"A Pittance of Time". How the Oneida Indian Nation helped George Washington.

Several years back a good friend of mine, Susan Gertson from Eagle Lake, Texas sent me this great song/video by Terry Kelly, and on or around Veterans Day since then I make sure I post it for all to enjoy. This Veterans Day 11/11/11 at approximately 1100 hours (11AM), please take a brief  couple of moments to remember and reflect on those who gave some or all for the freedoms we have today.


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One of the United States first allies, The Oneida Indian Nation.

For the past 10 years or so, The Oneida Indian Nations Turning Stone Casino & Resort in Oneida, NY holds a completely free Veterans Day Appreciation Breakfast open to all Veterans and their families. This breakfast isn't a standard buffet type serve yourself meal that one might expect, it's a sit down affair and meals are served personally by almost 100 servers. The meals being served are top shelf as well, consisting of various fruit cups/appetizers to Eggs Benedict and fine meats.

BTW, when this Appreciation Breakfast was first begun, only about 60-70 folks first attended. Today, this meal takes their largest Diningroom and serving staff in that well over 500 Vets and their family members now attend!!

A fact that this Veteran didn't know until about 6-7 years ago was that when George Washington and his men were starving and freezing at Valley Forge, PA, an Oneida Nation Clan mother and about 11 "braves" walked the 220 miles through deep snow, blizzards and swollen rivers/creeks to bring them very badly needed corn, food and blankets to help them. Washington was known to have said that had this brave and generous act not occurred, we might have a much different history today and would probably be speaking "the Kings English".

Over the history of our country, The Oneida's have a rich and lengthy tradition of having many men serving in our nation's militarys and Navys from The Revolutionary War to present day. Thier involvement in our nations history is really quite interesting.

The size of the Turning Stone Casino rivals any other native american casino's anywhere in the nation. There are several Pro Golf Courses on Casino property where Tiger Woods and other well known pro golfers have competed. The entertainment theaters book big name entertainers. About a month ago, the wife and myself saw Bill O'Reilly, and are looking forward to a "Four Seasons" show coming in December.

Now Sir, If'n you and the Mrs. (or maybe not the Mrs.) are looking for a place to spend a great weekend, The Turning Stone Casino/Resort is your place.

Well Sir, time t'begin think'n about Brine'n that upcome'n turkey meal.

Ya gotta excuse Cookie's absence over the past several days. Been fight'n some nasty bug that really knocked me socks off.

OK, now sir, in case ya ain't never brined a turkey let me tell ya that it will make all the difference in the world regard'n taste, tenderness and cooking time, and its actually quite simple. Over these past many years I have found this particular recipe to be the best and have received the most compliments about.

TURKEY BRINING RECIPE’

This poultry brine is perfect for the holiday turkey. By using vegetable stock you get extra flavor with a mild saltiness that makes for a perfect brine.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
• 2 cups Kosher or coarse salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 gallon vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon allspice berries (crushed slightly)
• 1/2 tablespoon candied ginger
• 1 gallon ice water

Preparation:

Pour vegetable stock into a large pot over a high heat. Add salt, brown sugar, and spices. Bring to a light boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Pour in ice water and stir to combine.

Place turkey in a large container (at least 4 gallon), or a brining bag that will fit your turkey. Pour brine over top. Refrigerate and brine for 1 hour per pound.

Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey before cooking. Otherwise there will be a salty flavor to the turkey.

Tuesday Tidbits

It's people like this that scare the live'n shit right outta me that they will re-elect Obozo. This woman is an excellent reason why stupid people shouldn't be allowed to vote!!!


_________________________________

Why weapons and stupidity don't mix well.


____________________________________

"Religion of Peace" my ass!!!


____________________________________

Monday mania .....

Well Sir, this idiot was right once.
This is just too good... ha ha ha
Be sure to check out where the "quote" came from.

The Quote of the Decade:

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that, "the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”~

Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006!
(...it was so nice of him to give us this great quote for posterity!)
______________________________

We men are just sooooo sensitive...

The room was full of pregnant women with their partners. The class was in
full swing. The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe and was
telling the men how to give the necessary help and assurance to their
partners at this stage of the pregnancy.


She said, "Ladies, remember that exercise is good for you. Walking is
especially beneficial. It strengthens the pelvic muscles and will make
delivery that much easier. Just pace yourself, make plenty of stops and try
to stay on a soft surface like grass or a path."


She looked at the men in the room, "Gentlemen, remember -- you're in this
together. It wouldn't hurt you to go walking with her. In fact, that shared
experience would be good for you both."


The room suddenly got very quiet as the men absorbed this information.


After a few moments, a man named Mac at the back of the room slowly
raised his hand.


"Yes," said the Instructor.


"I was just wondering if it would be all right if she carries a golf bag
while we walk?"


---- Brings a tear to your eye doesn't it? This kind of sensitivity just
can't be taught.
________________________________

Ahhhhh the wisdom of the ages.

A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time.

To check it out, she went to the Wall, and there he was, walking slowly up to the holy site.

She watched him pray, and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane and moving very slowly, she approached him for an interview.

"Pardon me Sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. What's your name?

"Morris Feinberg," he replied

"Sir, how long have you been coming to the Wailing Wall to pray?"

"For about 60 years."

"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"

"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims."

"I pray for all the wars and all the hatred to stop."

"I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man."

"And how do you feel Sir, after doing this for 60 years?"

"It's like talking to a fucking brick wall."
______________________________

Being Halloween, I thought this appropriate for the time of year.

ADULT CONTENT!!!


Best Comeback Line Ever..........well, you decide!

Police work must be entertaining as well as dangerous.

In summary, the police arrested Patrick Lawrence, 22 year old white male, in a pumpkin patch 12.01 a.m. on Friday.

On Monday, at the Gwinnett County (GA) courthouse, Lawrence was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior, public indecency, and public Intoxication.

The suspect explained that as he was passing a pumpkin patch on his way home from a drinking session when he decided to stop, "You know how a pumpkin is soft and squishy inside, and there was no one around for miles or at least I thought there wasn't anyone around," he stated in a telephone interview.

Lawrence went on to say that he pulled over to the side of the road, picked out a pumpkin that he felt was appropriate to his purpose, cut a hole in it, and proceeded to satisfy his alleged need.

"Guess I was really into it, you know?" he commented with evident embarrassment.

In the process of doing the deed, Lawrence failed to notice an approaching police car and was unaware of his audience until Officer Brenda Taylor approached him.

"It was an unusual situation, that's for sure," said Officer Taylor. "I walked up to Lawrence and he's just banging away at this pumpkin." Officer Taylor went on to describe what happened when she approached Lawrence.

"I said, 'Excuse me sir, but do you realize that you're having sex with a pumpkin?' He froze and was clearly very surprised that I was there, and then he looked me straight in the face and said,

"A pumpkin? Shit...is it midnight already?"
______________________________________

Ohhh, now I understand what OWS is all about!

________________________

Wanna knock his teeth out?

A bowling alley in Clearwater , Florida ,
Bowl-O-Bama , is doing record business despite a bad economy.
The alley also reports a record number of 300 games.
Since opening in November 2010, 963 patrons have bowled a perfect game,
including strikes in the warm-up frames.
This alley also has the highest bowling league average in the country, with a 237.

And that's the Senior League.

I love my country,

It's the Government I'm afraid of.
____________________________

...and this'll piss y'all off fer sure!!!

An old Movie frum the "Way-Back" machine....

But first......

The new Miss Kentucky

This picture that will haunt her for the rest of her life:

Make-up and hair style .................. $500

New dress for the show ..................$700

Giant stuffed bear ................... $300

Not knowing how to hold the bear with a microphone in her hand

.....Priceless!!!
_____________________________

How many of y'all remember this old movie & song??


______________________________

How many remember the old Ma & Pa Kettl;e movies??


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Only in Texas will ya ever hear a great commercial like this!!!!



Thank ya Missy Susan frum Eagle Lake, Texas

Tuesday Tidbits...

Ronny...this says it all!!!


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An OBG most of ya probably never heard before....

"The Sheriff of Boone County"


______________________________

Yupper, I really like this guy!!!

You are never too old to make a difference.

As we get older we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to
"make a difference" in the world. It is at these times that
our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of
other "seniors" who have found the courage to take on
challenges that would make many of us wither.

Harold Schlumberg is such a person:

QUOTE FROM HAROLD:

"I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that
you're retired?' Well, I'm fortunate to have a chemical
engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most
is converting beer, wine and vodka into urine.

Then I piss on a photo of Obama!

I do it every day and I really enjoy it."

Harold is an inspiration to us all.
_________________________________

WHY MANY ATHLETES CAN'T HAVE REGULAR JOBS:

1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model:
"I wan' all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the
kids to copulate me."

2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season:
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."

3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skin's say:
"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl,"
Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."

4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins:
"He treat us like mens. He let us wear earrings.."

5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann:
"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like
Norman Einstein."

6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh :
"I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."
(Now that is beautiful)

7. Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach:
"You guys line up alphabetically by height.."
And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a
circle."

8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison:
"Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for
three years, not Princeton ."

9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a
color photo of himself above his locker:
"That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my
clothes."

10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of
heavyweight Andrew Golota:
"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning, regardless of
what time it is."

11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to
Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice:
"My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an
uncle or an aunt.
(I wonder if his IQ ever hit room temperature in January)

12. Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player:
"I asked him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?'
He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"

13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D:
"Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."

14. In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford:
"I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious."

15. Former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob
Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips,
Phillips responded: "Because she's too damn ugly to kiss good-bye."

"I am The Tea Party", and a GREAT beer commercial! Some "Way-Back" frum the 50's.

Just in case y'all don't know where I stand.....


____________________________

Great beer commercial!!! What would YOU do???


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...and frum "the Way-Back Machine" we've got these two classic songs and movies...

Sunday Sundries...

As some of y'all may know, a NASA satellite is due to fall to earth this weekend but scientists just aren't exactly sure where. Well here might be the answer...


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Classes for Women at

THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED

By Nov 15, 2011

NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL

OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.

Class 1

Up in Winter, Down in Summer - How to Adjust a Thermostat

Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.

Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hrs beginning at 7:00 PM..

Class 2

Which Takes More Energy - Putting the Toilet Seat Down, or Bitching About It for 3 Hours?

Round Table Discussion.

Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3

Is It Possible To Drive Past a Wal-Mart Without Stopping?--Group Debate.

Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4

Fundamental Differences Between a Purse and a Suitcase--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.

Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5

Curling Irons--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Bathroom Cabinet?

Examples on Video.

Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning

At 7:00 PM

Class 6

How to Ask Questions During Commercials and Be Quiet During the Program

Help Line Support and Support Groups.

Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7

Can a Bath Be Taken Without 14 Different Kinds of Soaps and Shampoos?

Open Forum.

Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8

Health Watch--They Make Medicine for PMS - USE IT!

Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9

I Was Wrong and He Was Right!--Real Life Testimonials.

Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.

Class 10

How to Parallel Park In Less Than 20 Minutes Without an Insurance Claim.

Driving Simulations.

4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11

Learning to Live--How to Apply Brakes Without Throwing Passengers Through the Windshield.

Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12

How to Shop by Yourself.

Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Upon completion of ANY of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.
___________________________

A major Oooops!

Some Friday Pot Pourri

Now here be a political commercial I really like......


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...and frum the "Way-Back" machine we have......





...and fer those of you way too young t'remember, this was the ORIGINAL movie "The Thing" frum 1951. I was 7 years old when I saw this and it scared the live'n shot outta me fer quite a few years.

How prophetic was this 63 year old cartoon???

I'm sure as y'all watch it you'll see the parallels hapen'n in t'days society!!



Gotta thank my old High School buddy Ken Blanchard fer send'n this along to us.

Eggplant Parmesean.

Well Sir, its that time of the year to start warm'n up the kitchen oven fer various meals. Now Sir, one of the meals I absolutely love is a great Eggplant Parmesan.

Now Sir, in truth, this particular recipe is kind of a pain in the ass to make, HOWEVER, the end result is well worth the effort.

Eggplant Parmesan

Cookie's Note: **The trick to a great Eggplant Parmesan is to drain the eggplant slices of excess moisture first, before cooking. By doing this the slices absorb all the great flavors of the sauce and spices. Use only good Olive oil for frying!!**

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs (about 2 large) eggplants
• Kosher salt
• 1 28oz can Hunts Garlic & Onion Sauce
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• Garlic flavored Olive oil (if available to you)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 – 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1-2 cups Panko Italian breadcrumbs
• 4-6 large eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 lbs of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
• 1 cup grated high quality Parmesan cheese
• 1 packed cup fresh basil leaves

METHOD

1) After peeling the eggplants, cut eggplants crosswise into 1/4 inch slices. Arrange one layer in the bottom of a large colander and sprinkle evenly with salt. Repeat with remaining eggplant, salting, until all eggplant is in the colander. Weigh down the slices with a couple of plates and let drain for 2 hours. The purpose of this step is to have the eggplant release some of its moisture before cooking.

2) While the eggplant is draining, prepare tomato sauce. Combine minced garlic and Hunts Sauce. Season with salt and pepper (perhaps some sugar to cut the acid) to taste and set aside.

3) When eggplant has drained, press down on it to remove excess water, wipe off the excess salt, and lay the slices out on paper towels to remove all the moisture. Place flour in a wide, shallow bowl, and breadcrumbs in another. Pour beaten eggs into another wide shallow bowl. Place a large, deep skillet over medium heat, and pour in a a half inch of olive oil. When oil is shimmering, dredge the eggplant slices first in the flour, then in the beaten egg, then in bread crumbs. Working in batches, slide coated eggplant into hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once. Drain on paper towels.

4) Preheat the oven to 350°F. In the bottom of a 10x15 inch glass baking dish, spread 1 cup of tomato sauce. Top with one third of the eggplant slices. Top eggplant with half of the mozzarella slices. Sprinkle with one third of the Parmesan and half of the basil leaves.

5) Make a second layer of eggplant slices, topped by 1 cup of sauce, remaining mozzarella, half the remaining Parmesan, and all of the remaining basil. Add remaining eggplant, and top with the remaining tomato sauce and Parmesan.

6) Bake until cheese has melted and the top is slightly brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 8.

"Remembering The Brave....."

Back in the early 50's, my brother Bob joined the US Marine Corps and served in Korea during "The Forgotten War". He joined as a teenager and returned home as a man, especially after the landing at Inchon! He later went on to become an Air Force F-4 Phantom pilot over Vietnam, and retired a full Colonel.

Over the years as I served with the Navy Seabees, and in civilian life working with Veterans organizations, I had the pleasure and honor of serving and working with many Marines and "Old Marines", and I have always had the highest respect for "The Corps".

With only one exception whom I recently had the displeasure of working with, all knew the meaning of "Semper Fi" (Always Faithful) and lived their lives as such.

This is a tribute to those who understood the meaning of those words.

In all fairness regard'n The Olive Garden flap.

After posting my article on this blog and sending both a copy of the post and a scathing letter regarding my feelings concerning the flap over the American flag issue, I just received this letter from the CEO of Olive Garden.

"Dear Gene:


We are very sorry for any misunderstanding about this issue. We do not have a policy at Olive Garden concerning bringing the American flag into our restaurants. Some members of our team were misinformed about company policy by our corporate office. As a company we take responsibility for that and we regret it. We take pride in how we communicate to our restaurants and we are correcting this so it doesn’t happen again. Like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes. In fact, we periodically provide American flag collar pins to our employees to wear while serving guests. We welcome anyone who wishes to bring the flag into our restaurants.


Sincerely,


John Caron
President, Olive Garden"

We'll see John, we'll see...........
______________________________________


GARFIELD ON THE OIL CRISIS
YOU GOTTA LOVE GARFIELD 'S EXPLANATION -- TOO CUTE & ALSO TOO TRUE!!!

A lot of folks can't understand how we came to have an oil shortage here in our country.
~~~
Well, there's a very simple answer.
~~~
Nobody bothered to check the oil.
~~~
We just didn't know we were getting low.
~~~
The reason for that is purely geographical.
~~~
Our OIL is located in:
~~~
ALASKA
~~~
California
~~~
Coastal Florida
~~~
Coastal Louisiana
~~~
Coastal Alabama
~~~~
Coastal Mississippi
~~~~
Coastal Texas
~~~
North Dakota
~~~
Wyoming
~~~
Colorado
~~~
Kansas
~~~
Oklahoma
~~~
Pennsylvania
~~~
And
~~~
Texas
~~~
Our dipsticks are located in DC
~~~
Any Questions? NO? Didn't think So.

The great AARP betrayal!!

I've been watch'n this AARP situation closely fer some time now just to make sure I've got all the correct facts, and now I know that if'n yur an AARP member, Ya been grossly sold out and betrayed mates!!!

Just look into the facts for yurself amigos.

Cut up yur card like John McCain says and join AMAC.


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Olive Garden bans American Flag!

The below video is, to my knowledge, the only remaining video on the Internet covering the fact that Olive Garden will not allow the American Flag in their restaurants, all the other videos seem to have been recently removed. Olive Garden must have gone into over-drive to get all the pertinent videos off the Internet. You don't have to watch the entire video, only the beginning of this particular video deals with the Olive Garden situation.

Needless to say, this old Warhorse won't be visiting any Olive Gardens any time soon!!!



My Grandfather watched as his friends died in WW I...

My Father watched as his friends died in WW II and Korea ....

I watched as my friends died in Vietnam ...

None of them died for the Mexican Flag...

Everyone died for the U.S. flag...

In Texas , a student raised a Mexican flag on a school flag pole; another student took it down.

Guess who was expelled...

the kid who took it down.

Kids in high school in California were sent home this year on Cinco de Mayo because they wore T-shirts with the American flag printed on them.

Enough is enough.

The below e-mail message needs to be viewed by every American;
and every American needs to stand up for America .

We've bent over to appease the America-haters long enough...

I'm taking a stand...

I'm standing up because the hundreds of thousands who died fighting in wars for this country, and for the U.S. flag can't stand up...

And shame on anyone who tries to make this a racist message...


Let me make this perfectly clear!

THIS IS MY COUNTRY!

And, because I make This statement

DOES NOT

Mean I'm against immigration!!!

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, IN MY COUNTRY!

Welcome!

To come through legally:

1. Get a sponsor!

2. Get a place to lay your head!

3. Get a job!

4. Live By OUR Rules!

5. Pay YOUR Taxes!

And

6. Learn the LANGUAGE like immigrants

have in the past!!!

AND

7. Please don't demand that we hand over our lifetime
savings of Social Security Funds to you.


When will AMERICANS STOP giving away THEIR RIGHTS???

We've gone so far the other way...
bent over backwards not to offend anyone...

But it seems no one cares about the

AMERICAN CITIZEN

that's being offended!

For GOD's sake, WAKE UP America !!!

Be careful who give's y'all a lottery scratch ticket.

Happy Birthday United States Navy.

Why Guns, Fools, Idiots, Children, Alcohol, (or any combination thereof with Guns) DON'T MIX!!

But first......

From the Chief of Police:

I get irritated when people come down on our police officers, saying that they don't care. Well, here is a story that shows not all cops are in that category.

The Pascagoula , MS Police Department reported finding a man's body last Saturday in the Pascagoula River near the I-10 Bridge. The dead man's name would not be released until his family had been notified.

The victim apparently drowned due to excessive beer consumption while visiting "someone" in Pascagoula . He was wearing black fishnet stockings, a red garter belt, a pink G-string, purple lipstick, and an Obama T-shirt.

The Police removed the Obama T-shirt to spare his family any unnecessary embarrassment.

Police do care.

Thank You
______________________________

Wednesday Wanks

____________________________

_________________________



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A little old lady from Wisconsin had worked in and around her family dairy farms since she was old enough to walk, with hours of hard work and little compensation.

When canned Carnation Milk became available in grocery stores in the 1940s, she read an advertisement offering $5,000 for the best slogan.

The producers wanted a rhyme beginning With 'Carnation Milk is best of all.'

She thought to herself, I know everything there is to know about milk and dairy farms. I can do this! She sent in her entry, and several weeks later, a black car pulled up in front of her house.

A large man got out, knocked on her door and said, "Ma'am,.....The president of Carnation milk absolutely LOVED your entry.....So much, in fact, that we are here to award you $1,000 even though we will not be able to use it for our advertisements!"

He did, however, have one printed up to hang on his office wall.

(Here it is:)

True story!

First two Flight lessons for my granddaughter Paige

Well Sir, Cookie began flying in an old J-3 Piper Cub out of the old Cicero Airport when I was 12 years (1956). I loved it then, I love it now. Earlier this Summer, around June or so, my granddaughter Paige expressed interest in wanting to try her hand at flying, and as you might imagine, Grandpa was elated!!

So, we got her first flight lesson in a Cessna 172 ( first two photygraffs below) out of Waypoint Aviation located at Hancock International Airport at Syracuse NY. Her friend "Cam" was allowed to go along fer free. When she landed after that flight she was just a grin'n and a a grin'n frum ear t'ear. She absolutely loved it and expressed great interest in wanting to continue fly'n.

Now Sir, yesterday, Saturday the 8th of October, I had arranged for a nice surprize fer Paige at the Hamilton, NY airport near Colgate University, a Glider flight lesson. The weather was absolutely perfect with beautiful clear blue skies and 81 degree tempeatues.

In this first photo she's assisting with a pre-flight check of the tow plane.

In this photo, her Mom, Sue watches anxiously as both planes start down the runway on take off.

...a great shot of the tow plane as they begin take off.

Come'n in fer a land'n.

Although she stated that she very much enjoyed the flight and the lesson, she later informed me that she preferred powered flight better and would like to pursue that avenue further. I informed her that after I win the "Mega-Millions" lottery I'll help her with the cost of the lessons.

Fer any of you folks around the central New York area, we booked both flights at Waypoint Aviation, one in Syracuse, one in Hamilton, and I would highly recommend them if'n yur a think'n on get'n flight lesons fer one of yur loved on.
_________________________________

In church on Sunday, I overheard the little old lady in the pew next to me saying a short private prayer. It was so sweet and sincere that I just had to share it with you: 

Dear Lord,
 
These past couple of years have been tough.... You have taken my favorite Actor Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress Elizabeth Taylor, my favorite Cowboy James Arness, my favorite athlete Bob Feller, my favorite singer Lena Horne and my favorite salesman Billy Mays.

I just wanted you to know that my favorite president is Barack Obama.
 
Amen!! 

A little Sunday Swing fer y'all. "The Swing Girls"

Here be a little sumthin t'start yur Sunday off with a great uplifting, foot tap'n beat. "The Japanese Swing Girls"



This one starts a little slow but definately picks up!!


__________________________

"The Rabbi and the Cow".

The only cow in a small town in Poland stopped giving milk. The people did some research and found that they could buy a cow from Moscow for 2,000 rubles, or one from Minsk for 1,000 rubles. Being frugal, they bought the cow from Minsk.

The cow was wonderful. It produced lots of milk all the time, and the people were amazed and very happy. They decided to acquire a bull to mate with the cow and produce more cows like it. Then they would never have to worry about the milk supply again.

They bought a bull and put it in the pasture with their beloved cow. However, whenever the bull came close to the cow, the cow would move away. No matter what approach the bull tried, the cow would move away from the bull and he could not succeed in his quest.

The people were very upset and decided to ask their wise rabbi, what to do. They told the rabbi what was happening. "Whenever the bull approaches our cow, she moves away. If he approaches from the back, she moves forward.

When he approaches her from the front, she backs off. An approach from the side and she just walks away to the other side."

The rabbi thought about this for a minute and asked, "Did you buy this cow from Minsk?"

The people were dumbfounded, since they had never mentioned where they had gotten the cow. "You are truly a wise rabbi," they said.

"How did you know we got the cow from Minsk?"

The rabbi answered sadly, "My wife is from Minsk."

Friday frivolities and a Venison Stew recipe'.

Hmmmm, never quite looked at it this way but Betty's sure got a valid point here.

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Aunt Fannie's Venison Stew.

Now Sir, just about every deer hunter has his/her own "special" recipe' fer Venison Stew, and I'm no different. With that being said, it don't hurt every now and agin to try a different recipe just t'see if it might be sumthin a little better or with a new taste, so, here be Aunt Fannies Venison Stew recipe'.

Aunt Fannie used t'live way up in the boonies of the Adirondack Mountains in upstae New York, and was fortunate enuff to have many neighbors who were avid hunters and gatherers. She relished her frequent gifts of game and fish, and shares this bounty with her  friends. This one-pot meal is designed to make game meats taste as tender, savory and mild as the supermarket beef most folks are accustomed to.

** A Tip Fer Y'all**   If'n ya suspect yur meat cuts might be a little on the tough side, marinade the stew beef cuts in Buttermilk for a day before cooking. Now Sir, Cookie absolutely does not like the taste of Buttermilk, but, the great thing is that after you marinade the meat and wipe dry before cook'n, you won't taste the Buttermilk flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound bacon, sliced into 1/4 inch bits, cooked and drained
• 1 to 2 pounds venison, moose, elk, antelope or buffalo cut into 1 inch cubes (also good with goat, lamb, ostrich, emu, beef or other lean red meat)
• 4 to 6 potatoes cut in large chunks (or turnips or parsnips)
• 6 carrots cut in large chunks
• 1 onion diced
• 3-4 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup red wine (optional)

In a large bowl or bag, toss venison pieces in a mixture of:

• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 teaspoons granulated garlic
• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons savory
• 1 teaspoon basil

In a large Dutch oven (preferably Cast Iron if'n ya got one), add 3 tablespoons bacon drippings or vegetable oil. Heat oil and add garlic and venison cubes coated with flour mixture. Stir and scrape bottom of pan frequently. Cook until browned on all sides. Add wine (or 1/2 cup water) and stir, scraping bottom of pan. Add bacon bits and enough water to cover meat and simmer on low heat until meat is tender (about 1 to 2 hours).

Add potatoes, carrots and onion. Cook until veggies are good and tender.

Serve with fresh, hot biscuits or Texas Toast.

ENJOY MATES!!

Hey there "Mr. President".

Ya gotta love old Ray Stevens!!

Major CNN OOOOOPS!!!!

My buddy Patrick recently sent me this with the attached comment; "Imagine the HUGE outcry from Al and Jesse if'n FOX News network had made this mistake!!"

Wednesday Wanks....

Well Sir, Deer hunt'n in New York State with a dog is highly illegal, but if'n it were like in some other states, this dog would be up fer sale real quick!!



Gotta Thank "Patrick" frum over at "PRH...a day in the life" fer that one.
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Origin of Left and Right

I often wondered why it is that Conservatives are called the "right" and Liberals are called the "left".

By chance I stumbled upon this verse in the Bible:

"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)
Thus sayeth the Lord. Amen.

Can't get any simpler than that.

I always suspected there musta been a good reason I shoulda been read'n the Bible all these past years.

Spell'n lesson:

The last four letters in American......I can
The last four letters in Republican....I can
The last four letters in Democrats......rats
End of lesson.

Test to follow in November, 2012..

Remember, November is to be set aside as rodent extermination month.
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The "BS" Removal Kit!!


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Subject:   Mayo Clinic testSee if you can solve this one. Facial expressions are an important part of the respected Mayo Clinic psychometric test.

In the following pictures you see women with a range of facial expressions.

Study the expressions, and try to imagine what single act each is experiencing.

Then scroll down to see the answer.

They are all about to sneeze!
And by the way......

Gotta Thank "Upstate NIKKI" fer the last two.
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An elderly Irishman is stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and is asked where he is going at this time of night.

The man replies, "I am on me way to a lecture bout alcohol abuse and the effects it has on me body, as well as me smoke'n and stay'n out late."

The officer then asks, "Really? and who might be give'n ya that lecture at this time of the night?"

The man replies, "That would be me wife."


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Yupper, I can see Cookie respond'n this way....

PTSD ( Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ). "Goodbye Vietnam"

PTSD. An acronym many of us suffer from, sometimes diagnosed, sometimes not.

"Goodbye Vietnam"



The History of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an emotional illness that develops when a person is exposed to a highly dangerous, very terrifying, possibly life-threatening event. While most people tend to associate PTSD with soldiers, this emotional disorder can develop in other people who have also experienced extremely stressful events that are outside the range of what is considered to be a normal human experience.

While PTSD has likely been around for centuries, only as recently as 1980 has the American Psychiatric Association (APA) officially added PTSD to its Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The criterion that the American Psychiatric Association uses to diagnose PTSD includes:
•A person has been exposed to a catastrophic event involving actual or perceived death or injury. This event must be characterized by intense fear.
•The duration of the PTSD symptoms last at least a month.
•The person experiences significant occupational, social or other distresses as a result of the PTSD.
•The person starts to avoid anything that will cause them to re-experience the event. He also general experiences a numbing effect that interferes with his personal relationships.
•The person tends to be in a state of hyper arousal that results in him being startled very easily and being vigilant to the point of paranoia.
•The traumatic event persists as a dominating psychological experience, typically causing a person to experience flashbacks of the event from other stimuli.

Early History of PTSD

Because people have been experiencing extremely stressful, potentially life-threatening events for centuries, clearly PTSD is a condition that has plagued humans for quite some time before the APA officially recognized it as an emotional disorder.
In fact, throughout our history, PTSD has been called a number of other different names, including:

•battle fatigue or gross stress reaction for soldiers who came down with PTSD after World War II
•combat fatigue or shell shock for soldiers who experienced PTSD symptoms after World War I
•soldier's heart or "Nostalgia" for soldiers who developed the symptoms of PTSD after the Civil War.

Unfortunately, before the medical community recognized PTSD as a viable emotional disorder, most leaders and doctors thought it was simply nothing more than cowardice or personal weakness.

PTSD in Modern Times

Although PTSD was largely disregarded for decades, the Vietnam War brought significant public attention to this emotional disorder when doctors began to diagnose it as post-Vietnam syndrome. The Vietnam veterans who suffered from this disorder pushed the medical and the military community to recognize it as a legitimate disorder.

Today, about 7 percent to 8 percent of the general population will develop PTSD. These numbers go up significantly for veterans and rape victims, among whom PTSD has anywhere from a 10 percent to 30 percent chance of developing.

PTSD and Popular Culture

The general public has learned a lot about PTSD thanks to the movie and film industry. In fact most people have learned about the syndrome by viewing PTSD in film. Films about the Vietnam War, such as Apocalyse Now, The Deer Hunter and Born on the Fourth of July, have all featured Vietnam veterans who end up having to deal with the issues that come with PTSD. These films have been well-received by audiences, which tells us that, as a culture, humans are very interested in how other people deal with traumatic events in their lives.
Not only has the film industry captured the realities of PTSD, books and novels also explore this subject. Phillip Cavuto wrote A Rumor of War, which is considered to be one of the classic works on the subject of PTSD. In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien is another excellent work about a Vietnam vet who struggles with PTSD.

Current Iraq War PTSD Statistics:
•While less than 10 percent of the general population will develop post-traumatic stress syndrome, one in six soldiers returning from Iraq suffer from it.
•Enlisted men are twice as likely than military officers to report PTSD.
•American women serving in Iraq tend to suffer from more severe and debilitating forms of PTSD.

Cookie's Note:

There once was a very simple description of PTSD that was "A Normal Reaction to an Abnormal Event."

As both a proffesional credentialed Counselor and a person with personal experience in this area, I've treated many with this bane of combat. It should be noted that a person does not have to have been in combat to suffer from PTSD. It can be a result of a life truama such as witnessing something catastropic such as the death of a loved one or friend, or having experienced some form of sexual abuse.

Law Enforcement Officers who have been involved in shootings may develope PTSD or Chronic Stress Disorder from repeatedly being exposed to traumatic scenes and experiences.

If you suspect that yourself, a loved one or a friend may be experiencing PTSD, there is help and treatment, and just as importantly, there is HOPE.
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WOW, is this kid spoiled or what...or is it just me?

Well Sir, over my 67 years I've seen my share of spoiled children, but I believe this takes the cake! Read on and y'all will find out just what the hell a Bantam rooster has to do with a spoiled child.

Cookie lives in a middle class neighborhood, nuthin special, just a nice place to live. On one side of me there is a summer camp owned by a doctor, and a little further down the road resides a professional couple who have a young son about 8 or 9 years old.

Now Sir, both the parents of this child are professional folks with the mother being either a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist, I've never been sure which. Both parents are pleasant to talk with even though they tend to lean somewhat to the "Left" when it comes to political matters, no surprise there.

Over the years as the child has grown up, their yard (a rather large yard) has been completely just chock full of just about every toy known to mankind (some are very expensive), prompting one neighbor to make the remark that "this child has more toys than all my children and grand children put together." Not one neighbor I've ever spoken to has ever seen this child playing with all those many toys.

A few years back he wanted a dog. They got him a dog. We've never seen him playing or walking with it, and when it gets loose and wanders the neighborhood, its the mother or father that go looking for it.

In their yard the father has built the lad a tree house, or should I say a tree "mansion". This thing is damned large as tree houses go and even has a balcony and glassed in windows. No one in the area has ever seen the child playing in or around it. Recently the father began building another large building in the yard which he stated was a "playhouse" for his son. Geesh...give me a break will ya, the kid don't even play with what he's already got! Several neighbors have begun calling this kid "The Prince of blankety-blank road".

I could continue with much more but I think y'all got the picture by now. Now Sir, about a month ago or so I was sit'n on my porch have'n a "cup a joe" and watch'n the sunrise when I heard a sound I haven't heard in many, many a year. A Rooster was crow'n!!!

As a lad, I worked on a large farm frum about age 10 till I was about 15 or 16, and I know the sound of a "Banty" rooster when I hears it. I looked at my wife who'd also heard it and I said, "That's a Banty Rooster. What the hell is a banty rooster doin in this here residential area?"

My first thought was that it had escaped from some nearby farm, after all, this is an "Agriculturally" zoned County we live in. A while later, my wife took a walk up the street to investigate and when she returned informed that the rooster was penned up at "The Prince's" house with two hens. She had spoken with the childs mother and learned the following.

The mother had stated that "The Prince" didn't want anymore eggs from the local stores and that he wanted "Fresh eggs", so, they got him the Rooster and chickens!!!

Well Sir, I recall when I was younger, many parents were following the advice in a book written by one Dr. Spock which basically stated, "give the child whatever he wants." Over the years, both as a cop and a professional Counselor, I dealt with many "adults" who were raised under this philosophy, and for the most part they didn't turn out well, and many experienced severe coping problems when dealing with real life.

I and my wife managed to raise 4 kids on a cops salary. On birthdays and Christmas we managed to give them something they truly wanted but we weren't opulent. We managed to keep good food on the table and nice vacations to different places, but there came times when we had to say no to them. From what Cookie has observed here, I don't think "the Prince" knows the meaning of that word.

Now Sir, is it just me or do I see a child who at some time in the future is going to experience a very rude awakening in life when the realities of life finally set in and someone finally says NO to this kid. From all we've witnessed over the years it would appear that "The Prince" gets just about everything his little heart desires.

BTW, as near as anyone around here can tell, it ain't "The Prince" that cleans up the chicken shit. Its his folks.

Now Sir, when I was grow'n up we were almost always "in the want" fer sumthin or another. Mom & Dad were very hard wurk'n folks who did their best to raise two sons and give us what they could, but I quickly learned that I couldn't have everything I wanted. I'm still pissed off about the Pony I never got!

What'cha all think, is it just me or is this child head'd fer problems a little further down the road? I'd be interested in yur thoughts???
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**Click to Enlarge if'n ya have to**

"Got a Whale of a tale t'tell ya lads..."

Well Sir, here be a true sea story about sumthin that Cookie experienced back in 1965 while standing "Port Topside Lookout" on the Submarine USS Piper(photo in the sidebar). We were running on the surface heading south on what was affectionately known as a "Rum Run" down to various Caribbean Islands. The enlisted crew called these sojourns "Rum Runs" because while down there we would purchase as much Rum and other alcohol spirits as we could afford at "Duty Free", and inexpensive prices, and sell the booze when we returned, usually making a hefty profit.

At any rate, it was very nearly sundown and the Montauk Point Lighthouse on Long Island was roughly 10 miles to our starboard (right side) stern. As a lookout, my duty was to report just about anything I see to the OOD (Officer On Duty) who was on the Conning tower bridge with us. The setting sun was behind me and I was basically looking easterly out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Then I noticed two roundish shapped objects about 20 to 30 feet away from the "Boat" that appeared to be glowing. Remember, the sun was behind me a few degrees above the horizon. I immediately informed the OOD of these objects. As we all looked to identify what they were, the OOD said "Holy Shit! Look down!" We all looked and there were two long tentacles with large pads lightly feeling the side of the submarine as we passed. It then became clear that we were all witnessing a Giant Squid who was probably checking us out as a possible meal. The two round "glowing objects" were the squid's eyes reflecting the setting sun. Holy Shit, shades of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".

We continued on and the squid was left in our wake, the entire incident only lasting less than a minute. Now Sir, at the time of this occurrence Cookie was only about 21 years old and did not realize that what we had just witnessed was something very unusual and rare. To this young Sailor, I thought it was something that probably happened somewhat regularly but it would make a great story to tell my kids and grand kids.

Over these past years when watching the Discovery, History and National Geo. channels about marine biology or giant squids, the narrator almost always made the statement "No one has ever seen a giant squid on the surface alive." Well Sir, this man did, along with two other shipmates.

TRUTH, I swear by my tattoo!!

If'n y'all don't believe the Cookie, watch this video!

Be Prepared mates, a Tip fer y'all, and a musical lookback fer "Squids", "Bubbleheads" and "Boomers".

First off, just about anyone capable of posting a blog on the Internet is also intelligent enough to have some degree of forethought regarding current world events and situations.

Some of you, like myself were Boy Scouts in our youth, and what was our motto.... BE PREPARED!

Well Sir, the below video is of a generator self destructing as a result of an Internet Cyber Attack. More and more of our infrastructure power, water, air traffic control grids are connecting to the Internet, thus making them more and more vulnerable to Cyber Attacks.

Lets be honest. if you make sure to stock up on non-perishable staple, water and food supplies,... Just In Case, and nothing happens, then nothings lost. BUT, your gonna be kicking yourself in the ass should there be a natural disaster or infrastructure attack and your not ready!

Just say'n!



Now Sir, the following ain't no advertisement fer Cabela's, but a tip to whomever might be interested regarding some affordable Emergency Meals. Cookie hasn't been able to afford the better Military grade MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), but I found this Emergency 60 Meal Food Kit supply for a very reasonable price ($129.00). If'n yur interested, ya might wanna check it out.
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Now Sir, on a lighter note, here be a musical lookback fer all you old "Squids", "Bubbleheads" and "Boomers" who enjoyed Petula Clark....

Obama Billboard, "Change Me, I Stink!", and, A sign of the times!!

I'm sure there's more than a few of y'all out there who feel similarly.
What'cha all think about this???



Incompetence!. You can only hide it for just so long!!
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The book "Understanding Women" has finally arrived in book stores. I think this is the condensed version ... or it may be Vol. 1.

Gotta Thank me buddy "Patrick" from over at "PRH...A Day in the Life" fer this one.



















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This ad is GREAT, and a very real sign of the times!!!

"A Torch with No Flame." and some humor.

My good amiga frum down Eagle Lake Texas way, Susan Gertson sent me this commentary by Charlton Heston regarding our 2nd Ammendment.

IT IS SPOT ON and very well done

If you value the freedoms you have, please, take a few minutes and watch. I know many of us old "Geezers" from the 40's, 50's, 60's and early 70's will definitely relate. I know I'm going to begin talking with my grandchildren yet again about this topic.

We have to begin teaching our children and grandchildren about respecting firearms and how to safely handle them, just like many of us were taught by our fathers and big brothers. If you live in an urban setting and don't hunt, after you yourself learn about firearm safety, then take your child to a range and practice with him/her. There are two benefits to this, one, the child is learning gun safety and having some fun, but mostly its time together with your children.
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HEADS UP MEN!! An important Public Service Announcement!!!



Gotta Thank "Upstate Nikki" fer the last one. Thanks Amiga!!

If'n yur ever in West (BY GOD) Virginia don't......

Well Sir, yesterday I had the opportunity to meet a few new folks in the blog-o-sphere, and one of em was originally from West Virginia. During our conversation I was reminded of sumthin that happened to Cookie about 20-25 years ago when I was visit'n some friends down around Logan, WV (about 50 miles frum where the Hatfields and McCoys are frum).

I was drive'n on roads I wasn't familiar with and look'n fer the house of a good friend of mine who, at that time was the Police Chief of Logan, WV. He'd give'n me directions but I accidentally took a turn up the wrong "Holler".

I knew sumthin was wrong after I had driven for about ten minutes further up into the holler than what I should have driven accord'n t'his directions. As I neared the end of the Holler, me and my car with New York plates (and Police PBA stickers on the side window) were greeted with a scene that looked somethin like all of the below photygraffs.....

Now Sir, this was a real "Awww Shit!" moment t'be sure. I told them I was lost and I'll be leaving immediately but they weren't satisfied with that and a couple of them stood behind my car. They spotted the Member PBA (Police Benevolent Association) on the side window and asked if'n I was "Law". Well Sir, obviously lie'n wouldn't have wurked at this point so's I answered "Yup, up in New York".

After a couple a more questions one of em finally asked, "Well, who ya look'n fer?" At this point I didn't know if I should tell them the Police Chief of Logan or not. Finally, figure'n out I didn't know hardly anyone in this area at all, I told them, "Police Chief So & So, he's a friend of mine". After a few seconds went by, one of em finally said, "Well why didn'tcha ya say you was friends with So & So in the first place. He's in the next holler over". They all became visibly more relaxed and in no time I was head'n back out of that holler as fast as I could. WHEW!!

I found out later frum my friend the Chief that these here folks had a few "Stills" operating a little further up into the holler. He also told me I was pretty lucky to be in one piece as these here folks definitely didn't cotton to strangers, specially "Law" folks. The Police Chief had lived his whole life in the area and was known by everyone and he had a good relationship going with this particular clan.

So, if'n yur ever down in the lower part of WV, careful which hollers ya drive into!!!