The Chicken Size Hole In Our Family

Today I think I want to die! Eeeh Gads I feel awful! If I had run over some one yesterday I don’t think I could feel worse.

Thunder is gone.

Now I know where she is… but I am reporting that I had to make that final decision to send Thunder on a long Farm Vacation. And in doing that I have discovered a Chicken Sized Hole in our family.

Shortly after Thunder arrived at our home on the Easter Weekend, April 11, 2009 our lives changed. Thunder was named by my granddaughter Emma who took great interest in this little, black fuzzy chickling. That was 62 days ago. Here is a photo of Emma holding her Thunder one more time in our backyard. Her friend Haley had arrived from Korea and one of the places that she wanted to show Haley was her grandpa’s backyard – and Thunder. Emma loves Thunder and I am sure that because of this crazy bird she will become an animal person of some kind – some day.
Oh Boy. I called my daughter on Thursday to tell her of my decision to send Thunder on her Farm Vacation. I thought it best to prepare Emma for the “loss” ahead of time.

When Emma arrived with her friend, Thunder did her thing for every one. She followed Emma everywhere she went in the yard… if Emma ran Thunder ran. If Emma stopped – Thunder stopped. Now it may sound like a bounding has taken place. Well maybe a little… but it was more likely the “Crocks” that Emma wore with the little doodads on the top. The crazy chicken is still a chickling that can be fooled by shiny objects.

When I told my mother that the Thunder was going on her long Farm Vacation she was quiet. We were eating breakfast together. Mom then said, “I am going to miss that bird. I think we should have called it Peeper.”

Gulp. I had not thought of the huge dynamics of sending Thunder on her Farm Vacation – an extended Vacation at that… for the rest of her natural life.

So… yesterday. around 12 noon, I prepared to take Thunder out of her fancy night pen in my garage. Mom asked me if she could hold it before it went. I could hear the sadness in my mom’s voice. Double gulp. My 88 year old mother had bounded with this silly chickling who was so quickly becoming a full grown hen – right in front of our eyes.

The next steps to the door was like the Green Mile movie. Like walking to the death chamber. Triple Gulps here.

Mom got a towel from her room to lie on her lap. She sat on the chair on side deck and we placed Thunder on her lap… then I shot some photos of Mom and Thunder to help us remember.How far should I string out this chicken story? Maybe I should stop soon – I may cry. Gulp again. This is nuts. How can a silly chicken make a Chicken Sized Hole in a Family? I don’t know – but in a short 62 days it happens easily.

We arrived at the market and to the stall of the “Rhea-lly Enu-zing Ranch” at our Peterborough Farmer’s Market. I had spoken to the owners by telephone a few days before and made arrangement for the first leg of Thunder’s Farm Vacation.

I should explain here for those had not read the earlier accounts of Thunder over 60 days ago – Thunder came from the “Rhea-lly Enu-zing Ranch” – she was hatched a few days earlier when we picked her up… on the very place she was retuning to. She would soon be with some of her sisters and brothers that had arrived around the same time of hatching.

Whew what a relief! They were ready. Thunder will join others of her flock as a Free Range chicken on the greatest little chicken ranch in the area! Wahoo! “You go get em Thunder – show em your stuff old girl.”

I want to thank Ralph and Russet Preston and family for letting us take part in your great adoption program for 2009.

Having had a strong farming heritage I know more than any of my friends what the farm life is like. Promoting Farm life and all its aspects is a huge task in 2009 – trying to get city people understand the heart and soul of the business you are in.

Well Preston Family of the “Rhea-lly Enu-zing Ranch” – you have done Farm People proud! You are the greatest. Thanks for letting us be a part of the effort to make people aware.

Through a silly little, black, chickling that quickly grew to be a hen that will likely lay brown eggs – our family has a chicken sized hole in it filled with some great memories.

* * * * * * * *
BUT – I have been asked some serious questions. And here are some of the answers.

"Why did you decide to send it on this Farm Vacation now?" Answer… every day for the past two weeks as we let her out for the 6 to 12 hours – it has been increasingly difficult to catch her and pen her up at night time. She had reign of the yard. And while having reign she has also devoured a number of good flowers that we had planted.

The second answer – is that Thunder is now beginning to show signs that she needs a bigger chicken coup than the one that I built for her. The next level had to be outside in the backyard… kind of like a little barn to protect her from foul weather and a place to lay her eggs. She was roosting all night and also doing the “chicken sitting on a nest” thing.

It was time to fulfil all her dreams of becoming the best little layer of brown eggs and I couldn’t provide for that to happen.

Addendum…
A friend asked at his first hearing of my adoption of the chick… “Did you name it?” My answer was “Yes”. He had replied, “Oh Oh – now you are in trouble!”

Another friend had given me some bold advice, “Never look a chicken in the eye.” I thought that was an odd tidbit for a grown man to say. But it is true. After you send them on their Farm Vacation or to Kentucky Fried chicken places… you may not eat chicken today.

I have to run now. I am meeting some friends for breakfast. I am going to have two eggs, sunny side up, brown toast and coffee.

And this morning early… with the thoughts about the chicken sized hole – I thought of the movie “Chicken Run” and smiled… the Prestons had better watch Thunder closely… she is not quite like all the rest…

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/


Source:
“Rhea-lly Enu-zing Ranch”
http://www.emuzing.com/
Baby Huey
http://prime.peta.org/2009/04/baby-huey-the-chicken-who-made-me-give-up-chicken
Chicken Run script
http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/c/chicken-run-script-transcript-park.html
Chicken Run Info
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120630/

Welcome to the really weird world of Politics

Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper and my MP Dean Del Mastro:

I submit these simple comments from one slightly frustrated Canadian for your consideration. And I Blog these comments here for my also slightly frustrated friends to read as well.

“Welcome to the really weird world of Politics – Canadian Politics at least. If you reading this from any other place on the planet, you are likely able to find the word “weird” into your own country’s politics as well.

I for one pray for our politicians – you know those elected officials that “serve” our communities. They certainly have the weight of the world on their shoulders most of the time. More than that, they have the weight of the “Media” all over their lives. It may be the most gruelling job any one has ever taken.

For a long time I have contended that there is always one more political party in any country – than the officially recognized ones in government. That one is the Media! They actually control more of what goes on in the public forum of opinion than any other group.

In Canada in these early weeks of June we have been faced with a number of really weird political community things.

Our really weird New Democratic Party – NDP leader doesn’t like a report about the economy of Canada… so he has decided to vote against the report… and joining him is the other really weird party in Canada that represents only one province in Canada – the BLOQ.

First you must see that it is a report about the financial state of the things in Canada. IT IS A REPORT YOU IDIOTS! It is not policy. And it is not rocket science to see what it is all about.

Again two political parties in Canada are showing their stuff. Dumb Stuff – really DUMB STUFF!

This weekend another of our Political Party – the Liberals – are deciding if they will join the other two parties and also vote against the report.

I want to scream… “If your leader is as smart as he is said to be… why does it take a whole weekend to figure out what you should do?” IT IS A REPORT. And like any report it is telling every one that we are in poor shape right now.

Do you think that we as Canadians don’t know that? Sure – all Canadians could stand up and vote against the REPORT if we didn’t like it… in fact none of us like it at all. But we have to live in it and live through it and try to make the most of it.

If we were truly given the opportunity – I am sure that the entire Canadian Population would throw out the whole lot of the politicians for acting like NINNIES most of the time.

But something should be said about the Conservative Party as well. Their own dealing with the Lisa Raitt’s affair where she has been caught saying stuff that she shouldn’t – according to the press… Where she tries to resign but doesn’t or isn’t allowed to by something called the PMO – who are some people somewhere that do some things some how that the rest of the Canadians do not understand.

And the Raitt’s Affair all happened when a lowly assistant to Ms. Raitt forget some papers… quoting a media clip “former aide Jasmine MacDonnell left a sensitive resource ministry file in CTV's Ottawa offices.”

It was left in a Mega Media outfit’s office for a week…!

What was left? – It was a document from the “Natural Resource Ministry” for Pete’s Sake with some words on it that indicated it was “Secret”.

The Media and the Opposition Parties made a huge deal about this. A poor girl was fired… and the politicians rant about having her Boss fired as well… now the rant and rage of ADULT POLITICIANS now turn to a REPORT THEY DON’T LIKE.

What is SECRET about our natural resources? If it was in a News Media Office for a whole week – on top of someone’s desk – so what? Have you seen the top of a News Media person’s desk – most of the time THEY CANNOT FIND documents that they have placed on top of that desk!!!!

Was the Document something secretive about the number of trees we have in Canada? We have lots of trees. Was the document about something as amazing as the amount of water that we have? We have lots of water. Maybe it was about our minerals below the surface? Nope… that wouldn’t be their department would it?

Why didn’t some one explain that the Document wasn't really SECRET after all and explain that maybe the poor secretary had picked up a container to put her shopping list in on her way to the Major Media Office meeting?

I mean – we as Canadians – would – could – might possibly understand. Instead this dumb – super dumb fiasco has lead to the firing of one “Jasmine MacDonnell”.

Today’s story in the Toronto Star was possible only because Lisa Raitt looked like she had forgotten her speech on the podium and she had to return to retrieve it... and “she grimaced” as she picked it up.

Man does our country ever have problems!

I am retired now from full time work. My issues are the problems with the amount of Tax that I have to pay on my property this next year. The system that makes the Property Tax evaluations is really wrong. I could lose my home and ability to look after myself in a short few years – like many of my fellow Peterborough-ites will.

And the Government of Canada… NDP, BLOQ, LIBERALS and CONSERVATIVES mess around with a Report… and Secret Documents about trees and water and stuff.

Then – to top it off… a Mr. Irving R. Gerstein, Chair, Conservative Fund Canada wrote to me asking for a donation to the War Chest.

Some of his e-letter to me is as follows…

June 9, 2009

Dear Mr. Lincoln,

I'd like your help.

I've just heard from our National Campaign Director Doug Finley, that as of right now, there's 75% chance of an election call. Over the next 9 days there will be no fewer than three "Opposition days" (June 11, 15 and 19), when it's possible for the opposition parties to bring down the government and force an election. While there are plenty of reasons not to go to the polls, the opposition is ramping up their rhetoric and operating on a tide of emotion in their recent threats to force an election.

It would be a mistake to consider these as "idle threats". It's unlikely that Jack Layton will soften his rhetoric since he's never actually been in a position of responsibility over the country's finances , and probably never will. Nor is it likely that Michael Ignatieff will ease up on his bluster. Backing down at this point, he would be seen to lose face, just as Stephane Dion did so many times before.

And let's face it, Michael Ignatieff can't wait. He's back in Canada after being away for 34 years for one reason and one reason only: power. He wants an election before Canadians can get to know who he really is: an arrogant tax and spend Liberal with no long term commitment to the country he seeks to lead.

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda…

Then Mr. Irving R. Gerstein asked me if I would consider giving $25 or $50….

I am just off E.I to top it all off… where the dickens would I find $25 or $50 for the Party?

I haven’t replied to Mr. Irving R. Gerstein yet. Can you or he figure out why?

Yes – as a former Pastor/Minister that served my congregations for 35 years – I pray for you all. I pray especially for wisdom today… not craftiness… not manipulation… not a better War Room or War Chest.”

You have my word on it!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

PS – I likely won’t get much reaction or response from you on this post… but have a great day anyway!

Source:
Lisa Raitt’s Riot
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/650333

Lang Pioneer Village Day - Wahoo!

Off to Lang Pioneer Village to help with 200 Grade Four Students.

Today I talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk talk and talk ....

Will write later.

Murray Lincoln
www.murraylincoln.com

PLEASE take a good look at the Web Page - many new things on it today....!!!!!

A Dead Letterbox

Some one asked me… “Where do your ideas for stories come from? I mean – these ideas are so off the wall… where do you get them from?”

I wasn’t sure whether the question was complementary or critical.

The answer to the question is simple… they just pop up everywhere.

For an example – the Dead Letterbox. It just was there and I knew when I saw it – I had to write about it. So I began with some research about “Dead Letterbox”.

For me the Dead Letter Box was a place in the Postal System that holds letters that get lost in the Postal System. Or perhaps they cannot be delivered for one reason of another and are then left in the Post Office’s Dead Letter Box. The conscience of the dedicated post man(person) is so great that they keep all the letters from all those years…. Yah right!

The fact of the matter I had not taken much time to think about it at all – until yesterday.

As we walked down the street, a place we have gone by often, I spotted the Mail delivery box. There it hung quietly in place for many years. The actual one that is in place now is rather new – but weathered looking. It is apparent that it has replaced other Delivery Boxes of the past. But as you think of it longer – it could have been there in the beginning. Now that must seem like a riddle – right?
Before I tell you more you will find in a Google Search for Dead Letter Box – a whole lot of stuff about “Spies, money, secrets and instructions”. But one quote is a good one to remember…
Quote…
“A dead drop or dead letter box, is a location used to secretly pass items between two people, without requiring them to meet.”
End quote…

Well in yesterday’s discovery that quote best describes what this best does… a location to secretly pass items between two people that never meet – here at least.

The Mail Box hangs on the Fence surrounding St. Peter’s Cemetery, High Street in Peterborough, Ontario. In the photo you can see the full address. Yes the Cemetery gets mail.

But my simple mind tells me that every one in the Cemetery is DEAD… you know D-E-A-D – no life… no need for letters… anything placed in this mail box is not going to be read for a long, long time.
The cemetery was Established in 1859. Canada’s Postal System began in 1775. So yes – it is possible that the first letters were delivered shortly after the cemetery opened. And from the look of and the information on the grave stones – they have been getting mail in the cemetery for a long time.

The largest stones in this graveyard are of very wealthy people of considerable status. One is/was a Senator! But the largest stones are those of the Bishops that are buried there. This photo tells you how important they were.
Just behind the Bishops are row upon row of the “Fathers” – lowly priests that lay in waiting for the big guys just in front of them. Then further back are row upon row of the “Sisters” – the nuns that had really done all the work in the parish – at the hospitals and the schools.
No I am not discussing church politics here – just telling you the way that they are buried.

(In the Protestant’s graveyards – Ministers never get that kind of treatment – and in Pentecostal churches well… they just… - AH… I don’t want to think about that right now…)

As I did more research on the Dead Letterbox I found the following on the Internet… there is a service that allows the Living to communicate with the Dead through Her Majesty’s Royal Mail in Britain… read the following and see the photo.

Quote from Keith Lockstone
If you want some letters home from beyond the grave, just pop some reply-paid cards in the coffin of your beloved. In a little-known service, Royal Mail/ Consignia/ Royal mail brings back mail from the dead with each of its incarnations - usually every 12 months. Second Class stamps may result in a delay of two years and prospective users of the service are requested to bury early for Christmas.

The British Guild of Mediums have dismissed the service as 'too slow and out of touch with the dead'. Their spokesghost went on to commend their own one-to-are you there? service which is hosted on their own unique Inter-Spirit Provider. Other groups such as the Embalmers Guild say they will have to be more careful not to rub their clients up the wrong way.

The Morticians Union have announced a range of shrouds with lace trimmed pockets for the cards and are offering packs of suitable stationery edged in black with twinkly bits.

AfterLife! the pro-death organisation have given the news a cautious welcome, emphasising people's right to a dignified death without the threat of reincarnation or resuscitation. 'We see the principle of freedom of communication and association as crucial to our way of death' said a spokesghoul. 'We are dead and wish to stay so.'
End Quote…
Now if that doesn’t beat all… they do get mail… and send mail back again!

Maybe the Catholics are a little closer to Heaven than we Protestants thought they were? There is definitely more to this story than meets the eye.

At this point in my life I have progressed from the occasional snail mail letter – delivered by my happy postman(person) – to about 50+ emails a day… It keeps me busy answering all that I get… now add to that My Facebook account, my Twitter, and other things like the telephone and Fax… I am at times buried – so to speak.

In a short few years from now – will I want to extend the mail service to the other side? I will be D-E-A-D and not have anymore mail or email to deal with.

I think it will kind of be like having an extended holiday… but when you get home you will not need to catch up on emails… snail mails… answering machines… to nothing.

So the mail box was empty last evening when I looked. YES – I did open the St. Peter’s Cemetery Mail Box to look… and there was nothing in it. And YES I will check from time to time. One thing I did notice… there is never any junk mail in their box… hmmmm?

When I get to heaven I will deliver many messages to my loved ones that have gone before. I likely will be very busy telling them what has gone on after they left here.

I want to tell my dad about his Great Grandkids that he never met. I would like him to be able to see Clifford, his great grandson named after him… play baseball. I would love for him to see Emma run like lightening as she plays soccer. I wish that he could see his other great grandsons – Jonathan, Thomas, Michael and Christopher play ball and hockey – they are amazing!

Yikes I have a lump in my throat and gotta move on… for Life today… and I have more mail that I have to answer today….

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
Dead drop – Dead Letter Box
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_drop
Really - it happens in other places too…
http://www.cix.co.uk/~klockstone/humour/deadlet.htm

I can do it – I can do it… I can buy an iPhone

I can do it – I can do it… I can buy an iPhone – soon…maybe… well if Alida agrees with me… possibly. They are on sale for only $99 or $199 or $299….

The prices has just come down and they are so neat. They can do all kinds of amazing things. What a toy!

With it I can get all kinds of “apps”. That is a word used by cool people that says that, “I know what I am talking about.” When it comes to this gadgetry – I am cool!

But there is a sang here… I was looking for info on this latest thingie now available from the supplier through Rogers… and the words read…
Quote…
I have an unlocked “Originally on Fido, Now on Rogers” iPhone that has seemed to cease MMS functionality. )=I originally had another iphone which was stolen. (it was Locked to rogers) and I could use Swirlymmsas I pleased. I then bought the Fido one (mentioned above), jailbroke it, unlocked it, installed SwirlyMMS and was having no complications untill now. When I start swirlymms it will pop up with a message after about 5 - 10 seconds saying “PDP Authentication Failure” or “Failure to Activate Cellular Data Network”. This is really annoying, and any help would be appreciated.FYI Info: Its a 3G Iphone on Rogers, unlocked with Yellowsn0w
Unquote

What the heck is “Swirlymmsas” – or a SwirlyMMs or something called Yellowsn0w…?

I know Fido – he was a dog that our neighbour had one time. I know Rogers – like Mr. Rogers – that old guy that always wore a sweater and had a big trunk and loved his neighbors….but this new thingie was or is locked to rogers…” Huh?

Hokey Mokey.. I need another degree to even buy one of these units.

When my wife wasn’t looking I sneaked into Future Shop and slid over to the counter that sells these thingies. I held the one on the wire cable to prevent people from stealing it. Cool… and it is slim and easy to fit into a pocket – or into a special container/holder that hooks to your belt.

First problem – in this retirement mode… I don’t wear that many belts now… and sweat pants are far more comfortable to work in. Where do I carry the new thingie?

The cute young thing moved over to me at the counter as I held the thingie? She smiled sweetly and wondered if she could help me. I didn’t say anything out loud – but did wonder if I met her last year in my granddaughter’s class… Grade 4 wasn’t it?

She then plucked the thingie from my hand and started touching the screen… zip…swish… would you look at that? I can’t believe it! In a moment the screen was filling with Beer… suds and all… right to the top… the photo on the screen of the thingie was now full of liquid – a light coloured Beer… then she said – “Do you want a drink? Go ahead… tip it up like glass…”

No kidding – I looked around to see if anyone was watching me try the thingie out… Nope… so I did… and as I tipped it my way like a glass the Beer began to run out of the thingie… at least it looked like it did… and though I wasn’t drinking anything – It looked like I was. TOO COOOOOL! (See links below) And the thingie BURPED after it was empty.

Then she said, “Try this one…” then touched another place on the screen… and the thingie became a Zippo Lighter… she made the motion of flicking the lighter and the thingie showed a flame!

Remember the Old Concerts where we waved a candle in the air to the great music… well now you can wave your iPhone… way too cool!

It can also be held on the neat belt holder… clips right on.

One problem – in that I wear a lot of sweat pants now… no place to clip the thingie on… sheesh. Oops I said that already…

But the new thingie allows you to TEXT someone easily… like the other Blackberry Thingie does.

But – why would I TEXT someone that is sitting at the table across from me. My wife is the only person that now tells me what I need to do next… and she and I are together a lot – after retirement.

But if I had one… I could sit at a table and look at the screen… letting everyone know or think that someone is TEXTING an important message my way. Great image builder.

I think I will carve myself an iPhone… cheaper.

The fact is that the world has suddenly changed and “I am not with it” – in fact I am so out of it – that it stinks.

Please watch the YouTube Video below listed as “A Youngster…” and then listen to his voice… how old do you suppose the person is?

Oh my I not only feel old… I am OLD… as DIRT.

When I muster enough nerve I will go back and talk to the cute young girl at Future Shop again. I told her I was just looking. But when she saw the amazed look on my face with the Lighter demo and the Beer Demo and the fact that I couldn’t answer her question… she asked, “Are you okay sir..?” I walked slowly away… very slowly before she called and ambulance…

Then that same day as I waited to get on an elevator… a woman walked up to me and asked me… “Excuse me sir… can I ask you a question… Are you a Vet?” Hokey Mokey!

I stared at her and she said it again slowly…

“No” was my reply, “I just look really, really, really old… and feel it too.”

A Vet?!?!? Is she nuts or something!? I was born during that war… and didn’t fight in it. As to the more recent wars… NO also… I was too old to carry a gun… and too old to do about anything.

I think I need something that will lift my old spirit… I am going downtown to stand on a corner and well… Aw Nuts… I have another Doctor’s appointment… and more blood tests… I think I will go take a nap after breakfast….

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
A youngster shows you how to work with his IPhone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlGqv70WkKs
Zippo Lighter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH8QxlkfcOw
Beer Glass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3MfQIswl3k
More Beers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zuYkXPrCD0&annotation_id=annotation_776160&feature=iv

Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by

Talk about a politically incorrect song! I cannot believe it! In 1956 they got away with murder. No kidding…

Can you imagine this scene unfolding before you? Three of my friends and I went downtown Peterborough… then stood on the corner of a busy intersection and stared at the women walking by… or “watching all the girls go by…” as the lyrics go.

The song is very honest in that it states that…. “you can’t got to jail for what you’re thinking…” so we thought we would give it a try…

Now there we were… four of us Old Guys, Murray Lincoln, Terry Manley, Jack Anderson and Winston Van Lier(on his motorized scooter) standing on the corner of George Street and Hunter… “giving all the girls the eye…” CAN YOU IMAGINE what happened next?

It wasn’t long before someone called the police. The Peterborough Lakefield City Police cars showed up… and two officers got out… one was a woman and the other a man…

As the cops watched from the side of their cars to get a reading on what was taking place… the three old geezers would stoop over slightly as they looked by each other and the fourth, Winston, leaned from his scooter to see past the three… just to get a glimpse of the gal that was just walking by… then they looked at each other and give the “thumbs up” sign indicating… that was a good one! Other times they looked at each other and did a “thumbs down”.

Earlier… after about the sixth girl walked by… Murray and Jack had fetched Terry an office chair to sit on. They got one that had an ability to turn for him… his neck was acting up again – too much pain – so now he could keep his neck in one place and turn his whole body.

By this time the cops had adjusted their hats, shifted their gun belts and walked up to the four of us that had been leering at the girls that had walked by over the last hour.

The crowd of anxious shoppers on George Street had gathered to see what was happening…. They actually had been there for about twenty minutes watching the Old Geezers as they turned their heads slowly as a girl passed them.

The dude from the Peterborough Examiner Newspaper was there shooting pictures for the Newspaper. There had to be a story here – too many people… cops showing up… the DBIA was involved… there just has to be a story here!

YES! The call had actually come from the powerful “Downtown Business Improvement Association” – The DBIA – whoa… what they say goes in our city – and they did not think that four Old Geezers, standing on the corner, giving all the girls the eye… or what they seemed to be thinking – was good for business.

FLASH BACK…
In 1956 when this song appeared in a musical it was Post World War II. The soldiers had come back to find jobs and themselves. In some communities all the girls had been “taken” before the soldiers came home. And in some communities dating a soldier with roving eyes was not allowed. A good church gal wouldn’t be allowed to date one of those guys… they were far too worldly… far too… well you know how soldiers were when they hadn’t seen a girl for years and had been busy fighting in a far away land…

It was not politically incorrect to stand and watch girls walk by in 1956. Girls were watching too – and liked to be watched!

In fact if you watch the depiction in the YouTube Videos listed below… it is very funny… how the musicals… and the first Black and White TV Shows demonstrated how it took place.

Now add to that… in 1956 – 1966 and so on – women dressed different than they do today… they looked different. For one thing their upper undergarments were very different. With tight fitting shirts and blouses… they kind of over accentuated their busts… that resembled the coned head lights on some cars of the day.

I was 12 years old in 1956 and I noticed everything! In 1966 I was 22 and I still was really noticing what was being presented as a norm – even in church. I had come into my virility and knew it.

The song made sense. And when a group of us guys walked down the street, the bolder ones of the group would whistle at a pretty girl… and the rest of us would laugh out loud. What a hoot! The “Standing on the corner..” song was still on the radios that we listened to.

FLASH FORWARD to 2009…
Yep the boys of 1956 and 1966 are now senior citizens, Old Geezers to put it bluntly.

We have aches and pains of all kinds. We are not able to move without some careful planning and some consideration as to what we do and why we do it. Sometimes we forget what we planned to do in the first place.

The very idea of getting downtown together takes days of planning so as to not conflict with our family doctor’s appointments, blood tests, collected samples being taken to labs – etc. And when we get downtown – two of our foursome have to have wheel chair parking spaces available – and on George Street that just doesn’t happen.

To have four of us together at the corner of George Street and Hunter Street is a cotton pickin miracle – I don’t care what the DBIA says or thinks.

But leering… no way… drooling over what we see in 2009… NOT happening here…!!!

The girls are way too funny the way they dress now. Many on George Street are tattooed with the weirdest tattoo ever. One gal last week looked like she had a snake curling up her leg from the ankle to her knee.

In 1956 and 1966 – and all during the WW2 – it was the men that were tattooed – NOT WOMEN!

Many of the “girls” are so over weight that it is ridiculous. Wait till they are our age – their doctors will be checking their cholesterol all the time. You wouldn’t know that they are overweight – except that they wear super tight clothing and skimpy at that. They are a walking billboard for Weight Watchers – and everything bounces like an inner tube on a runner heading for the beach.

And the clothes that they wear is just plain nuts… a low riding blue jean where the hinder most parts show her hinder most parts… and for some reason she keeps pulling down her skimpy top that is not long enough to cover the hinder most part… and when she pulled it down… the top was too low….

As I explained to the two cops… “If they don’t want us to look… why do they wear such weird clothes?”

We moved on and the DBIA was satisfied. Winston’s electric scooter needed charging. Terry’s neck was killing him. Jack and his wife Vivian had to get to a granddaughter’s party. Alida was done shopping and stopped the car just behind the Police cars waiting for me.

We all agreed to meet at Tim Horton’s Coffee Shop later and get our favourite seats near the window.

Last week I was at Royal Gardens senior’s home. The girls of 1956 and 1966 and 1946 and 1936 were all there.

One thing I can testify of is… they have all changed – whoa!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Source:
http://peterboroughbia.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVdDK5psRwo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OJPBFz6QzE&feature=related

Words:
http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/s/standingonthecorner.shtml
Standing On The Corner
Well, I'm standin' on the corner, watchin' all the girls go by
I'm always standin' on the corner, underneath the springtime sky
Well, you can't go to jail for what you're thinkin'
Or for the "wooo" look in your eye
You been standin' on the corner, watchin' all the girls
Watchin' all the girls, watchin' all the girls, they go by

And it's Saturday and I'm so broke
And I couldn't buy a girl a nickel Coke
I'm goin', so what, I'm feelin' just like a millionaire
Now just take me down to Main Street
And I'll survey the harem waitin' for me there
I'm gonna be standin' on the corner, watchin' all the girls go by

Oh baby, what you do now?
Standin' on the corner, givin' all the girls the eye
Well this ain't much of an occupation
Give it a whirl, give it a try
And you'll be standin' on the corner, watchin' all the girls
Watchin' all the girls, watchin' all the girls, they go by

You know that I'm the cat that's got the cream
And I ain't got me a girl, but I can dream
I ain't got me a girl, but I can wish
Now just take me down to Main Street
And I'll select my own imaginary dish
I'm standin' on the corner, watchin' all the girls go by

I'm gonna be standin' on the corner, underneath the springtime sky
You know you can't get arrested for what you're thinkin'
Or for the "wooo" look in your eye

You been standin' on the corner, watchin' all the girls
Watchin' all the girls, watchin' all the girls, they go by
I'm gonna watch 'em go by
Oh, hubba hubba(1), man
Go by, yeah
I'm gonna watch 'em go by

Written by: Frank Loesser
Published by: [?] © 1956
Official release: Originally performed by Shorty Long, Alan Gilbert, John Henson, and Roy Lazarus,
in the musical 'The Most Happy Fella' in 1956 (2)
Recorded by the King Brothers in 1960 and by the Four Lads, also in 1960
Tom Waits version: Agora Ballroom, Cleveland/ Ohio. August 25, 1976


Second Versionhttp://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/s/standingonthecorner.shtml STANDING ON THE CORNER
From the show "The Most Happy Fella" (1956)(Frank Loesser)
The Four Lads - 1956
Dean Martin - 1956
The King Brothers - 1960

Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Brother you don't know a nicer occupation
Matter of fact, neither do I
Than standing on a corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by

I'm the cat that got the cream
Haven't got a girl but I can dream
Haven't got a girl but I can wish
So I'll take me down to Main street
And that's where I select my imaginary dish

Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Standing on a corner giving all the girls the eye
Brother if you've got a rich imagination
Give it a whirl, give it a try
Try standing on a corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by

Brother you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
Or for that woo look in your eye
Standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by

Sad Sack and Dagwood Bumstead

I can remember as a boy when someone would say about someone else – “He sure is a sad sack!” Or in another way it was asked, “Are you a sad sack today?” And – “I feel like such a sad sack.”

I knew that it meant that things weren’t going real well – or some bad stuff had happened and this was something that someone used as a term to describe the misfortune of others.

We all used it – but had not idea why.

Then in a restaurant setting and reading the menu of years gone by – Dagwood Sandwich was listed and the price indicated that it was bigger than the other sandwiches offered in that place.

Some things in our language are strange.

Now if you are my age or older you may remember hearing these terms – if you are younger by 20 years – you will not remember. It is new information for you.

Sad Sack was a misfit soldier in World War II. Everything that could go wrong to a person – went wrong for Sad Sack. The character was drawn by a man named George Baker who was a cartoonist for Disney and was drafted into the army just after the Pearl Harbour attack happened. From his military experiences he drew the character – and from hearing the stories of others.
When the military found out what he did for work they used him to draw for them. He had a huge following in the Military to say the least. When the war was over he developed the syndicated comic Sad Sack.

The name of this hapless soldier entered our language in the years following the war.

But some how if some one was to say today, “He sure is a Harry Potter!” it wouldn’t make sense.

This small side adventure in the last few days with Sad Sack led me to other oddities of the language of English. We adopt all kinds of strange ideas.

That was where the Dagwood Sandwich came into my thoughts. But it didn’t stop there.
Dagwood Bumstead first appeared in sometime prior to Feb 17, 1933.

Dagwood was a bumbling fool that always wanted to sleep on the couch when his wife and others wanted him to do something else. He is kind of an icon for many husbands that just want to rest after a week’s hard work…. Who always have a Blondie driving them nuts!!!

But did you know that he was an heir to a fortune as his family owned the Bumstead Locomotive Fortune? He lost all that fortune when he married a Flapper by the name of Blondie. His family felt that Dagwood had married below his class and thus disinherited him.

Blondie’s full name was Blondie Boopadoop and she was known as a Flapper. But when you read/follow the Cartoon – Blondie is amazing and wise and steady and solid and a good mother…

A Flapper is defined as follows…
“The term flapper in the 1920s referred to a "new breed" of young women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to the new jazz music, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behaviour. Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms.”

Maybe that was the hidden humour that those of us under 85 now – didn’t get when we were younger.

I think… my granddaughter Emma has a nickname of Boobadoop or is that Booaloo? She is blonde… but she is not a Flapper… I hope…

As I have mulled over the many different terms I hit on a few that make no sense at all… and others that are amazingly useful… like Gung Ho… Toad Face… going Whole Hog… Simultaneous…. Clicker…

And the list goes on…

Have a good one today… I hope it is not a Sad Sack day.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sad_Sack
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagwood_sandwich
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagwood_Bumstead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flapper