Feb 12th 2013 08:15 am No Brandy?
The latest hiatus is over! I’m back in time for Mardi Gras! Laissez le bon temps rouler! From what I’ve read, the tradition of college boys descending on Bourbon Street in New Orleans to get drunk while hoping to glimpse scantily clad women originated in 12th-century Venice, in what is now Venice. Celebrating the installation of a new pumping system that would enable them to have dry streets (See the New Orleans connection already evident?!), the Venetians began a tradition of annual revelry that eventually spread to Spain and Portugal and France and subsequently to northern Europe and the Americas. Europeans eventually tired of the beer cans and bodily fluids to be cleaned up afterward, and “carnival,” as the season came to be known, diminished in much of the Old Country. However, it continued in the New World and as a consequence is spreading still, even being re-introduced in some of its original venues. Sort of like communicable disease.
Today’s uncarnival-like classic A&J cartoon is meant to express solidarity with our friends in the upper midwest and northeast.
Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J
94 Responses to “No Brandy?”
Bob in Central FL on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:28 am #
When we lived just west of New Orleans we hit Mardi Gras parades every year, but only went to the French quarter a few times. Enough is enough. My son still lives in Louisiana and goes to Lejeune Cove Courir de Mardi Gras every year. He’s a member of that krew. Somewhere west of NO in rural Louisiana. They still do it the old fashioned way, door to door.
phil in Missoula, MT on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:32 am #
Huh. And all this time I thought it was eat, drink and make merry because tomorrow Lent starts
Mindy on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:37 am #
Oh! Brandy! Now I get it! As for “scantily clad women,” scantily gives way to nothing-left-to-hide in a heartbeat. And that’s not even on the floats! That’s in exchange for about three cents worth of plastic beads!
sandcastler on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:43 am #
^°^°^°^°^°^ married to a woman with a drawer full of cheap beads. Yes, those were the days.
Neal in Bahstawn on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:44 am #
We in the northeast, who shoveled/snowblowed (snowblew?) 30 inches of the white stuff from our driveway and sidewalk, humbly thank you for the expression of solidarity!
Nancy in Bucks County on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:47 am #
Happy Fastnacht Day!
Whistling Rufus on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:48 am #
In my misspent youth I spent a short time living in the Vieux Carre and did 3 Mardi Gras there. While I don’t particularly cherish the memories, I don’t discount them either. Anyway, have no desire to experience it again, at least not in the Quarter.
Steve from Royal Oak, MI on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:51 am #
I remember visiting the in-laws in Pensacola the weekend before Ash Wednesday and they had a Mardi Gras parade. The kids were 16 and 11 and only attended because it was warm outside compared to Michigan. However once the beads and the candy started flying, they had a ball and is one of their favorite memories. I was concerned before the parade, but I was told that this was the family parade, so drinking was at minimum.
We had a fun time last night as my wife turned 50 today. My daughter took a train in from Chicago to surprise her (She had Monday off, not today) , so I had told my wife that our son and his wife, who live nearby, wanted to take us out to dinner. Since he works for Ford, I told her that dinner might be a bit late. As I checked the status of the Amtrak train, it kept getting later and later so we went into stall tactics. I was ready to give up and tell her when my son decided to fill his gas tank. While there, he faked having issues with the credit card at the pump while I was texting my daughter to figure out where she was at.
Finally I told my son to drop us off and we would tell her that he was going to look for a parking spot. When my wife started asking about his whereabouts, his wife pulled out her phone and said “Oh he had to park in the structure”, which was better than my “Oh maybe he had to get gas”. Fortunately we distracted her enough that by the time my daughter got there, she gave her a hug and the tears started flowing. You can buy a woman a great gift, but to give her both her kids together for her birthday is the best.
Dave in MA on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:25 am #
Had enough snow in this last storm to last me the rest of the winter. Bring on the springtime please!
Living on a corner means two sidewalks to shovel.
We also parked off to the side of the driveway so a plow could be hired to plow out the driveway for us, then we’d shovel out the car and move it over. Except one problem, the wind blew all the snow off the driveway, which remained bare and dry (despite getting 24″ of snow !!!!!) and the car caught it all, so it was buried up to the windows in snow. Took 2 hired men, plus myself, 2 hours total to shovel everything out.
Then the plow came by and pushed back the snowbank and it all spilled over onto the shoveled sidewalk and covered that over again just as high as it had been!
I re-shoveled that, plus we’ve had to re-open the end of the driveway 3 times (thanks plows!)
and the piles at the corners are so high you can’t see what may be coming until you are out in the intersection about to be hit. And the streets are so narrow that meeting someone coming the other way is a very bad thing. PLUS, if a car parks on one side of the road, that’s it, the road is then a one way at a time road.
Been through this many times in my life, starting with a blizzard back in 1969 when I was a kid. Doesn’t bother me so much to get the snow. It’s no big deal, we live with it, live through it, and just generally deal with it. It’s a part of life.
However, my back would appreciate no more snow for the rest of this particular winter, thank you very much.
Now 7 years ago we went to Florida for a week at Disney. 95 degrees F or higher every day with near 100% humidity and I was ready for a snow storm. I can’t tolerate the hot and humid weather. Snow storms are nothing next to that horrible experience!
Ghost Rider 6 on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:26 am #
Mardi Gras today, St. Valentine’s Day the day after tomorrow…what a combination! Think about it.
The things you learn from TV commercials: Guys, did you know that apparently all you have to do to insure that you get lucky on Valentine’s Day is to give your Significant Other a ridiculously over-sized teddy bear? Leering voice-over: “It’s a great gift for her, that’s sure to pay off for you.” I can’t wait to see the comments from some of our villagers of the female persuasion.
Mobile does Mardi Gras right. “Hey, mister, throw me a Moon Pie!”
David in Austin on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:37 am #
Somewhat related to yesterday’s and Sunday’s current strip. This is everyone’s opportunity to be involved in birding!
http://earthsky.org/earth/2013-great-backyard-bird-count-goes-global
Also, I guess JJ must have had advanced warning of the recently released study about house cats and wild birds. Apparently, feral cats and outside house cats kill 2-4 Billion birds every year. Some people are claiming cats are an ecological disaster.
http://www.livescience.com/26670-cats-kill-billions-animals.html
Symply Fargone on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:40 am #
Snow, I think I’ve had enough. On my way to the Celtic’s game Sunday with the grandkids and everyone and I got stuck on Stilman in the North End a one way and it was plowed half way…..then it was not and my car was stuck and the game was starting and I was furious. Thankfully the guys where I park a half block from where I was dug me out. What nice guys, did not even want a tip(stuffed it in one of their pockets anyways
Residents of the North End, even when they knew I was form out of town helped push me out as well….I’ve heard nice stuff about Boston’s North End; It is true!
That said, thanks for remembering us JJ, first storm in a while I did not need my generator! The drifts in the driveway are over the Subaru Foresters roof, but our local tiger tabby is out hunting I can see the tracks in the yard…so is the groundhog &%$#@!
With that I leave you for the elliptical, a Symply Fargone excercise in futility!
Mindy on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:41 am #
Ghost, how did you ever know that the one thing I want deepest down in my very heart and soul is to have John bring me an over-sized Teddy Bear for Valentine’s Day? Or on any other day, for that matter? Why, that ranks right up there with an impacted wisdom tooth, a herniated disc, a stopped up toilet and nineteen more weeks of frigid temperatures and hock deep snow! In other words, if John spends money to buy me an over-sized Teddy Bear that would be a great time to start hitchhiking back to Lousy Anna. Of course, I’d keep the stuffed bear, treasuring it and the memories of when he was next to me keeping me all snuggie and warm at night…instead of a grotesque stuffed bear, for Heaven’s sake! [I do hope you're reading this, John. For your sake.]
I remember one parade when John had a quiet intersection to work and I sneaked in to be close to him. [That never happened again because I distracted him and he got hit by a drunk when he wasn't looking where he was supposed to be looking, and one thing led to another...but TASFYAD.] Anyway, I yelled at a guy on the float to throw me a doubloon. He yelled for me to show him my *ss [not my b**bs, the insulting little git]…and I pointed at John and the guy threw me a dozen doubloons since he knew us both. But a Moon Pie?
JDS on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:51 am #
Interesting . . . my Labrador makes his living sleeping on the sofa.
Dave in MA on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:52 am #
Speaking of TV commercials and Valentine’s Day….. I get so upset every time I see commercials advertising that “we’re the ONLY jeweler making jewelry from chocolate diamonds” and then touting just how beautiful they are and how you can only get them from them.
Excuse me? Ask any jeweler worth his or her salt and you’ll know that “chocolate diamonds” are simply one step up from coal and are the lowest quality diamond ever uncovered. That’s why no one else makes jewelry from them….. they’re practically worthless.
But of course, every woman wants one (because we’re telling you they do) and we’re the only ones making this type of jewelry (because no one else will touch these worthless wretched rocks) so you’ll have to get one for “her” for Valentine’s Day!
Charlotte in NH on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:52 am #
Dave in MA, Dealing with all that snow must be such a pain; I really feel for you. We have gone through all that over the years … thank goodness, I have only one driveway to worry about. The car is in the barn [1895 carriage house] and I don’t need to go anywhere until Thursday. My tenant has shovelled the walks and driveway (helps with the rent). Where I live, the town plows all the sidewalks. They have various smaller plows and large snowblowers that clear the sidewalks very nicely. They are even careful not to fill up the driveway entrance as they go by! We are EXTREMELY fortunate in this regard.
The big plows that do the streets, DO fill the ends of the driveways; boy, in past years I have valiently hacked at frozen solid slush, for hours, often getting splashed by thoughtless drivers going through icy puddles. My husband would do the same only more so … no wonder his arthitis was so bad near the end of his life.
Good luck, and Spring WILL be here soon.
sandcastler on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:10 am #
Ah, the joys of having moved so far south that the local Ace Hardware never stocks snow shovels. Y’all enjoy the snow; love the stories but, glad that is history.
Ruth on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:10 am #
Growing up in a predominantly German area we didn’t have Mardi Gras, we had Fasching. In our community it was a huge event with food, beverages, and dancing. The local German culture society hosted it and the only people paid were the polka bands and many of them donated their time as well. The society would recruit the high school German clubs to help with things like set-up, serving the dinner concessions, running the coat check, and clean up. If you were over 18 (legal drinking age then) you were also allowed to help behind the bar. In exchange the HS students didn’t have to pay the gate fee and received a free meal. The students were allowed to sell imported German candy, keep any tips from the coat check, and some of the bar tips to help fund the HS club’s biennial trip to Germany. The students signed up for shifts and after the shift got to stay and enjoy the festivities. I had a lot of fun at those events.
Mindy on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:20 am #
sandcastler, you’re a very mean person. Actually, we moved back to the mountains from a snow-free area…and don’t regret it at all. I guess that’s what makes [most] human beings so interesting…differences in likes and dislikes. Now, I dislike deep snow and low temperatures. But I dislike hurricanes, skeeters, flooding, cotton mouths, gators tornadoes just as much. Ah, forget it, I think I’m going to go bake some apple turnovers…or peach…or cherry…
Tom from the Front Range on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:24 am #
Well then it is time to drag out this old favorite. I have many variations of this in old emails. This had the least offensive language and I still had to clean it up some. I may still land in moderation:
DIARY OF A SNOW SHOVELER
December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the
season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours
by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from
heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we
felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow
covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight!
Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here
was the best idea I’ve ever had. Shoveled for the first time in
years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the
sidewalks. This afternoon the snow plow came along and covered
up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel
again. What a perfect life.
December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a
disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we’ll
definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be
awful! Bob says we’ll have so much snow by the end of winter,
that I’ll never want to see snow again. I don’t think that’s
possible. Bob is such a nice man. I’m glad he’s our neighbor.
December 14: Snow, lovely snow! 8″ last night. The temperature
dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind
took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway
and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this
afternoon and buried everything again. I didn’t realize I would
have to do quite this much shoveling, but I’ll certainly get
back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn’t huff and puff so.
December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4×4
Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife’s car and 2 extra
shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in
case the electricity goes out. I think that’s silly. We aren’t
in Alaska, after all.
December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice
in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife
laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go
anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the
blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife
and try not to irritate her. Guess I should’ve bought a wood
stove, but won’t admit it to her. God I hate it when she’s
right. I can’t believe I’m freezing to death in my own living
room.
December 20: Electricity’s back on, but had another 14″ of the
damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Damn
snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel,
but they said they’re too busy playing hockey. I think they’re
lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying
a snow blower and they’re out. Might have another shipment in
March. I think they’re lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the
city will have it done and bill me. I think he’s lying.
December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13
more inches of the white crap fell today, and it’s so cold it
probably won’t melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all
dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to p*ss. By the
time I got undressed, p*ssed and dressed again. I was too tired
to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the
rest of the winter; but he says he’s too busy. I think the
a**hole is lying.
December 23: Only 2″ of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The
wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning.
What is she…nuts??? Why didn’t she tell me to do that a month
ago? She says she did but I think she’s d*mn well lying.
December 24: 6″. Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the
shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the
S.O.B. who drives that snowplow, I’ll drag him through
the snow by his b*lls. I know he hides around the corner and
waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the
street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where
I’ve just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas
carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching
for the d*mn snowplow.
December 25: Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the !=3D@x@!x!x1
slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood
boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by
asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my
shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she’s an
idiot. If I have to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” one more time,
I’m going to kill her.
December 26: Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here?
It was all HER idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.
December 27: Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze.
December 28: Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. THE B*TCH
is driving me crazy!!!
December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof
or it could cavein. That’s the silliest thing I ever heard. How
dumb does he think I am?
December 30: Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for
a million dollars for the bump on his head. The wife went home
to her mother. 9″ predicted.
December 31: Set fire to what’s left of the house. No more
shoveling.
January 8: I feel so good. I just love those little white pills
they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?
Tom from the Front Range on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:29 am #
@Charlotte
I lived in Derry, NH for several years. I often said that Derry had something in common with the city I lived in before, Tampa, and that was neither town plowed my street!
Things improved though particularly if it snowed on the weekend. The plow would come by five or six times a day, overtime and all.
Bob in Central FL on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:48 am #
Here’s a link to son’s Mardi Gras doings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nQabVjyE76w
About ten minutes
sandcastler on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:48 am #
Mindy, you have no idea how evil I can be.
Dave in MA on 12 Feb 2013 at 11:31 am #
Tom from the Front Range, you made my day. Thanks for sharing that!
And no, it’s NOT that bad here right now. Winter 2011 was. Right now I’m on the December 9th entry in terms of my mood.
Neal in Bahstawn on 12 Feb 2013 at 11:32 am #
For a tale of another blizzard (1978) in an unimaginable era before cell phones, the internet, or satellite thermal doppler imaging…
http://www.theprincipalundergardener.blogspot.com/2013/02/february-made-me-shiver.html.
Ghost Rider 6 on 12 Feb 2013 at 11:47 am #
Mindy, thanks for the input about the ridiculously over-sized teddy bear. That’s what I thought. Plus I had already done the math, and since a ridiculously over-sized teddy bear runs about a hundred bucks (plus, the way these things work, probably about two hundred more bucks for S&H charges), it would be much more economical to invest in a bottle of really good wine. Not to mention probably much more effective… should one have ulterior motives in mind, of course.
And, yes, at the Mobile parades they throw like three million Moon Pies instead of beads and doubloons. I could say something about what some of those Lower Alabama gals will do to be on the receiving end of a Moon Pie toss, but that would be sheer speculation on my part.
Don’t worry, we all believe you were never one to engage in bead solicitation. And as long as you’re baking, I’ll take a cherry.
minnesotadon on 12 Feb 2013 at 12:08 pm #
MMMN cherry turnovers my favorite!
Blinky the Wonder Wombat on 12 Feb 2013 at 12:11 pm #
Diamonds are a great study in use of marketing to create a market that previously did not exist. The DeBeers family for all intents and purposes created the market by convincing the public that diamonds are the most valuable gemstone. They also convinced grooms that they need to present an engagement ring (with a diamond, of course) to their betrothed and only a cheapskate would spend less than two month’s salary on the stone.
Tom from the Front Range on 12 Feb 2013 at 12:12 pm #
@Dave in MA
Happy to help
Glad you enjoyed it.
Mindy on 12 Feb 2013 at 12:18 pm #
John tried to get by with a mood ring for my engagement stone. That led to all sorts of discussions. One of the final results was that I didn’t want to spend money on an engagement ring, period.
Tom from the Front Range on 12 Feb 2013 at 12:18 pm #
@Neal in Bahstawn
I remember the ’78 storm fondly. That is because I worked for a company in Wilmington, MA. I was servicing equipment at a customer’s site in Hilton Head, SC. I was forced to stay there for two days longer than expected because no one could get to the plant in Wilmington to ship out parts and no planes were leaving anyway.
Oh, the horror.
sandcastler on 12 Feb 2013 at 12:35 pm #
Wife did not want a diamond engagement ring, she clearly stated her desire for an opal. She always gets comments on the beauty of her opal. Several years ago, when in China, she purchased a jade bangle, a traditional Chinese answer to the wedding ring.
JDS on 12 Feb 2013 at 1:09 pm #
I was a junior in high school when the Chicago blizzard of 1967 hit. Have never seen anything to compare to it. The Brothers closed school at noon on Friday and it didn’t reopen until Wednesday. The only thing still running were the L trains. It was three days before Bob Gains was able to make it down Jarvis Ave. in his jeep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8UTJ_xuw74
TruckerRon on 12 Feb 2013 at 1:45 pm #
JDS and Mark in TTown:
Victory At Sea may be a great show to watch, I haven’t see it yet, but I can vouch that the overture by Richard Rodgers is a blast to perform!
Dave in MA on 12 Feb 2013 at 1:59 pm #
From the wikipedia coverage of the Blizzard of 1978 here in MA:
Many people were stranded in their cars along roads and highways throughout the New England region. People perished on Interstate 95 outside Boston as snow piled high enough to prevent the exhaust from escaping from their idling vehicles. Interstate 95 eventually had to be evacuated by cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. More than 3,500 cars were found abandoned and buried in the middle of roads during the clean-up effort.
—-
My own recollections are that, with several days (it was 5 or 6) of driving bans, the schools were closed for that week, the week of school vacation, and part of the week after school vacation meaning we were out of school for most of the month of February.
This was nothing like that despite similar snow amounts and time periods for the snowfall. The difference was the foreknowledge about this coming and how bad it would be, plus it fell on a weekend, starting mostly Friday afternoon after many had been sent home (early) from work.
- Dave
JDS on 12 Feb 2013 at 2:03 pm #
TruckerRon – The narration by Leonard Graves is pretty darn good too. Virgin Mindy, sorry for the use of the word “darn”.
David in Austin on 12 Feb 2013 at 2:08 pm #
Stuck in moderation… I forgot and posted two links in one message. Here’s the first half:
Somewhat related to yesterday’s and Sunday’s current strip. This is everyone’s opportunity to be involved in birding!
http://earthsky.org/earth/2013-great-backyard-bird-count-goes-global
David in Austin on 12 Feb 2013 at 2:08 pm #
Second half:
Also, I guess JJ must have had advanced warning of the recently released study about house cats and wild birds. Apparently, feral cats and outside house cats kill 2-4 Billion birds every year. Some people are claiming cats are an ecological disaster.
http://www.livescience.com/26670-cats-kill-billions-animals.html
Dave in MA on 12 Feb 2013 at 2:17 pm #
The left will now try to ban house cats, while the right will try to make people understand that it’s not cats that are the problem, but irresponsible pet owners who allow their cats to get outside. Neither side will notice the word “feral” in the supplied data.
This will lead to heated discussions here that will cause people to call for a ban on discussion cats and JJ will have to kill off Ludwig (or turn him into the dog that plays him, according to historical evidence).
And at least one poster will mistake feral for ferrous and try to ban all discussion about iron, which will lead to a discussion about wrinkled clothing which will lead to another discussion about smooth clothing hiding wrinkled skin.
There will then be a movement to ban discussion of wrinkled skin as that will lead to double entendre (sp?) opportunities that some just can’t stand to read.
That will lead to discussions of another word for cat, which will then bring us full circle to the discussion about cats killing birds and the whole cycle will start all over again.
I’m going to hide right now and take my 5 wonderful house cats with me.
Tom from the Front Range on 12 Feb 2013 at 2:51 pm #
Evidence left on the carpet indicates that a cat doesn’t have to be outside or feral to be an ecological disaster.
Neal in Bahstawn on 12 Feb 2013 at 3:01 pm #
Dave in MA and anyone else interested:
To me, at least, the underlying issue is that we are ‘safer’ when it comes to blizzards and hurricanes, but that they become non-events unless a) you do something dumb or b) you are in the crosshairs of misfortune. An example of “a” are the clowns who went out on the Long Island Expressway and got stuck. The road was closed. They were looking for a thrill. An example of ‘B’ is living on Boston’s south shore and losing your power for a week because 75 mph winds took down all the trees in town.
Ghost Rider 6 on 12 Feb 2013 at 3:04 pm #
Wow, Dave. You sure have been paying attention to what goes on around here, haven’t you?
Blinky the Wonder Wombat on 12 Feb 2013 at 3:08 pm #
Dave in MA-
My take on the report was that domestic cats were more of a problem than feral cats as they had safe havens to retreat into when faced with predators plus they avoided most of the diseases and parasites that keep a check on the feral population.
I’m not a cat owner, but if I were, I would make sure it was both spayed/neutered and declawed.
Blinky the Wonder Wombat on 12 Feb 2013 at 3:12 pm #
I was a freshman in college during the Great Blizzard of 1978. Pennsylvania was not as hard hit as New England, but we did get well over a foot of snow and most businesses, schools and roads things were shut down for several days. Unfortunately for the students at my college though, nearly the entire campus population, including faculty and staff, lived within walking distance of the campus and thus classes were not cancelled. We did enjoy “borrowing” trays from the dining halls and sledding down the many hills around campus.
sandcastler on 12 Feb 2013 at 3:22 pm #
Our, indoor only, house cats are only murderous when a gecko invades.
sideburns on 12 Feb 2013 at 3:57 pm #
Our two cats are never allowed outside unescorted. Neither of them has been declawed, and neither Marcia nor I would ever consider having a cat mutilated in that way. If nothing else, the cats might run across something dangerous (like another cat) outside and need to defend themselves.
I’m happy to announce, BTW, that there’s been no snow where I live and none expected. One of the reasons I live in Southern California is because I don’t like snow or cold weather. I’ve always disliked being cold and, for the past several years, I’ve been sufficiently underweight that I have no natural insulation, making cold much more unpleasant than it is for most people. And, to make things worse, I’m diabetic (Type II, but insulin dependent) so that I can’t add weight by eating a starchy diet.
Beth in MA on 12 Feb 2013 at 4:15 pm #
Trucker Ron: I agree that the overture for Victory at Sea is a joy to perform having done it a few times. I’ve also never seen the show but the music tells me the story.
I’ll be glad when all this snow is gone here in MA. Walking is very dangerous without plowed sidewalks and intersections are a real hazard. We were lucky that driving, though slow, was ok on Monday for my daughter’s trip to Boston for chemo. We got there very early before the worst of the traffic and watched the gridlock all day out the windows.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 12 Feb 2013 at 4:38 pm #
Mammalogists have recognized the effects of outdoor and feral housecats for decades, maybe since the ’20s, though it’s good to have the numerical data the cited study produced. Felis catus is our, and maybe much of the world’s most significant mid-sized predator. In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, of course, wild Felis catus are native, alongside feral populations. If NZ tries, I wonder will they be able to eliminate their feral population? PETA might take it to the UN Security Council.
mike in 96 on 12 Feb 2013 at 5:00 pm #
In winter of 74/74 spent on a God forsaken island in the middle of the Bering Sea we had to keep one escape route open from the main building. During storms (which were frequent) the 18 poor souls stationed there (except the CO and 2 Chiefs) had to do 15 minute shifts shoveling snow. The corpsman would break out the medicinal brandy mini bottles and every hour we got one. Made for a happy crew! I still like my brandy.
JDS on 12 Feb 2013 at 5:38 pm #
Beth in MA – Your right, the music is what made the series so good. But you’re missing out on the imagery and Leonard Graves’ narration if you’ve never see at least one episode. There were 26 episodes, and some were better than others. However, if there is one episode that typifies the series, and perhaps the War in the Pacific in general, I think that it might be The Turkey Shoot – Episode 17, which features the island Guam and the Chamorros, Guam’s indigenous people. It also talks about the SeaBees, which I kind of like for personal reasons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK-UjS4ntao
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:04 pm #
If I had something to do with anybody getting their nose in a knot and talking silly, then good for me. I can enjoy silliness. As for being PC, that was a real laugh. Anyway, two things unrelated but both of a legal nature. The fugitive ex-cop shot two more deputies but has been surrounded and I don’t think that, one way or the other, we’ll be hearing from him again. The other is a news story that I missed the beginning but here we go. Somewhere a man and his two sons had car trouble and pulled off of the road. Another driver, traveling at a high rate of speed and with a blood/alcohol level twice the legal limit went off the road and struck their vehicle. The two sons were killed and the father was injured. He pulled out a gun, went back to the other driver and put a bullet in his head. He was on trial today for murder. That gives rise to a lot of moral and legal questions but rather than go over the options I will hand it back to you. I have two sons and I’m afraid I know what I would have done iin his circumstances.
sandcastler on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:08 pm #
mike in 96, medicinal brandy, eh? Then dad know of what he did when we had colds, a good toddy.
sandcastler on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:09 pm #
Knew, knew, not know; Siri, grow up
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:19 pm #
The news is giving a hint that the situation withthe ex-cop may be over or that the guy may have escaped. They have reopened some of the roads so I doubt if he escaped. He has apparently been holding two people hostage in a cabin. Tear gas used, results unknown.
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:23 pm #
uh-oh, entry attempted, distance shot shows a lot of smoke and getting bigger. On fire?
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:26 pm #
Definitely a large fire.
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:34 pm #
Less smoke, more fire and spreading to the surrounding woods.
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:40 pm #
Since no one is attempting to put out the fire and a helicopter just flew over at maximum speed I am assuming that the bad guy’s status is unknown.
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:47 pm #
Now we are being told that his status is unknown and they are not sure that he was even in that particular cabin. !?
Ghost Rider 6 on 12 Feb 2013 at 6:59 pm #
I don’t believe anyone on the scene has any doubt as to who is in the cabin, or as to what his current status is. Ammo is still cooking-off inside. No need to risk officers or firefighters at this time.
Galliglo in Ohio on 12 Feb 2013 at 7:06 pm #
Tom from the Front Range: That was hiliarious!!!
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 7:08 pm #
I lost a comment in there somewhere but we just learned that there is a large basement under the cabin.
TruckerRon on 12 Feb 2013 at 7:13 pm #
Tom from the Front Range: I didn’t come to hate snow that quickly — I was much younger, stronger, and dumber. It took about 28 years of Utah’s winters and a cardiac arrest to get to that point. This winter has been a stinker — I haven’t seen the grass my front lawn since Dec 17. There are a few spots visible under trees in the back (west side).
The temperatures haven’t been as bad as years past (some subzero days, but none below about -10 F), but this January was rated the coldest since 1949.
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 7:32 pm #
“SO planning a long night.” Well, I have things that I have to do, so back to you Chet.
Mark in Boston on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:11 pm #
I lived on Charles Street in Boston during the Blizzard of 78. I worked in Harvard Square.
You had to be there to remember this, but there was a huge snow storm in Boston a few days BEFORE the great blizzard. It was the biggest snow storm the city had seen in a long time. The subways stopped running and it took a long time to clear the tracks. THEN the great blizzard struck, on top of huge amounts of snow already there. This time they ran subway trains around the clock to keep the tracks clear, so you could take the subway to work, although the Governor discouraged businesses from trying to open.
There was also a lot of cross-country skiing going on on the streets.
That earlier snow storm is all but forgotten, eclipsed by the great blizzard.
My brother was in Buffalo for the Blizzard of 77. Anyone else remember that one?
Mark in TTown on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:30 pm #
With regards to the Birds vs Cats comments earlier, today’s Close to Home strip: http://www.gocomics.com/closetohome
Charlotte in NH on 12 Feb 2013 at 8:51 pm #
Gee, Mark, you actually lived on Charles St.? That was a pretty ritzy neighborhood, even then, wasn’t it? And worked in Harvard Square? That’s way on the other side of the river; wasn’t the commute inconvenient?
Not criticizing any of these places, they are all ultra-scenic. (Not so much in the Winter.) I envy you the experience. We lived one year in Somerville, on Prospect Hill, had a superb view, not much else; and one year in Medford, only view was the back of the college gym.
The Blizzard of 1978 I remember well but don’t have any good stories.
Beth in MA on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:33 pm #
JDS: Thank you for the Victory at Sea link. I look forward to watching it.
Blizzard of ’78….I was married 3 weeks earlier. Because of the Blizzard, we had no work and couldn’t drive for a week. I’d be very wealthy if I had a dollar every time someone said something like “I know what you did all week stuck at home.”
Mark in TTown on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:27 pm #
sideburns, I would never have a cat declawed anyway. In order to remove the claws they remove the toe at the first joint. Would you have the first joint of all your fingers and toes removed so you wouldn’t have to trim them again? Besides, no matter how careful you are, somebody will keep a door open a fraction too long when you aren’t looking, and out they go. So always keep a collar and tag with your info on them too. We went to a place with the self-service tag machine and put on them “(cat’s name) our last name, Indoor Cat Only, and our phone number. Of course now you can microchip, but not everybody will think of that, so a tag is better as a first-line defense against them getting lost.
Mindy from Indy on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:31 pm #
I was still pending during the “Blizzard of ’78.” Had a co-worker who had a blizzard baby though. His quote was, “I got tired of shoveling all that %*#! snow!”
As for snow, I mercifully have none, and even if I did, I have maintenance men for that. (At least they DO that!)
PS To Jerry in FL: (Now I’ll put my two cents in) The Village seems to run topics in cycles. But the fastest way to change a topic is mention food – this place is full of foodies: egg frying techniques, gumbo, chili, or barbecue, and everyone’s goes Paula Dean or Alton Brown (or that one lady Ghost is in love with). I do think there are a couple of posters that might be trying to make rather sad attempts at a flame war, but mercifully seem to have given up. Persoanlly, I believe if you find something so offensive, you really have no recourse if you keep coming back. As for the adult humor, I don’t think we’ve crossed the line to YouTube just yet. I hope we do not, but I also understand that line gets pretty fuzzy now and again. That said, El Phantsma is a bespangled, over accessorized, guilty pleasure I must indulge.
Overall, I’d say no real harm or foul, but it never hurts to take stock now and again. Hasn’t The Village been commended before on our (relatively) good behavior?
Mindy from Indy on 12 Feb 2013 at 10:41 pm #
Mark in TTown, one aside to having collars on your pets (cat or otherwise) Check with your local humane society about their policies about lost/found pets. Our local “humane society” WILL NOT call you if someone brings in an obviously lost pet with tags. Unless you have a “proper license” (read: paid money to them) on your pet, they will take off any collar/tags, and put your pet up for adoption. According to them, it is your responsibility to find your pet, not theirs to contact you. I lost a cat once; they were not only unhelpful, the one “caretaker” in particular was a down right %*!£€-$@#¥!
Jean in Dahlonega Ga aka Trapper Jean on 12 Feb 2013 at 11:01 pm #
Tom from the Front Range, as “They” say, LOLed!
We didn’t make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but that’s okay. Some friends threw a really great party and we all had a great time. I made the King Cake, and got lots of compliments on it, and yes, it even had the “baby” hidden in it.
I appreciate the way diamonds sparkle, but I don’t necessarily want to own any. I like colored stones better, especially emeralds.
If Husband gave me a giant teddy bear he might find himself buried with it. I do have a photo from my college days in which I am sitting on a sofa next to a teddy bear that must have been 6 feet tall. If I remember correctly it was part of a display at the local Sears store. My friend had to take the picture in a hurry so we could move along before store security chased us out.
Ghost Rider 6 on 13 Feb 2013 at 12:09 am #
Lady Mindy, I fear I must take exception to one of your points… El Phantsma is never, ever over accessorized. And did you really mean to say “%*!£€-$@#¥!”? I thought perhaps you meant “*%&+$#^!!”.
Tell Angus I said “hi”.
P.S. I’m not in love with the lady, I just admire her…well, I just admire her.
Hi, Jean! The recuperation proceeding satisfactorily?
Mindy from Indy on 13 Feb 2013 at 12:25 am #
Sorry Ghost, How about “extensively glamourous?” Angus is well. Seems to be visiting the neighbors tonight – quite the ruckus next door (two squads, four officers, and flying small appliances – impressive.) Will pass along your message the next time he’s around. And either swear works for me – I just cannot fathom some people’s stupidity.
Jerry in Fl on 13 Feb 2013 at 12:37 am #
Mindy, Would you keeep coming back if every day it was nothing but high tech computer stuff or if it was Paula Deen recipes every day. One reason why I wouldn’t bother going to Bourbon Street is once you’ve seen two you’ve seen them all. The same goes for humor. The first time that I heard the Panda joke I thought that it was hilarious; the next 100 times, not so much. Nobody wants to comment on the guy that was tried for murder for killing the killer of his two sons?
Jerry in Fl on 13 Feb 2013 at 12:47 am #
I found out that the incident happened in Texas and the two boys were 11 and 12. I can’t find any further information about the trial.
Mindy from Indy on 13 Feb 2013 at 1:15 am #
Jerry in FL, I don’t believe we are quite that single-minded just yet. I personally have a tendency to fixate on a single subject for a while, once I’ve had my fill of it, I move on. It’s not that I no longer enjoy the subject, something else has likely taken its place. That seems to happen here sometimes as well – food seems to be the universal distraction that allows other tangents to emerge. As for not commenting in the trial, I have a sneaking suspicion a good number of Villagers would be in the same place had something so horrific happened to them. (But I could be wrong.) Two wrongs don’t make right, and sometimes the high road brings no comfort. Texas is probably the best-case scenario for the father, vigilante justice never seems quite out of the question there. (No negative stereotyping intended.)
curmudgeonly ex-professor on 13 Feb 2013 at 3:05 am #
Ah, yes! Mention of the “Victory at Sea” production finds me hearkening back to my young years in New York City. At a neighbor’s place, I managed to see most, if not, all, of the series the first tim around in the very early ’50s. The music was/is amazing and also well done. A year or two ago, my son gave me the disc with the entire series and I hastened to play it once for the music (while we were dining two rooms away) and then for the visuals. The “Guadalcanal March” is stirringly upbeat. Any history buff would enjoy it, as would persons interesed in seeing what naval conflicts involve – or a fan of nice music, for that matter.
I still recall the school friend whose parents had a TV (my family did not) and let me in to see things upon occasion. Unfortunately, although I found him a few years ago, he has not wished to communicate with me. So be it.
Cats: We have been owned by several cats, usually one at a time, but by co-owners for a few years when we inherited my late FIL’s feline while already one was in residence. None of our cats showed any tendencies to escape to the outdoors – I mean, zip tendency!. Sure, on occasion one might walk through the open door, but the miscreant-to-be simply walked a few feet or merely laid down on the cement. One of us would stroll out and lug the lump back in. We did have them declawed – not so much that we had valuable furniture (we didn’t), but we did have kids as young as newly-born.
The final cat was a certified nut case as told by my BIL, the vet. Every so often it would go out of its little pointed head. Claws left on that might have resulted in bloody damage, even though our kids were then plenty old enough to fend for themselves. That was the only cat which ever bit me, causing a grossly infected finger, a trip to the ER, the sawing off of my wedding band, the forgetting of my tetanus shot (by the ER staff – later correctly given), and some smallish amount of pain. Why was I bitten? I had leaned over and picked up said feline and held it down while I opened the door. Apparently, it didn’t like being held down, even mildly, although it was not struggling. This was one of the few times when it walked through an open door and laid down a few feet away.
Topics herein: I agree with those who think we might be getting too saucy at times. Overdoing such is not “adult”; it is juvenile.
curmudgeonly ex-professor on 13 Feb 2013 at 3:07 am #
“time”, not “tim”….
Mindy on 13 Feb 2013 at 3:53 am #
FOOD?????????? Oh, boy! FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!
Debbe59 on 13 Feb 2013 at 4:07 am #
Ah…a good morning to all Villagers….
Yesterday at work, I gave my co-worker my peace of mind…and it worked. It’s all in the tone of your voice, acknowledging her stressful home life, and there was really no reason to act “this way”….after all, this is what team work is all about. After that she was Miss Chatty Cathy
About had a breakdown yesterday GR..I realized at the end of the day I had not heard Junior crowing, looked in his cage, and..no Junior!!. I EVEN sifted through the dead hen bin thinking someone (the boss) had “terminated” him. But, suddenly we heard him….er..er…err…..someone had moved him from the top tier of cages, down to a second row of cages, same aisle. He is so loud, we knew it would get him trouble, but the “boss’ knows how I feel. I had to check the live mouse traps one day….found a live one. I couldn’t ‘drown’ it, I carried it by it’s tail, handed it over to the boss, and he quipped. “you’ll carry them to me but you won’t kill them?” he grinned. He said he respected my “I can’t kill anything that has a heart beat”. So, he just ‘squished’ it, and pushed in down into the pit….I had my back turned. All I could think of was Mr. Bojangles from the Green Mile.
Tom and Dave…..thanks for the hearty laughs this morning…..
And a tarty day to you Mindy…gosh, I got to give you my address so you can send me, by postal service, one of your tarts.
The overly stuffed Teddy Bear…..give me the cash instead
My cats would just want to “mark” it…….
Ya’ll have a blessed day……..
=^..^=
Mindy on 13 Feb 2013 at 5:09 am #
Good morning, Debbe! [Hugs!] Odd you should say that, John insists that I’m his tart…FOOOOOD!
John in Virginia on 13 Feb 2013 at 5:11 am #
I asked Mindy what was so special about those $100 Teddy Bears, asked if they are anatomically correct or something….sometimes she has no sense of humor, but she made it clear, anatomically impossible or not, that she didn’t want any (^(*^*#+)% stuffed bears. So I got her a stuffed ______.
Debbe59 on 13 Feb 2013 at 5:32 am #
Tart….eh John?
Debbe59 on 13 Feb 2013 at 5:36 am #
Never was one to make much out of Valentine’s day….don’t waste your money on chocolate, flowers, jewelry….just give me $$$$$$…it makes the world go around.
Read somewhere that the movie ‘Cabaret’ is celebrating 40 years. Great movie, loved the scene where Joel Grey and Liza did the “money song”.
Mindy on 13 Feb 2013 at 6:53 am #
Debbe, John read your $$$$$$ comment and took it to heart. He handed me a $5-bill. Then he asked for change. Then he ran out of the house, grabbing his coat and cap on the way, saying he had to make a trip to the bank.
Dave in MA on 13 Feb 2013 at 6:56 am #
Blinky the Wonder Wombat, declawing is cruel. It doesn’t remove just the claw, it removes most of the toe the claw is attached to.
And if your cat is going to be going outside (a bad idea in most parts of the U.S. these days) then declawing it also leaves it with no defenses.
Ghost Rider 6 on 13 Feb 2013 at 7:02 am #
Good morning, Debbe. You’re right; the great thing about being gifted with money is that it’s always the right size and the right color. Even if, like clothing, it could sometimes stand to be a little larger. Or, in the case of Valentine’s attire, a little smaller.
Glad to hear Junior is still…crowing.
Would “cherry tart” be an oxymoron?
Blinky the Wonder Wombat on 13 Feb 2013 at 7:07 am #
Dave in MA-
Yet it’s the clawed outdoor domestic cats that are decimating the native wildlife. What solution do you suggest for those who insist on letting their kitties wander?
Dave in MA on 13 Feb 2013 at 7:15 am #
As for declawing because of young children, a young child will do something, get swatted by the claws and stop immediately because it hurts. If the cat is declawed, the young child may do the same thing, get swatted by soft paws, think the cat is playing, continue to do it until the cat has enough and bites. The bite is ALWAYS worse than the scratch, and in many cases brings severe infection and sometimes even death. I’d much rather have the cat scratch my baby.
sandcastler on 13 Feb 2013 at 7:49 am #
Wow JJ editorializing and everyone hung up on the cost of V Day. Guess I will head over to the other site and discuss the meaning of life with the Polish PhD.
Mindy from Indy on 13 Feb 2013 at 9:18 am #
Very funny Mindy.
You’ve brought to mind a scene from the movie “Twister,” where everyone gangs up on Helen Hunt’s character for a detour to her aunt’s for breakfast. And while I sure you understand I did not mean “food as topic changer” in such a simplistic way, looking back through this site shows we tend to wander down the food court when the subject is brought up. True story: I was looking for a recipie someone had posted here, I went back a fair bit in search of it. I ultimately copies multiple pages of tips and recipes before I found the one that prompted the search, and while food might have been the dominate subject, it was never the “only” subject.
Re: Valentine’s Day – it, weddings, and wedding receptions are the biggest money suck I can think of outside of politicians and “reality stars.” Save the money for a home, reliable transportation, and emergencies.
sandcastler, I still have to read up about the historical angle to Mardi Gras. I’ve always thought of Mardi Gras as the “get all the crazies out before Lent” party. The meaning of life? I would be interested in reading your thoughts on the subject. However, I will be visiting family the next couple of days, and will be without Internet access for that time. I would love a raincheck if you would be so kind as to offer one.
Dave in MA on 13 Feb 2013 at 12:33 pm #
Blinky the Wonder Wombat, in answer to your question, “What solution do you suggest for those who insist on letting their kitties wander?”
Public stockade and torture for letting their cats out of the house.
Dave in MA on 13 Feb 2013 at 12:35 pm #
Mindy from Indy, I have it on REALLY good authority that the answer to the question of “The meaning of life?” (the universe, AND everything!) is “42″
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