Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my midsummer night’s dreams!  How are you?  The drought has made me near delirious.  I’ve envisioned a marvelous machine for Racine: a huge water sprinkler atop the Courthouse.  It could be set to water only portions of the city at a time, or all of it in each sweep.  That should take care of any excess capacity at the Water Dept., plus provide the city with much needed precipitation.  Once again, my dear Racinians, I offer you my idea for free.  Take it, run with it, and become known as Sprinkler City, or continue the current decay.  The sprinkler could be lit at night for effects.  Sell the naming rights to offset costs.  Maybe put it atop Monument Square rather than the Courthouse.  Go, sprinkler!

If that doesn’t work, there is this:

Finally, we could build an ark and gather animal pairs.  That started some rain the last time around.

I feel it necessary to comment on the Racine Common Council’s recent decision to color the roof of Festival Hall copper.  My comment is, “No.”  Sell the naming rights to Festival Hall and/or sell advertising space on the hall’s roof.  There, problem solved and some revenue generated.  Perhaps I should run for mayor.  It’s not that hard when you aren’t playing favorites.  “Madame Zoltar: Bringing You Tomorrow’s Bureaucracy Today” “Madame Zoltar’s Ten Year Plan: I Already Know What Happens”  “Madame Zoltar: I Won’t Sue You” 

Thank you so much, my dears, for reading my blog today.  It’s our weekly chance to touch base.  I enjoy giving some small measure of delight to my audience.  You are my raison d'être.

Want to know a secret? madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Enjoy the warm days of summer, my butterflies.  You know the routine: stay hydrated, wear sun block, wear a hat.  The days grow imperceptibly shorter.  Enjoy, enjoy.  Kalokagathia!

Open Blog - Wednesday

I, too, woo-hoo!

I Wont Give Up

I absolutely had to share this. This is from my SILs wedding and one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced. It started off as a solo sung by one of their friends who has an incredible voice and a surprise to us all the groomsmen joined in by the end. I could not help but cry during it as you can see me in the background drying my tears. The groom could not keep his eyes dry.. simply beautiful, when you watch, which I really think you all should turn up the volume so you can get the full experience.. keep watching and you get a glimpse of Maia as one of the flower girls doing what Maia does..

Open Blog - Tuesday

Who'd a thunk it?

Some questions to keep the "gray cells" active !!!!

1. Johnny's mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child's name?

2. There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall and he wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh?

3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?

4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet?

5. What word in the English Language is always spelled incorrectly?

6. Billy was born on December 28th, yet his birthday is always in the summer. How is this possible?

7. In California , you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not?

8. What was the President's Name in 1975?

9. If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now?

10. Which is correct to say, "The yolk of the egg are white" or "The yolk of the egg is white"?

11. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?


Click here for answers

Rachel's $1,000 offer is too good to be true

If a customer service representative named Rachel emails you and says you've won a $1,000 Visa gift card, don't believe her. It's a scam, state officials say.

Earlier this year, some Wisconsin residents received robo calls from someone claiming to be Rachel from "credit card services" who directed people to a website in an email phishing scam, according to an email alert Monday from officials with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Now the scam has changed to emails from "Rachel, Customer Service, Employee Benefits Center, LLC" informing people nationwide that they have been issued a free $1,000 Visa gift card on behalf of a local business, charity or government agency.

"Be aware that it is a scam and take no action with the email," the alert says. "The emails appear official and ask recipients to visit a website to claim the card. If a recipient falls for the bait and visits the website, he/she will be asked for a number of personal details. It is also possible that the website may attempt to load malicious software (known as "malware") onto the victim's computer."

Typically, the scam emails will include the same content, the alert says.

The subject line of the email will typically read: (Your name), a thank you from (local company name).

The body of the email will include the recipient's first and last name and an "Issuing branch" in the city or state where the recipient lives, a "Valid until" date for the card (often listed as "08/2015"), a website where the recipient can "claim the card and have it shipped to the address of your choosing," a 48-hour deadline to make victims react more quickly to the "offer" and a signature from "Rachel, Customer Service, Employee Benefits Center, LLC."

"If you receive this email, do not visit the listed website, open any links or attachments, respond to the sender or take any other action with the solicitation," the alert says. "Update your anti-virus software to ensure that your computer can recognize any recent malware attacks."

For more information or to file a consumer complaint, visit datcp.wi.gov, send an email to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov or call the hotline toll-free at (800) 422-7128.

In general, officials advise consumers not to respond to any prompts during automated spam calls - even if the caller offers to unsubscribe the recipient from further calls by pressing a button. Usually, doing so will only increase the number of calls because it confirms to the caller that there is a live person at the other end of the line. This allows the caller to sell the number to other spammers as a working number.

Source:  JSOnline

Open Blog - Monday

Go, Curiosity, go!

Mars Rover Poised to Land at 12:31 A.M. (CDT)

After 8-1/2 months of traveling in space, Curiosity, a nuclear powered rover, is expected to land on Mars early tomorrow morning.  The landing is what NASA calls the hardest robotic landing attempted in the history of space exploration. Live coverage of the event is offered on NASA TV, http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html 

"5 Questions (and Answers) About Tonight's Mars Rover Landing," http://www.pcworld.com/article/260420/5_questions_and_answers_about_tonights_mars_rover_landing.html

Good luck, Curiosity!

If I were the Devil

Past or present.. its still the same....

Do you remember the famous ABC radio news commentator Paul Harvey?
Millions of Americans listened to his programs which were broadcast over 1,200 radio stations nationwide.
When you listen to it, remember the commentary was broadcast 47 years ago.... April 3, 1965. It's short... less than 3 minutes.

MEDICAL ADVICE!!

Excellent medical advice

1. F***ing once a week is good for your health, but its harmful if done every day.

2. F***ing relaxes your mind & body.

3. F***ing refreshes you.

4. After F***ing don’t eat too much; go for more liquids.

5. Try f***ing in bed cause it can save you valuable energy.

6. F***ing can even reduce your cholesterol levels.




SO, REMEMBER ... FASTING

is good for health and, ... may the good Lord cleanse you dirty mind....

Open Blog - Weekend

Chill.

Little Baby's Ice Cream

http://www.littlebabysicecream.com/

Those are the weirdest ice cream commercials I have ever seen.

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends! It's been a positive and productive week so far and I'm thanking it's Friday. Anyways, here are some questions for you...

1) Have you been watching the Olympics? If so, what event?

2) What profession do you think gets overpaid?

3) What profession do you think gets underpaid?

4) What has been the highlight of your summer so far?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

So I pooped my pants!

You can't make this stuff up

"Ancient dopers got their kicks from raw testicles"

"(Reuters) - Forget anabolic steroids in easy-to-swallow tablets, or EPO in clean syringes. Ancient Olympic dopers got their pre-Games hormone boost from chewing on raw animal testicles." 

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/01/us-oly-doping-history-day-idUSBRE8700YC20120801  

I learn something new from the internet every day.

Useless Information

Did you know:

In Guatemala you have to have a 3rd grade education to get a job.

I gotta get one of those printers

Oh, and a great story too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoZ2BgPVtA0

Open Blog - Thursday

 

Happy Thursday!

Chinese Hurdler Wins "Screw It" Medal

That's my kind of sports entertainment.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my hot dogs and cool cats!  How are you?  Happy August!  The heat continues, the drought remains.  We bravely march on into the future, soldiers for the JTI. Oh my, where did that come from?  A premonition, perhaps, of bleak days ahead?  Dear, dear, dear.

I welcomed reading Ms. lizardmom’s blog about a get together, http://www.jtirregulars.com/2012/07/i-miss-you-guys.html.  Oh joy, oh joy! Señor Zanza and I will be there.  Junior, I’m sure, would rather play video games at a friend’s house.  I can hardly wait to see my dear irregular family again.  We have so much to catch up on.  I hope the festivities end the usual way, with Ms. kk and I locked in a one-on-one drinking match.  Señor Zanza, who has to get me home, hopes otherwise.

Have you noticed the recent hike in the cost of almost everything?  My neighbor’s bank suddenly more than tripled the cost of a checking account.  I told him, “You don’t expect the bankers who made all those bad investments to make up the money they lost, do you?  We are going to pay for it.  We always do.”  It’s getting to the point that it is cutting into the staples.  I will have to raise my rates in response, so that I can feed myself.  And the circle of inflation never ends. 

Have you heard the sweet sound of the ice cream truck as it lures children out for treats?  You have?  Then you haven’t heard the ones around here.  If I hear “Turkey in the Straw” a few thousand more times, I may do something drastic.  I don’t want to deprive the children of their treats, but an occasional change of tune might be in order.  There are many children’s songs that they could play.  Or maybe there is some subliminal message in “Turkey in the Straw” that makes you want ice cream.  I don’t know, but what is the point of circling my block half a dozen times?  Do that again and I’ll stuff your turkey where the moon doesn’t shine.

I was deeply saddened to read about the demise of the Monument Square Art Fair, http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/monument-square-art-fair-closes-at-half-century-mark/article_a66ca43c-db02-11e1-ab7c-001a4bcf887a.html. I remember when it was still held on Monument Square.  Back then, there were two reflecting pools instead of the open area there is now.  Artists had to set up on the sidewalk or in the small area near the monument.  They quickly outgrew that place.  I am so sorry to see the fair go. 

Last year, Señor Zanza and I visited the Starving Artists Fair.  Attendance was obviously down.  Usually, you can barely get through the crowd.  There was plenty off room last year.  That’s coming up this Sunday, August 5, http://racineartguild.com/saf.html.  I hope they do better than the Monument Square Art Fair.  The Señor and I will be somewhere on the grounds.  The Starving Artists Fair is one of my favorite ones.  They sell delicious bratwurst.

Thank you for stopping by to read my blog. I do so appreciate it.  My readers are my friends, my readers are my family.  You nourish me with your attention.  Thank you very much.

Normal variations or climate change?  Find out: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

You know, it’s not only the plants that need water, my dears.  Don’t forget to keep yourselves hydrated on these hot, sunny days.  Pulling all of the shelves and food out of the refrigerator, climbing in, and shutting the door behind you is not a good idea.  It never was and it never will be.  Furor scribendi!

Open Blog - Wednesday

Have a very good day.

My New Roller Skates

I love my new skates

I MISS YOU GUYS!!!!!!

OK boys and girls, let's get together!!!
Lets agree on a date, the place is where we went last time.
I know it's been far too long. I miss you all.
I'm looking at a Sunday in August, the most popular date
amongst wins.
Please post which Sunday's work for you,
and by the weekend we will have a date for sure!!
thanks !!

Open Blog - Tuesday

Every day is hot around here.

"Chinese traditional qi gong treatment for prostate problems"

Oh my God.

Another Health Announcement

DON'T WASH YOUR HAIR IN THE SHOWER!!

It's so good to finally get a health warning that is useful!!!

IT INVOLVES THE SHAMPOO THAT RUNS DOWN YOUR BODY WHEN YOU SHOWER WITH IT. WARNING TO US ALL!!!

I don't know WHY I didn't figure this out sooner! I use shampoo in the shower! When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body, and Printed very clearly on the shampoo label is this warning: "FOR EXTRA BODY AND VOLUME." No wonder I have been gaining weight!

Well! I have gotten rid of that shampoo and I am going to start showering with Dawn dish soap instead. Its label reads: "DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE"

PROBLEM SOLVED!!

Open Blog - Monday

Would that make the other days radioactive?

Public Health Announcement, Egad!

In response to Drew's Four for Friday blog.  Time to take a trip to the washing machine?
http://www.youbeauty.com/health

Albino Hummingbird..

A rare treat... an albino hummingbird. Something that is seldom seen and almost NEVER photographed.

100 years old and still wheezing along

Take that, anti-smoking lobby!

Open Blog - Weekend

Time to relax and recharge. 

"Jump fail"

Actually, that's one hell of a recovery.

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays after a week of roller coaster weather. Finally got some rain.... Anyways, some questions for you.

1) Paper or plastic at the supermarket?

2) Are you a spender or a saver?

3) Who is the last person you usually think about before you fall asleep?

4) Do you prefer thunder or lightning?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

And a Wacky Weekend.

"BAD TOYS II"

That really appealed to the boy in me. I loved it.

Open Blog - Thursday

Every woman should have one of those.

"View from the ISS at Night"

Better than your average vacation videos.

Wolf Hunt Controversy

Despite criticism from both sides of the debate, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board recently unanimously approved a gray wolf hunt.

The harvest limit was set at 201 animals, nearly a quarter of the state's population. Hunters and farmers seeking relief from wolf attacks on their livestock argued at the that the number was too low, pointing out the DNR has estimated as many as 880 wolves may roam the state, far exceeding the department's goal of 350.

According to the DNR, there were 162 wolf packs active in Wisconsin in 2010, including 23 in Central Wisconsin and 139 in Northern Wisconsin. A pack consists of at least two adult wolves, and at least 47 of the packs had five or more wolves.

Those are just some of the facts I just read out of the Shawano Leader. Here's what I know already... Wolves are the largest wild member of the canine family. They are highly sociable and live in packs up to six to ten animals, led by a dominating alpha male and female. The dominant pair is a charge of the pack, raising the young, capturing food and maintaining territory.

A wolf pack's territory may cover up 20 to 120 square miles. That is a lot of ground to cover! A fact that does invite conflict with wolves biggest enemy, humans. Remember this, wolves by nature are shy and timid around people and are rarely seen.

A glimpse of Wisconsin's history with wolves may offer insight on the struggles between man and wolf, according to the DNR site... Before Wisconsin was settled in the 1830's, wolves lived throughout the state with a estimated population of 3,000 to 5,000 of these creatures. Explorers, trappers and settlers transformed the native Wisconsin habitat into farmlands, hunted the bison and elk to extirpation, and reduced deer populations. As their prey species dwindled, wolves began to feed on easier to find prey-livestock. This did not go too well with the farmers, whom put pressure the Wisconsin Legislature to put a bounty on the wolves. By 1960, wolves were declared extirpated from the state.

A similar story occurred among the lower 48 states with the exception of Minnesota, which claimed to have 350 to 500 wolves in their state. In 1974, the federal government recognized the dire need of the wolves by placing them under the protection of Endangered Species Act, making it unlawful to kill the wolves. About this time frame, some wolves from Minnesota reentered Wisconsin and established home in the northwest corner.

In 1979, the DNR began an extensive recovery program for the wolves by the intense monitoring of these creatures. Attempts to capture, attach radio collars and radio-track wolf movement throughout the state. Part of recovery program was not only to educate, provide legal and habitat protection and provide compensation for problem wolves, but to set a goal to reach 350 wolves in the state for reclassification to a threatened species. This goal was reached in 2004. As of now, there are about 880 of them.


As their numbers increased, so did the the conflict between man and wolf. In 2012 so far, there has been eight confirmed cases of wolf depredation in the state, six of them to livestock and other two to hound dogs. So far the state has paid out $214,794 this year in compensation for the losses. (Some of them may be fraud). This raises a concern to farmers and dog owners. A concern that may be well valid.

The hunting season will begin Oct. 15. Permit sales will begin Aug. 1, with an application of $10. License fees are $100 for residents, $500 for nonresidents.

This whole thing raises some thoughts out of me. 880 wolves doesn't seem too big of a number to me compared to about 1.16 million deer and about 40,000 bear in Wisconsin. Are the farmers using wolves as scapegoats? True, wolves are carnivorous creatures that have attacked livestock. Yet, the bear population has exploded in the the northern regions of Wisconsin in an alarming rate, creating a nuisance out themselves. And yes, they are being hunted. Are the bear responsible some of the attacks? At an 880 wolf count is a wolf harvest really necessary? I understand the farmers' plight, for they do have a right to their investments. Is $719 for a lost cow or $1500 for a lost hound enough compensation? Would getting rid the wolves solve the problem?

I'm not a NRA lover nor a PETA activist. I draw my line the middle somewhere. I don't hunt, yet my father does and I have no real issues those who do. He has taught me the integrity of a good hunter, that is take what you need and leave alone the rest. However, I do enjoy spending time the in woods taking wildlife pictures. I dream of the day where I can gaze into a wolf's eyes just before I snap a shot, for I have never seen a wolf in the wild (save for a few tracks). Wolves are an integral part of nature's ecological system. They help keep the deer population under control by feeding on the young, old, sick and the weak. It's the way Mother Nature conducts her business....



What do you think about proposed wolf hunt? What are your thoughts?

Baja, Wisconsin

Baja, Wisconsin formerly known as Racine.

As the deserts grow every year so are Baja’s beaches. They use to be a couple hundred yards deep from the lake, now there are areas which almost reach to Douglas Ave.

Looking at City Hall the sand is right up to the building.

I remember you could drive the streets and see beautiful green lawns; now they are brown and full of weeds.

I remember when you could sit on your front porch and not worry about the sand and dirt getting into your favorite beverage.

What do you remember?

How Women Burn Calories in France !

The Promise

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my boys and girls of summer!  How are you?  Up and down, up and down, up and down.  Know what that is?  A rollercoaster?  The stock market?  The bobbing heads of our City Councilmen?  No, it’s our temperatures.  We go from summer to hot summer to blazing hot summer, then down and over and over again.  The rain last week was very welcome, and so is the rain we’ve had recently.  I think Ms. Mina blowing the clouds our way is what did the trick.  Thank you, Ms. Mina, for your help.    

Speaking of tricks, have you heard about the latest scandal from City Hall?  No?  Good, neither have I.  I’m sick and tired of that dirty business.  I am also embarrassed by it.  Let’s stop it completely, please, ladies and gentlemen of the ruling class.  The people of Racine are better people than you and they deserve better than your scams.

I feel compelled to comment on the Colorado movie theater shootings, primarily to convey my deepest sympathies to the victims and their families.  Another horrifying shooting.  I saw the video of the suspect in court with red-orange hair and a dazed look in his eyes.  All I can do is shake my head in wonder.  These shooting rampages are becoming far too frequent.  Certain Madame Zoltar® brand potions can be used to treat these individuals, but we need to reach them before they go off, shooting everyone in sight.  That is where my predictive abilities could come into play if it were not for the skepticism of most law enforcement officials.  Bah.

I’d also like to plug two new (to me) news sources for the Racine area: Caledonia Patch (http://caledonia.patch.com/) and Mount Pleasant - Sturtevant Patch (http://mountpleasant.patch.com/).  Now that you-know-who is charging for access, it’s nice to have some more local news sites available, especially for free.  There’s even an Oak Creek Patch (http://oakcreek.patch.com/).  “Get patched in.” 

Salmon-A-Rama has ended, but the Racine County Fair (www.racinecountyfair.com) continues through this Sunday.  There’s always something to do in Racine in the summer (and I don’t mean drink).  Besides local newspapers and news sites, the Racine Public Library (http://www.racinelib.lib.wi.us/) is a good source of information.  Stop by and check out all the flyers and posters on community events.  You might even borrow a book.

Oh my, I just had a thought about a book.  How about reprinting my blogs and calling them “The Collected Wit and Wisdom of Madame Zoltar.”  Then I’d have to go on a national book promotion tour.  Oh my, oh my, I don’t have the time for that. So much for being a famous writer.

Thank you, one and all, for stopping by my blog today.  Thank you for reading and thank you for commenting.  Our JTI family knows no boundaries. 

Want to contact someone from your past, or your future?  Madame Zoltar knows the way: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Enjoy summer, my dears.  Have fun, fun, fun.  In six months we’ll be complaining about the cold, maybe.  Do your civic duty by having parties and inviting visitors from out of town.  Make them spend a lot of money here.  A whole, real lot.  I love you all.  Uberous!

Open Blog - Wednesday

Happy Wednesday.

Wisconsin second worst in construction job losses

Wisconsin lost 10,200 construction jobs in the recent 12 months, second only to Alaska in the percentage of job losses in the sector, a new report shows  Source: JSOnline Wisconsin second worst

With all these people out of work, why can't they be hired to finish Douglas Ave and the "Great Mess" downtown in front of City Hall?  You play hell trying to drive around the police station with all the oneway crap going on down there.

Open Blog - Tuesday

Aww, that's so cute. 

Black riders came from the sea

Black riders came from the sea.
There was clang and clang of spear and shield,
And clash and clash of hoof and heel,
Wild shouts and the wave of hair
In the rush upon the wind:
Thus the ride of sin.

--Stephen Crane

"Stephen Crane (November 1, 1871 – June 5, 1900) was an American novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism. He is recognized by modern critics as one of the most innovative writers of his generation.

"The eighth surviving child of Methodist Protestant parents, Crane began writing at the age of four and had published several articles by the age of 16. Having little interest in university studies, he left school in 1891 and began work as a reporter and writer. Crane's first novel was the 1893 Bowery tale Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, which critics generally consider the first work of American literary Naturalism. He won international acclaim for his 1895 Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage, which he wrote without any battle experience."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Crane

"Highway Scare Prank on Wife"

And that's the last time anyone has seen or heard from him.

Open Blog - Monday

Such a cute doggy.

Usless Information

Did you know:

Lipton Tea produces 24 million tea bags per day, 7 days a week.

"Iceberg tsunami gone wild!"

"A tourist from Australia came to my uncle and asked if she could get a ride to the glacier just north of Ilulissat, Greenland, so he asked me if I wanted to be his translator. I am from another town where glaciers are fairytales, I was as much of a tourist as the Australian tourist, so I decided to join the crew. 

"The beautiful scenery was amazing, but the nature doesn't care about anyone. That day almost became our last day. 

"Copyrights owned by me, Jens Møller."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB3K5HY5RnE


Watching that guy get close to dying is as close as I want to get. 

Sorry, gotta get this off my chest

Two things.  First, wtf with the city contracts with its workers?   http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/three-unions-file-lawsuit-against-city/article_e46f5492-d1d8-11e1-bdc4-001a4bcf887a.html

I remember many people saying that we should wait until we knew what budget cuts were coming from the state before we sign any contracts.  Dickert, Tom , and most of the City Council ignored reality and signed the contracts anyway.  Now they intend to just break the contracts.  They do it knowing that the unions will sue and add to the city's already outrageous legal tab. 

Worst. Mayor. Ever.

Second, why are prosecutors plea bargaining with a monster who admitted killing a two-year-old by body slamming her a dozen times? http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/plea-agreement-apparently-being-discussed-in-toddler-s-death/article_f5676f22-d2d3-11e1-93aa-001a4bcf887a.html

I've said it many times: children are disposable in Racine.  The city's criminal "justice" system shows a deep disdain for children.  Baby killers walk our streets again after only a couple of years in prison.

I know why we are plea bargaining with this monster.  Money.  That's the reason behind most plea bargaining.  It's cheaper than a trial.  Find out the cost of a murder trial in Racine.  Subtract from that the cost of plea bargaining.  The difference is the price of a child's life in Racine.

Open Blog - Weekend

Drunk squirrels?

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays after a seemingly short week. Sorry a little late in posting this, I was up late working on a project for Facebook. Anyways, here are some questions for you...

1) How do get your movies you watch? HBO, rent, Netflix or whatever?

2) What's the strangest talent you have?

3) When you start a project, do you finish it right away or take breaks and possibly never finish it?

4) At what age did you become an adult?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Here comes the weekend.

Open Blog - Thursday

Have a good day.

new word for your vocabulary

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my hot muffins.  How are you?  I think we set another record for heat today. Oh boy.  These are not the kind of records we should be setting.  How about setting a record for the most temperate days in a row?  Or a record for the most perfect rainfall for a summer?  There are all kinds of records, but we should seek to set only positive ones.  I really do not want to know how hot it can get.  Anything above 90 is hot to me.  Throw in heavy humidity and even the 80’s get uncomfortable.  Let us all set our minds on one task: better weather.  Repeat after me, “better weather, better weather, better weather,” and so on until the weather gets better.  Visualize it, seek it, own it.  Together we can do anything.

We had an electrical problem at the house today, one of the hottest days of the year.  In his room, Junior had everything electrical plugged in: window air conditioner, TV, stereo, two computers, etc.  Then he plugged in the amp for his guitar. It played for awhile, but then Junior smelled smoke, and it wasn’t from his finger picking.  Unbeknownst to us, Junior had long ago grown tired of blowing and replacing the fuses for his bedroom. (It’s an old house.) Junior decided to put a nickel in the socket the last time he replaced a fuse.  That “took care” of the fuses blowing.  So the juice kept flowing and flowing to Junior’s room until some wiring ignited near the electrical box.  That took out power to the entire house.  Junior quickly found the source of the smoke and put out the fire with an extinguisher rated for electrical fires.  Junior remembered that you never put water on an electrical fire.  I’m so proud of him, but I am so ticked off at him for almost burning the house down.

We (Señor Zanza, Junior, and I) are temporarily staying with the Señor’s mother and sister, Momma Zanza and Lady Zanza, respectively.  It is very gracious of them to put us up.  Hopefully our house can be repaired within a couple of days.  I know that Momma and Lady Zanza don’t read my blog, because they told me they never heard of it.  To be blunt, I hate it here.  Three strong-willed women in a small house does not work.  I don’t know how they do it with two, but that is a mother/child thing.  If they don’t have the house fixed soon, we’re gong to a hotel.  Thus spake Madame Zoltar!

As usual in the summer in Racine, the area is bustling with events and activities.  The big one at the moment is Salmon-A-Rama, http://www.salmon-a-rama.com/  I know there is a flow, a gush, of other events.  Check all the online Racine news sources to discover everything that is happening.  Ask friends and neighbors, too, what’s going on and what they recommend.  Sometimes you will find the perfect event for you.

As a public service, here is a video entitled “The Dangers of Hot Weather.”

Thank you, all my hot toddies, for visiting with me today.  We’re supposed to be cooler than the last few days, but then more heat is on the way, or so “they” say.  I appreciate you stopping by to read my blog.  Take a break, sit down, and drink some lemonade as you read. 

When will Quill the Eskimo get here?  Find out: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Please take care of yourselves in the heat.  As we get older, out bodies cannot tolerate as much stress as they used to.  Take it easy.  Drink plenty of fluids. (Beer doesn’t count.) Set up the sprinkler and run through it.  It does wonders.  Diaskeuasis! 

"Double Mustache"

Another classic from the people at 5 Second Films, http://5secondfilms.com/

Open Blog - Wednesday

Wtf?

Open Blog - Tuesday

Friends are friends.

Dear Madame Zoltar - Can I Trust These Guys?

Astrology.com emailed me birthday greetings.  They're also offering some specials. ("More birthday gifts for you.")

The email shows a cupcake I'm supposed to click on to claim my gift.  "We've wrapped a special Full-Length Solar Return Birthday Reading (a $14.95 value!), exclusively for you!"

That sounds like a prety good deal.  They knew about my birthday, so I think I can trust them.  Should I click on the cupcake or not?

Linda Ronstadt - "Long, Long Time"

Another one that has been stuck in my heed. At least it's pretty.

Useless Information

In the early 1900’s Henry Ford owned a sawmill producing parts for his Model A. Ford hated waste so he and a friend started manufacturing “Ford Charcoal Briquets”. For many years, Ford Charcoal Briquets could be purchased only at Ford automobile showrooms around the country.

In 1951 The Ford Motor Company closed the sawmill and chemical plant and the plant was sold to a group of local investors. They renamed the new company Kingsford Chemical Company. E.G. Kingsford was Ford’s original partner producing the briquets. The new group sold the briquets as "Kingsford Charcoal Briquets".

And the rest is history.........

Open Blog - Monday

It's going to be a hot week.