LIKE WE (USA) DON'T HACK! OH SHUT UP!!

CARAMELLO CANDY BAR-OH MY!

       During lunch-time at the Burg Grocery yesterday a fellow employee joined me for a bite to eat. When we close to being done he handed me a piece of this chocolate. He noted that it was a piece of a Caramello candy bar.

      Wow! What it good. In all my 72 years, I have never had a "Caramello" and am not sure how I have missed such a taste treat all this time. Again, it is never too late for anything! 

ZENO'S RIGHT HERE IN THE BURG!

       Sometimes when we move to a new community, we have to say good-bye to our favorite eateries back home until, at least, we come back for a visit. A few years ago when moving to Williamsburg, Iowa, I had to leave one of my favorite pizza places that was the place I had my first pizza back in the 1950's--Zeno's.

       However, after yesterday and having lunch at our local pizza place, Pizza Haus, right here in down-town Williamsburg, I have changed my mind for sure. For $7.50 you can have all the sliced pizza of various kinds that you want, large drink, salad bar, and home made cookies and/or cinnamon rolls. Such a deal! And, while sitting there and eating my slices of pepperoni, I am convinced that I like this New York thin sliced pizza better than Zeno's. 

         Don't get me wrong, when back in Marshalltown, I will, if the ocassion arises, look forward to going down memory lane at Zeno's. If you are ever in eastern Iowa and maybe shopping at Tanger Outlet Mall or taking in an Iowa Hawkeye sporting event, give strong consideration to coming on in to Williamsburg for lunch at the Pizza Haus. You will not be disappointed. Now, if I could just move Taylor's Maid Rite down here!

ONE OF MY DUMBER MOMENTS!

        This past week I washed one of my favorite all season coats. It's dated in its green and blue color, but, I love wearing it just feels good and is almost like an old friend. 

        After the wash, I put it on and couldn't get it zipped up. Something was wrong with the zipper as the little end piece to get it started was missing. I decided to take it over to the Dry Cleaners in Marengo as they do minor repairs. 

          After showing it to the lady there, she commented on it being reversible and simply took the zipper lever from the inside and zipped in down and Bingo problem solved! Talk about feeling stupid! It was a nice drive and I did a couple of store window washing jobs while there`so all was not lost. It could have been worse. I could have called a refrigerator repair man just to find out it was unplugged.

TOP TEN BLOG STORIES TO DATE!

       The following list  is of the most read Blog stories (dennisnowandago.blogspot.com) from the past three years. It is important to note that stories pertaining to family, friends, classmates, school, and home are most read and important to us all.


1. 8/20/2016--Laurel Football 1961-- continued

2. 8/19/2016--Cousin Alan Laverty/Happy I Made Time

3. 1/18/2015--Jack Baker Tragedy

4. 8/20/2016--Poetic Tribute by Mary Elizabeth Laverty

5. 3/5/2016--Speed, Size, Give Veteran Laurel 1st Unbeaten Year

6. 3/3/2015--The Salad from May Laverty

7. 11/5/2014--70 yr. Old Classmate Injured in Double Play

8. 12/20/2014--Deborah Laverty's Christmas Story of Long Ago

9.  8/27/2016--An Ode To Alan

10. 1/1/2016--My Aunt Mary Laverty 

REMEMBERING JONATHAN WINTERS

       The other night I was watching a re-run of Johnny Carson and his guest was Jonathan Winters. I always thought he was on of the best old time comedians ever especially with improvisation. 

        One of his best characters that he used was Elwood P. Suggins. One time I called a friend of mine who sold real-estate in Des Moines, under the pretense of being Mr. Suggins. Back in the 1990's the telephone number did not appear on your phone so you didn't know who was calling.

      I told my friend that I was "Suggins" from Topeka, Kansas and I got her number off a wall at a truck stop. I was moving to Des Moines and was looking for an inexpensive home for my wife and five kids. She fell for my "ruse"`and I finally had to tell her that it was me. I can't believe I got away with it! 

CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

     When the FBI and CIA, supposedly,  came out with proof that Russian's hacked whatever during our elections, everyone screamed that Trump didn't agree and back it up. Then when he came out with response to Obama and United Nations/Israel issue, everyone jumped him about staying out of issues until he gets elected. 

ANOTHER JOKE OF THE DAY!

        From the same source as the previous Mortician joke. "I am going to open my own Crematory here in town and call it-------Burn To Urn!"

JOKE OF THE DAY!

"What is a Morticians"s favorite vacation destination?"------"DEATH VALLEY!"

WORLD'S LARGEST LOTTERY!

     Taken from USA Today "World's Largest lottery is $2.4 Billion in Spain. El Gordo has arrived, and it's a lot more fun than El Nifno or El Chapo.

       El Gordo, Spanish for the "The Fat One," is Spain's annual Christmas lottery taking place Thursday. The world's richest sweepstakes, this years prizes will total a fat $2.4 billion, giveor take a hundred million.

        There is a catch, though. No one walks away with billions--the grand prize is about $4 million before taxes. The good news is there are scores of grand prizes, and almost 15,0000 people cash in some kind of winning ticket. Many people buy several tickets with the same number, hoping to multiply their good fortune. John Bacon.

        This system makes sense. Lots of people can be winners!!!!

THAT'S TOO FUNNY! IN A CAR WASH?

    This is one of those situations where maybe it would have been funnier to actually been there but---! A guy in the Burg Grocery this past week was talking about a friend that took his pick-up through a car wash in Grinnell, Iowa.

        In the back of the pick-up was a huge plastic bag of pop/beer cans to be taken to a re-cycling center. Going through the car-wash the big blower/dryer came down and ripped open the big plastic bag and blew the pop/beer cans all over the place.

       I am sure it wasn't funny to the employees and/or occupants of the pick-up who had to pick them all up. Also, the person coming along behind had to be mad and laughing at the same time!

1ST DAY OF WINTER-BE AN OPTIMIST!

          Before you get too discouraged about yesterday being the first day of winter, December, 21, 2016, remember that each day now will only get longer. I am personally encouraged this time of year because my birthday is at the end of January and by then it is light at least by 6 PM. What's a month? Living in Iowa we must always find ways to be an optimist when it comes to winter weather!

WORLD'S MOST POLLUTED CITIES!

      An article in USA Today this past week pointed out the World's most polluted cities. World Health Orginization rankings are based on the amount of PM 2.5--particle matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter common to dust, soot, and smoke. 

        WHO guidelines call for no matter than 10 micrograms of PM 2.5 per cubic meter of air. Zabol, Iran is this year's winner at a whopping 217. Most top polluted cities are found in India, China, and even Saudi Arabia. Beijing, China has been well above 200.

        The worst US city didn't crack WHO's top 1,000 cities. Visalia, California came in at 1,080. We don't have it so bad. And, what are we to do when the USA does everything possible in fighting global warming and the rest of the world lags far far behind.

DEB'S JOKE OF THE WEEK!

     "Who is Santa's favorite singer?"  "Elf-is Presley!"

CAN'T GET SONG OUT OF MY HEAD!

       We all have gotten a song stuck in our head and it just won't leave. I have carried it to another obsessive compulsive level. A couple of weeks ago I heard an old dance song on the inter-com at the Burg Grocery.

        It was a song from my dancing days during the 1990's at a club called  Denny Arthur's in Urbandale, Iowa. The place was great for the "older" crowd as early in the evening the disc jockey would play really old tunes from the 1960's and 1970's. And, as the evening progressed he would work up through the 1980's and then current stuff from the 1990's. At that point I was out of there!

       One of my favorite songs to dance to was a 1980's song by the group The Gap called "You Dropped A Bomb On Me!" When I heard the song  at the store it wouldn't leave my head. I finally went home and ordered a CD of it from Amazon. Now I have been playing it over and over just like other songs from the past ie: Steely Dan. Just give me a few more days of playing it while driving around and it will get old. So shoot me!!

REMEMBERING ZA ZA!

A great quote from the late Za ZA Gabor! "I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house!"    Another--"I never hated a man enough to give back the diamond ring!"

OLD MEAT GRINDER STORY!

       Are any of you old enough to remember when your mother had a meat grinder that she attached to the side of the kitchen counter or a table? She then ground up the meat with an attached handle and out it came. 

        My best memory was when my mother took left-over pot roast and ground it up for sandwiches. She would mix in with the beef salad dressing and some finely diced up sweet pickle. It was absolutely delicious! So simple of a left-over, but, oh so good!

        Since I mis-placed my old meat grinder that my sister, Doris bought for me years ago, I had our butcher at the Burg Grocery grind some cooked rump roast for me. I added a little mayo and some diced sweet pickle. Although it was very good, I am not sure it was as good as my memory serves me. 

         I think as we get older our taste buds change and maybe sometimes we just can't go back. Even if I never attempt to make this left-over meal again,I will always have very fond memories of those ground beef sandwiches at the kitchen table many years ago! 

THE BEST FUDGE EVER! SAYS DORIS

       This past week-end a lady here in Williamsburg made some of the best fudge I believe I have ever had-at least in a long long time. I took some along on a visit accompanied by sister Doris this past week to my other sister Deborah in Northwest Indiana. 

        Doris is the ultimate fudge critic. She loved it. Wow! This was like getting the Pope's blessing. I knew it was very good, but, now Doris made it official. Here is the recipe even though this may be exactly how you make it

EASY SMOOTH FUDGE

                 12 oz. white almond bark                           1 T. margarine

                 6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips                  1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

                 1 (14 oz.) can condensed milk                     3/4 C. chopped pecans (opt.)

                 Melt almond bark in microwave watch carefully. Do not overcook. Stir in 

                 chocolate chips until they are melted. Add remaining ingredients and stir

                 until all is blended. Pour into buttered 9x9 inch pan. Cool

TO BE WARM OR NOT TO BE WARM IN CHICAGO!

        This past Monday, December 12, 2016, I was downtown Chicago with my sisters on a little business/pleasure trip. To say the least, it was cold and with that wind blowing in from Lake Michigan always makes matters worse.

        My first observation with winter wear was noticing young men wearing  their stylish Pea Coats cut just above their rear-ends. If you are going to stay warm anyone knows that part of your body has to be covered. 

     Next, I remembered back in the 1980's when visiting Chicago around Christmas time almost everyone was wearing a genuine fur coat. I swear that on one ocassion I felt I was the only person wearing a cloth knee length trench coat. Of course, today we all know you cannot wear "fur!"

      While walking along in the freezing cold, I mentioned to my sister Deborah that a "Carhartt" coat was needed. She had never heard of a Carhartt. Never heard of one of  the most warm coat going! Big city people! I live in a small rural farm community where every third person is sporting one during the winter months! 

       If I lived in Chicago, I think I would have a Air Force parka with fur lined hood and a pair of old fashion snow pants. Oh ya! And, my old ski mittens! It always amazes me why you want to freeze to death just for the sake of looking COOL!  

FORCED TO READ A BOOK!!

        This past Wednesday, December 14, 2016, I arrived home after work and flipped on the old TV. I have Mediacom cable and it was OUT! Next, I tried to fire up the old Computer and I couldn't get connected to the internet. I left my charger to my cell phone this past week-end at my sister's home` in NW Indiana so was reluctant to use in much until I purchased another one on Thursday.

         It was a strange feeling to think that you were cut off from the outside world via technology. I even got rid of my old radio long ago, but, thought about just sitting in the car for awhile and listening to the radio. 

        My next move was going to the Library and using their computers. Guess what! No internet either. It left me with no alternative but to check out a book at a library of all places! It was a great decision and maybe a good sign of some kind. I went home and curled up with a John Grisham novel----"Rogue Lawyer!" I should have done this a long time ago without the assistance of losing "tech" stuff. On this extremely cold December Sunday, you will find me in my new Laz-E-Boy with a good book!

Dennis: Now and Ago: DEBORAH LAVERTY'S CHRISTMAS STORY OF LONG AGO

Dennis: Now and Ago: DEBORAH LAVERTY'S CHRISTMAS STORY OF LONG AGO:       One of the most beloved and heart warming family related stories was written by my sister, Deborah Laverty, when she worked at the Sun...

HEY PUTZ!

       This morning while shopping at the Burg Grocery, I yelled out to one of the young guys working there with a "Hey Putz!" I told him I didn't know why I blurted that word out as I really don't know what it actually means. I just googled it and the definition means "a stupid or worthless person." Maybe we should be careful when we blurt out something when we really don't know what it means for sure!

CHRISTMAS STORIES YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS!

      Two of my favorite family Christmas stories can be read and found on my Blog from December of 2014.I will be bringing them up once more to Facebook this week-end, December 17th, 2016. These stories are worth reading this Christmas season!

JOKE OF THE WEEK!

      "Why does a gorilla have such big nostrils?  Because he has big fingers!"

BRANDON'S JOKE OF THE WEEK!

   What is a three humped camel called? PREGNANT!

CARRY-OUT FOR ASHTON KUTCHER'S GRANDMA!

       This won't go down as a biggy, but, today I assisted the grand-mother of the actor, Ashton Kutcher. She lives right here in Williamsburg, Iowa. To be truthful, I didn't know who she was until I got back in and a long time employee of Burg Grocery informed me. Wasn't that special!

DREAM ABOUT WHAT IF--THEN MOVE ON!

     This past week, a lady wrote a letter to the editor in the Cedar Rapids Gazette concerning the results of the Presidential election. Her letter dealt with "If Political Tables Were Turned."

       Basically, she just goes on and on about how great things would be if Hillary Clinton would have won the election. Just like all the pundits on cable networks, it is so easy to sit around and talk about all the "what if's!" Give the man a chance! He hasn't even been sworn in yet and for some the world is coming to an end. 

        It's just like playing the Lottery. It's fun to dream about what you would do if you won many millions. At some point, you have to come back to reality and live your life.  

IF YOU'RE GOING TO QUIT--LEAVE ALREADY!

      I was reminded this past week of an employment situation,  when an employee at the Burg Grocery was talking about how long it would be before she would be leaving for her new job. She has talked about her new position for the past month in front of others in the store--- great place to work, more money, and more responsibility.

        When I was a much younger man and working at Allied Mutual in Des Moines, the policy was if you planned on leaving--go immediately!  The theory was, just like at the Burg Grocery situation, they didn't want you sitting around for two weeks or so and bad mouthing Allied or going on and on about how great your new job was gong to be just leave already! In some situations probably not a bad idea!


        

APPRECIATING PEARL HARBOR COMES WITH AGE!!

         It seems the older I get December 7th, and its importance keeps slipping year by year. Conversely, the closer I get to going out than coming in the significance of the sacrifice all the young men and women made for their country becomes more important to me. 

         Whether it be the World Wars, Viet Nam, Korean Conflict, or the Middle East, let's all take a moment to at least give thanks to those that made it possible for the rest of us to live in the greatest Country in the world.

ANOTHER PIRATE JOKE FROM BRANDON!

       What does a pirate wear on his head? Hair-r-r-r-r!

BRANDON'S JOKE OF THE WEEK!

     Pirate's favorite type of movie? One that is R-R-R-R-R rated!!!

CLYDE EDDY-REALLY EARLY RISER!

       Telling the story about a lady getting up early to do her laundry, reminded me of my late brother-in-law Clyde Eddy. The story goes that he was always an early riser and at one time he would drive up to Cecil's restaurant on the southeast corner of highway 14 and old highway 30 for coffee. 

       He would get there in the AM so early that he actually was allowed to have a key to get in and  presumably made the coffee. I was never sure exactly what time he arrived, but, I believe it was between 5 and 6 AM. I am sure there are those of you out there that will say---"You think that was early!"

SNOW STORMS BIGGER AS CHILD?

       Today I was doing windows for a senior couple here in Williamsburg. Somehow the conversation "drifted" toward snow storms and the like when we were kids. The gentleman customer pointed out one reason for everything being bigger was the fact that we were experiencing and seeing things as we were "little and smaller" people. Obviously, things did look and seem bigger. I started to laugh as I never heard and discussed such events in those terms. Again, funny!

SHE GOT UP HOW EARLY-LAUNDRY?

     A lady at the Burg Grocery was over-heard talking about being a really early riser. She even mentioned she had a neighbor that always was the first to hang out her laundry on wash day. I mentioned that I always knew there were farmers that wanted to be the first at planting corn and so forth, but, not women trying to be the "first" at such a visible task. The customer's final comment was that the word was that her neighbor actually washed her clothes the night before! Funny!

A GOOD ONE FROM TWO CENTS WORTH!!

     Taken from the column in the Des Moines Register December 2, 2016. "At least 60 percent of the fans at Drake women's basketball games are over 60 years or older, yet at the Knapp Center, they must play LOUD and obnoxious music. Give us a break and tone it down. Also, let's have some 60's and 70's tunes!

DO YOU REMEMBER HOLLYWOOD SQUARES?

        One of the funniest comedians ever and in the center for years on the show was Paul Lynde.
He was asked by Peter Marshall the question. Can you make an elephant jump? His reply was "Yes with ear plugs and two bricks!" That show during the 1970's and beyond was one of the funniest shows around.

BRANDON'S JOKE OF WEEK!

      " HOW DO YOU FIX A TUBA?"  "A TUBE-A- GLUE!"

CHRISTMAS CARDS OR NOT TO!

       For years I have to admit that I have not sent out Christmas cards i any shape or form except for very close family. This year I decided to change all that. I am an old throw back to the philosophy of Hallmark's slogan--"When you Care Enough To Send the Very Best."

         I used to say if you got a card of any kind from me, I at least took the time to go to a better card shop and took the time to view several cards and send that special person with how I personally wanted to express the ocassion. 

       This year I purchased a box of old fashion greeting cards from a local card shop, but, sorry to say not the Hallmark brand. Anyway, it does say Merry Christmas and not just Happy Holiday like some today. I figured that each card sent with stamp came to around $1.50 each. My conclusion is if good friends, old class-mates, and family are not worth that much then what the ---! 

        Don't get me wrong. The important thing is to be remembered what ever the method--old fashion card, a computer designed card or just a telephone call. I am a little iffy on a tweet, text, or a simple Facebook message! Merry Christmas to you all and may you all find happiness and prosper in the New Year!  

PRICE OF WALLEYE-WOW!

     This past Thanksgiving eve, I dined at one of my favorite seafood restaurants in West Des Moines-The Waterfront Seafood Market. I always start with my favorite Oyster Stew which is outstanding at this local seafood eatery. 

      My big shock and surprise was the price of another favorite--pan fried walleye. The sticker price had risen to $28.95 since my last visit. I settled for trout amandine at just a shade over $20. 
If I want to have walleye I will go to Hy-Vee, buy it fresh and then make it at home or I better go out and find a couple more part time jobs! 

LUNCH W/ FRIENDS OF LONG AGO!

      This past Monday, November 28, 2016, I drove to West Des Moines and met for lunch at Maxie's restaurant a group of old friends that I hadn't seen or been with for over 20 years. The individual responsible for the luncheon was Doug Callison. 

        Even though most of these friends go back to days starting in the late 1970's and "bar" acquaintances, some became good friends like Doug, Bob Merritt, Marv Steffenson, and Bill Bryant to just name a few. I appreciate Doug for inviting me and hope to do it again next Spring when some return from their winter destinations.   

    

TRUMP-HELL IF YOU DO HELL IF YOU DON'T!!

      For one I am extremely pleased that Trump/Pence did step in and possibly saved 1,000 jobs in the Carrier deal in Indiana. The critics are now saying, without really knowing, that tax concessions and so forth had to be given to Carrier. The critics are also saying that 400 jobs would be lost. The point is he stepped in and tried to do something positive. If Obama did it, and he didn't do anything, there would be those saying he was short of being the Savior! Just keep doing would you believe in President Elect Trump!