Birthdays, etc

Well, I just had to go ahead and have another birthday.  Years ago I said I'd stopped counting, but what good did that do, they keep adding on.  Thist one was number 72.  But the fact that they keep coming is gratifying.  Dad made it to 95, Ma just celebrated 94, Mary's dad is 97.  According to that I've got a few more coming.  My mother sure likes getting phone calls on hers and was excited when her ailing brother in Washington called.  A sister in Fargo calls regularly, and a nephew from Lisbon brought her a bouquet of fresh flowers.  We visited that weekend and she was looking forward to a special treat at the home - shortcake with strawberries and whipped cream.  Wouldn't you know it, I called on the day of her birthday and she was sick to her stomach.  She said the others in her wing would just have to eat without her.
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I spent a lonely 13 days lately when Mary traveled to Costa Rica.  She had fun, though, and enjoyed it...except for the trip home.  The group was scheduled to fly into Atlanta, GA, but they were shut down because of the recent weather problems.  So the travelers got re-routed many different directions.  Mary flew into New York City and had to sit there an extra day because of more weather related problems.  She seemed very happy to finally arrive home.
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I'm expecting a shipment of books from Santa Fe soon, so if I didn't have enough to do, I can work on that.  I'm getting good reports back from my newspaper column readers so that makes me keep concentrating to find material and write something people enjoy reading.  It's like I say, I just hope I can keep a clear head and nimble fingers to type with. 
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The Olympics haven't grabbed my attention like they usually do.  Snow conditions must be poor and my favorites weeded out.  The Davis-White ice dancers were great, though.

Art of the Putdown

Writing this on Tuesday night, I sit in anticipation of my wife's return tomorrow night.  Tomorrow is the twelfth day, and  I'm lonesome.  Of course, a problem has to arise.  The snow and ice storm in the Atlanta, Georgia area might prevent the tour group's plane from going there as the schedule calls for.  Will they not come at all and have to stay one more night, or will they divert to some other airport?  Maybe I've have to hunker down for another lonely night.

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How many times after the fact have I wished I would've had a good comeback to put someone down when they were getting the best of me. Here's some good ones.

No. 1
If you ever testify in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this policeman. He was being cross-examined by a defense attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer was trying to undermine the police officer's credibility .
Q : 'Officer --- did you see my client fleeing the scene?'
A : 'No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away.'
Q : 'Officer, who provided this description?'
A : 'The officer who responded to the scene.'

Q : 'A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?
A : 'Yes, sir. With my life.'
Q : 'With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?'
A : 'Yes sir, we do!'
Q : 'And do you have a locker in the room?'
A : 'Yes, sir, I do.'
Q : 'And do you have a lock on your locker?

A : 'Yes, sir.'
Q : 'Now, why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?'
A : 'You see, sir, we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.'

The courtroom EXPLODED with laughter, and a prompt recess was called.

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No. 2
Now We Know Why He Was a General -----
In an recent interview, General Norman Schwarzkopf was asked if he thought there was room for forgiveness toward the people who have harboured and abetted the terrorists who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks on America. His answer was classic Schwarzkopf.

The General said, "I believe that forgiving them is God's function... OUR job is to arrange the meeting."
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No. 3
Dana Perino (FOX News) describing an interview she recently had with a Navy SEAL. After discussing all the countries that he had been sent to, she asked if they had to learn several languages?

"Oh, no ma'am, we don't go there to talk."
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No. 4
Conversation overheard on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz while flying from Europe to Dubai .
Iranian Air Defense Site : 'Unknown aircraft, you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.'

Aircraft : 'This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.'

Air Defense Site : 'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!'
Aircraft : 'This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 Fighter. Send 'em up, I'll wait!'

Air Defense Site : ( ... total silence)
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My OLLI classes are interesting.  I especially liked one last week in ND Political Traditions where the topic was Alexander MacKenzie, the political boss of North Dakota when it came into the union and for several years after.  I'm going to study up on him a bit more.

Alone...for awhile

I've been alone here in Mandan since Saturday.  Mary flew down to Costa Rica with a few friends...about 75 of them...to tour the birds and plants of that country.  Farmers Union sponsored another trip and she took advantage of it.  She called back yesterday morning saying the temperature was about 80 degrees.
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Not much else running through my mind this morning.  I'm getting ready to head to the gym.  One thing that I wonder about is this Keystone Pipeline so many of our politicians just have to have.  I found an interesting article that raises lots of questions.  Check out Jim Fuglie's blog - theprairieblog.areavoices.com - and see what I mean.  See ya