Did You Vote Today?!

Vote today!

If you took the time to vote today, thank you.  If you don’t have time today, maybe you can vote tomorrow.  Voting ends on August 11.  You can vote everyday until then.

Now, what picture looks like it’s from the 1960s?  The 1st photo or this one?

You can tell me your choice in the comments AFTER you follow the link to vote.

In the famous words of Bartells and James Bartles and Jaymes, “We appreciate your support.”

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

American Movie Classics has created a series called Mad Men. It's about an advertising agency in the early 1960s. Currently, they are holding a contest for a walk on role. This kid has a degree in marketing. This kid knows about the 60s. This kid would love the experience. This kid needs your vote.

Let's see if we can help get her there. Please go to the link and vote for Lauren428. You can vote once each day from each computer. Just click on the stars to vote. Tell a friend. Link up if you like.

Vote often.

I'll let you know if she makes it. Thanks for your help.

World Peace

There are many disturbing issues in the world that bother me – illegal immigration, government intrusion, world peace, irresponsible people / businesses with their hands out, people acting like Chicken Little shouting that the Earth is warming! These are things I have decided not to get my undies in a wad over. My mantra will be to concentrate on things that I can control.

I decided to try to grow the perfect tomato. I have grown the perfect tomato. Let the angels sing. I picked my perfect Ace tomato this morning. A cool, refreshing breeze kissed my cheek to confirm that this was the perfect tomato. A photograph was taken to mark this date in history. Imagine, the photo didn’t even need to be touched up at all. The above image is straight out of the camera.

Now, I will move on to conquer something else. Perhaps I will grow the perfect pumpkin later this summer. For now, I will be satisfied with my accomplishment and look to creating the perfect salsa.

Just kidding about the cool, refreshing breeze. We got a fever of 103 today. Es muy caliente.

Oh Boy

Sometimes fences make the best neighbors.

In the Good Old Summertime

It was 1991. It was hot. It was the 4th of July. It was fun. The speedway up at the end of the road had a fireworks display that night. We would spread blankets on the front lawn, pop popcorn and watch the sky light up with loads of OOOOOOs and AAAAAHHHHs! Once the show was over, we would make believe the sheet on top of us was our tent. Anyone passing on a bicycle was a cowboy. Anyone passing by walking was a Indian. Prowling cats were mountain lions. Stray dogs were coyotes. All the play guns from the toy chest were in the “tent” with us. Flashlights helped with our surprise attacks. Once the unsuspecting soul got close enough we let ‘em have it with all the imaginary ammunition imaginable. BLAM!

It’s 2009. The speedway had their fireworks display last weekend. I stood alone in the front yard and enjoyed the show. No popcorn. No cowboys. No kids. Just fun memories of 4th of Julys not so long ago.

Remember the great Super Soaker War?!

Enjoy your 4th of July celebration.

August 1977

The recent death of Michael Jackson sent my mind back to August 16, 1977 - the day Elvis died. My 17 year old cousin from England was visiting for the summer. She missed the bicentennial celebration a year earlier; but she enjoyed the 4th of July in the "colonies". We had both just earned our drivers' licenses and had loads of summertime fun. The only car I had to drive was a 1962 Plymouth Valiant.

It was a two door with a push button transmission. I was completely embarrassed to drive it; but it got us around and the radio worked. Our fun was innocent and very inexpensive. In that year, the price of gas jumped to about $0.75 a gallon. We could turn in soda bottles or aluminum cans for cash to buy the gas (...and we griped that gas was too high!). If we wanted to enjoy a swim, we would pool hop. That's where we would enjoy a swimming pool at a local hotel. If we got caught, we went to another hotel. With her accent, we never got busted.

Her departure date was August 16. I can't remember the reason her flight was delayed; but she was thrilled to have been in America the same day that Elvis died.

Cap & Trade

What the heck is cap & trade? I don't know what to believe. I don't know who to believe. I don't think I even matter in the whole danged mess. Guess I'll just get back out to the garden and try to grow the perfect tomato.