USMB Coffee Shop IV

[gallantwarrior]

Bright and sunny here this morning, but chilly in the low 20s. We haven't gotten hardly any snow at all this year, but I think we are expected to get some this week some time but only a couple of inches. Last winter, we were literally bombarded with the stuff. At this time last year, there were huge snow banks all over the place! I'm not really that sorry because the snow tends to make everything that you have to do more difficult and time consuming.

Sunny here, too, but single digit temps. Girls gotmhot mash for breakfast this morning.

 

[gallantwarrior]

Back home in the Coffee Shop for a while. It's after hours here in the office and I feel more comfortable writing a story on this keyboard as opposed to the iPad touch screen. Call me old fashioned. Call me a technophobe. But I won't have to correct the auto correct on this PC as much as the iPad demands. Plus, there's something comforting about an actual full sized qwerty keyboard. The tactile experience is more pleasurable here rather than that pane of glass on a tablet.

It's been seasonable here in the Crotch of the Tri-State Area. For mid January, we are getting precisely what we signed on for when the decision was made to live at 40 degrees north latitude.

But I have had the opportunity to li9ve and work in sunnier climes. I did time on the Gulf coast of Florida back in the mid 1980s. I lived in Sarasota and, as soon as resources and timing were perfect, promptly moved home. I had a project in Puerto Rico that kept me there for 18 months. The people were fabulous, the experience was matchless, but I bought Pimplebutt the year before and I was hankering to actually live in it.

I also had a project in Naples Italy. That was an eye opener. I was warned before hand that crime was endemic in southern Italy, but I live here where yes, there is crime, but it is relegated to the shady side of town. To see a cop in my neighborhood usually means someone has wrapped their car around a telephone pole and I should expect to see an ambulance and maybe even a fire truck at the scene.

But Napoli was different.

My second day there, I want to repeat that for emphasis; my second day there I took a little sight seeing trip. The abatement project was going to keep me at or near the site for the duration and I wanted to see la dulce vita for myself.

I drove to Pompeii to see the ruins, the amphitheater and the pornographic graffiti the site is renown for. A friend who had previously visited the very Navy base my project was on asked that I might buy a couple of cameos while I was in Naples. Naples is famous for the little hand carved silhouettes. Crafted from a unique sea shell found along the Amalfi Coast, cameos are one of the easy to obtain arts and crafts, and that always intrigues me while travelling.

What I did not know about Naples is there are distinct districts for all sorts of goods and services. If you want fresh cut flowers, there's a flower district. Looking for vegetables, try the next block down from the flower district. Need a bicycle? Four blocks up and you're in the midst of the bicycle district. And yes, there is a district for cameos.

I asked the hotel concierge for directions before I headed off to Pompeii and it turns out the I could find cameos within a few blocks! I bought one for Mom. They asked me for several thousand Lire which I regarded as Monopoly money. As it turned out, Mom's cameo would sell for $480 American after figuring the rate of exchange. I bought a couple substantially cheaper ones for my buddy and headed back to my hotel.

Traffic in Naples is a given. We moved at a walking pace with Vespa scooters cheek to jowl on the thoroughfare. I constantly glanced in the rear view mirror and was concerned about the scooter behind me. I doubt we could slip a credit card between my rear bumper and the front tire of the scooter.

The I heard the distinctive sound of automobile safety glass shatter. I turned and looked over my right shoulder, expecting to see a bloody Italian laying in the back seat. What I did see was just as disturbing. The left rear window of my rental car had been punched out and I turned just in time to watch my backpack leave the back seat.

The passenger on the scooter hopped off, broke the window and swiped my backpack with the skill of a surgeon. He then climbed back onto the scooter, the driver pulled a quick left U turn and the pair vanished into the chaos of the Neapolitan traffic. There go the cameos. There goes my camera. There goes my travel orders from the United States Navy. There goes my passport.

Now, I speak enough Italian to read a menu and to determine if that's really your sister or not. But I don't speak enough Italian to tell the Caribbaneri what happened. When I found the local police precinct, I found out that the local Neapolitan cops don't speak English.

I tried my best to recount the tale. The cops nodded, smirked and dismissed my story. It's funny, but even the language barrier could not hide their condescension. One of the cops left the room for about ten minutes. When he returned, he presented a typed letter. Not on official letterhead, but on regular onion skin typing paper. It was in Italian and incomprehensible to me. It could have said anything. Perhaps it was a confession to a string of serial killing. Perhaps it was gibberish. But I remember what Pop taught when he said "always read something before you sign it!"

I left the police station confused, frustrated and angry. I knew my rental car needed to be swapped for one without a missing window, so off to the airport and the Hertz counter. There I was able to tell what happened to a very pleasant woman who was fluent in my lingua franca. Just as we were wrapping things up, a couple more of my fellow Americans ran to the counter to explain why the window in their rental car was smashed and what then was stolen from them!

Ah! Sunny Napoli! On Judgment Day my sins will all be numbered before me. I'm not certain I will make the cut for Heaven. But St. Peter might offer me a choice. Eternity in Hell, or a few more months in Naples. It will be a tough choice.

Damn, Nosmo! That sucks!

 

[Nosmo King]

Back home in the Coffee Shop for a while. It's after hours here in the office and I feel more comfortable writing a story on this keyboard as opposed to the iPad touch screen. Call me old fashioned. Call me a technophobe. But I won't have to correct the auto correct on this PC as much as the iPad demands. Plus, there's something comforting about an actual full sized qwerty keyboard. The tactile experience is more pleasurable here rather than that pane of glass on a tablet.

It's been seasonable here in the Crotch of the Tri-State Area. For mid January, we are getting precisely what we signed on for when the decision was made to live at 40 degrees north latitude.

But I have had the opportunity to li9ve and work in sunnier climes. I did time on the Gulf coast of Florida back in the mid 1980s. I lived in Sarasota and, as soon as resources and timing were perfect, promptly moved home. I had a project in Puerto Rico that kept me there for 18 months. The people were fabulous, the experience was matchless, but I bought Pimplebutt the year before and I was hankering to actually live in it.

I also had a project in Naples Italy. That was an eye opener. I was warned before hand that crime was endemic in southern Italy, but I live here where yes, there is crime, but it is relegated to the shady side of town. To see a cop in my neighborhood usually means someone has wrapped their car around a telephone pole and I should expect to see an ambulance and maybe even a fire truck at the scene.

But Napoli was different.

My second day there, I want to repeat that for emphasis; my second day there I took a little sight seeing trip. The abatement project was going to keep me at or near the site for the duration and I wanted to see la dulce vita for myself.

I drove to Pompeii to see the ruins, the amphitheater and the pornographic graffiti the site is renown for. A friend who had previously visited the very Navy base my project was on asked that I might buy a couple of cameos while I was in Naples. Naples is famous for the little hand carved silhouettes. Crafted from a unique sea shell found along the Amalfi Coast, cameos are one of the easy to obtain arts and crafts, and that always intrigues me while travelling.

What I did not know about Naples is there are distinct districts for all sorts of goods and services. If you want fresh cut flowers, there's a flower district. Looking for vegetables, try the next block down from the flower district. Need a bicycle? Four blocks up and you're in the midst of the bicycle district. And yes, there is a district for cameos.

I asked the hotel concierge for directions before I headed off to Pompeii and it turns out the I could find cameos within a few blocks! I bought one for Mom. They asked me for several thousand Lire which I regarded as Monopoly money. As it turned out, Mom's cameo would sell for $480 American after figuring the rate of exchange. I bought a couple substantially cheaper ones for my buddy and headed back to my hotel.

Traffic in Naples is a given. We moved at a walking pace with Vespa scooters cheek to jowl on the thoroughfare. I constantly glanced in the rear view mirror and was concerned about the scooter behind me. I doubt we could slip a credit card between my rear bumper and the front tire of the scooter.

The I heard the distinctive sound of automobile safety glass shatter. I turned and looked over my right shoulder, expecting to see a bloody Italian laying in the back seat. What I did see was just as disturbing. The left rear window of my rental car had been punched out and I turned just in time to watch my backpack leave the back seat.

The passenger on the scooter hopped off, broke the window and swiped my backpack with the skill of a surgeon. He then climbed back onto the scooter, the driver pulled a quick left U turn and the pair vanished into the chaos of the Neapolitan traffic. There go the cameos. There goes my camera. There goes my travel orders from the United States Navy. There goes my passport.

Now, I speak enough Italian to read a menu and to determine if that's really your sister or not. But I don't speak enough Italian to tell the Caribbaneri what happened. When I found the local police precinct, I found out that the local Neapolitan cops don't speak English.

I tried my best to recount the tale. The cops nodded, smirked and dismissed my story. It's funny, but even the language barrier could not hide their condescension. One of the cops left the room for about ten minutes. When he returned, he presented a typed letter. Not on official letterhead, but on regular onion skin typing paper. It was in Italian and incomprehensible to me. It could have said anything. Perhaps it was a confession to a string of serial killing. Perhaps it was gibberish. But I remember what Pop taught when he said "always read something before you sign it!"

I left the police station confused, frustrated and angry. I knew my rental car needed to be swapped for one without a missing window, so off to the airport and the Hertz counter. There I was able to tell what happened to a very pleasant woman who was fluent in my lingua franca. Just as we were wrapping things up, a couple more of my fellow Americans ran to the counter to explain why the window in their rental car was smashed and what then was stolen from them!

Ah! Sunny Napoli! On Judgment Day my sins will all be numbered before me. I'm not certain I will make the cut for Heaven. But St. Peter might offer me a choice. Eternity in Hell, or a few more months in Naples. It will be a tough choice.

Damn, Nosmo! That sucks!

Wanna hear the punchline? When Mom heard that my backpack and all its contents were stolen, she asked "Do you think they will do anything bad with the passport?"

"Nah!" Answered I "The thieves were probably members of the Italian Boy Scouts!" Then, slapping my forehead in incredulity, "Mom, they were thieves! Of course they'll do something bad!"

 

[Sherry]

 

[Ringel05]

I found a product at Squalid-Mart I like, it's their brand, a small bake at home multigrain loaf (a little bigger than the little loaf at Outback)....... Hot with lots of butter........

 

[ChrisL]

You can't evolve past Shania Twain...

I never really care for her music that much.

 

[ChrisL]

You can't evolve past Shania Twain...

You like Shania? I like some of her stuff, but I have a hard time thinking of her as really country. She is one of those cross over singers that is as much pop as country, sort of like Taylor Swift.

I agree with this. Good call.

 

[ChrisL]

This was my idea of country back in the day..........

I love southern rock, like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. That's about as close to it gets to "country" for me.

 

[ChrisL]

I just watched the SOTU speech. I'm really ready for bed now! *** yawn *** Good night everybody. Why does listening to politicians (any of them) make me so sleepy?

Let me tell ya about somethin' you might find a little more interesting. I'll be heading down to Dubuque to Roeder's Outdoor Power, Friday, to pick up a new, (old), 2012 John Deere X720. Pretty big machine for a lawn tractor but, I'm getting a new hydro turn plow on it too for the driveway, and I'll be getting a rototiller attachment for the back this spring. Nice machine, only 209 hours on it and they gave me a hellova deal. Here's it is. It's still upstairs in storage in these pics from yesterday, and doesn't have the new JD plow on it yet... what'a ya think?

My landlady used to have one of those. They work great.

 

[ChrisL]

Bright and sunny here this morning, but chilly in the low 20s. We haven't gotten hardly any snow at all this year, but I think we are expected to get some this week some time but only a couple of inches. Last winter, we were literally bombarded with the stuff. At this time last year, there were huge snow banks all over the place! I'm not really that sorry because the snow tends to make everything that you have to do more difficult and time consuming.

Sunny here, too, but single digit temps. Girls gotmhot mash for breakfast this morning.

You're in Alaska you said, didn't you? Is it dark there during the day at this time of year? When does that happen and for how long does it last?

 

[saveliberty]

You can't evolve past Shania Twain...

You like Shania? I like some of her stuff, but I have a hard time thinking of her as really country. She is one of those cross over singers that is as much pop as country, sort of like Taylor Swift.

Yes, I heard she sings...

 

[Foxfyre]

Good night darlinks. I love you guys.

And we're still keeping vigil for

Harper (Save's granddaughter),
Sunshine,
Pogo’s friend Pat and special comfort for Pogo,
TK, and TK's grandma,
Spoonie, Ringel, 007, Sheila and Hombre's sore backs,
Sherry’s Mom,
Becki and Becki’s hubby,
Noomi’s Auntie Marj,
Complete healing for Mrs. Ringel and the Ringels in difficult transition,
Ollie and Mrs. O for a complete recovery,
GW's daughter's friend Sachenda,
Ernie's friend and colleague Max and Mrs. Ernie,
Boedicca's mom for healing and relief from pain,
Foxfyre's Aunt Betty,
All of us and those we care about who are looking for work,
Safe travels for those traveling,
All who are dealing with colds and flu,
And all others we love and hold in concern.

And the light is on awaiting the return of Oddball, Sunshine, Jughead, Sheila, and Becki and all the others who have been MIA lately. We hope everyone is okay.

P.S. Sometimes in the editing of the vigil list or when I have switched computers, somebody gets dropped that is supposed to be on it. This will always be inadvertent and if ya'll would call it to my attention, it would be much appreciated.

 

[Nosmo King]

Hey! Today is Daisy the Mutt's birthday! She made it to age six, which makes her a middle aged dog.

When I get to the store later today, I'll get her a new toy, not that she needs a new toy. Her toy basket overfloweth.

Back in the winter of 2009, Mom was pining for some companionship. Pop passed away in April of 2008.

I saw the little hand painted sign saying "Toys and Minis" and I knew they were offering those varieties of poodle. I called the number and a very pleasant lady told me that she was expecting a litter of each later this month. Daisy was the runt and only female of the litter of Miniatures.

Mom's birthday is February 13. My brother and I decided to take her to an early supper that day as it was a Saturday in 2009. Of course we went to the rustically elegant Spread Eagle Tavern in nearby Hanoverton, Ohio.

As it happens, the breeder is on the way. So, after a nice meal, we drove to the breeder's home to 'take a look' at the puppies. Daisy and her siblings were presented to us in a big wicker laundry basket. All the other pups were a dark, almost coffee color. One little puppy was mostly apricot with some distinctive white flares on her back, belly and head.

Of course, that was Daisy. Mom picked her up and nuzzled her, Daisy nuzzled back and they fell in love.

On Monday I called the breeder. During our visit, the breeder explained that the pups are offered at $150 each, except Daisy. As she was the only female, her cost was $450. I wanted to get Daisy for Mom so I made a counter offer. I would pay $300 and the breeder would give Mom a call and spin a yarn. The breeder told Mom that, as the economy was tanking at the time, contracts with pet shops in Pittsburgh and Youngstown were canceled. The breeder had to sell Daisy at a discount and she would cost Mom only $125!

Two days later, Mom called me up and said "It's a miracle! I can have that little mini poodle for only $125!"

So, that's how Mom got Daisy. All based on a shadow deal I made with the dog breeder.

Daisy came home to Mom's in mid March after she had been weaned. What we did not factor in was Mom's back surgery. She had a couple discs that were flaring up and went under the blade in early April to ease her discomfort. A woman in her late 70s should not be expected to train a puppy after she had back surgery. So I took Daisy to Pimplebutt for the next six weeks. Well, Daisy bonded with me. She would whine and fuss whenever I would take her out to the Big House to see what should have been her owner. Mom was less than enthusiastic about frolicking with an energetic pup. So Daisy the Mutt became my dog.

The best laid plans, the poet said.

 

[ChrisL]

Hey! Today is Daisy the Mutt's birthday! She made it to age six, which makes her a middle aged dog.

When I get to the store later today, I'll get her a new toy, not that she needs a new toy. Her toy basket overfloweth.

Back in the winter of 2009, Mom was pining for some companionship. Pop passed away in April of 2008.

I saw the little hand painted sign saying "Toys and Minis" and I knew they were offering those varieties of poodle. I called the number and a very pleasant lady told me that she was expecting a litter of each later this month. Daisy was the runt and only female of the litter of Miniatures.

Mom's birthday is February 13. My brother and I decided to take her to an early supper that day as it was a Saturday in 2009. Of course we went to the rustically elegant Spread Eagle Tavern in nearby Hanoverton, Ohio.

As it happens, the breeder is on the way. So, after a nice meal, we drove to the breeder's home to 'take a look' at the puppies. Daisy and her siblings were presented to us in a big wicker laundry basket. All the other pups were a dark, almost coffee color. One little puppy was mostly apricot with some distinctive white flares on her back, belly and head.

Of course, that was Daisy. Mom picked her up and nuzzled her, Daisy nuzzled back and they fell in love.

On Monday I called the breeder. During our visit, the breeder explained that the pups are offered at $150 each, except Daisy. As she was the only female, her cost was $450. I wanted to get Daisy for Mom so I made a counter offer. I would pay $300 and the breeder would give Mom a call and spin a yarn. The breeder told Mom that, as the economy was tanking at the time, contracts with pet shops in Pittsburgh and Youngstown were canceled. The breeder had to sell Daisy at a discount and she would cost Mom only $125!

Two days later, Mom called me up and said "It's a miracle! I can have that little mini poodle for only $125!"

So, that's how Mom got Daisy. All based on a shadow deal I made with the dog breeder.

Daisy came home to Mom's in mid March after she had been weaned. What we did not factor in was Mom's back surgery. She had a couple discs that were flaring up and went under the blade in early April to ease her discomfort. A woman in her late 70s should not be expected to train a puppy after she had back surgery. So I took Daisy to Pimplebutt for the next six weeks. Well, Daisy bonded with me. She would whine and fuss whenever I would take her out to the Big House to see what should have been her owner. Mom was less than enthusiastic about frolicking with an energetic pup. So Daisy the Mutt became my dog.

The best laid plans, the poet said.

Happy Birthday to Daisy!

 

[Ringel05]

Last night after we'd had the first few inches dropped on us Gizmo shows up covered in snow, comes in, eats then lays down on the living room rug and start cleaning herself with no intention on wanting to go back outside. That is until this morning, about 3 this morning she started yelling, again at about 4 then I finally get up at 7:30, make coffee, feed them and finally open the door for her.
She sits in the doorway wondering if she's gonna go and Jasper the oldest pushes past her then she finally goes out. The one that surprised me was Boo the youngest trotted right out and wanted to explore, he generally doesn't like snow.
They explored for about five minutes then came back in, Giz ran back to the door (outside), sniffed it a couple of times then made a loud trill turned and headed off to parts unknown with her tail up and quivering .

 

[Ringel05]

It's bright and shining out, no clouds in the sky and the temp is around 0 degrees. Supposed to get up to the high 20s today, by the weekend we'll be back up into the high 40s.

 

[saveliberty]

Did you pay mom her $125?

 

[Nosmo King]

Last night after we'd had the first few inches dropped on us Gizmo shows up covered in snow, comes in, eats then lays down on the living room rug and start cleaning herself with no intention on wanting to go back outside. That is until this morning, about 3 this morning she started yelling, again at about 4 then I finally get up a t 7:30, make coffee, feed them and finally open the door for her.
She sits in the doorway wondering if she's gonna go and Jasper the oldest pushes past her then she finally goes out. The one that surprised me was Boo the youngest trotted right out and wanted to explore, he generally doesn't like snow.
They explored for about five minutes then came back in, Giz ran back to the door (outside), sniffed it a couple of times then made a loud trill turned and headed off to parts unknown with her tail up and quivering .

Daisy aches to go out and play in fresh snow. She runs through the West Garden with her nose pressed to the ground. She acts like a little fur covered snow plow.

Once the initial joy has worn thin, Daisy realizes that she is outside and it's cold. She yaps a bit, I hear her and let her in. In the meantime, I spread one of the four designated Daisy towels on the hearth before the fireplace. I gather up the towel and, as I take her off the lead, wrap the warm towel around her. I cradle her on my lap and gently squeeze the caked snow from her paws, rub her back in warm terrycloth and make sure she's good and dry before turning her loose on the hardwood floors.

She then lies supine on the hearth until she starts to make Poodle gravy. I can stand in front of the fireplace for about 45 seconds. That's how long it take before it feels like my sweatpants are either on fire, or were just taken from a plutonium powered cloths dryer. But The Mutt can lay in front of those gas logs seemingly forever. She could not get closer to the heat unless she was on a spit.

 

[Nosmo King]

Did you pay mom her $125?

Over the past six years, I've paid every vet bill, every dog groomer bill, bought her every bite of food she has eaten and paid for six dog licenses. Meanwhile, Daisy spends every Friday night and Sunday afternoon at the Big House with Mom. Daisy goes along when Mom visits friends. Meanwhile, I go shopping for Mom and her grocery bill is always at least $20 cheaper than what I pay. "How much do I owe you?" she asks.

I know that I spent $35.00 and I'll tell her "Oh, twenty ought to do it." I'll answer.

 

[Ava]

I just watched the SOTU speech. I'm really ready for bed now! *** yawn *** Good night everybody. Why does listening to politicians (any of them) make me so sleepy?

Let me tell ya about somethin' you might find a little more interesting. I'll be heading down to Dubuque to Roeder's Outdoor Power, Friday, to pick up a new, (old), 2012 John Deere X720. Pretty big machine for a lawn tractor but, I'm getting a new hydro turn plow on it too for the driveway, and I'll be getting a rototiller attachment for the back this spring. Nice machine, only 209 hours on it and they gave me a hellova deal. Here's it is. It's still upstairs in storage in these pics from yesterday, and doesn't have the new JD plow on it yet... what'a ya think?

I love it, 7. It has the perfect sized seat for two. Daisy Mae and and 007. Let's put the Harley up for the day and have fun on this new deal??