Pledge of Alligance

While waiting for my wheelchair lift to be looked at in Modesto. The owner of the shop sho shoed the two vets out of the main office to the waiting room. They were carrying on a conversation that was just getting too loud for the conduct of business over the phone. One vet was on a wheelchair and had a service dog. The service dog was an older yellow lab. He was proudly showing off his purple heat vest with two handles on it to all that were in the waiting room.

There are times that you know you really should keep your mouth shut and let the public squirm or reveal in their fact-less preconception. But I didn't and so the statements got louder.

First... you have seen a lot of changes in the world since you were little. The Purple heart decorated man agreed. Wasn't it better when you were in school. The students all pledged the flag and sang my country tis of thee?

Old golden lab found a comforting spot and layed down on my feet and leaned up against my legs. 

I had to jump in. I have never been working at a school where they didn't do this in some form or another. The pledge was always done. The students and the teachers all stood at attention. They did not always sing My Country Tis of Thee... but I could bet that maybe one of these characters did not sing it every day they were in High School. So I gave them the wisdom of my experience and asked them if they knew of any school in the area that did not do the same. They could not. Even when challenged.

Then I heard the usual crap about our country losing its Christian themes. Another one hard for me to swallow. Maybe if they spent a day or two on a campus they would know the diversity of ethnic origins that the modern day students bring to classes. Then one said a person from the far east said that their religion was the basis for all religions that followed. Again not true and he knew it.  If you look at the dates Christianity predates Allah. Its pretty crazy when you hear these untruths.. he had to admit that the following of the Sun was probably the really first religion. 

Sadly its this kind of stuff that is getting in the way of a lasting peace in the Isreal/Palestinian issue. There might be some changes as reported in the last couple of days if some trust issues can be solved. Pretty amazing times.

We all backed out of the conversation noting that it was good to talk of people of varying opinions. I am sure that I will be quoted as the wild eyed liberal that was totally out of touch.  Maybe I am.

: ) Pat 

County Fairs During an Economic Down Turn

It is true. In this year's state budget for California, the county fairs essentially lost their funding. Some counties such as Santa Clara have completely given up on its county fairs.  At one time, fairs were supported in large part by horse racing. This sport has hit a new low too and many tracks have closed down. Even some of the ones that make up the fabled triple crown are dragging along financially.

Some counties have off track betting on their fair site. A small building on the Stanislaus County Fair Grounds is devoted to off track betting. Patrons come in and bet on horse races around the country broadcasted to them via video satellite links. It is a small spot compared to the Indian Reservation gambling that builds huge casinos in the foothills.

Its interesting that in Fresno's Fair their entertainment venue is sponsored by the Indian casino. There is a finite number to gambling dollars out there. It seems that that these dollars are finding new places to be rather than at a race track. The race tracks with their loss of patronage cannot afford to subsidize county fairs. The state that over sees the race track gambling and the county fair support in the past from these race tracks.

The state walked away from funding of county fairs this year. There are a number of approaches that counties took to make up for this loss of funding.

Almost all of them gave up their entertainment budgets for big names to appear for concerts. The big names in entertainment were replaced by tribute bands that used to play in the side venues of these fairs. The is a big name or two out there but more than likely the band will be an oldie made up of one or two members of the old named band and a troop of younger replacements. This may speak more to the condition of modern music groups and their need to pay their dues in the lessor venues. The county fair circuit may not be as important of a place than a photo in People or a guest shot on Jimmy Kimble.

Some counties such as Merced elected to keep the prices low and bring in as many people as they could for a much shorter fair. Merced's fair entrance was 5 dollars an adult. Grandstand events were another 5 dollars and it took 5 dollars to get a parking place. More branding was done with local merchants and health companies.

Stanislaus County maintains a much longer fair, charges 12 dollars an adult and 5 dollars to park. Their entertainment was free but the grandstand events, such as tractor pulling and destruction derby ran from 8 dollars to 16.

Both plans seem to work. There were many people attending each of the fairs. There seemed to be a fewer number of commercial booths at the Stanislaus County Fair than usual. The Merced Fair offered some pretty decent tribute bands to Journey and CCR on their main stage. Stanislaus County Fair offered Tower of Power... which always puts on a great show especially if you can hear it from the parking lot.

The kids are always great to see at these fairs. They exhibit unbrindled joy at being at a family friendly venue. The animals are groomed up to the nth dregree  and shown off beautifully at these fairs. Nothing changes about that.

At the Merced County Fair I always go for the Eagles lenguisa sandwich, at the Stanislaus County fair its the beef kabob with the fresh tomatoes and Assyrian bread, from the Assyrian club. It comes with rice and a sprinkling of cilantro and green onions. Sue had the chicken.. a tad dry but still great. She is not a fan of cilantro or green onions but oh such a fan of the rice.

We always enjoy the photography and the art.

The flowers are always cool and both fairs did not disappoint.

Great to still have these fairs!

: ) Pat

Mother's Circus Animal Cookies

Its sad to have a particular food addiction.

There are just some things at the grocery store I just do not buy. The reason is clear.. I cannot leave them alone until they are gone.

Mothers cookies is the Northern California bakers for frosted circle animal cookies. They are traditionally pink and white and come with sprinkles on top that are often blue. Sounds pretty awful as its written down.

There texture is pure lard. The frosting leaves a coating across the top of the palette that takes a frosty soda like beverage to break down.  Its an amazing taste combination and a textural one as well. The crispy animal shaped cookies are enigmatic of an era in the 50's long gone. As you travel through Oakland on BART just past the coliseum, the factory is let up with its characteristic almost Barbie pink circus tent details. The home of "mother's cookies." They highlight the Circus Animal Cookies on their building.  I must not be the only one that likes these!

In the grocery store these gems are sold by the bag. They are not neatly stacked within rows of plastic like other members of the Mother's cookie line. They are often sold out. A new variety of the same favorites has made an appearence on the shelves. Its a green jungle animal version. The people at Mother's were clever enough not to change the recipe... so even through they are formed in the green swinging chimpanzees, the result is the same flavor and texture as the original Circus Animals.

I have been recently informed that my addiction to these gems is not singular. My daughter has a "thing" for them too. Does it speak to us genetically?

The biggest indignity ever happened when I was looking for a new variety  ice cream to drag home. Our Raley's carries Sunnyside brand ice cream along with others. Sunnyside is their generic like set of dairy products. There in the freezer department was a "Mother's Circus Animal" flavored ice cream. It has some dough like components of pink and white. It has flecks of spinkles, which everyone knows is a flavor all to its own, and there are even a few Mother's Circus Animal Cookies thrown into the mix as whole cookies to be discovered as unexpected treasure. It is totally successful as an ice cream flavor.

So.. watch out for the Mother's Circus Animal flavors headed to a cookie counter or a ice cream freezer near you!!

:  ) Pat

Computerless but now restored!

Early last week (Monday) I left my computer for a few minutes. As usual it went through the usual screen savers and eventually went to sleep.

I mean really sleep.. the power board in the computer died.  No smoke, no crazy sound.. my power board died in its sleep deep within the hard of this thin computer.

When I arrived back at the desktop to imput in a great story and edit some great photos... nothing happened.. no sound, it was dead.

I plugged it into other outlets in the house that I knew were active and alive.. still no progress. No response. I knew from past experience that it was probably a power board. There was no crazy in appropriate behavior occuring in my computing experience.. so from past experience I concluded it probably wasn't the logic board.

The next morning I took off at the crack of dawn.. about 6:45 to get a new powerboard at the closest Apple store around.. Vintage Fair Mall in Modesto. Its about 45 miles from my home in Merced. It is on the dreaded 99 freeway corridor but still just shy of an hour away all the time careful driving is required to dodge the trucks that ply this artery for their livelihood.  If you want to know if the economy is getting better drive our freeways. As the economy gets better, more big trucks are require to move the raw materials and finished goods. I arrived in Modest well before 8 am and noticed that the Apple store was in moth balls. Some cheezy Frank Sinatra music was playing above the outdoor fountain that aperiodically spouts streams of water into the air.  Outside the Apple store was a sign that claimed to be having in inservice and planned to be open at 10:00.

Just as wel, I thought, l as I was hungry and needed a coffee shop breakfast. I traveled around the perimeter of the shopping center and crossed over the freeway to the Plendale and the Denny's restaurant that was located there. As I took my time eating a pancake or two I suddenly got the idea that it might make sense to reserve a spot at the genius bar before I got here. Using the Iphone, I used my Sarfari browser to get to the support spot for a genius bar reservation. It showed the only appointments available were after lunch.  I signed up the 12:15.  I thought that maybe since this was a repair I would not need a genius bar appointment anyway.  I arrived back at the store at 9:30 and a customer rep in a bue shirt asked me what I needed or if they could be of help. I explained my situation and was told that I indeed needed a reservation and  I was moved up to 10:15. I asked if I could move my computer into the store until that time...no.. bring it in at 10:15. I became a Mall walker as I walked from one side to the other of the mall and timed it so that when I walked back out to the car I would be close to the 10:15 of my target.

I arrived with by 21inch IMac under arms and after a quick plug at the genius bar they concluded just as I,, that a new powerboard was needed. The guy sitting next to me was also named Patrick and he had a similar issue. The genius bar guy asked if we could share him. I said sure and he said sure. As it turned out, his issue with the fullsized Mac Pro was more involved than mine.  He had replaced his video card before and he had a screen but nothing on the screen. His fix it estimate as about 530 dollars. Mine was 106.

In the mean time, another Apple employee had taken over mine and was doing the paperwork for mine to be fixed. He said that it would probably take a couple of days to get the part and it would take a day or two to get it into the line up to get the actual work done.  It was to cost 106.

I got an email on Thursday at 4:40 that my mac was ready to pick up. I made some plans to go get it. This time Sue was on board to do her Thrift shop survey on the same trip.

We took off on Friday around 11:00 and I showed my ID (required) and walked out the door after 116 in payment for a new life added to my computer.  We did the Goodwill survey in Modesto which included a trip to the dollar store. I had a great lamb kabob meal across the street and we headed home in the 97 dregree heat.. much better than it had been lately.

As you can see the computer is up and cranking and I am able to do this kind of blog entry. This would be much harder to do with the phone and or the Ipad.

The Ipad tech thanked me for my patience on the way out the door.

Life is good

: ) PAT

Electronic Subscription

One of the most remarkable benefits of Ipad ownership is the ability to get your print subscriptions in electronic form.

Print Mags have Free Electronic Versions for their Subscribers
 
Time magazine is always with you whenever your with my Ipad. After jumping through the hoops of print subscription verification, the latest issue is downloaded to the Ipad and available. The publishers have included the electronic subscription into the cost of the print one.  One week last month the Time magazine did not come in the mailbox. It never came in print form. I didn't miss an issue as I had downloaded it and could read each page including all the advertisements.

Sue loves her People subscription. It comes each Thursday. The electronic download through the web to the Ipad comes at the same time.  It is often delayed through the post office.

Last night I tapped into Sunset magazine's electronic subscription. It was a little harder to substantiate my print subscription because it needed the code from the mailing label. My magazine had come in a plastic bag. After putting in my complete address, and my email address their side validated my subscription.

Electronic Versions bring added Benefits

The electronic subscription offers many benefits that the print subscription does not. There are always added features to the electronic version that are not in the print version. Electronic ink is much cheaper than print ink, so each of these subscriptions can and do offer more depth in feature articles. Some are pretty amazing.

 Time

In a recent Time magazine when the cover is selected by the viewer, the whole screen shakes and you hear this sound of the hurricane as it approaches.

Time has video bonus coverage throughout its issues. As you read the articles the reader can touch the blocks and interviews with news makers referenced in the article download and play. The electronic version my be read in the similar way the print version works as well. Some of the sidebars on the articles are pretty interesting. In the print version these areas as shaded side articles that relate the the main article. In the electronic version, these open up and become as big as the full page they often accompany.

People

People magazine is full of these additions. Extra red carpet, fashion coverage is always added to the big events with People's electronic subscription. I find the last page on each People electronic magazine interesting. It is a breakout of 8 cover shots of their magazine through the years. Represented as dots with the number in them, the reader can travel back to see what was presented last year on the cover, 5 years, 10 years and 15 and 20 years ago. The covers are revealing in how the magazine and its readership has changed over the years.  People magazine has some additional interviews that are available directly from the their pages to the Ipads that you would view them on on.

Sunset

My latest electronic magazine download is Sunset. It is beautiful on the retina display. I like that it is also included free with the print subscription.

The main benefit for the reader is the collection of all the versions into the electronic version. Sunset prints about 5 different versions of its magazine each month. Southern California sees a very different version that Northern California. There are different gardening tips and different recipes and comments as to places that you may visit in the region. I once picked up a Sunset at my local Costco before I had a print subscription. It was the Southern California version. The gardening was all off and the restaurant reviews were for So Cal places. This would be okay if I were not looking for Nor Cal stuff.  The electronic version bridges this gap and clearly points out in the gardening section which is written for which area... the articles are from all of the versions even one it appears to be from Alaska. So Sunset is a beautiful magazine in all its flavors. The electronic reader has the benefit of seeing all of it.

Have a great Day..
: ) Pat

Post 4th of July 2013

 The 4th of July... the middle of the Summer?

I used to think that the 4rth of July marked the middle of the summer. It really doesn't. It is just one month into the Summer if you are going to school or teaching school. The middle of the Summer break occurs around the middle of July.

There are some exceptions. School sometimes around here is out around the first week of June and it starts back soon after the middle of August.

While going to school, in the Bay area, in the 50's and 60's school was out around Memorial Day or a little after and never started back until after labor day... September.

As a retired old F_ _ _ T we plan around the kids going to school instead of when they are out. As teachers we would always plan when the kids were out and we were out rather than the reciprocal. So now we are planning a Disney trip for September when the kids are back in school.

The summer heats up here to the triple digits usually in July. This year we didn't have to wait, and the tripple digits, temperatures that are over 100 made their presence known in June.

This resulted in early apricot ripening. In many years, the Tilton apricot tree is just starting to produce ripe apricots on July4th. This year it is near the end of the crop and some of the apricots got "baked" on the tree. Its been pretty hot and the well functioning air conditioner is fabulous for keeping us 78 degrees every day and night despite the 108 to 111 degree heat.

Annual Front Yard Tera Cotta Garden

This year I was a little late getting the front garden annuals in pots started so no petunias planted.. they are pretty much gone in a normal year around here by the 4th of July. So on a "hot" year.. it doesn't make sense to plant them. In their place are the beautiful bicolor marigolds. They are bright orange for the majority of the blossom but have some highlighted red brick colored petals on the inside. These pots take a beating in the summer heat. The really big pots do much better than the smaller ones even when all the pots are watered each day.

The nectarines in the front produced nicely this year. They are pretty fragile and don't stay well on the tree. I passed out as many as I could while they were ripe to neighbors and a few to my postman.

Today it is Monday.. and no lawns should be watered. Our city has imposed a watering schedule for landscape watering. We are supposed to water on every other day... in the morning. My annual flowers have to have it everyday. I stand over them and make sure there is no run off.   They are a true delight on the North front entrance patio. From the street you would not no this secret garden exists.

The Round Robin Sketchbook Project

The round robin art project has started this summer and most people in the round robin have received their sketchbooks and have sent or are about to send their first rounds to their partners. We picked up the Lindsay to Sue's this weekend. Linz's is unthemed but has a couple of nice drawings in them. Sue is about to produce her first one... birds and will get it out soon.  I have done a prilimary planning one to more the one I received from Kelly on.  The message from Camie is that hers is ready to ship this week... so it looks like the arms of the spider through the mail are ready to pounce the priority mail sacks.  7 people in the family have agreed to be a part of this adventure. The most I have heard of that have tried this is 4 and most of them did them on a single sketchbook. So we are really bumping up the curve.

: ) Pat