"YOU GOT YOUR HAIRCUT AT A LADIES HAIR SALON!!!"

Well, no one has said that to me yet!! Indeed I did! And to top that off, my hair cutter stylist is one that I taught in elementary school a long time ago. How fun that is! What brought this about in my life--getting my haircut at a Ladies Salon? Well, it's this way: The barber to whom I had gone for many years to get a trim had it! He retired! Of course I was happy for him, and now who to find to cut my hair? I went to different barber shops and found none that I liked. It wasn't that I didn't like the people or the location of the shop, it was the butchered look that I had upon leaving the shop. 

My wife suggested perhaps I would like to go to her Salon with her the next time she had a haircut, and my former student could cut my hair! Sounded good to me, and it worked out great. The stylist cuts it exactly the way I like it. End of tale.

No Water, Please! Ever again!! And I mean it!!

No Water, Please Ever Again-And I Mean It!

You know how it is!! Of course you do!! The favorite restaurant in my mind, was there with its lovely beach view, it peaceful ambiance, and all that! I want to set the record straight--and I mean straight!! I never have water at a restaurant, I never have water at a restaurant, I never have water at a................OK, I have said it enough times! I was accompanied by 2 of my serious family members who both have unquestionable table manners and tastes. Oh, by the way our clothes are hanging in the garage trying to get dry, but the garage is another blog some day. Our waitress arrived at the table with a nice smile, we ordered drinks, and as per my usual, I ordered iced tea. You see, I live in a part of the country where ice tea is so popular, that it runs through many people's veins when beautiful and balmy weather is here! SHE ALSO BROUGHT ME WATER!!! HER FIRST MISTAKE OF THE DAY!!! AH, the water looked so inviting and cool and tempted me from the moment the glass arrived. Now, I want to set the record straight---INNOCENT--Innocent!!!!!! I declare complete innocence in this whole matter. Before I could bale out of the booth, the water glass tipped over and completely flooded the lady sitting next to me!! She immediately directed herself to atavistic behavior and yelled out a swear word, which of course I would never do. Now, there was 8 ounces of iced water on pants, booth seat, under our bodies and everywhere else and probably in our shoes. Of course, I and I repeat I-----said something like, "This is not going to ruin my lunch, I will not be bothered by this!"And I imagine they shouted somewhere in the back of their brain, "Not going to be bothered!!! What, this is the worst lunch!!" Who knows really what they were thinking. When the waitress arrived again she offered more water when I told her of the ACCIDENT. Of course I said only 1/2 glass!! Well, by the time the delicious lunch was over, I was about 30% dry, the swearing lady sitting next to me maybe 10% dry, as she kept saying as we vacated the restaurant, "I am so wet, I can't believe this etc." And of course I was very calm, didn't say one negative thing and sloshed out to the car. I have no idea what the third person was thinking, probably she wanted to ask the waitress if she could have her own private table, but no way!! We are her parents and she is stuck with us! Now if my Dad were here he would say, "This is no surprise, he always spilled the milk at the table when he was little." You've heard the old adage, "Buy 1 quart of milk for the kids to drink, and buy one quart for them to spill." Alas, that is my biographical story from my childhood! I continue to declare my innocence. I remember nothing about a glass of water spilling, In fact, it could have been one of the other two at the table who did it. NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, THAT SOUNDS POSSIBLE. My New Years Resolution for 2014 is to NEVER ask for water in a restaurant. And if they bring it, I shall move the glass in front of one of my family members, and I will wear my raincoat!!! I am getting thirsty!! 8-)))))

Water, Water Everywhere.......under the table, under the seat, and on our clothes!!

Is This All There Is To It?

I have just come in from the garage where I have wrapped a Christmas gift for one of my loved ones. Does that seem strange to you? I wrap gifts in the Garage!!! Well, I didn't want wandering eyes to see what I was wrapping. And I wrapped the gift on the top of the Washing Machine! Now that is really something isn't it!? I wrapped the gift on the Washing Machine. Bet you don't know too many people who do that!! 8-)))) I know no one who wraps their gifts on the Washing Machine. 

I think of Christmas as a time wherein we can really sweep out the cobwebs of our mind and think of our fellow man/woman in whatever way we choose. Oh I will get to the subject of the delicious photos above in a bit. The other day(sounds like a story is coming doesn't it??) when we were leaving a certain store in our area, a young man approached me as I was about to get in the store. He had a big backpack on and talked to me a bit. He said things like, 'I haven't eaten in 3 days,"  "I am just off the road from _____ and am so hungry." So often we are repelled from such aren't we, well I couldn't be on this occasion and gave him some funds. Does it matter what he did with the money? Not to me. He needed it and so often I count my blessings about my existence, and this poor young guy needed some help. So I did! That is part of Christmas, taking care in some way of your fellow man/woman.

Above you see in the top photograph some of my Christmas Cactus that are blooming this very minute in December in our temperate climate. What beauty they bring to the Christmas setting I believe. And the next two photos are from my significant other's kitchen. I know she won't mind my saying "significant other." We approach our 50th anniversary rather soon! Hmmmm, wonder what we will do on our 50th Anniversary. I know we will probably consider a lunch at our favorite Mexican food restaurant nearby. Maybe. 8-)))

The Chocolate Kiss cookies are among the favorites in our family. They are outstanding and it is so true, "YOU CAN'T EAT JUST ONE!!" I know our Grandsons in Ireland would just love them!!! And the PUMPKIN PIE- wow just fab!!!!All made by Significant Other!!

Well for me, Christmas boils down to so many value oriented ideas and activities. I think of this one often and try to put it into practice:

"Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: always to try to be a little kinder that is necessary."-James Barrie said that.

It is a good rule of life and works to make this world a bit nicer and KINDER! Try it--you'll like it!!

And when the next delivery man/woman comes to the door with a gift I have ordered for one of my loved ones, it will be----grab the wrapping paper, the tape and scissors and out to the washing machine!!!!!---unless my significant other is washing clothes, then...........well there always will be the TRASH BINS as a backup!! 8-)))) Happy Wrapping!!

Closing with a few wonderful words from people about Christmas. I hope you enjoy them.

MERRY AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

"For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you."
     - John Greenleaf Whittier

"Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves."
     - Eric Sevareid

"Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display--so much tinsel and decorations. For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again." 

--Unknown

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." 

--Norman Vincent Peale

"Christmas--that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved."--Augusta E. Rundel

Happy Holidays Everyone!! BT

The Christmas Cactus Are Blooming! Christmas Is Coming!

September 1 is here! Wow, and we are still having hot and very humid summer weather. Oh, want to remind all of you out there. The Christmas Cactus are blooming---NOW is the time to begin your Christmas list of gifts you hope Santa might bring you if you have been good this year!! Have you??? Of course we all know the answer to that. Certainly you have!!!! But have I? Oh definitely!! Now that--that is over, onward to blog.

The Christmas Cactus above  has a wonderful name. I love it! Thor Nille, and it is starting to bloom with that startingly beautiful color that you see. What a fantastic bloom. I have a whole corner of my patio full of many Schlumbergera(Christmas Cactus). Several are blooming, I see red, majenta, orange colors as I view them there. They are something my Mom always liked and she had some in the patio there in the house when we would visit near Christmas.

I have been working lots on Genealogy as has my Mrs. It is much fun to find out about those in our family line who came before us. My people came over from England in the 1600's and located on the east coast of America, and I always wonder how they made the long voyage over here. It must have been a difficult time for them. I have read a bit of those early voyages, and the food was limited, water stored in barrels aboard the ships and it would take weeks, maybe months to get here.

My GGGG Grandfather John actually was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and while out on patrol with 12 others, John Saxon was attacked by British troops at Phillips Woods. 2 soldiers were killed in the fight. They returned to Dobbs Ferry. John was discharged at a place called Summerstown Plain, Stephen Town, NY, in the County of Westchester about Jan. 1, 1782. He had served his 8 months.

And, of course, how can I not mention my GG Grandfather Alvah(Alvey) who was a soldier in the American Civil War. Alvah, youngest son of Gilbert., was a soldier, and he was assigned to the Thirty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and joined his regiment at Bridgeport, Alabama. He then returned to Nashville and was in the battle at that place where his regiment lost heavily. He was also in the Battle of Franklin. He accompanied his regiment as far as Duck River in pursuit of General Hood, at which place he was left sick in a hospital. I have a wonderful photograph of him in his army uniform, it is a bit torn and tattered, and he looks absolutely exhausted and very tired. I don't know who took the photo but it is wonderful to have it. 

I  have always thought that it is very important for people to know from whence they have come, and who their descendants were. Why? So that you have an understanding of who all those people who came before you in your family line are, and perhaps your place in the history of this Earth. I know as some of my descendants moved westward from New York, at times they had to cut down trees in the middle of forests, and built temporary log cabins while they worked on their permanent houses. How capable they must have been!

Today it feels like the hot and humid Caribbean. We are feeling the monsoonal weather from down south and I wonder if it will get cold, ever.

Hmmmmm.......Christmas list? I wonder what the heck to put on it. Maybe some chocolate cupcakes or a chocolate cake with extra frosting, or some homemade lasagna, or maybe homemade tostadas. Really the gifts from home are the best in this life. That is what I think.

Merry Christmas List Everyone.

Lunch Out With The Family?? Hmmmm.......................Sweet Tooth!

              Lunch Out With The Family? Huh?? Who Has The Sweet      Tooth, Anyway??

You know what it's like. It always happens this way. At least I think it does. You are talking or emailing a family member and someone says, "Hey let's do a lunch this week." Ok, "Sounds good, I think I can retain my diet conscious mind throughout a lunch out somewhere and eat properly." I must confess though, I am one who always, and I mean always enjoys a delicious and chocolaty dessert. Always have, always will! My Wife is a premier baker of all things, including the most delicious cookies, scones, cakes, brownies, lemon bars, cupcakes and the like. And don't ask my weight!! Some things in this life must be kept secret and that is one. 

Well just the other day I lunched out with 2 family members who ALSO have the reputation in the family as very big dessert eaters!! And I ain't talkin' turkey here, my friend. When I say BIG dessert eaters, I mean just that. How do you think I found out about Sees Candy?? Well we had an enjoyable seafood lunch, very satisfying and now came the big moment. The time to decide: Do we order DESSERT or not. I already knew the answer!! I looked at my two family members when I asked, "Will we do dessert!" I swear their pupils dilated, their eyelashes batted rapidly, they grabbed their forks and spoons and replied, "You betcha Papa!" That ended it all. Over came the waiter and we ordered the above Mud Pie with Oreo cookies spread throughout the ice cream. Note it is smothered in whipped cream and chopped nuts.

I could feel each bite of the Mud Pie swirling around and swimming around with the Seafood in my stomach. Wow, it was tasty, I will admit.

Why do people like dessert? Is it an addiction, or it makes one feel good, or what??!! I will never know, but I do know this. When we go out next week, I shall ask, "Shall we do dessert?" The eyes will roll, the eyelashes will bat, and the spoons and forks will be snatched lightning quick from the table and the waiter will slide over and lo and behold, the dessert order will go in.

Did I hear someone say, "I love dessert!" 8-)))

Aren't Shoes Funny!!

                                       Aren't Shoes Funny?!

I have always thought Shoes are funny, that's right--by funny I mean a bit strange. When did Men and Women start putting something stylish on their feet? When I watched the film "Jurassic Park" I could easily see why you would want to wear something on your 'boats'(meaning feet!). My wife found that for me on a thesaurus! She is indeed intelligent and very clever, you see. Anyway back to "Jurassic Park"! Would you want those Raptors stomping all over your little "tootsies"?? My wife and her thesaurus also gave me that one!! She is indeed a very clever and well educated person! Well I wouldn't want to do a tap dance to keep the Raptors off my feet! This photo shows my new shoes. I will not tell you how much they cost as they were a gift! Sorta! But coming from way back in the history of time where I used to pick up empty soda bottles along the road of a small town and put them in my wagon to take downtown to the Red and White Grocery for some coins makes me think. A small glass soda bottle was 2 cents and a large one was 5 cents. When I was a kid, the cost of these marvelous covers for my boats probably would have paid my Mom and Dad's rent on that wonderful old house wherein I was raised. 

How is your mind these days? Why would I ask such when we are discussing shoes. I will tell you why!

My Dear and I went to dinner last night in one of our favorites haunts. I had an idea, once in awhile I get such, that I would test my Wife's observation powers. I would wear 2 different shoes and see if she or anyone noticed. Maybe that is like putting on your pants backwards and see if the World notices. Not sure. Well anyway, we had a lovely dinner, no one noticed the shoes, the waitress only noticed my watch. While walking out, I said to her(my Wife), "Look down at my shoes." "Don't be silly and ridiculous." I repeated, "Look down at my shoes." She, "Oh alright!" The scream that came out of her mouth was like out of the movie in the shower scene from "Psycho". Well, my goose is cooked on this one. I will confess, while dressing for dinner(and I really wanted to look good, maybe a cross between a young Robert Redford and a young Marlon Brando), for some reason that only probably the Raptors from Jurassic Park would know, I put on 2 different shoes! Yes, I said 2 different shoes, and no one noticed. We are going out tonight, and I wonder if I can get away with it again????? 8-)))) And maybe the pants on backwards?? It is my theory that people really don't notice others as they are so wrapped up in their lives. Hey, a great idea, I could start a new line of shoes, each pair would have 2 shoes of different design, and have models in Paris, London and New York model them!!!!! Hey, and I would name the new line of shoes; ""Bob's Folly"" !! How is your mind today? Mine is perfectly fine and normal!!!!! 8-))))) I think I will go put on my shoes correctly. 

Picasa Web Albums - Bob Townsend

Picasa Web Albums - Bob Townsend:

A boy with his airplane a long time ago

Yep, that is I standing there in the front yard of the old house where my family and I lived for a long time in my life. It was a house where I had been ill for 6 weeks at around age 10 or 11. It was a house where we used to play the game 'hide and go seek' out in that orange orchard behind me in the photograph. It was a  wonderful place to grow. We kids used to roller skate around the block on the sidewalk and play baseball in the vacant lot down the block. In those days, you knew everyone in every house. Down 2 houses Mr. and Mrs. K, a senior family from Germany. My sister and I used to go visit them and sit and talk with the Mrs. as she sat in her rocking chair. Then on the corner, the family from Scotland, who were friendly and enjoyed being in America. Then around the corner were Uncle Bill and Aunt Iva. They were not our real Uncle and Aunt, but close friends to our family. Aunt Iva had been my First Grade teacher, and Uncle Bill was the house husband, as they would say today. Around the corner on the other block was where my friend Donnie lived with his Grandparents who were raising his sister and Donnie. Thank the Lord for all the Grandparents who have been called upon to raise their grandchildren for whatever reason! And the quiet and warm days of summer were wonderful in those days, playing until I heard my Dad's loud whistle telling me time to come home. And I could hear that whistle even today in my mind. They mostly were all kind people and when we would see them we would speak to them. It was that kind of place, that block of  houses. It you would drive by this area today, you would not recognize it. It has changed tremendously, but that is what happens as time goes by-change in almost everything. We used to love going carefully across the road and finding sour grass and chewing on it in the orchard. There were jack rabbits living in the orchard and sometimes you would see them. I remember during World War 2, believe it or not, seeing army troops marching down the street to the High School athletic field and pitching tents there for a few days. I suppose they eventually went to duty somewhere in some far off land. I  remember catching crawdads in an irrigation box out in the orchard and bringing them home and keeping them for awhile as pets. The memories are there forever. Today with our cell phones, computers, and so on, one can only marvel at the progress that has been made in life. One must be thankful for where they are and what they have. I come from a time of kind of a simple life. We didn't have too much money and life was still good and enjoyable. I will never forget those days at the old house. We gardened, had a dog, and loved our family. What more can one ask who comes from long ago and whose mind often returns to those days. I can see it all even now as I approach 3/4 of a century on this earth.