Blog Archive

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The TV that wont die...

The TV that wouldnt die...

Current mood:impressed

So, it was back circa 1987 or so, that I was asked to help a friend move. She was breaking up with her boyfriend, and moving out. I loaded my truck with all her stuff, and after checking to make sure we had it all I noticed the TV. She said she had no room for it, but I could have it if I wanted it. It was an old Gold Star color TV, with the two knobs on the front...for you kiddies that have never seen one, LOL!

I used it as my bedroom TV for years...moved it to the living room for awhile when I got a nicer bedroom TV. Kept it in use even until I moved to DeLand in 97...having had it myself now for 10 years in constant use.

I retired it just in time for my buddy Tom to tell me his TV had taken a crap. I gave him the GoldStar which he put into service. He got a really nice large screen TV for Christmas a bit later, so he moved the GoldStar to his bedroom.

I went over to his house on Saturday night, to see the GoldStar in place in the living room...picture crisp as ever. The big screen lost a tube, so I manhandled it to the garbage for Tom...but it was way too heavy to get into the dumpster myself. LOL!

Twenty one years after I rescued this GoldStar from an uncertain fate, it is still showing it's gratitude. Simply amazing!!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

I'VE BEEN FLOCKED!

I’ve Been Flocked...(thats a good thing)...and my ’mingo history

Current mood:amused

Well, I left for work last night, and Lori called to ask if I knew about what was in the yard. I of course did not, and she would not elaborate. I asked, "what is it, a pink flamingo or something?", given my history with pink flamingoes, and the sense of humor of my friends. She would not elaborate, and told me to wait until I got home. I pulled up at 3 am to this sight...in the dark of course (this aint Alaska!):

This was the work of my friends, Delores, Chris, Sandy, Dennis and Nilsson. The "flocking" is sponsored by Florida Hospital, and is a fund raiser for Breast Cancer Research/American Cancer Society. For 30-40 dollars, they will flock someones yard, and you can have them removed by calling and paying $20...or just live with them for 3 days, and promote the awareness. I am opting to keep them for 3 days, but I have a feeling others may get flocked, LOL.

For more info, contact Katie at 386.898.0299 to flock someone in the greater Halifax area.

A bit about my 'mingo history. Many of my friends already know this story, but I will tell it for the uninitiated. Before I moved where I live now, I lived in a neighborhood that was family oriented, but aspired to be better than it was...and in this effort, sent people around to inspect houses and write up those who were in violation of any homeowners rules. Each tenant had a prospectus and rule book as to what was allowed and what was a violation.

I got wrote up a few times, justifiably, for issues such as grass, peeling paint or similar. I got wrote up once for having an ugly vehicle in the driveway, LOL. I disagreed...it was a classic 64 Ford Fleetside...sure it had a few different colors on it...but ugly is in the eye of the beholder.

The final straw was when I got wrote up for having a sign in my yard for having a burglar alarm. They told me I had to take it out of the yard and put it on the house. Nowhere in writing did that appear, so I appealed the complaint. They said a sign fell in the same category as a for sale sign. This did not appear in writing and I disagreed, so I asked them about campaign signs. They said those were temporary, so it did not matter. I then asked about lawn ornaments. They said there was no provision for lawn ornaments. Seeing my loophole, I left and aquiesced to their demand to move my sign. I then also added 50 pink lawn flamingos to my front yard.

The mingos adorned the border of my property, my trees, my driveway...and generally just made themselves at home. I became known as the flamingo guy. They would get "stolen" then reappear at my work place, and at friends houses, usually to return unharmed, LOL. Several nights were spent with friends and family on...uh....hunts....for mates for my mingos.

Eventually, after several years the interest waned, and since I moved I have not really had any mingos...that is until I did a party that had a tacky Hawaiian theme, and there were a pair in attendance. I took one, and my friend Elizabeth took the other. Hers has since passed away, but years later, mine is still grazing in my front yard as a harkening back to my past. Just this week, I removed the leis from the mingos neck, LOL.

It will be fun living with these birds over the weekend and remembering the past. Hopefully I will also create some awareness for the Breast Cancer cause.

A BIG THANKS TO MY FRIENDS FOR THE LAUGH!!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Of Bonfires and Guy Fawkes

Of Bonfires and Guy Fawkes

Current mood:satisfied

Well, the time came again for another bonfire. This one was not on the large attendance scale like the last one, as I was having it as a party for my friend Nilsson and his son Aaron, who are visiting here from England. The weather was a concern, as it rained the day before, and the day after, but for the day of the party, I could not have asked for a nicer day. We had about 25 people over, close friends and family who knew Nilsson. THAT is why the signal did not go out for everyone to come over. THAT will be next time, LOL!

BEFORE SHOT:

As we were having some Brits in attendance, they suggested burning a "Guy" for Guy Fawkes day. I wont go into the whole explanation, but if you are curious, I would just google Guy Fawkes, and look at the Wikipedia entry for all details on him, and Guy Fawkes day, which is observed in England and Rhode Island. In short, it is customary to have bonfires, fireworks and destroy an effigy of Guy Fawkes by firework or fire. As fireworks are banned here, the bonfire worked well.

The birth of Guy...created by Nilsson, Dennis and Aaron...

And, the death of Guy....

Guy gave off a nice glow, LOL.

Of course, if there is a fire, and Randy and I are there, what kind of fire is it without first some fire jumping, and fire walking? Keep in mind, the flash erases some of the flames in the pictures, but the heat is on, LOL!!

Aaron and Foster share a drink after playing "chase the ball"

All in all, a great evening. We sat out in the yard with the music and fire until about 1/4 to 3, but the time change bought us an extra hour of sleep. Woke up and cleared the back yard just in time for the rain to come, LOL!

See you all at the next bonfire! Hopefully it will be before it gets hot again.