July 11, 2015 - Msg 101962: That's "bringing them in", not "bring." And I proofread, too! --Romeena

July 11, 2015 - Msg 101963: Well, my stars! I swept with that??? And with all I've got to do today, too. --Romeena

July 11, 2015 - Msg 101964:
All this talk about "the good ole days" brings back some pleasant memories for me. I guess I'm also in the nostalgic mood this weekend because I am watching a "Car 54 Where Are You?" marathon on the Decades television channel. Although I have not seen this program since the early 1960s, I was surprised that I was able to sing along to the theme song word for word. I find that funny because when I go shopping, I often forget where I park my car, but I still remember all the words to the "Car 54 Where Are You?" theme song after 50 years.
Also, it is refreshing to watch such classic television programs from my youth because they deal mostly with situations that I don't find offensive. You have to give those writers credit since were able to entertain us while adhering to strict censorship rules back then.

G-F, that was a great video link you posted from the Judds.

Finally, continuing with the nostalgic mood here, turn up your speakers and see if the following video brings back some pleasant memories for you old-timers (like me):
http://tinyurl.com/q4fx4rl

from Poor Horatio

July 11, 2015 - Msg 101965: GREAT sweep Romeena ! hey G-F,asa,PH,Maude,MDC,possum,TOM,Boo and all well time to kick back here at work and hope all lights stay on its Race Time In Kentucky !...hot wings in fryer ! SPOT

July 11, 2015 - Msg 101966: Hey SPOT, I hear since the race is in Kentucky, Dale Jr. Is going to run a lap with American Pharoah!... But Kyle Bush has to clean up the....🐴 "Horse exhaust" 🐴...lol

G-F

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101967: PH, I dont know about others, but when I click on your link it goes to a facebook message saying that something is wrong.
But here's something for ya...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQfXPGCYlfI
and I liked this show...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNvibK9jgYA
GOOD SABBATH to all,
MDC

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101968: Great links! If you didn't know Ernest Borgnine & George "Goober" Lindsey were great friends, he would show up at the film Festival that George would have every year in Alabama. I think Floyd did a pod-cast on it...

PH, on the subject of free antenna TV, where can I get a good price on one? Do I have to get a converter box too? I need the least expensive way to go. I would like to use it on the TV in my Mayberry room in the basement. Will I still get good reception in the basement? I don't want to run my cable in there since I use that TV mainly to watch movies and TAGS C/D's on....

In the Spirit of car 54.... Asa, TOM, Possum, Maude, Lucy, and others..... "Porchsters.... Where are You?".... Possum, I hope you can sneak up to Mt. Airy next week-end for the meet-up. Travel at night it's cooler, just be sure to watch out fit those headlights!.......

G-F...

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101969: Hey GF, I'm ri-cheer! Thanks for the shout out. Just been busy. I hope you are doing ok buddy.

Sorry you are ailin pappabear. You are in my prayers for sure.

GF, I am thinking I may go the way of free tv also. Getting tired of the monthly satellite bill. Especially when I realize I tend to only watch the same few stations most of the time. And these are mostly old shows that I can watch ou youtube or somewhere else on line. The biggest thing I would miss is the dvr. I seldom watch anything in real time. I record it and watch it later so I can skip over the commercials. Amazing how I can watch a 60 minute program in about 40 minutes that way.

I'm not sure if I will make preachin today or not. Still trying to get over this cold. I feel pretty decent, but I still get the occasional coughing attack. I just hate being out amongst folk and start barking like that. And it's not a cough from my lungs. It's a tickling in my throat. So I may just lay low for another week,

Ro, I had a bad bad day in the kitchen yesterday. I bought A nice chuck roast at the store and thought I'd stick it in the slow cooker. Well after a few hours of cooking, I went to add a little more salt to the roast, and bam! The lid to my salt shaker fell off and I dumped the entire thing on the roast. And wouldn't you know I had recently filled it up. So I grabbed a spoon and got out as much as I could, but I was a sight. It don't take much to set me off in the kitchen, and I have to admit I had, what my wife calls a "Clark Griswald" moment. If you have ever watched Christmas Vacation, you'll remember the melt down Clark has when he can't get his Christmas lights to come on. And he is cussing, kicking and punching his decorations. My wife always cracks up at that because she say's that is so like me. And I must confess, I would have those moments when I was a younger feller. But I have calmed down a lot.... until I get in the kitchen. And if something goes wrong in the kitchen, I can and will lose it in a hurry sometimes. I know it's stupid. But I just can't seem to manage it. And when I try to correct it, and it doesn't take, or it makes things worse, well let's just say it's good no one see's or hears it. I was a sight. I managed to salvage the meat, for the most part, but it even ended up pretty dry. Not one of my better days. :(.

Well I think I'll go fix me some breakfast. I think a bowl of cold cereal is in order. I don't dare try anything more challenging than that right now.

Prayers for all.

Asa

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101970: Hey y'all- sorry I haven't been rockin' much. Just been a busy possum,I guess!

G-F,I am gonna try to make it next weekend. Not 100% sure ,but it's quite possible. I need me a good dose of Mayberry!

Will get caught up on all the porch "doings"s soon as I can. Prayers & love to all..

*************
possum u.a.r.

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101971: Sorry to hear of your cooking disaster Asa, but even Aunt Bee had her days...lol.
Just take a Tylenol Buddy and you'll be A-Ok...lol

Possum I do hope you can make it.. It sure is a FUN time! I have the peanuts & popcorn to swing it!...GF

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101972:
MDC, I'm surprised that link in my Msg 101964 results in a facebook error message. I tested the tiny URL before I posted here and it worked. And the funny thing is that there is no "facebook" in the original long URL. So I created another tiny URL and tested it. Try clicking on http://tinyurl.com/qxqnkt5

MDCThanks for those two links. However, after watching the Car 54 marathon, I'm starting to get sick of hearing that Car 54 theme song over and over again.
As for the McHale's Navy theme, that has special meaning for me. Not only did I watch that program regularly back when I was a teenager, it was a major influence on me for joining the Navy because I wanted to serve on PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats just like McHale and his crew. Unfortunately, when I was old enough to enlist, I discovered that the current Navy no longer had PT boats. So I chose the next best thing, riverine units with their PBR's (Patrol Boat Riverine). And the only place I could find these boats were in Vietnam during the war. PBR's were shallow draft versions of the WW2 PT boats. They were needed for the shallow rivers in Vietnam. Instead of torpedoes like the old PT boats had, PBR's had machine guns and grenade launchers. And instead of an exposed propeller and rudder, they had water jet pumps for propulsion that minimized the potential for damage while operating in shallow waters filled with all kinds of debris and vegetation. Watch them in action in this short one minute video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bFxW_A3_aQ.
But before I could finish my military training, the peace treaty was signed, our Navy turned over their PBR's and other small craft to the South Vietnamese Navy and our river sailors returned home. So I never got assigned to a PBR unit in Vietnam. Years later, I learned that 1 out of every 3 of these riverine sailors were either wounded or killed during the Vietnam war. That casualty rate was higher than the Army and Marine Corps infantry units.

G-F, good quality HDTV antennas are not cheap and average between $80 to $120 (I paid $100). They are smaller than the old VHF/UHF antennas we used to have mounted on our roofs so you can keep them indoors. However, the higher you install it, the better the reception you will receive. Although I never tested a basement installation, your best location would be by a window facing in the direction of the television station antennas. And if you do decide to try out a cheaper antenna, be sure to save your receipt because I believe that after you experience disappointing results, you will end up returning it.
The old television broadcasts were analog. As a result, when the signal was weak, you could still see the video (although with some black and white noise spots scattered throughout) and still hear the audio (along with some noise). But with the current television broadcasts being digital, when the signal is weak, the video begins to pixel (appears as small square shaped colored boxes) and the audio may disappear completely.
When I had my HDTV on the main floor near my living room window facing in the direction of the television station antennas, I received a decent amount of stations. But some channels had intermittent pixels and other channels that I knew existed were not receivable at all. Then when I moved the antenna higher to inside my attic and facing in the direction of the television station antennas, I received even more stations with a much lower number of intermittent pixels. This is why you need a good quality antenna and a high installation.
For more information, check out http://lifehacker.com/how-to-choose-the-best-over-the-air-antenna-for-free-hd-1569752514

from Poor Horatio

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101973: Oops. A sentence in my Msg 101972 was missing a word (antenna). The correct version is "When I had my HDTV antenna on the main floor near my living room window facing in the direction of the television station antennas, I received a decent amount of stations."

from Poor Horatio

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101974: Good afternoon, porch. PH, those PBRs sound like an oversized, glorified version of a Seadoo. Those things are powered by an impeller, for the same reasons you mentioned. No propeller to get fouled in vegetation, or break off. The only thing you have to be careful of with a Seadoo, is when you're in shallow water. Tough, woody weeds can get sucked in and foul the impeller, meaning you have to get under the machine and pull them back out. There is a protective grate that blocks most weeds, so that doesn't happen often. What mostly happens is that a mat of vegetation will be sucked up against that grate and blocks the water flow. You just put it in neutral or shut the engine off, the weeds will fall away, and you can restart. I love Seadoos! Haven't ridden one in a while, but I do ride my son's when I'm in Florida. He and I took a day trip along the Oklawaha River, to where it meets the Silver River, made a hard left and traveled up the Silver to the headwater, which is a beautiful, huge spring that appears to be bottomless. Just lovely. You can drive the Seadoo across it, and feel the rocking as the spring bubbles up beneath you. Looking down, all you can see is blackness. I have no idea how deep the spring is.

That was such a fun trip. We saw many alligators along the bank, and a lot of monkeys. There's a big colony of monkeys along the banks of the Silver River, descendents of escapees from Tarzan movies that were made on that river many years ago. My son was on that river with a friend one time, and a couple of monkeys got in a fight in a tree overhead, and fell out. Some monkeys can swim, but apparently the ones who live along that river are a species that doesn't swim, and the little guys were about to drown. My son and his buddy fished them out and tossed them up on the bank. I'm surprised they didn't get bitten.

Anyway, he and I had a good time that day, just idling along, because most of the Silver River is designated as a "no-wake zone". We had some boiled peanuts, and we just ate peanuts and enjoyed the day. Would love to do that again.

Well, guess I'll go rustle up some lunch. Wish I had some boiled peanuts! However, I've got a bowl of tuna salad, and some good fresh whole-grain-and-nut bread. Sounds like a good sandwich to me! Prayers for PapaBear. Blessings, friends. --Romeena

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101975: G-F and Asa, I was going to mentioned building your own DIY antenna, but I see it is mentioned in that article that PH posted.
I can attest to the fact that those "coat-hanger" antennas work. Though looking through that article, I may just try one of the store bought ones, as the coat-hanger one I made was diminished in its reception powers when I made the mistake of taking it down to paint the 2x4 it was made with and to put up a larger pole on top of the house. Well, my well-meaning brother started painting over the antenna wires, and I wondered if it would affect the signal, and he said it wouldn't. But when we put it up again, the signal was much weaker and I couldn't pull in some of the channels I had before.
Then, I made another one, but that one didn't work as well as the first one from the get-go. With that one I had some problems getting the screws in though with my underpowered drill, so maybe a looser connection between the wires could have been the problem there.
So while I am always looking for a do-it-yourself antenna to try, sometimes I just want to say, "to heck with it" and buy one. At least if that one doesn't work well I can return it.
Poor Horatio, you are our go-to tech guy. Is there a type of antenna you would recommend for someone living in a relatively rural area?(don't worry, I wouldn't blame you if it doesn't work. I know there are a lot of factors for getting good reception)

-Sterling Holobyte

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101976: Oh, BTW PH, that link you provided to MDC didn't work for me either. It does go to a Facebook page and says there is a problem. And the second one you provided to rectify the problem did the same thing.
-SH

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101977: That's PH, this gives me something to study on... I'm interested in seeing what air channels are in my area that the cable company doesn't have. One in particular called Retro TV, they pulled it to put something else on, sorta would like to have it back. Since it comes from the Akron/Cleveland area I should be able to get it... Thanks for your input!...(no pun intended)... Maybe a little...lol....To bad you don't come with a cable hook-up...PHTV...lol 📺

G-F...

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101978: Sterling, maybe you need "bigger wires"! ha
PH, GF and ASA, I got an OTA HD antenna from Radio Shack when I got a new flat screen 4 years ago.
It has a circular pod that looks like the main part of the Starship Enterprise along with a little remote, to make it an indoor "omni-directional" antenna. It works pretty good! When a station starts to "pixalate" as PH said, I hit the little remote until the directional mechanism within gets to the right point, and it clears up. Every now and then i will initiate a new "channel search" and it will pick up any new ones in the area. I get "M" movie channel, COZI tv, ME-TV, a couple local weather channels, PBS, ABC, etc, etc. But this is on ground level, not a basement.
RO--I've never been on a seadoo, but wonder if my back could take it.
PH--I still have the same prob with your second link. Also, didnt John Kerry serve on those patrol boats. And have you ever seen PT-109?
Possum, Maude, Frank Myers, and others, good to see you!!! Thank you Jesus for a beautiful day!
MDC

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101979:

Fro PH et al: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Ncfw_7n4A

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101980: Oops, FOR !
mdc

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101981:
MDC and Sterling Holobyte, that is very strange about the link I posted that generates a facebook error message for you. When I click on that link in Msg 101964, I also get the facebook error message. But when I click on that link in Msg 101972, I'm directed to the correct web site. I need to perform an investigation here on that link. I'll get back to you folks.

Sterling Holobyte as for building your own OTA antenna, it gets complicated because of the wide range of digital frequencies that are being broadcast. I decided to purchase this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RH5GZI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s03 for the following two reasons:
- it has the longest range (50+ miles) that I could find at the time, and
- it has elements (components) designed to receive all the digital frequencies that are being broadcast.

G-F, that link I posted in Msg 101972 not only offers information about selecting an antenna or making one yourself, but it also indicates how to identify what stations are available for any given location. Scroll down just a little on that page until you see the section titled "Step One: Find Out What's Available In Your Area".

from Poor Horatio

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101982:
MDC, yes John Kerry was an officer who commanded swift boats, also known as PCF's or Patrol Craft Fast, during the Vietnam War. Since they had a propeller for propulsion and a rudder for steering, they usually were restricted to deeper waters such as along the South China Sea coast and deeper rivers inland.
And as for PT boat movies, I have seen both "PT-109" and "They Were Expendable" multiple times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHtdB97uA08

from Poor Horatio

July 12, 2015 - Msg 101983: Hi PH: I enjoy Chicago Area Broadcast television stations. Aka OTA. Free. I can watch Fox32 streaming newscasts on my smartphone. Just dead air when they go to commercial breaks. Question. Is there a app or service that would allow me to view live all available OTA stations that are broadcast in Chicago on my smartphone? Frank Meyers

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101984: I just saw on FB that our Floyd posted a photo of getting ready for a tent camp meeting! Man, our country could use about a 1000 of those right now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5va1iaLj2M
Hallelujah!
MDC

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101985: Hey Poor Horatio, do you think I could pick your brain a little more? I have found two antennas that interest me, mostly because of the range of signal they purport to get.
The first one looks a little different than some of the other antennas I have seen, and it supposedly has a range of 60 miles. Just wondered what you thought of it: http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Amplified-Attic-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B00AVWKUXE/

The second one is made by the same people who made the antenna you have. In fact, it looks like they just added two antennas together, but it is supposed to have a range of 65 miles. And where I am, I need all the miles I can get. I am imagining it has all the elements that yours has; didn't know about the other antenna above. Bottom line on both, I guess, is... would YOU buy it? Thanks!
http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-C4-CJM-20-Inch-ClearStream/dp/

Frank Meyers, that is kind of like on my Roku box, I can watch streaming newcasts out of Milwaukee, and the commercials are just the station's logo until they come back on.
I am afraid I can't help you with your question, though, since I don't have a smartphone. I know there are a lot of websites where you can stream tv shows. I don't use any of them myself. Mostly because you have to be careful of some of them as they can download some nasty viruses and spyware, so I hear.

MDC, "tent camp meeting", is that like an outdoor revival meeting? Never had one of those around here. But yes, we sure could use a lot of those as a country right now.

-Sterling Holobyte

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101986: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008PBTPOI/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i3?

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101987: Poor Horatio, Msg 101986 is the correct link for the second antenna in my post since it didn't work.
-SH

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101988: MDC... Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show.. Yep that's a good one! Like the old Methodist revival meetings. I Think Rev Breen comes to those too... I bet this like our Rev's revivals were? ....Right Roneena?

Neil Diamond one of my top favorites, I got to see him live a few years ago, he may be getting older but he can still BRING IT!!.... BTW he did that song, not quite as intense as he use to do it but it was still Good Stuff! 🎤🎸🎶

G-F...

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101989: Good morning, porch! Lots of techno talk this morning. I'm intrigued by this OTA antenna talk, and will probably get one. However, I'll just put that little project in my son's lap. He understands it, I don't (at least not very well) and he likes to help his mama, so that's the way to go, for me. With my location, smack dab in the middle between Dallas and Ft. Worth, I should get all sorts of stations. The far east side of Dallas is about 40 miles from me, and the far west side of Ft. Worth is about 55 miles, I should be within a pretty rich area.

A little squirrel squadron just entered my back yard. Three came from the west, two from the east, and met in the middle, on top of m,y back fence. They scuffled a little, then jumped onto the tree near the fence and went to the ground. Now they're chasing each other all over the yard. Pretty soon they'll find the watermelon rinds I put on the feeding stones and the party will start.

I'm practically disabled this morning, but it's better than it was yesterday. I've got a sore paw! My left hand has a flareup of arthritis going on, and it's almost unusable. I'm mostly right-handed, but use my left for many things, including the computer mouse! That's the problem. I've been playing Zuma, and working jigsaw puzzles, and have worn that middle finger out. With your left hand, that becomes the "clicker" finger. The base joint is swollen and the whole thing is very sore. Any movement hurts. I guess I'll just have to wear it out. I'll ice it in a little while, it helps a little. I'm mousing with my right hand now, which I can do just fine, but it's not as natural to me as the left.

Yep, I remember the old-time "tent revivals." Some people laugh about them now, (shoot, some people laughed at them back then!) but I remember some very moving and tender times there. There was a family in our neighborhood that really needed help. The dad was an alcoholic, abusive to his wife, cold and distant with his kids, spent all their money on booze - the whole story. Our church had provided food for them many times, and our pastor had been called to go and break up one of the man's drunken rampages. One of the tent evangelists came through town and somehow, someone got that man to go. He heard the gospel, it reached him and he accepted Christ. He quit drinking, reconciled with his wife and kids, and went on to have a happy life. Yes, those old tent revivals could be "tear-jerkers", but sometimes, repentant tears are what someone needs. I watched that one happen!

MDC, your back would do fine on a Seadoo, as long as you keep the speed down and avoid choppy water. My back surgeon already looked at me in horror when I mentioned a Seadoo, and told me to stay off of them. He thought I meant out on the gulf or the ocean. I've been on a Seadoo on the gulf, very choppy water, traveling very fast, and it nearly beat me to death. That may well be when the sacral plate began to break down in my lumbar spine. Be assured, I won't do that again. But a leisurely ride on a river or lake, at reasonable speed over calm water - no problem. You could do it.

Well, better get busy around here. Blessings, friends. --Romeena

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101990: just checking in waiting to see dr. having a lot of health issues now still thinking and praying for each of you. papa bear

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101991: Seadoo? I thought ya said seafood!..Here I thought Possum went to the coast and got big bucket of shrimp.... Oh well one can only wish!🍤🍤🍤 👍

I once went with a buddy to Lake Erie to go jet skiing, I have Never been so sore in my life! Between the sunburn and holding on for dear life ever muscle in my body hurt, and even places I didn't know I had.... But, it WAS fun tho....

Prayers for Papa Bear for his health issues, hang in there Buddy!

G-F....

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101992: Prayers papa bear ! well its slow here at work..Romeena you are a blessing to the critters !..bet in critter world you are the cats !...ok..leftovers? SPOT

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101993:
Frank Myers, in order to receive OTA television on your smartphone, you would need an external tuner with an antenna that costs between $50 and $150. These devices are manufactured for both the Apple iphones and the Android phones and require a one time purchase with no paid subscription. Unfortunately, they work only in foreign places such as Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Japan. And although you can find them being sold on Amazon.com, they will NOT work in the USA, Canada and Mexico because of incompatible transmission systems. It seems the American, Canadian and Mexican broadcasters have developed their own system called Mobile TV, but it can only receive OTA television stations that have had their transmission equipment modified. So far, there are only a small number of television stations around the country that work with Mobile TV (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobitv.client.tv&hl=en). Unfortunately, after a one week trial period, there is a monthly subscription fee. One alternative is to use each station�s individual web site. Unfortunately, some of the Chicago television stations live stream only their news programs. And this can get expensive with a limited data package.
A better alternative is a portable digital TV such as:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcHXXuq5ZJA
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbe9I4zBm1A
I think they are sold at Amazon.com and Best Buy for between $50 and $100. This is what I would do if I wanted to watch OTA digital stations while traveling.

Sterling Holobyte regarding that antenna at the first link in your Msg 101985, my research revealed that according to that antenna�s manufacturer, �The Sky attic/rooftop unit can receive signals from 60 miles for UHF and 45 miles for VHF channels with a clear line of sight. If you email support@gomohu.com we can do a free signal strength for you and tell you what you can expect at your location�.
Today, about 70% of the OTA digital stations broadcast on UHF frequencies and 30% broadcast on VHF frequencies. Use http://www.antennapoint.com/ to determine if your location has any VHF stations that you want to receive and determine if you are within 45 miles of their antennas.
As for the second antenna at the link in your Msg 101986, it only receives UHF stations. So if there are any VHF stations in your area, you probably won�t be able to receive any of them unless you are located relatively close to their antennas.

And continued prayers for pappa bear. I wish I could offer you something more.

Finally, do you wanna see what a Seadoo can do?
watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I3mFpt_1zw

From Poor Horatio

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101994: Thanks PH for the information. Seems like a small digital tv is a pretty good idea. But thats another device to carry around. Still don't understand at all why a few stations in Chicago stream only news and not regular programing. I wonder if they have a good reason? I'm guessing maybe a money issue or some law. Thanks again. Have to get off the porch for awhile. Its raining sideways at the moment here. Frank Meyers

July 13, 2015 - Msg 101995: Crazy video PH... I think I got it to go in a circle once, that was wild enough for me! I had it wound out once at top speed and if I would have fallen off I woulda skipped like a stone all the way to Canada... Not one of my finest decisions, Sorta like putting 2 pieces of carbide into the Prince Albert can....

All I can say is the Man upstairs was watching out for me several times over the years...And people question : Is there a God in Heaven?... That's a No-Brainer for me...Amen?

And by the way... A person CAN climb to the top of a 100ft. Pine tree and put a ribbon on the very top! Yep it's been done!
.
G-F 🌲

July 14, 2015 - Msg 101996: Thank you so much for all your research into the antennas I inquired about, Poor Horatio. It really is appreciated!
And I am glad you saw that the second antenna had only UHF capability. I didn't even see that, and I was leaning toward getting that one.
Once again, thank you.

Papa Bear, you get better, ya hear?! Praying for your recovery.

-Sterling Holobyte

July 14, 2015 - Msg 101997: Good evening, porch. PH, that Youtube clip was more like "see what an idiot with a death wish can do." Those pinheads were asking those machines to do a lot of things they're not designed to do. They can be a lot of fun, but they can be deadly dangerous, too. The ones my son has are the actual Seadoo, which is different from a jet ski. He had two - a pair of Bombardier-built, heavier "cruiser" models, and a lighter weight by Yamaha, that was a lot sportier. I don't know what he has now, this was several years ago, and those machines were getting old. The big old Bombardier models were very safe, easy to handle, and comfortable. I only rode the light one once, and found it too skittish for my taste. I had the big ones up to about 50 mph on a calm lake, several times. Sugarplum would ride with me, wearing a little lifejacket, her ears blowing back in the wind. Once she spotted a duck taking off from the surface just to our right, and suddenly launched herself into midair, apparently thinking she could fly and catch that duck! I grabbed the strap on her lifejacket and yanked her back! Scared the bejabbers out of me! Actually, she would have just hit the water and I could have circled back and picked her up, but it was still scary. She'd have hit that water hard, at 50 mph!

Twice tonight I've heard a scraping noise, like something being dragged in the attic. I'm thinking that miserable rat has made his way up there. Yes, he's still here. Four traps, and we can't catch him. I don't know what to do. I've called the man, he's the one who set the current traps. One of the traps was tripped, but the rat wasn't caught. The man came back and rebaited all of them, but still no luck. I just can't make myself agree to use poison, because of the danger to the cats in the neighborhood. If they find a poisoned rat and eat it, it poisons them too. Besides, poison is a cruel way to die, even for a rat. I'd much rather use the snap traps, it's quick and done, but the thing seems to be able to escape being caught. Miserable wretch.

Well, guess I'll turn in. Blessings, everyone. --Romeena

July 14, 2015 - Msg 101998: ROmeena--I kinda know what you mean about your rat. For example,I am not a fan of pigeons, but a pair of them decided to build a nest in a small alcove of my roof where the pitched section meets the flatter section. I was thinking of
going up and taking the eggs, but the "St. Francis" in me couldnt do it, and now there are 2 baby pigeons up there in the nest... Inkin, Blinkin, but no Nod.
BOO- where are you dear??? I see you on FB. Stop by and say HI.
For ME-TV fans, Dawn Wells is doing a "3 Hour Tour" this Sunday at 7 central, talking about her favorite episodes. Sounds interesting. At 14 years of age, watching GI, this boy was gaga in puppy love crush with "Mary Ann" as I guess most boys my age were! ha You might say that nature was very good to her too. :)
Sometimes I see a Vince Howard in the credits after Emergency. Was that Ron's dad?
Here's another good ole MeTV show that I like...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKC8pSFg1Vw
Prayers,
MDC

July 14, 2015 - Msg 101999: MDC, Ron Howard's Dad's name is Rance, could be a cousin, doesn't have to be a brother as Gomer would say...lol

Floyd said on last nights pod cast theirs gonna be 40+ coming for this week-ends Mayberry Meet-up... Only one word for it...BIG!...Can't Wait, I have the popcorn & peanuts to swing it!

G-F...

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102000: Good morning all.

GF, Man I envy you, going to the gathering this weekend. Have fun and tell folks Hey for me. Especially Floyd. He has done so much to keep Mayberry alive and kicking over the years. I wish I could meet up with him some day, shake his hand, and tell him thank you.

MDC, Oh yea buddy. Mary Ann had my attention as a lad for sure. The last I heard she lived up in the Boise Idaho area. I saw her a year or two ago on an episode of "Chopped". She still looks pretty fine. And she can cook. I can't remember if she won, but it takes some courage to even go on that show and compete. I wish I could see the METV thing, but the channel I get that used to air METV switched to H&I network. They show old shows also, but not some of the old classic sit coms. They do air The Fugitive though. I really like that show. Last night I saw two TAGS folks on it. Frankie Flints daddy was on it. He was a moonshiner. And one of his clan was the same guy who was selling Miracle Salve.

Sorry you're having that rat problem Romeena. Not fun for sure.

Well off to work for me. Lot's to do. Little energy to do it. I'm no spring chicken anymore. I'm in my forties and admit it! :)

Asa

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102001: BTW Romeena, when Mrs. G-F got her Kindle she was having the same problem with her thumb & fingers. She even tried a finger splint. So I got her one of those stylist pens with the soft rubber tip, it seems to help her. She spends a lot of time in it playing her games and ect.... G-F ☝👍

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102002:
MDC regarding Vince Howard that you asked about in your Msg 101998, I seriously doubt that he is related biologically to Vance or Ron Howard from TAGS. To understand why I came to that conclusion, visit http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=36634
However, according to The International Movie DataBase, he appeared in an uncredited role in the movie The Reluctant Astronaut that starred Don Knotts.

Asa, with a digital TV antenna, I believe you can find ME-TV programs on KTVX channel 4.2

from Poor Horatio

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102003: Good morning, porch! Beautiful day here. The sprinklers ran last night, so the yard is still a little wet, and the water drops sparkle so pretty in the sun. Also, the bird traffic is especially heavy. I think watering must cause the earthworms to come to the surface, because the birds get very interested and very busy in the grass. The birdbaths are full, so everyone is getting a bath and a cool drink, too. You know, I thank God daily for this window, and the view I have as I sit here at my computer. I have learned so much about "the ways of the wild."

G-F, I'm using a cordless mouse with a PC and standard keyboard. It's the "mousing" with my left hand that's causing the problem. That, and age and a history of arthritis. It has begun to slightly distort the knuckle of that finger, the big knuckle where the finger meets the hand. I've had arthritis for years, it travels around and sets up in this joint or that, stays a day or two and moves on, but has never distorted the joint. This time, I guess because of the constant irritation, that knuckle is swollen and has a small, bony knob on it. Oh well. I look at my friend Joyce's hands, and thank God for what I have. My friend Pat's hands are even worse. Twisted, knobby, stiff, fingers pointing off at odd angles, the whole story. My problem is nothing by comparison.

APB for Tom! Where are you, my friend? We've been missing you!

OK, I'm off to find some lunch. Blessings, friends! --Romeena

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102004: Well, yes, PH. I'd say that link would pretty much lay that question to rest. --Romeena

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102005: PH--haha, that made me LOL!!! As RO says above...:) mdc

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102006: Which reminds me of the Dick VanDyke ep about the baby mix up! My dad split a gut every time I'd play it for him!
MDC

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102007: And for ROmeena...haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb7FmEboVms

Good day all! :)
MDC

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102008:
MDC, this is especially for you to remember your dad by:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnw7AhQ0_10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqgZnF0UcGQ

from Poor Horatio

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102009:
Oops, in my Msg 102002, I referred to Ron Howard's dad as Vance when it is actually Rance. Where is Sheriff TOM when we need him?

from Poor Horatio

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102010:
Romeena, have any of your "experts" tried using a cage trap rather than a spring trap to get rid of your unpaid guest?
http://www.acehardware.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=1260255

from Poor Horatio

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102011: Thank you, PH. What a lovely, sweet little song, and what a little charmer Michael was. What on earth happened to that child, to turn himself into such a freakish creature?

As for the cage trap, also known as a humane live trap, yes, it's been tried. I have one, used it several years ago when some black Norway rats invaded my yard, attracted by the bird seed and scraps I put out. I caught six of them, and carried them one by one to a wooded area across a major highway and about two miles from my house, and released them. After I caught the six, I never saw any more. The one that was in my garage at first, the one the garage door somehow killed, wasn't a Norway. It was smaller, sort of blue/gray in color. I had caught it in the live trap, saw it and knew it was in there, but was on my way out to catch a tour bus at the church and couldn't deal with it. I called my friend Ted, who came by about an hour later to take care of it, and it was gone. Apparently it figured out how to raise the little door and get out. I reset the trap, and twice more I found it tripped, but no rat. Since then, it doesn't even go in the trap. It's baited out there right now, but totally ignored. As my pest control friend said, "We're definitely dealing with a rat, because rats are smart. Mice, now they're a dumb bunch and easy to catch, but rats are smart." I still think I need to borrow somebody's cat and close it up in the garage overnight. I know one thing, something has to be done, because I'm tired of living with that miserable critter in the garage. That's bad enough, but sooner or later, he's going to show up in the house, and then there really will be a showdown. I will not have that!

Well, I think I feel a nap coming on. Later, taters. --Romeena

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102012: Romeena Floyd just did a pod cast on Hexes & Omens.. Maybe it time to put one on Big Ben the rat!..lol.....G-F

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102013: RO- that was from me, and you do realize that
sweet little Michael was singing about a rat, don't you?? That is
why I added the "haha" on #102007,
MDC

July 14, 2015 - Msg 102014: Thanks PH, but it's the ENDING that is the greatest, and that was a real breakthrough in 1965!!
MDC

July 15, 2015 - Msg 102015: Hyde ho you rapscallions, hope all are well.
I forgot to mention earlier about a news story about a bear stuck up in a tree in Colorado.
Better not tell Mayor Pike!
Good All Star game tonight, prime customers for some miracle balm!
God bless, nighty nite,
MDC