"Bury me out back"

Shopping for a grave monument is something that I never gave a thought. Dad always said, "Just dig a hole and bury me out back with the critters". He would add that he wanted to be together with my Mother, who wouldn't want to be "buried out back", since she isn't an animal lover.
In order to make this work, we purchased cemetery plots up the road from the house where there are three lovely pine trees. Dad planted over 100 pine trees on our little farm. He loved to cut wood and having his resting place near the trees seems fitting.

We received the veteran's bronze marker, which is very beautiful, but I wanted something special for my Dad. A local monument maker went with an idea and the draft is pictured above.

Since Dad was a ski jumper and served in the 10th Mountain Division during W.W.II, it seemed appropriate.I hope that Dad will like this when it is done.

Sandra & Jesse

Sandra Bullock is a class act and Jesse James is such a disappointment. Their marriage might survive his affair with the tattoo model, Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, but doubtful. The trust Ms. Bullock had for her husband went right out the window once the affair was exposed. No matter what Jesse does or says, this is not something that will be forgiven or forgotten.

Another celeb marriage bites the dust. Sad.

AVATAR, A Love Story

Science fiction movies are not on my list of favorite movie categories and AVATAR was not on the viewing list. After much convincing, I went kicking and screaming with my friend Pat to the Trillium Theater in Grand Blanc to see this phenomenon.

Complete with the 3-D glasses we settled in for one of the most unbelievable movies I have ever seen. With my contraband popcorn and my bottle of tea the journey to Pandora began.

This adventure takes the viewer to a place where simple cat-like creatures live. It is a love story and it is a war. I fell in love with these beings and even held back some tears.

I will be attending this movie again, for the third time, in the very near future.
(See it in IMAX)

3/12/2010 Groundhog Day?

Bob has come out of his burrow, but only for a brief look at our weather. I had left a corn cob in front of his burrow entrance about a week ago, just in the event that Bob might come out and I would miss him. When I noticed the cob had been moved, it was time to check on Bobster. I stuck my hand down the burrow to see if Bob had left his door open. He had and when I reached inside, I found one nice toastie woodchuck. He took my fingers in his mouth and nibbled on them, as if to say, "Hi mommie."

The door, is really bedding that the woodchuck pushes up to block his burrow entrance and keep him warm and free from the drafts as he is in hibernation. I checked on Bob again today and his door was closed. Perhaps it still is not Groundhog Day.

Nicknames

A long time co-worker and E-mail compadre sent me a list of police deparmtment retirees and wanted assistance to fill in the blanks for nicknames. This was truly a trip back in time. Starting with the letter A for Adams, I began to laugh out loud with my recollection of the names and why they were assigned to a particular person.

My old squad car partner, John was known as "Troll", since his stature resembled that of a troll. Then came Jim, who had a rather long face and was called, "horse-face" and "Mr. Ed". My dear friend, Bobbie, was called "Mobie", after that large whale of folklore origin. A detective named, Al was known as "Idiamin"...well, he did long like him!

One of the school officers who was folically challenged and decided to get a perm was called, "Bozo". There is Leo the Lip, Shorty-hog, Humma, Asa, Abie, Smokey, Two-dogs, Bear, trooper shoes, God (given with respect) and the list goes on. The scary part, I didn't have a nickname or did I ?