2020 A Year of Resilience by KimB

2020 has been an unexpected year. The COVID-19 global pandemic shattered everyone's view of what is "normal".

There's no way to be overly cheerful about what's happened in 2020 and it takes a bit of doing to find any news to perk up the Holiday Season and the coming New Year 2021.

The fact I'm still breathing, and if you are reading this, you are still breathing too, is about as good as it gets. It's been an odd year of challenges beyond what I ever thought I would see. All those history books were just stories about someone else. Now the history is written by me and you and other people who are still hanging on.

The new generation born in 2020 will never remember what it was like before COVID-19. They will have to endure the admonitions of their parents about "Back in the COVID-19 days...", the same way I had to endure the admonitions of "Back in the Depression..." and the older folks had to endure similiar comparisons.

It's been The Year of Resilience. The year I did things I never thought I would do and didn't do things I took for granted I would always do.

It's the year I fixed the broken toilet.

The toilet hasn't been all the great since we bought the house years ago and we've limped along having a handyperson fixing bits and pieces as needed. The handyperson isn't available anymore and I ignored the running water in the toilet as long as I could. I mean, if you jiggered the handle, the flapper would drop and the running would stop so just give it wiggle and move along. Worked well. Then the handle broke. So I rigged up some cord to the flapper and put a loop on it so you could yank the flapper up. That worked too... for a while.

I was forced to actually consider What To Do Percy?

I surfed the How To web sites for tips and information. I surfed the DIY stores for parts, kits, reviews, commentaries. It was a strange experience overall.

Pre-COVID-19, you could go to some stores where occassionally there might be someone who knew something about what you were trying to do and you could ask for guidance. They would hand you a box and tell you not to break The XYZ Thingie. You could go back after you broke The XYZ Thingie and s/he would get you started back on the right path. We have already forgotten that most of these knowledgeable people were replaced by self-checkouts and QR code scanners.

Now there was no one to ask. There was no one to help out.

I bought a Universal Kit, did the due-diligence reading installation directions, reviews and helpful commentary. Piece of cake.

It wasn't a piece of cake...

First, I didn't have the "Right Tool". I just had some basic household tools and I couldn't find the Right Tool in the Big Tool Box. The kit didn't say anything about the Right Tool.

I turned off the water and drained the remaining water from the tank into a bucket. The water decidedly did NOT go in the bucket as directed. The floor got most of it. It was a good excuse to mop the floor.

I thought I could change the required bits by unscrewing them from the tank. That would have been too easy. I had to unbolt the tank from the toilet base to get access to the parts. I had to up end the tank to reach the bolts and gaskets underneath.

Did I mention I am not strong enough to lift the empty tank?

Balancing the tank while removing the old parts and installing the new ones, took some juggling but at last it was done. New parts and new gasket. Ready to go.

I tipped it back onto the base and followed the directions on tightening the 3 anchor bolts that go thru the tank and thru holes in the base that hold the tank in place. Something didn't seem right. I persevered as indicated.

When things seemed OK, I did the short water line test. The gasket was fine. The bolts not. Tiny seeps of water on paper towels stuffed between the tank and the base showed some drips. I was temped to ingore it. I did, until I "tested the toilet" by sitting on the base. The tank tilted and the floor needed another mopping.

To be fair, I did call the Kit Maker 800 number for "HELP".

I found out that Universal Kits do not mean ALL. They mean SOME. They did not mean MINE.

The gasket between the tank and base is too tall and the tank wobbles on the spongy material. When it wobbles the bolts loosen and the floor gets a mopping.

What To Do Percy? Indeed!

After a good think and feed back from Allen, I decided to plug the 3 bolt holes directly with gaskets and washers on both sides to seal the holes. Luckily there was an "optional diagram" in the installation directions that showed how to do that.

I did another round of floor mopping, titling the tank off the base, juggling the tank so it wouldn't fall and closed the holes in the tank. I slipped the tank back upright and lined up the bolts in the base. Tightened the bolts enough so the tank didn't wobble anymore. I didn't have to worry about a leaking tank because the holes were sealed.

Water test, sit test, flush test, long water test all good. Handle works like a charm. The water doesn't run any more.

It took 6 days and more than 30 hours.

I AM RESILIENT!

I sort of miss the whooshing sound of the running water ....

Merry Christmas

  Happy Holiday to All!

Botany Bay to Tucson ? by Anno Nymus

 

Botany Bay to Tucson ?

By Warren Pease

We used to always group sing whilst traveling … it was our custom … and made the miles fly by …

In the late 50's and early 60's … Grandma had a wonderful and popular diner in Arizona called the "Saguaro Corners Cafe”.

It was across the entrance to the Saguaro National Monument – 16 miles outside Tucson proper … and was located where the paved road ended. This was the intersection of Pantano Road.

It was a crossroads – go straight for the Rocking K Ranch, and farther out 8 miles to the infamous Colossal Cave … or … Turn right to see the mighty Pantano Wash a half mile away.

The Pantano Wash was a wonder of geology!

It was over a quarter mile wide where the gravel road dipped down into it – for about about 75 feet ,a steep down slope – then across a quarter mile of river bed gravel road, and up a steep 75 foot up slope and out – a daunting- and sometimes deadly – run if there was ever rain in the distance !

It was always astounding to watch the water rushing thru the wash after a rain. The power of the water running full after a storm would roll boulders the size of cars as is if they were marbles – but I digress …

Saguaro Corners Cafe had a Gas Station, that I mostly tended as a teenager; full service – 'Fill'er up Ma’am? - check the water, oil, and tires ? ' . It was the only filling, and service station for 20 miles in any direction.

Grandma was famous for her pies and baked goodies .. but folks came for miles just to get her Chili … !

It was quite often that the local folks would stop by just to eat chili, and get gas ! ;)

“… and how about some pie today? “

We lived in Los Angeles at the time, and often would venture the 15 ish hour drive to Tucson for long weekends, and holidays .. we loved to stop at the original McDonald’s in San Bernardino and get 15 cent hamburgers. We would get a couple dollars worth .. and they would last us till we got to Grandmas in Tucson.

We rarely sang “99 bottle of ___ on the wall” .. but sometimes we would sing long old English ballads with many many verses .. and it was fun to chime in with various obscure old verses as it went along …

The old Appalachian folk song – “Barbr'y Allen” was a favorite – with about 30 or 40 verses ... and “Can she bake a cherry pie,? Billy Boy, Billy Boy “. the same long saga of courtship and jealousy - both of these songs were usually good for a few hundred miles alone ! :D

We had learned to sing Botany Bay in 4^th and 5^th grades, … so we had a lot of fun rewriting; making up and adding many ad hoc verses as we traveled .. each gag verse being 'verse' than the previous !! lol .. we would laugh and sing – what fun, what memories ! :D

The way we had learned to sing Botany Bay the chorus went -- 

"It's not the leaving of of old England we care about ...

... nor the sailing for lands far away ...

... it's the blooming monotony that wears us out ..

.. and the prospects of Botany Bay !"

Sadly, many many riotous and clever verses, and turns of word, are forever lost to time and memory … but our rollicking versions – sung with gusto and verve – would go something like this …

It's not leaving Los Angeles we care about

or driving the desert all day

But great biscuits, pie, and chili

and the prospect of Grandma's Cafe

It's not leaving old Tucson we care about

or driving all nite and all day

Nor tedium, boredom, or bother

It's about getting back home to L. A. !!

There was friendly competition, and bragging rights awarded for those who had the 'worst verses' ?

* * *

Foot note

Botany Bay was a prison settlement in Australia – Prisoners were sent from UK to Australia to start fresh and colonize … “Botany Bay” is a popular and classic Australian folk song. The catchy lyrics have kept it popular for many years .

https://alldownunder.com/australian-music-songs/botany-bay.htm

VOTE !

Warren Pease says it's ...  

Tuesday  - November 3, 2020 

VOTE !

VOTE !

 VOTE ! 

*  

We did ! ... Have you ? 

Update 2: The Pond, a COVID-19 Story by KimB

Update 2 for the puzzle The Pond ^{1 2} and some additional puzzle pieces.

The previous update asked:

In the picture of the pond, which puzzle piece will come next?

Here are some possible answers and more aspects to consider.

The Puzzle

UK COVID-19 Cases 10-10-2020

Which way did it move?

UK COVID-19 Cases 10-28-2020

Which way did you predict the pond to move?
(There are no wrong answers, just different answers.)

A = The low part of the wave. It is not at zero
B = A dip in the numbers. Could be fewer people got sick. Could be testing failed. Could be the numbers were not reported.
C = A significant rise in the numbers. An indication that the pond is getting full much faster than previously.

Future Waves

Wave 2 followed by Wave 3

Here the graph is mirrored to show what might happen in the future. Wave 1 and Wave 2 on the left and in the middle. Wave 3 is on the right side. There maybe a Wave 4 and a Wave 5 and a Wave 6.

It's up to you, the individual, what will happen in Wave 3 and onwards. Except, you don't really get much choice as your government has already decided what kind of Wave they want and planned (or not) appropriately.


Up and Down

What goes UP also goes Down

Notice that just as the numbers go up fast, they can come down just as fast. 8 days to fill the pond. 8 days to empty the pond.

But this does not take the pond to zero. There is still 1% left and it will rise and fall over and over and over and over. This is what makes the waves happen. By not going to zero, there is another wave coming: 22 days later or 8 days later, but it will come.

If we stop earlier, say at day 5 or day 6, the pond will fill up faster since there is already a good foot hold. This is why Wave 2 and Wave 3+ are harsher and more difficult and events happen much faster.


Lockdown and Open Cycles

COVID-19 Lockdown and Open Cycles

Things get repetitive at this point:

Every time the pond fills up = Lockdown
Every time the pond empties = Open

Now at this point you might be starting to see the full puzzle: You might ask, How to stop the cycle?

It's actually easy to do. You have to go to zero. Do not stop part way. Do not feed the virus more hosts.

So, why isn't your government doing this? A one time 30-45 day lockdown and it is over? Universal erradication in cooperation with other countries?

That's a very good question.

1. https://mrsbizzybsayshello.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-pond-covid-19-story-by-kimb.html
2. https://mrsbizzybsayshello.blogspot.com/2020/10/update-pond-covid-19-story-by-kimb.html

The Scooter Song by Kim Bigelow

The Scooter Song by Kim Bigelow
(to the tune of the Union Maid)

Copyright © 2020 by Kim Bigelow
All rights reserved.

Verse
A scooter on the wall,
doing pushups tall,
Looks up high,
at the sky
Alternate 1: and this is what she said,
Alternate 2: and this is what he said,
Alternate 3: and this is what they said,

Chorus
Oh you can't catch me, I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
Oh you can't catch me, I'm a Scooter!
Spoken And I can out run you all!

Verse
Running up a wall,
Is no trouble at all,
I can run up and down,
and turn around,
And grasp the world from upside down

Chorus
Oh you can't match me, I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
Oh you can't match me, I'm a Scooter!
Spoken And I can out run you all!

Verse
You can't find me!
I'm not hiding in a tree,
I'm in the shade
that the leaves have made,
And you won't spot me!

Chorus
Oh you won't spot me, I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
Oh you won't spot me, I'm a Scooter!
Spoken And I can out run you all!

Verse
At the start of the day,
Scooters come out to play,
when the sun comes up,
and the wall warms up,
they're transformed by its rays.

Chorus
Oh you can't mark me, I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
Oh you can't mark me, I'm a Scooter!
Spoken And I can out run you all!

Verse
Scooters maybe small
but they are perfect on a wall
So don't blink
cause in a wink
they will be gone before you see.

Chorus
Oh you can't catch me, I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
I'm a Scooter!
Oh you can't catch me, I'm a Scooter!
Spoken And I can out run you all!

Scooter

A Boy and his Coach by R Cane

 

A Boy and his Coach – a 1933 Twin Coach !

An amazing story of serendipity

The meeting place of chance and fortitude

A twisting historical tale of a truck and

A long forgotten dream fulfilled !

Background

Scene:

1958 … just 4 blocks south of Sunset Blvd in glorious Hollywood, California... just around the corner from the famous Tiny Naylor's Drive-In... and one block from United Artists - Chaplin Studios. It's late afternoon .. 5-ish summertime – in plain view of the giant HOLLYWOOD sign off in the hills just a few miles away – it's the 1300 block of North Detroit street.

… toot toot ! .. toot toot ! The Helms bakery truck is cruising slowly down the street … sounding that unique whistle …

The Helms man came down our street a few times a week .. mostly after school when everyone was out playing in the front yards .. that glorious special time after school – and before dad got home from work (and while mom was doing mom stuff) – we kids were free spirits of youth - wild for a few hours terrorizing our neighborhood with games and rivalries parties and barbeques sometimes swimming at Teddy's place, or climbing the giant tree house complex at "Terry's and the 7 brothers" down the block.

Endless summer games; tag,hide n seek, football, or baseball in the street ... the endless amorphous activities of youth .. but mostly just hanging out .. but then ...

… the Helms bakery truck would roll in … .. important business was at hand. Donuts!

Instantly, “time out!” was called for whatever was going on !!.

Our ad-hoc street baseball games – consisting of a scraggle of us neighborhood 4^th and 5^th graders, would immediately dissolve into a 'Keystone Kops' scene .. as everybody breaks for home. yelling 'Helms Man ! Time Out !' .. fleeing home to fetch a nickle ! Chalk sign on the coach door read Donuts 5 cents, and listed other goodies on sale or specials.

… breathless .. “Mom Mom !!! It's the HELMS MAN – MOM !!!! .. can I get a quarter ?? ” (ever the psychological ploy to over ask – trying for a nickle, hopefully, with fingers crossed ! )

Allowance money … usually an advance .. “I promise I'll mow Saturday .. but the Helms mans here now .. hurry !! :D”

In short order ..we were back on the street … surrounding the Helmsman .. who stopped and waited for us to gather round .. and then .. he would open those AMAZING drawers of treats ! Helms knew how to tantalize and tease the crowd and just make you want more – masters of marketing. Magic to us kids .. or so it seemed...

O M G ! THAT AROMA !!!

Lordy, the smell of the fresh and warm baked goods would waft out .. and weave it's hypnotic nasal compulsion!!! … we ALL loved that moment !! .. and it was always greeted with mmmms, ooohs, 'n ahhhs .. that rich just baked warm yeasty goodness … and the deal was sealed ! NOW you HAD to have a donut !!!!

This moment is sublime in memory .. I can bring it back as if it was real … I suspect there are a few others out there who remember. After the Helms man moved on .. we would all be in a group in a row on the curb .. savoring our treasures … always comparing .. oh those sprinkles look good – I'm getting chocolate next time and such ,

.. I liked that fancy stuff … but my weakness – when available because they sold out quick – was the apple fritter! My my my .. what memories !

Whatever you wanted was there ! .. donuts and cookies usually for us.. but all sorts of wonderful baked goods .. bread stacked on the shelves .. but deeeeep drawers full of delectable donuts, cupcakes, brownies, cookies of every stripe, coffee cakes, tea rings, apple fritters, and Danish pastries !! Cakes and breads stacked for deliveries ..and such fabulous pies – gloriously tempting even to the staunchest dieter! Dear dear memories of a lost time.

Those were the days !

*   *   *   *

How my dream came true – a true story !

It started seriously after a blog story I wrote about wishing we had home deliveries like in the old days ..and then I ended the piece with the comment .. 'where's a Helms Truck when we need one ?'

Well that jogged something in my memory, and I got to wondering after posting the story – if there was any hope of really finding one – wishfully – affordable, AND fixable within reason ?

Could any still be running or available? Maybe if I could find just the right one to possibly fix up as a project, I could actually have myself a nifty old Helms truck?

Alas .. they were few and far between, and most that I found were in really rough shape .. and looking far too costly to bring back to life .. especially with my slim budget.

I looked online, researched and studied. I looked high and low for a driveable and affordable Helms Twin Coach online – for several hours a day during this year of covid19 sequestering, I found myself scouring the web vigorously – this was my pandemic quarantine and boredom smasher !

I did find several dozen old Helms Coaches .. but all were beyond consideration from condition or cost. I began to despair of finding anything I could manage mechanically or handle financially.

After several months .. and a few near misses .. I slowly realized it likely wasn’t ever going to happen unless I won the lottery.

My childhood memories persisted. That quiet nagging was keeping the embers of hope alive, until I just missed out on a terrific and restored one at auction – but it closed with a price so high, that I got nosebleed. Light-bulb !! Deflated, I realized my mission was hopeless, and was not ever going to happen for me!

Oh well .. I said to myself, “ get yourself a “Consolation Prize” ! why not?” – Find a nice die cast model to put on the shelf and enjoy – reminisce .. and that will be that .. a good memory !

Poking around on eBay recently, I found a beautiful very accurate die cast 1:24 model of a Helms Bakery Truck - with some really super detailing, and superb finish. I decided to get it – it was very nice. I had found my Helms Truck consolation prize!

I was thwarted by the website check out cart – so I sent an email to the seller, because I couldn’t complete the transaction online . The seller called me ! I was pleasantly surprised and delighted. I explained my difficulty in completing the PayPal check out thing .. so we just did the old fashioned snail mail and check deal.

However … this is the amazing bit … I casually mentioned my difficulty in location a real Twin Coach that I could bring to life … so my getting the model was a consolation to myself. His next sentence changed my life !

He said .. “I have one, ....

...  but know where there is a complete one - that might work for your budget ! would you be interested ? ”

and continued “ .. I have one that I am keeping , but a family recently offered a 1933 to me, but the timing wasn’t right  – I can get you in touch directly with them if you are interested?! I think it will fit your budget if they still have it ?!”

I was gobsmacked ! .. … I about exploded with excitement !!! “YES !! please!!! ....”

Things then moved very very quickly – almost in magically mysterious ways – That was Wednesday.

A few calls and texts and emails on Wednesday, and Thursday !

The deal was closed, and funds exchanged the following Monday!

It was picked up near Victorville California on Tuesday at 7 am!

I write this 4 days later on Friday .. just as they are unloading my wonderful old coach at the garage in Texas at 5 pm!

Through the most surprising turn of events – confluence of the stars, and pure luck …

I found, bought and obtained transcontinental delivery of

a 1933 Helms bakery coach – in just a bit over a week !!

It has actually traveled , from Victorville in the California desert, to Houston Texas for restoration !!

I finally have my Helms Coach !!! DREAM COME TRUE !!! WOW !!! Never give up on your dream ! … and, I have a really great die cast model to boot ! What a week !

Now that is 'Serendipity' !!!

1933 Divco – Twin Coach, Kent Ohio

Helms Bakery Coach

Where she sat in the California sun for the last dozen years

The story of this particular vehicle is quite fascinating … it has a wonderful history and I am pleased to pass it into the archives for this stalwart old 1933 Divco Twin Coach

I purchased it from a family that had it for 55 years .. and drove it for 45 of them !

This one ooozes personality and charm, because the family were so dedicated to preserving and treasuring this wonderful piece of history !

* * *

To Be Continued … the Saga begins …

Update: The Pond, a COVID-19 Story by KimB

For those who have done, completed or looked at the puzzle The Pond ¹, here is another puzzle piece.

Which part of the pond puzzle is in the picture and which puzzle piece will come next?

Hint:

There are no right answers and there are no wrong answers.
There are some answers that are better than others.

1. The Pond, a COVID-19 Story by KimB

Poly-Ticks and Strange Bed-Fellows by R Cane

Poly-Ticks and Strange Bed-Fellows

Run up the Hill

Run up the Dale

Run all around Town

All to no avail

We did all we could

Even went thru the woods

Found a lot of nothing

and that was no good

We went all around

all the ups' n the downs

Chasin' our tails

'round crazy fake trails

We then went through hell

a time or two

yet nothing happened

we swear it's true !

Now a few went Red

And more went Blue

Made crazy bed-fellows

and a weirdo crew

Whiskey and Bourbon

Smokin' cigars

in smokey back rooms

dark smoky deals are ..

… made in the shade ..

.. but we're kept in the dark

sometimes with 'snark'

Freedom at play

Danger they say ..

All tantrums and bullying

if he don’t get his way ..

well we did all we can

but it was no good

Shut'er down Clancy ..

She's-a-pump-in M-U-D !

VOTE!

* * *

BB 8-29-20 

The Pond, a COVID-19 Story by KimB

This is a story about a pond. This is a story about COVID-19.

It's not the usual story about ponds. It's not the usual story about COVID-19.

This story requires the reader to participate.
This story requires you to physically do something, but it's not hard.

You will need:

1 piece of paper - fairly large - 8x10 common paper will do.
1 pair of scissors - sharp enough to cut the paper.
1 pencil or pen to write on the paper.

Optional

A calculator - physical or electronic or from your smartphone. Nothing fancy needed.

Paper Pen Scissors Calculator

In this story the pond is covered with algae.
In this story we know that the algae doubles every day.
In this story we want to know how long did it take for the algae to cover the whole pond.

The pond is the paper. You can write POND at the top of the page.

Now comes the hard part. A series of steps writing on the paper and cutting it with scissors.

1. In one corner of the paper write the number 1 and 100%.
   This is day 1 and the pond is completely covered.


2. Cut the paper in 2. You now have 2 pieces of paper.
   Set aside the part you wrote on in step 1.
   Label the new portion 2 and 50%.
   This is day 2 and the pond is covered 50%


3. Cut the day 2 portion in half. You will have 2 pieces of paper.
   Set aside the portion marked 2 aside with the day 1 paper.
   Label the new portion 3 and 25%.
   This is day 3 and the pond is covered 25%


4. Cut the day 3 portion in half. You will have 2 pieces of paper.
   Set aside the portion marked with the other days.
   Label the new portion 4 and 12.5%.
   This is day 4 and the pond is covered 12.5%


Now repeat the steps, changing the day and the amount the pond is covered by 1/2.


5. Cut the day 4 portion in half. You will have 2 pieces of paper.
   Set aside the portion marked with the other days.
   Label the new portion 5 and 6.5%.
   This is day 5 and the pond is covered 6.5%


On day 5 less than 10% of the pond is covered in algae.
In 5 days the pond will be 100% covered in algae.


6. Cut the day 5 portion in half. You will have 2 pieces of paper.
   Set aside the portion marked with the other days.
   Label the new portion 6 and 3.125%.
   This is day 6 and the pond is covered 3.125%


7. Cut the day 6 portion in half. You will have 2 pieces of paper.
   Set aside the portion marked with the other days.
   Label the new portion 7 and 1.56%.
   This is day 7 and the pond is covered 1.56%


8. Cut the day 7 portion in half. You will have 2 pieces of paper.
   Set aside the portion marked with the other days.
   Label the new portion 8 and .78%.
   This is day 8 and the pond is covered .78%


On day 8 less than 1% of the pond is covered in algae.
In 8 days the pond will be 100% covered in algae.

Continue cutting the paper into smaller pieces, labeling each piece by day and amount of algae covering the pond by 1/2.

How much algae was in the pond for each day in the month?

30. 100%
31. 50%
32. 25%
33. 12.5%
34. 6.25%
35. 3.125%
36. 1.56%
37. .78%
38. thru day 1 less than 1%
    
    
    There are 22 days where there is barely enough algae to notice.

Now start to reassemble the paper pieces.

Notice how slowly the algae grows is when the numbers are very small.
Notice how quickly the algae grows when the number hits 1%.

The story of COVID-19 is the story of the algae in the pond. It seems as if small numbers mean things are just fine and then only a few days later, we are in lockdowns, facing fines for going out and having our lives disrupted.

This is because 1% isn't fine. 1% is 8 days from covering the entire pond. 1% is a tipping point.

The story of COVID-19 is also the story of the power of 1. One may not seem to be a big number compared to all the other numbers and sequences of numbers. 1 algae is all it takes to cover a pond in 30 days.

All it takes is 1.

The Pond

Sailing on the COVID sea by Kim Bigelow

Sailing on the COVID sea by Kim Bigelow

Copyright © 2020 by Kim Bigelow
All rights reserved.
Revised 06/19/2022

Chorus:
Rollin' down the river to the COVID sea,
Wonder what will happen to you and to me.
Lock down, turn around, don't breath on me!

Said the rich man to the poor man, Your life is Mine,
You work when I say and die on time.
Sailing down the river to the COVID sea.

Rowing down the river and what did I see?
Masquerqades, Pass-Parades and Jammed-Buries*,
Two foot, four foot, six foot hops,
Sanitize, Sterilize and Neck-Mask Flops.

One hundred, two hundred, three hundred dead,
The President says, "Good Times are Ahead!"
One thousand, two thousand, three thousand more,
The President says, "Stats are just a bore!"

Chorus:
Good times, dead times, money for free!
Stay at home, buy a tomb, no doctors to see.
Stay in place, leave a trace, don't cough on me!

Ten thousand dead from walkabouts town,
"Twenty thousand dead," says the Pres with a frown.
Two Hundred Thousand dead and it's plain to see
Morgue Trucks; The President ducks ... out to the tee.

Shout Out:
I don't care,
I'll take the dare,
gotta breath some air.

Windows Up, no drives around town,
"Bad Luck," says the Pres to Blacks and to Browns.
Can't buy nuthin', There's nuthin' to see,
Dead air, it's not fair, it's no way to be.

Chorus Backing:
Eviction is comin',
And I'll be strummin',
On the streets for free.

"Pay me," says the Rich Guy with hands so clean,
Thirteen Billion in a day is his dream.
Eight hundred thousand dead and I'm ready to scream!

"Hey you fool!", send your kids to school,
Take a trip or a ship, overseas.
Death will be waiting, for the easy takings.

Chorus:
No more pensions, health care preventions,
unemployment compensations
or subsidies.

Dying for the Pres, it's your patriotic duty,
The government grabs all the loot and booty.
It's roll one for them and twenty for you,
Show your face, you're The Ace with your MAGA cap too.

You die just the same and the pickin's are rich.
You get the same care as the folks in the ditch.
'Cause there ain't no cure and there ain't no fix.

The Dead Herds fillin' graves, will make some rich,
As long as we all buy the hype and the pitch.
There is only one guarantee:
The dead in the graves are you and me.

The President says, "We gotta hold our nerve".
The President says, "We're trying to flatten the curve".
says the Man in the Hat, "We're gonna beat it like THAT!"

Johnson, Trump, Morrison too,
add in Bolsonaro and you got quite a crew
Andres in Sweden is fixing the stew,
The only thing missin' is me and you.

"Look around, at how Great We Be",
Don't hesitate, don't be late, you can call on me
Six months later; not a word to be heard,
Everyone's gone back to the herd.

I work for nickles and I work for dimes,
I'll work any days, hours or times,
No food on the shelves and that's the way it will be,
They gotta make a profit in the Land of the Free.

Rich man says, "Come jump in the pool!",
Rich man says, "You gotta get IN, I made it a Rule!",
Everyone says "The water's just fine!"
See all the Morgue Trucks waiting in line.

Forget the past and your future too,
Vaccine's acoming and I hope it's true,
Cause all of these folks are making me blue.

We clap for you and fall on our knees,
The golf course is callin' there's room on the tee.
President says "I can do as I please."

Wear a mask or not, you gotta chose,
You only have one important thing to lose,
Pick out a place where you want to be,
'Cause you are gonna be there for eternity.

We are all in the boat on the COVID sea,
There is no immunity or guarantee,
Spoken:
The only thing we have is our humanity.



*note: this sounds like jamboree but spelled Jammed Buries pronouced Jammed-Borees

Waiting

While waiting for the virus vaccine, I've beeen reduced to having only several choices of self amusement; reading, knitting or watching TV since we stay home and have few visitors.

We can only take so much news about the number of deaths occurring and the scary projections of higher numbers as the weeks roll by. The debate about wearing a mask or not wearing one leads me to think ignorance is more polific among humans than I had previously thought.

Now, on top of the covid worry, we have the wild fires on the west coast spreading faster than the virus, and a hurricane heading toward New Orleans.

Do you think it's time to listen to the scientists who talk about changing our lives to combat Climate change?

Doggerel Kisses by Anno Nymus

Doggerel Kisses

A Tribute to Bingo the Dog

*

When I go to bed

My dog sleeps

On a big pillow

right by my feet

Now they must smell

Alluringly sweet

'cause the dog thinks

it's a super treat

to just curl up

and lick those feet ...

… but c'est la vie

that’s how it goes

though it really tickles

when she licks my toes !

* * *

Copyright R. Bigelow 2020

Better Late than Never ? by Anno Nymus

 

Better Late than Never ?

Better late than never

that’s what I often say ...

Just don’t wait until tomorrow

what ya gotta do today ...

You can be a rascal,

or Hero all the way

Just don’t wait until tomorrow

what ya gotta do today

Now I was – go-ing-to …

… get a bite to eat

but then I got busy ..

and was in a frazzled state

so on my main mission

I did pro – cras – tin – ate …

when I finally got 'round to-it

The hour was just too late !

I'll do ___ all tomorrow

It's better off that way

I'll do ___ all tomorrow

What I was gonna do today

So ,,, here's the news – Don't snooze !

… to avoid the blues – just chose

to be on time - like 'late' 's a crime

or you will surely lose

the early bird gets the worm ..

don’t fidget, sit or squirm

Agendas tight – all day 'n night

be late and you get burned

keep track of time --all night or day

and get things done – in a timely way

Better late than never –

that’s what I often say ...

Just don’t put off tomorrow –

what ya gotta do today ...

*

Original Song by -- R Bigelow 8-26-20

Who Me ? – Round Robbin' by Anno Nymus

 Who Me ? – Round Robbin'

* * *

Who Hid That Virus in The Cookie Jar ?

Whoever Dealt it – Smelled it !?

P Hid the virus in the cookie jar !!

Who Me ?

Yes You !

Couldn't Be !

Then Who ?

Whoever Supplied it – Denied it !?

Xi  Hid the virus in the bush-food bazaar !!

Who Me ?

Yes You !

Couldn't Be !

Then Who ?

Whoever Concluded it – Excluded it !?

T  Hid his head in a nearby sand bar !!

Who Me ?

Yes You !

Couldn't Be !

Then Who ?

Whoever Deduced it – Produced it !?

Xi  Hid the virus in the cookie jar !?!?!

Who Me ?

Repeat – Ad Infinitum – Ad Nauseum

∞

Parody --  Elementary School Circle Rhythm Clapping Game

El Rancho S-OH-S Part 13 by KimB

Episode Gravel

All Roads Lead to Rome.

  How did they do that?

Undeveloped means, there is nothing there, other than whatever nature decided to grow. On the Dirt Pile, there are trees, and shrubs, and a variety of grasses. When the rains come things turn green and some plants bloom. When the summer comes, the grasses turn golden brown. When the trees grow old , they die and fall over.

The wild animals that roam the area make pathways through the grass and around the fallen trees. Animal paths may look like they meander but they always show the direction of least effort and the shortest distance between: water, pasture, shade and shelter.

Not a road to be seen.

A road is an improved path or route that allows travel between Here and There. It's all rather complex but unless you are only traveling by foot, getting from Here to There requires a larger more defined path.

Roads come in all shapes, sizes, configurations, design, materials and complexity. Big modern highways and overpasses are the ultimate in complex road design. There are descriptions of ancient roads, details of designs and how they were paved and their expected durability, many lasting into the modern age. Modern methods aren't as durable and 21% of USA roads have deteriorated so badly they can no longer be driven on.

Ancient technology isn't so old fashioned.

A much smaller variation of road, one that is privately built, is a driveway. A driveway is the most common method of getting from Here (the public road) to There (onto the dirt pile).

It might seem that this isn't a big deal, but without a driveway you cannot get from Here to There reliably, unless you have a tractor or a tank or an earth-mover. For practical access and human design, a driveway provides The Way To There.

But you cannot wave a magic wand and shout

"EXPECTO DRIVEWAY!!!"

... because well... nothing happens. There's a bit more to it.

Things you have to do:

Decide where the drive is going to be

You could change your mind later and move it, but it's a lot easier if you put it where you want it in the first place.

Check the terrain

If you want to make things easy (read less expensive) you will find a spot that doesn't require Excavation and the dreaded Grading Permit. You have to check for drainage and runoff channels because if you don't the first big rain will wash away your efforts (and money) and possibly your down stream neighbor.

Check the geography

If your driveway path runs though a boulder or side of a mountain you might need to hire a tunnel boring machine. It's a lot easier if you can go around the Big Stuff.

Check the flora

This means trees. If your route is going to plough a path through a bunch of trees you might need a good chain saw, a hard hat and hope the tree doesn't fall on you. It's a good idea to avoid as many as you can.

Once you have the driveway planned out, you either actually do the work yourself or better yet, hire someone to do it. Hopefully, they know what they are doing because for sure, not everyone does.

1. Scrape away the surface grass, weeds, shrubs
2. Drag dead trees out of the way
3. Remove trees and trim branches
4. Install culverts and runoff channels
5. Level the path
6. Pack down the base
7. Surface according to use

So once you can get from Here to There ...

   How do you know where There is?

Well, you have to start At The Beginning...

Somewhere, in every location on the planet, people have marked THE SPOT. From THE SPOT they measure a lot of things, one of which is distance between THE SPOT and ANOTHER SPOT.

"Over the river and through the woods..."

"Turn right at the corner store..."

"When you see the 3 trees on the left
and 2 trees on the right, go straight..."

The Romans had the "Milliarium Aureum" also known as the Golden Milestone. From this spot they calculated all the distances in the Roman Empire. Historical reports indicated that the distances to all major cities in the Empire where listed on the monument. It was erected by the Emperor Caesar Augustus near the Temple of Saturn in the central Forum of Ancient Rome around 20 B.C. There is some debate about what was actually listed, inscribed and the location because only fragments have survived to the modern period.

In the USA, we have a Zero Milestone. It is located in Washington D.C. south of the White House. It was intended to be the starting point for all distances in the USA. Except it isn't. Only the roads in Washington D.C are measured from it.

To confuse things, there are several other Zero Milestone locations around Washington D.C. competing for the title.

Many states have their own Zero Milestones and as you can expect, these are only good until you hit the state line where the mile markers change over, except in a few states where they don't.

Some distances are measured from a one boundary edge to another edge along compass points, like from one state line to another state line.

There are also Postmile Markers that indicate distances within a county. The distances are calculated from one county line to another.

So where did you put the driveway?

   Where the wild life had made a path.

Dirt Pile Driveway

Gravel Road take me home...

Postmile

Pandemic musings by R Cane

Pandemic musings … of bygone days

The pandemic sure has us looking for interesting things to do. Reminiscences float up!

Recently I found myself daydreaming and reminiscing about the old days in Los Angeles and Hollywood-West Hollywood in the 1950's when I was growing up… I remembered the Helms Bakery Truck that came by .. and how it was such a big part of our world back then. Everyone loved the Helms Truck ! Those were the daze - when stuffs came to you ! 

I got to remembering some of the old neighborhoods – and recalled the various other vagabond vendor trucks coming thru with products for sale .. the odd rag man, or junk man collecting scrap metals and glass .. a few times,  I saw  “Tinkers” trucks roll thru …. calling out products in a sing song chant --selling dry goods and loaded mostly with cookware and kitchen stuff, but they also sharpened knives while you waited.

In the early 50's, incinerators were common in our backyards … my morning chores included going out to burn the trash in the backyard incinerator before leaving for school on the weekly 'burn days'. LA in the morning in mid 1950's often looked like classic pictures of steel mills belching and churning out smoke . On those days the LA basin would fill with soot and smoke from all the incinerators burning. We had that smokey-haze – long before it was called  'smog' .. but I digress … we had separate metal lidded trash cans for glass, for metals and cans, and for wet garbage – all paper and burnables went to the incinerator ! Recycling was standard operating procedure.

I can picture old Ford flatbed trucks loaded high with watermelons – or fruit in season – citrus' ; oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes,  by the lug avocados, apples, pears, and peaches. The trucks would go slowly, creeping thru the neighborhoods …usually with young men trotting along each side of the street to run and pick the perfect melon, or lug of fruit for anyone who called out from a porch. A rolling produce stand!

Jingle playing neighborhood ice cream trucks are still around, but I vividly recall waiting every day in the summer of 1958 for the 6 pm (just after dinner) Good Humor truck. I knew that jingle meant I could get a 20 cent caramel sundae, and a 15 cent 'drumstick' cone for sis. 25 cent Eskimo pies were favorites of the adults.

The best and most regular truck and everyone’s favorite .. (and one we actually counted on regularly for wonderful breads and baked goods ) – was the Helms Bakery truck and the 'Helmsman' who knew what everybody liked.

He brought us special orders and the best pastries and doughnuts .. the incredible smell when they opened the doors – oh my! I would try to catch a sniff even when I couldn't get anything that day. The man would roll out the endlessly deep wooden drawers of gorgeous baked goods and breads .. always incredible arrays of tempting and inviting doughnuts and pastries .. the Helms truck always came the same days and times … and we could hear the unmistakable whistle down the block. We knew heaven was just rolling up !

I'm surprised that I've lived long enough to actually recall the old time "Ice Man" bringing blocks of ice to my grandmother's fridge …an old Ice Box - literally! .. this is one of my first kitchen memories .. I was amazed at he wrangled the big ice tongs -- slinging a huge and heavy crystal clear block of ice - all the way from the street truck … down the drive, and up the high back steps to the kitchen.Then he would swap out of the remaining mostly melted ice and water, and then install the new block.

We also had milk delivery companies over the years – Milk delivery was in glass bottles and more common than getting store milk in cartons!

The first milkman I recall was grandmothers delivery man – who wore a crisp white outfit and white, black brimmed, service hat. I would follow him to and from that wonderful specialized milk truck, just to see what he had inside, or bring back last minute requests from grandma. He always had eggs, a line of cheeses, hard and soft like cottage cheese large curd, buttermilk and yogurt - cream in every stage; sweet to sour, and a  panoply of other specialized dairy goods.Often fresh orange or other juices. He knew our regular order, but we had little order slips to put in the empty milk bottles to place orders - in case of a substitute driver. 

Other home delivery services I recall using or having … all long gone now  -- dead as the dinosaurs.

Tailors came to the house to fit clothes - over and over till they were fitted! 

Dry Cleaners would pick up / drop off at no extra charge - same day service too. 

Diaper and Linen services would bring / exchange diapers and linens.

Butchers delivered meats cut to order.

Water was delivered to homes - every one had a water cooler; Sparkletts, Arrowhead etc.

Pharmacies delivered 'same day' or night. 

Neighborhood Grocery stores had bicycle delivery – bigger stores delivered with panel trucks – but grocery delivery was common, easy, and and practical.

Doctors actually made home visits !My friend has a receipt for birth at home in 1940 -- The doctors fee was $1.75, and the attending nurse was $1 more – total bill was exorbitant at $2.75 !

I recall several times having a doctor visit me at home as a kid .. it was common and not the least bit expensive or unusual.

Besides deliveries, neighborhoods were social centers for kids. Scouts and Grade School Kids went door to door selling and collecting for various school, church, or charity drives and sales ..

Remember school paper drives ? Or your class selling some cookies, cards, or subscriptions?

I recall how all us kids went door to door with pillow cases for candy on Halloween .. and you knew all the folks on your street !.

Didja ever have a bicycle 'Paper Route', and learn the fine art of folding and delivering 130 papers … precisely on the porch mat ?

When your car needed help, mechanics gladly came to you to fix your car ; flat tires, 6 volt battery boost, charge or jump, maybe a little fiddle with the carburetor float, or other shade tree mechanical stuff – often taking pay only for parts -- and refusing pay for the labor !

The pandemic may bring some of these kinds of services back again … home delivering is the wave of the future for the pandemic quarantined folks .. but now ...  

... WE LOVE PIES !!!  What to do Percy? ... Pie Delivery ? ..  Perhaps that's the answer ?

I want to know where home delivered pies fit in ? Everyone loves pie, and in these troubled times we need truthful comfort food now more than ever … and as is often said .. 
... PIE DON'T LIE !

Pie Delivery indeed !  We need the Helms Truck again !

Is that Pie in the Sky?

* * *