Hitchin' A Ride

International Space Station

As I looked up in the western sky last night, my heart started to race. I couldn't believe what I saw. There it was, so low in the sky, I could almost hitch a ride. The ISS was beaming with red white and blue lights. It was an impressive object moving across the nightime sky among the stars and planets, but never to be outdone by the moon. 

The International Space Station was at it's lowest point of orbit in the upstate NY skyscape last evening. I was fascinated. After looking up some info on wikipedia, I discovered that the space station is divided into two sections; the Russian orbital section and the United States orbital section and is shared by many nations.

The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research lab where crew members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meterology, and other fields.

My conclusion after reading about the ISS and it's possiblities:

1. The only way to get along is to go up in space and live in separate areas of a moving aircraft.
2. Get first-hand weather info by observing it yourself.
3. Learn to play golf in a non-gravity environment.
4. Conduct plant biology experiments using 100% pure, cured horse pucky.
5. Last, but not least, moon all your friends on earth.

I'm volunteering for the next ISS orbit. If the moon shines extra bright one night, it's me.

Jon Terrific

Jon Terrific

Remember Tom Terrific? Well, meet Jon Terrific. For those of you who don't remember the former, Tom Terrific ran in a series of five- minute cartoons created specifically for the Captain Kangaroo show from 1957 - 1959.

Tom Terrific was drawn in simple cartoon style featuring a boy hero who lived in a treehouse and could transform himself into anything he wanted to thanks to his magic funnel-shaped thinking cap, which also enhanced his intelligence.

Enter Jon Terrific. There is a remarkable similarity to the original TT character.  Jon doesn't live in a treehouse, but he has a house nestled in the trees. When he wears his funnel-shaped hat, he magically turns into a pro golfer. Just this morning, Jon's intelligence was evident when he agreed with me regarding my political views, which doesn't happen very often. And he's my hero...and a really really good sport.

This is no horse pucky. The funnel hat really works. So, ladies, if you want the man in your life to create magic for you or at least make you laugh, be sure you put a funnel cap on his head.

Telltale Bubbles

Some days I can get away with everything, other days I can get away with some things, but most days I can't get away with anything. 

Last weekend I was swimming in the middle of Seneca Lake, surrounded by family and friends when all of a sudden the only thing surrounding me were thousands of bubbles. Everyone pointed my way, laughed, and left the premises, which is not an easy task when you're in the middle of a long, deep lake. In fact, Seneca Lake is the longest, deepest Finger Lake in upstate NY. It is 38 miles long, and 838 feet deep with a mean depth of 291 feet.

There you have it. Nothing is sacred, even in 300 feet of water. Those telltale bubbles have made me the laughing stock of the family for years to come. I'll never hear the end of it. My new nickname is...BUBBLES.

Manure Tour

This morning, as I was taking Silver out of the pasture to ride, her pasture mate, Sadie, cleverally snuck around Silver and pushed her way through the gate. Sadie galloped footloose and fancy free for at least 15 minutes. She ran through the barn, out the open door, and jumped over the manure pile kicking horse pucky in every direction. That little horse can jump.

I started thinking, something I try not to do too often, as I'm trying to conserve brain cells in my senior years. Anyway, as I was watching all that horse pucky flying in 100 directions all at once, I thought about the political campaigning going on and the national and local horses asses that run for office.

At least Sadie was having fun, not hurting anyone, and eventually came back to me after her scenic tour of the farm, which didn't cost taxpayers anything.

Think about our politicians. They spend millions on campaigns, then make a career out of bilking the American people with their travel junkets, lavish retirement plans and benefit packages. Doesn't matter if  they do a poor job, a mediocre job, or even a just a good job. They all retire at 100% salary plus full benefits. Who do you think pays for that?

From now on I think I'll start calling the political campaign trail, the manure tour.

The Yellow Balloon

On July 2nd, when I looked out my bedroom window, I saw a yellow balloon in my flower garden.
There was no ribbon or string attached to it; just a plain yellow balloon nestled among the multi- colored blooms.

When I went to get my camera to come back for a picture, the balloon was gone.

My Dad's favorite color was yellow. My Dad loved to garden. My Dad would have been 100 years old on July 2nd.