We were talking yesterday about the online fundraising entity “Kickstarter.” There are many sites out there these days for the suddenly popular practice of “crowdfunding.” It isn’t so different from old-fashion panhandling, except you do it on the Web. I chose Kickstarter for our experiment, because it has been around; it’s a pioneer. Plus, they have real people in a real office somewhere in San Francisco. Several other things make Kickstarter different. It primarily serves creative projects, projects that supposedly have an appeal and a benefit to more than the supplicant. The biggest difference, however, is that fund raisers set a goal for a Kickstarter campaign at the outset, and if that goal is not met, no money is collected. I’m not sure why that’s a good thing, but it seems reasonable to me. Potential donors don’t get nickeled and dimed to death, I suppose. If the goal is exceeded, that is,well… exceedingly good.
It will work something like this. Readers, hereafter referred to as “you,” will not be buying anything. You will be contributing money to the project. More about that later. However, if you contribute at certain levels, you will receive a “reward.” Much more about that later, too. For example, you might choose to receive an Arlo & Janis back scratcher as a reward for pledging $25. Or more. (Did you catch that last part?) But don’t get excited; the back scratcher is just an example. More tomorrow.
182 responses to “Mr. Strand Man”
Good for you, Jerry!
I had been thinking for a few months that I should get another car. I was going to have go to an out-of-town meeting recently and decided that perhaps I should get more serious about this. To make a long story short… I was interested in a 2015 Nissan Versa but was able to get a 2016 model for the same price! I absolutely love it! Handles wonderfully and gets 40 mpg. Just the practical thing that I need. God is good.
Today is Father’s Day. My dad passed on September 18, 2007, and I wrote the piece below for the minister to read at his funeral.
The Father’s Hands
The hands cradle the newborn babe for the first time, and the man becomes a father.
The father’s hands hold the boy’s tiny hands as he takes his first trembling steps, and the father smiles with pride and joy as his son smiles up at him.
The father’s hands scoop up the boy after he has fallen and smooth away the tears.
The father’s hands guide the boy as he prepares to solo on his bike for the first time. Although they want to hold on forever, they still let go so that the boy can take the first step of going away.
The father’s hands give the car keys to the boy, and the father wonders how his baby grew up overnight.
The father’s hands grow old but are never too tired to help his son.
The father’s hands now are still, but they will always cradle his son, guiding him, protecting him, loving him eternally.
Excellent Rick.
And good for you Galliglo. I’ve always wondered about your name. Where did it come from and how is it pronounced?
Rick that is beautiful. I never had a father and that is as sad now as then.
Jerry that is fantastic. Everyone should own at least one convertible and one pickup truck in their lives.
Gal see above but practical can be good too.
Am awake but struggling. Don’t think I will make the gym but may.
Am sorting the seeds we can add to garden still, like squash, cucumbers, green beans, okra, corn, guoaards,morning glories. My helper has learned you can pull out things and ctnuously replant for nonstop garden.
Looked out yesterday and one of the heirloom tomatoes has exploded through the seven or eight foot trellis and formed a two foot mushroom on top!
Onward through fog.
Rats. I had a comment that wouldn’t post because I’m on the road and apparently was out of cell range right then. now it’s gone. Anyhow welcome back Jackie—take care of yourself. And Rick, I loved your note. The other post said that i lost my dad when I was in college. He was only 54. I’ve missed him all these years.
Yes, Nancy, when I researched my dad’s death in WWII I was able to feel for the first time the human and loved person whose DNA I carry. Hearing stories from his friends (I was 50 at time) of his stock piling cigars for the son he was expecting, the baby blue snow suit he sent for a Louisiana baby, how proud he was at becoming a father and how anxious he was to hear I had arrived. His friend said they smoked the cigars in my honor and that made me smile.
This was one of the most awesome things I ever did. I found my father and for awhile he lived again. I got the list of every single squadron member and last known address from the historian writing about them. I got on phone and called and spoke to all, mechanics, pilots, officers, staff. They remembered him, he was like me it seems.
That was 20 years ago and I think of him at Father’s Day, just as I am now. He contributed more than dna.
Thank you, Rick. That was perfectly said. The first thing I thought of this morning was that this is the twelfth Father’s Day I’ve been without a father. And Jackie, I literally cannot imagine what it would have been like not to have had that man in my life for the years I did.
I’d give anything to have been able to buy him another tie, or soap-on-a-rope, or one of those other tacky Father Day’s gifts. He did claim to like the Old Spice aftershave, though. 🙂
Also good to know that Jackie didn’t go Tango Uniform, either.
You must not have been around when I previously clarified my moniker. I live in Gallia County in SE Ohio, and my real name is Gloria. My “Jerry”, who passed away last year, gave it to me. He wrote a newspaper column and a blog and created the nickname to use when he referred to me in his ramblings. It is pronounced ” galley glo”. When I see that name on here, I remember his humor and wit, his gentleness, the precious time we had together… Sometimes when I am worn to a frazzle at work, I think of him and how proud he would be of me. He was a firm believer of using ones talents and skills as long as possible. He was on his way to the computer to work on a story when he collapsed. He probably would have preferred to have had his fingers on the keyboard!
A Convertible Story
Mine was an immaculate Chevy Chevelle convertible, red with white top and white interior I bought from the original owner. I kept it for many years and then gave it to the son of the original owner to restore for his son.
Some of you may know that parades are a Southern staple, for high school homecomings, Independence Days, Christmases, etc. And the parade organizers are always on the lookout for convertibles to carry people in their parades. I agreed to drive mine in a number of them, but with one stipulation…beauty queens only, no fat politicians or local dignitaries. So I got to meet and drive some very attractive young ladies over the years. And in case one ever gets to do that, one should remember that when a beauty queen rides on the rear deck of one’s convertible with her feet resting on the rear seat, what one see’s in the rear view mirror is often quite fascinating.
When Millionaire Widow Lady bought me in the bachelors’ auction, part of the package was that I take her on a “special date”. I told her we would drive to the nearest port city where we could take a twilight dinner/dance riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River. I then told her we could go in my Caddy or in the convertible. She immediately chose the convertible, which I figured told me something about her.
What it didn’t tell me, but I learned later, was that one item on her bucket list involved the backseat of a convertible under a full moon. The rest, as they say, is history.
I miss her, too.
GR… (((Hugs)))
It’s a full moon tonight. I was driving due east and saw a full white moon in front of me. Looked back west in mirror and there was a brilliant red sun dynamically positioned same height in the west.
Can’t tell you where I wished I was seeing that but I can tell you it wasn’t where I was.
Life isn’t fair, is it?
Yep. Summer solstice and the Strawberry Moon.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/summer-solstice-2016-when-is-it-date-longest-day-what-why-strawberry-full-moon-stonehenge-a7089941.html
Not sure why they refer to that as “a once in a lifetime event”. It would seem that Jackie, for instance, has lived through two of them.
Debbe 😉 I’ll explain this one sometime later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CeX5VEo10c
Please advise the next time you are going up for auction for a charity Ghost. I will phone in a bid should I not have time to attend in person. It works for art and antiques. Don’t know why it wouldn’t for men?
Do they still do that? Last time I saw that was in movie Double Indemnity which didn’t end well.
But we know you are the good guy.
My Facebook friends sure seem a lot like the Village. Wonder why? Here’s a comic related post I am sharing that we can all relate to and laugh.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1023478694367221&id=100001152990798
Seriously even you Miss Charlotte, follow this one.
Well poop pooh. It didn’t work. Mark, work your magic. It is my friend Johnny Minnis and the aged cartoon characters of all our favorites.
It won’t let me copy them here. Maybe because they are cartoons?
Neither have I heard of a bachelor auction in years, Jackie. Perhaps they became politically incorrect.
However, if I ever have the opportunity, I’ll make arrangements for a phone-in bid. I pretty sure they accepted VISA and MasterCard even back then. (And no, not so long ago that it was BankAmeriCard and MasterCharge.) I do arrange good “special dates”, if I do say so myself, so that alone should be worth the price of admission. 😉
And if Debbe is interested, perhaps I can arrange for a barter option, so she could bid some double-yoker eggs for me. 🙂
You know those two sailboats and lodging and meals I am funding down in Texas for a donation no longer even come with a date. Although I have to admit the first date was so spectacular it’d be hard to top.
Maybe we can find some charity dear to your heart that doesn’t involve weeks of sawdust and sweat like boat building. In other words, no Habitat for Humanity projects.
Find a politically correct and creative way. Remember the box lunches and pies our ancestresses used to raise money? I once got $2,000 for a catered chili dinner back in the 1970s that I donated to our church auction. That was the recipe that began “Take the hind quarter of a deer and bone it.”
Good morning Villagers….
Good, Jackie’s back…was a little worried about you girl. This heat is very serious, and when one is out in it or working in it, one needs to stay hydrated and not overdue anything.
I am packing slower and taking a couple of breaks instead of hitting it hard and fast. I don’t get paid enough to sweat my a$$ off just to get in cheep eggs (lol). Went into store the other day and jumbo eggs were .99 cents per dozen. So, GR 😉 , it would take a whole lotta double yolkers to even start that bid 🙂
Rick, thank you for sharing your memory of your Father’s poem. It was very heart felt.
Tried to call mine yesterday….as usual he was out running around…and one of these days we’re going to have to take his keys away….his Doctor has already said he should not be driving. I worry about the other driver. But most of all, my Dad.
Well, that stinking Unit 5 is at it again. Chain broke, and the bottom two belts are ‘dead in the water’, with a whole lotta eggs on them….going to be a long day too, have to go shopping for supplies. Going to $ General, and they have remodeled and now I have no idea where anything is….you’d be surprised how much ‘stuff’ they can cram into a small building. I hate shopping.
ya’ll have a blessed day….
GR 😉 know any one by this name….a little something to jump start your Monday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRDivUb5EeA