chaos is in order!
When I travel, I always like to eat at places that are not available to me in Flint Michigan, and one of those places is Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
Their menu is simple..Fresh Made Hand Pattied Hamburgers, Fresh Cut Fries NEVER frozen, and Hot Dogs. Although in all the times that I've been there, I've never seen anyone eating a dog. The buns are grilled, and you may have a myriad of toppings free of charge on your burger. All burgers are with TWO patties, unless you specify you would like a 'little' burger.
You may have free refills on your beverage, and free bulk peanuts are available...
Malt Vinegar is availabe with your Fries From Heaven, but I like ketchup!!
Five Guys Started in Arlington Virginia in 1986, and there are now over 300 of them in 25 states. If you are lucky enough to be near one...I envy you.
See you all tomorrow...
Peace...!!!

Friday Flash 55.....

Last year the Winter, was a long time leaving.
This Spring was short, July was cool...Heat Lovers are grieving!
Is that calender right? Is it August ALREADY?
Summer is quickly receding!!
But there is always SOME anticipation,
with the approaching Autumnal Moon.
Opening kick-off for the Wolverines...
On a September After-Noon!!!



Four weeks and counting baby...I can hardly wait!
Plus as this is being posted, I'll be Gone...LONG GONE!!!
Please do your part and support your fellow 55ers by visiting and commenting today OK? Clunker Mania has Clocked me good, and I won't be seen or heard from till Sunday or Monday...Give a Brotha a Break Eh?
If you or anyone you know has posted a Friday Flash 55...
Please come tell The G-Man.
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment...Then BOOK!!!
So from the most Absent host, from coast to coast...
Have a Kick-Ass Week-End