Povey Prattle

I am a curmudgeon.   That’s fine with me. Just over a week ago I went into my local Of—e M-x store to get some art supplies for my Church School Class. A clerk greeted me with these words: “So what brings you to Off—ce M-x today?” I was tempted to say “I need 2lbs of Barbecued Baby Back Ribs”. Instead I fobbed her off with a smile and an off-handed wave. This morning I was at my locale Tar—t store to buy some kitty litter.  As we completed the transaction the store clerk said “Have a marvellous afternoon”.  I wondered how these words would ring for a customer had recently experienced a terrible tragedy such as the death of family member, or a diagnosis of some dread disease. Some supermarket clerks have been trained by management to ask "Did you find everything you needed?" The other week when asked this question I responded with a firm “NO”. The young clerk was nonplussed until I added “I did not find the meaning of life” Then he gri...

I drove down to Sam’s Auto Repair on Lockwood Ridge Road this morning. I took my car there for some routine maintenance. Penne came with me.  She loves to ride in the car. After leaving my car at Sam’s, she and I walked home. It’s a 1 ½ mile walk which is easily achievable in half an hour. Penne was in dog heaven.  This was new territory for her.  So many new things to see, and more importantly -  so many new and interesting smells. It was a wonderful adventure for Penne. -------------------------------------------------- And by the way:-  Sam’s is an old fashioned (AAA listed) auto repair business. I, and many others, trust them to be very efficient and not horribly expensive. It’s nice to recommend a locally owned and trustworthy business. And as an AAA member I got a reduction of 10% in labour costs.

This blog is on hiatus for a wee while

1. "Google” the host of my blog “Povey Prattle” has determined that I have exhausted my allowance of free photo’s (to be stored by Google and then added to my blog). Google has asked me to pay $2.50 per month to enable me to add more photo’s to the blog.  I have not yet decided to pay this fee.  Please be patient if Povey Prattle no longer includes photo’s BLEAH 2. When my nephew Sam was here from England last year we went “jet-skiing” on the intra-coastal water way. I allowed Sam to drive the jet ski, and he, the little turd, made sure that I was tossed off the jet-ski and into the water,!  Ha Ha!.    I had to swim back to the jet-ski. After our giggles and laughter I announced (with great relief) that my watch was still ticking. A few days ago I slipped and fell. The fall stopped my watch. But I was able to restart it soon afterwards. On Friday morning 3rd August 2012 I stepped into my shower, and in a moment of thoughtlessness I forgot to remov...

It arrives in the mail a couple of times each year in an “official” looking envelope. “It” is an offer to test the water from my tap – free of charge. “Free of charge” – now that’s a bargain! Except that: 1. I do not believe that my tap water needs testing. 2. I am as certain as I can be that the proffered test would find grievous deficiencies in my tap water. 3. The test would be free – but the “testers” would try to convince me that I am at risk of a thousand and one illnesses, unless and until I install their “water purification system” (at a huge cost). Sadly enough there is a sucker born every minute. I am not one of them, but this tantalising direct mail solicitation probably pays on the fears of many folks, and then entices them to fork up many dollars for water purification systems which they do not need. That’s my opinion!

At 6:41 and 25 seconds (U.S. Eastern Time) this morning (3rd August 2012) as I was walking my dog,  I slipped and fell in my neighbouring  community "Glen Oaks Manor" I slipped on some sand which had been washed out on a side walk during or recent tropical storm. I “suffered” minor abrasions to my left knee and to my left arm.  I broke the fall on the fleshy part of my right hand. It is now a bit swollen. The greater injury was to my dignity. My fall was observed by two other early morning dog walkers. They were appropriately concerned, but entirely relieved when I told them that all was well.   They were able to smile when I assured that that I was cold sober at 6:41 and 25 seconds a.m. It’s comforting to know that had I broken or sprained my wrist these other dog walkers would have been there to assist me. My good dog Penne stayed by my side even though I had dropped her leash. BUT THERE WAS A LOVELY KICKER.  For the ...

So --  you’ve  discovered those old films or videos - - the ones you took at a party, or on vacation, or when your children were cuter than they are now.  You watched them once or twice, put them away in your junk drawer or closets, and then forgot all about them. Having discovered them hidden in some dark storage box you do the right thing.  You have them converted to be played on a DVD. Which is exactly what my brother Martyn and his wife Wendy did with their old videos (old being fifteen years ago!).  And they mailed copies of the DVDs to me. I spent a hour or more yesterday afternoon dancing down Memory Avenue. The DVD I watched yesterday (and I have another yet to view) was mostly of family scenes in 1997/98. There was my nephew Sam, then just able to walk - now aged sixteen, grinning as he ran up a footpath.  That made me giggle. There was my neice Laura, now aged twenty-three then aged eight.   She was and is a fearless advent...