In Praise of Oreck

While Mrs. T was away I broke our Oreck Vacuum.

My general style is to admit my sins, take my beating and go on, and so it was when she came home to find the vac in the back seat of the car.

When ask why I took the vac for a drive, I fessed up and told her how I attempted to get it fixed on my way to the airport, they were closed and now I'm had.

Next morning I was about considering a return trip to the Oreck folks, but Mrs. T allowed how this was women's work and she'd handle it.

You know the empty feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you go to a repair shop. You know it will cost a fortune to repair, and probably take 3 weeks, and you just know you're about to be had? Mrs. T's experience was quite different.

She dragged it in, told them the problem. The Oreck response was that will be $5 and take 3 minutes. When the job was finished the clerk carried it to the car. "That's the Oreck way, ma'am".

They now have a customer for life.

Toad

It's going to be a long year

Unlike Mrs. T, I am not much of a gambler. I am more than happy to stay home while she does battle with a poker machine. I do have one gambling vice though. I bet against the University of Kansas basketball team.

#1 son and I have a routine. He gets Kansas, I get points. We wager a million dollars a game double or nothing on most games. Usually we even out at the end of the season because KU chokes in March. Writing the check for $192 million last April did hurt a bit, but it won't happen again for another 10-12 years.

So it must be getting near that time again. Tuesay night I get a phone call. How many points do you want? KU is playing the Little Sisters of the Poor right now. I passed. I gotta have a team with at least one 3 point shooter to get interested.

Toad

Linens n Things RIP

OK, this is probably a girl thing that I am not meant to understand, but try me anyway.

As you are all aware LNT is shutting down. It is currently in the hands of a liquidator, so you can throw away all your old coupons, because they are no longer accepted, not even at BB&B. Don't yet fall for the come on signs outside 20-40% off. There are no bargains to be had ...yet.

So my question is, Why did LNT fail, while Bed Bath and Beyond is succeeding beyond their own expectations? To my untrained eye they appear to be the same store, although I never understood their mutually assured to fail concept that only males pay retail.

What did I miss?

Toad

I am drop dead gobsmacked

I was taking my morning walk around blog world this morning, spending longer than usual at Bunny's blog. The pictures of the Mary Jane candies took me back to my mother. They were her favorite treats.

Otherwise, Ms. Tomerlin's eye this morning was dead on as usual.

Ever click on the pictures in the left margin? They are "cool links to click on". Randomly, since I am wearing my cartridge belt, I clicked the photo above, and ended up back here. Go figure.

Thank you for the unexpected surprise, it made my day.

Toad

What's your favorite movie?

Peterman's Eye started this last week, by telling the story of the play, later movie Harvey. I've enjoyed this movie since I was a child, and know it by heart. Isn't that sick?

Which got me to thinking, what's my favorite movie? How does one chose?

There are a lot of old movies that I am more accustomed to seeing on broadcast TV, rather than on DVD or cable. Perhaps I had them on VHS or they just appear in my memory on TV. You have them rummaging around your anxiety closet too.

Ever see a movie that you think you know because you have seen it on broadcast, and then see the original sometime later. It's really disconcerting.

In the past week, since I have had a free evening or two I have caught bits of Blazing Saddles, The Blue Brothers and Young Frankenstein. None of which were the movies I remember.

Favorite, movies change depending upon mood, season or company. Some are forever on the list, some are fluid. This summer I has hooked on A Good Year, but I am hoping that passes soon.

I'll share several of mine if you'll share several of yours. TV movies don't count. Fair?

All time top 3

Lawrence of Arabia Makes Mrs. T's skin crawl. All I have to do is Acaba and she is out the door. I remember seeing this the weekend it was first released, I became a T.E. Lawrence fan immediately. His real story is far more interesting than the movie.

Most of the Fred and Gingers. The best part of these was Edward Everett Horton. Best remembered via the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Chose your favorite, I am not picky.

Casablanca: The ending is still a surprise to me every time I see it.

Holiday Movies

A Christmas Story, of course. Poor Schwartz.

Love Affair/ An Affair to Remember Deep down I hate this schmaltzy mess, but every Christmas Eve Eve two local tv stations coordinate their schedules to run these two flix simultaneously, which is really swarmy. For those too young to remember, Love Affair was the original. AATR is a line by line remake with more famous actors. Favorite line" if you can call that painting I can call this walking"

Tomorrow I'll have a different list. I am hooked on old movies. The Topper series, Charlie Chan, a lot of the Cary Grant, before he became CG stuff., David Niven, Terry Thomas the list is endless.

Ps: The original commeration of Remembrence Day was November 11 at 11 am. Thank a vet.

Toad

Tie Crocs?

Dare Ya. Double Dog Dare Ya, but don't tke me down with you

An honest merchant?

I was chatting with #1 son yesterday about all the new and exciting holiday doings at his work when he pointed me to his company web site.

I was greeted by this message.

Welcome to {hisemployer}.com!
We've temporarily closed our store. We're working hard to improve your shopping experience at {hisemployer}.com. Please try again later. Thanks for your patience!

Frankly, I think more companies would improve my shopping experience by shutting down their on line presence.

I found the message funny for two reasons. First, #1 runs this department and clearly didn't know about this when he pointed me there. Secondly, #1 took it so hard and personally.

Things are back to normal now, so please shop here. He loves and needs the job.

Toad

Brer Rabbit part deux

After our recent Brer Rabbit escapade, I became curious. Were the Uncle Remus stories in fact racist, or was it the setting and other baggage that tainted our memory and had made them so?

I don't know that I have ever read Uncle Remus before now. I well remember my Golden Book of Uncle Remus, but I doubt I was able to read it. It was a frequent bed time story, but probably not much after I turned 4 or 5. I saw the Disney released Song of the South, and once in VHS. The movie was fifty something years ago. The world is much changed.

So, I went to the library and pulled Uncle Remus, The Complete Tales, by Julius Lester off the shelf. 700 pages neatly hidden in the Black Experience section. The purists amongst us will remember that the Uncle Remus stories were written by Joel Chandler Harris between 1876 and 1918 in what was believed by Mr. Harris to be the familiar slave dialect in his part of the south.

Mr. Lester's work is a modern retelling of the old classics. It is his opinion that the originals were written in such a dialect as to be near impossible to decipher for a modern reader. His belief, is that the only way for the stories to live was to retell them in a way 21st century readers would understand. He expected the stories to be rewritten in another couple of generations in a way understandable to people of that time.

Frankly he succeeded.

At their heart, the Uncle Remus stories are black folktales. Folktales from all cultures are stories originally told by and to adults, which if the children were quiet they may be allowed to listen to. As such they have important messages to convey. Folk messages translate into all cultures.

Mr. Lester's work tells the stories, without the unnecessary backstory in a mix of modern white and black English. Their cadence is distinctly black, the stories feel modern. Yes the original tales as told by Joel Chandler Harris stories are racist to our ears. The Uncle Remus stories conveyed by Mr. Lester are not.

As I was reading the book I was thinking constantly of Ms. Mindless's class of Washington DC first graders. They would love the stories. A great story teller would have her class mesmerized.

Toad

I love Bunny, but

As I may have pointed out in the past, one of the great dangers involved with reading blogs, is you find yourself several hours older, and very much wiser.



I love Bunny. The poor woman must be black and blue from being tagged by so many of us. Mercifully she holds herself above the fray. I would love to meet her. Cocktails by the pool would be divine. I'd insist David come.



This time, her meticulous sense of style let her down. I saw the post, I bit. $10 to Alibris and 3 days later it arrived. God it's awful.


I still can't wait for tomorrows' post.



Toad

Moms do play favorites

Everyone in Mrs. T's sphere of influence pretty well knows how they stack up. Her middle kid (youngest son) is #1 and can do no wrong. Any attempt to oust him would result in humiliation. Since she lost her dog over the summer I have been elevated to #3. That's just how things work.

Mrs. T is also a gambler. She is a pretty good poker player and a very skilled video poker aficionado. Her level and frequency of play means she rarely has to reach for her purse inside a casino property, except perhaps to feed the kitty.

So several weeks ago, #1 called and asked mom if she could get him a free room in Las Vegas for this weekend. She called made reservations and off he went. Check in went well, he got a lovely suite, the fruit basket, complementary meal vouchers, show tickets the whole nine yards.

On his second morning he noticed the room wasn't being comped and the bill was huge. Mid day 2 he gets a call asking Mrs. T to make her presence known, as they had a $300 gift card for her.

So that is why as I write this Mrs. T is cooling her heels in the Atlanta airport. If anyone else tried this stunt they would be creamed, but not #1.

If you care to meet her, she will be making a return engagement Tuesday afternoon. Look her up and say hi.

Part 2

Mrs. T flies cheap not conveniently. Last night booking her trip from Mayberry to LV she had the option of changing planes in ATL or Phoenix. Why not go east to go west I always say. I love her madly, but she can be exasperating at times. Anyway, I'm batching it.

Toad

I hate our coffee pot!!!

Can anyone recommend a suitable replacement? We've tried the Gevalia, Braun, Black and Decker and a host of others. It can't be that hard to make a great coffee pot,but it must be.

I'm looking for something that works fairly quickly, keeps a pot warm, and doesn't spill half the contents down the side of the pot when I pour.

Wish list includes:

Stainless steel

timer

auto-shut off

10-12 cup capacity

under $150

I am jealous because each of you has a better pot than I. What do you recommend, what to avoid??

Thanks,

Toad

Why they call it Fall

For those of you who do not live in a 4 season climate, let me tell you about fall in Mayberry and how fall got it's name.

It has been a beautiful Autumn in Mayberry, although unusually dry. For the past week its been near 80 every day, which is unheard of. I took the photo above Sunday afternoon. It took forever but the leaf color finally peaked. The view was positively glorious.

Several months ago,we scrapped the push mower,(yes a push mower for 4 acres) and replaced it with a rider. So every couple of days I mount the iron horse, and do battle with whatever leaves have fallen. I find it like painting or window washing. Instant gratification is my thing, and I kinda enjoy it.

I spent several hours Monday mulching and raking, and did a fine job if I do say so. Tuesday morning we couldn't see the ground. Fortunately, I was busy all day, and didn't let it bother me too much. Wednesday we couldn't open the front door for all the leaves.

Back on the IH, and a two tanks of gas later the yard was clear. As soon as I finished the wind began blowing. Hard. By dinner it occured to me that I shouldn't have bothered.

This photo was taken Thursday morning. Overnight it began to rain, and we awoke to a stiff breeze. I wanted to get back on the tractor, but there is no point.

Can't wait for tomorrow. One day you have leaves, the next day they fall down.

Have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

Toad

Adidas Saddles

These are Adidas saddles expected to be released in February. They also be available in cream/blue.

Certainly the strings are wrong, but what do you think? I am going to pass, but a penny for your thoughts.

Toad

Bow Ties

Photo courtesy of Ben Silver, Charleston

I love bow ties so much that I have not worn a long tie in 8 years. It's Mrs. T's fault.

In fall Y2K her brother's wedding was on the horizon, and in anticipation of the blessed nuptials I refreshed my wardrobe. When time came to pick up the altered goods I make the worst mistake a man can make, as concerns his appearance. I brought the wife.

Adults should dress themselves. Every lazy man deserves every fate which befalls him who takes his wife shopping.

While in the shop she asks what are you wearing to the wedding? I replied and then she handed me this tie. It would look lovely said she.

I protested, I wept, I cried, I wore it. After the wedding I tried to take it back, but the merchant had had a party when they finally got rid of that tie, and wouldn't hear of it.

Slowly at first , then quickly, I rid myself of all my long ties, save 3, which I keep around as an aide memoir, and went the bow route, never once asking my brides opinion.

Bow ties are somewhat subversive. So few men wear them that its rare not to get a reaction when wearing one. Stereotypes run wild. I love it, much the way Tom Wolfe loves his white suits. Its a stick in the eye to portentousness.

Bows are found in the dusty bins in back of most haberdasheries. Ben Silver in Charleston, and Southern Proper make my favorites. Now if only I could arrange a trip to Bristol Tennesse, Wm King has my next favorite of tie.

http://www.southernproper.com/

http://www.bensilver.com/fs_storefront.asp?root=1&show=26

In the mean time, thanks for reading. Stop in and say hello.

Toad

South Park

Did anyone happen to catch South Park this evening? It wasn't terribly funny, but they had to have made the show this afternoon.

The Discovery of France

For those who may have forgotten, today is MOTR's 29th birthday, although I understand from her family and friends that she is still carded when she and the very fortunate DOTR are out for an evening. Happy Birthday, and may your dream soon come true!


You may get to know her better here. http://abnormallynormal2007.blogspot.com/

In honor of MOTR's natal day, today is book report day. Our featured book, The Discovery of France by Graham Robb.

I love the French. Their stereotypical surliness and supercilliousness is to be embraced by all freedom loving people. Any culture that refuses to suffer fools willingly is to my mind the bedrock of gracious living.

While I have never been to France,and do not anticipate be going soon, I have had my nose in French related books for the past several weeks. It seems, like most of what we know of history, our own, or anyone else's, most of what we know of French history is mostly wrong.

The Discovery of France, focuses on the unification of France through language. Allegedly, until early in the 20th century only 20% of the population of what we know of as France, spoke French.

Most citizens were unmechanized farmers, whose entire life was spent within 5 miles of home. As in all insular localities, suspicion of outsiders was rampant, and intermarriage amongst few families was rife. To keep outsiders at bay, in each village a local patois developed. Within a region of 50 miles or so, people could understand each other, but few spoke the same language. This was repeated for virtually every 10 square mile area of France. The French language we know was the local patois of Paris, and didn't spread ompletely until near the First World War..

It wasn't until modern communications, and transportation systems were in place that this began to change. There are still more of a varieties of languages in France than cheeses.

I enjoyed it, learn a lot, and hope you do too.

Toad

Stamps.com

Obviously, I am making too much out of nothing, but here goes.

Have you ever heard of Stamps.com? Its a postage service which allows you to upload an image which they will then turn into US legal stamps, with your pictures for a nominal fee. It's a pretty cool idea for a wedding invite, or perhaps something special.

So what you say.

Several days ago I ordered a catalog. The fulfillment house which mailed the catalog, obviously has a deal with the stamp.com people and put these stamps on the envelope enclosing the catalog. The photos have nothing directly related to the products offered, which leave me to wonder why bother? And if you're going to bother why do it so sloppily? My suspicion is that the sloppiness makes you notice the stamps more, but I leave that to you marketeers.

Please vote, there is a lot riding on your contribution to democracy.
Toad

Vote, please

Let's put the rhetoric aside for awhile. May we agree, that the vast majority of candidates for public office are people of good will? America has had lousy and exemplary politicians in the course of its history and has survived to tell the tale.

There is a great deal more at stake on each of our ballots than the top of the ticket. Important issues that locally mean a lot. A wide variety of choices await us regarding school funding, local bonds, tax rates, state constitutional issues, animal rights, judges, sheriffs and library board members.

Its tough to get rich as a politician anymore. Our choices may not win, but the winner deserves our respect and support. As Mark Twain wrote, "Americans get the politicians they deserve".

So I urge you to get dressed up tomorrow, appear at your local polling place as someone doing an important job. Vote early, (and often). And may America win.

I guarantee that nowhere in America tomorrow or Wednesday will tanks roll to keep an incumbent in place. That is not true everywhere.

Toad

Garden and Gun

I've become a fan of Garden and Gun magazine this year, in spite of its growing pains. Unfortunately, I came to the party several issues too late. I'm trying to catch up, but they haven't made it easy on me.

I've called the back issue people to no avail, have EBAYed, but still no luck.

Should you come across any of the pre-holiday 2007 issues or March 2008, I would love to hear from you. If you find one laying around your barbers, or doctors office or... arrange to take it off their hands. I'll happily reimburse you.

Toad

Día de los Muertos

I'm not certin that there is even a very small Hispanic community in Mayberry, but since it would be my parents 60th wedding anniversary, I will share two Day of the Dead stories with you.

The second funeral I ever attended was three days after the first. It was the summer I turned 16, and it was my grandfather's, a man I was never close to and generally feared.

Fortunately, for us, funeral customs has evolved since then. In the old days wakes were 3 long days and nights, followed by the funeral and burial. By the end of the ordeal you were glad to see your loved ones go. There is only so much family you can take at one sitting.

So, finally we got to the burial site, and old Catholic cemetary, in an old portion of St. Louis. Along with my immediate family was my then girlfriend, later wife.

I remember a sunny, hot, humid day. I was easily distracted since I was new to cemetaries, and was concentrating more on the surroundings than on the service. So looking down the family plot at the graves of people, long dead, of whom I had never heard of I'm suddenly double gobsmacked.

At the far end of the family plot, is what appeared to be my girlfriend's family plot. What are the odds? After a bit of research we learned that buried side by side is a distant grandmother of mine, and a distant grandmother of hers. We were the first generation to have a suitable boy/girl combo in our respective families for several generations.

If you believe in marriages made in heaven, it was pretty weird.

The second smack? Did you ever see a tombstone with your exact name on it? Disconcerting, at best. Next to grandfather is a stone with my name on it, only its not me. My parents had a child who died in infancy. They gave me his exact name. Now that's weird.

Enjoy your candy, we've got a lot of heavy lifting to do later in the week.

Toad