Blog hits

One of the features of this blog site I enjoy is seeing the places where my blog is attracting hits. I know the persons at most locales but several I wonder about. Last week I had a hit from some place in India. I don't believe I know anyone there and I've never been there.
The hit I really enjoyed seeing was from Auckland, New Zealand. I was in Auckland in July on the day that John Walker of Auckland won the metric mile at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal. We had just flown in from Tahiti and it was like going from summer to late fall or winter (southern hemisphere). Auckland is a large city but you could have fired a canon down any street and not hit any moving thing, not even a wooly. After the race horns blared in the streets. We watched part of the closing ceremonies in a pub on our way to Wellington. Kathy, our friend Mike, and I went into a pub, had a beer, and watched the telly. We kept getting strange stares. Apparently women (the Sheilas) don't go into pubs. I guess they wrote us off as Americans because they served us but kept one eye on us in case we did something else strange. Here's at you, mate, in Auckland. Return if you wish.

The polls are still open. Thanks to everyone who has voted to either save the Whales or the Cowboys. Current totals:
Whales 3
Cowboys 0

OK one from the calendar.
July 28 "You might be a Redneck if.... Your answering machine greeting begins 'If yer callin about the money I owe you....."

What is going on?

The high temp in Casper yesterday was 60. It wasn't much better in Denver. The high temperature in Seattle was 100; Portland about the same; those people don't even have air conditioning. What's happening? Is it global warming or nuclear testing in the atmosphere? Very peculiar.
This week a group of British scientists reported that tanning spas are as dangerous as smoking. This is a chance to cut back on skin cancers and other forms of the disease by banning tanning beds. An alternative is to tax them as highly as cigarettes with the excise tax going to a federal health plan and discouraging indoor tanners at the same time.
Since the Ghosts were rained out yesterday, the only score I have to report is:
WHALES 2
COWBOYS 0 or is it nil?
From the calendar-one of my top ten favorites:
July 21-"You might be a Redneck if....Your neighbors chipped in for your vasectomy."

Whales vs Cowboys

Since I posted about the bumper sticker I saw yesterday, I've given quite a bit of thought to its content-saving whales or cowboys. After due consideration I'm reminded that I've never had a whale pass me going 80-85 pulling a swaying horse trailer. I've had a cowboy/girl do that several times. I've never had a whale approach me going way too fast while pulling a horse trailer on a freshly oiled highway with small sealing rocks and pitting or cracking my windshield. That too has happened to me-too often. I've never seen a whale driving a gas-guzzling pick-up at least ten miles over the speed limit trying to pass me and almost running into an approaching vehicle. In Wyoming I've had several cowpersons do that. Right now I'm favoring saving the whales.
The Ghosts were ahead 4-0 when I left in the top of the 7th. They lost 8-5. I,m starting to get discouraged. Several of the Ghosts were working out at my health club this morning. I didn't ask what happened.
More calendar:
July 18-19 "You might be a Redneck if... "You're smoking in your driver's license photo."

Blah day

Rained last night and early this morning. Ruined my desire to do yard work. Went to the dentist (no problemas) which ruined my desire to do anything. Watched an episode of Ice Road Truckers which inspired me to go to the Ghosts game (I don't see the connection either but I went). Ghosts were ahead 4-0 when I left in the 7th.

BUMPER STICKER OF THE DAY on the back of a horse trailer:
"The hell with whales, save the cowboy"

From the calendar:
"You might be a Redneck if....You've ever been trapped in a crossfire at a family reunion."

Set in our sitting ways

Took the van to an auto hospital today to get some paint scratches repaired-nothing serious. Since it involves paint, the vehicle will be in the shop for two or three days. This means the wife and I must share a car; namely her Subaru, which tends to be a bit small for me. The problem isn't the sharing; it's the seat, steering wheel, mirrors, air conditioning, etc., adjustments made each time there is a change of driver. My old van had seat memory which was nice when switching drivers. Neither of our present vehicles has this feature. I shouldn't be such a whiner, but some things are just tough.
PREDICTION: Sarah Palin will become an overpaid, sometimes "political consultant" for Fox News and will make more money than she was making as governor. I wouldn't be surprised if the deal is already done.
From the calendar:
July 11/12 "You might be a Redneck if.....All of your kids are named after Dallas Cowboy football players."

Up, Up, but no way

6:00 Advertised launch time for second day of Casper balloon fest. No balloons. 6:25 See a couple of balloon go up and then go back down-NO WIND. Can you imagine Casper with no wind.
6:30 A couple more balloons go up. This time there is a slight drift toward the west. This is bad news for both balloonists and chase crews because the balloons are drifting toward the airport and there is nothing but trees, residences, and industry between their present locations and the airport. A few years ago a balloon went down in the parking lot of an apartment complex while another flirted with trees and the river when there was a western drift. If you think birds can cause problems for planes, think about what a hot air balloon could do. Ideal is a slow drift to the east.
6:58 Check the "Local on the 8's" on the weather channel. Winds reported as calm (these reports come from the weather bureau at the airport.).
7:15 Several more balloons in the air but not going anywhere. Most come down. 7:25 There is a slight drift to the east. I watch a balloon go down on what I assume is the local municipal golf course. Several golfers and a few grazing antelope may take umbrage at this.
7:40 No balloons in the sky.

CRIME NEWS: A guy on the "FBI 10 most wanted list" is captured in the Big Horn Mountains northwest of Casper. He was employed as a sheepherder. Talk about illegals in the work force.

Balloons

PICTURESQUE: This weekend is the annual Casper Balloon Fest. They headquarter out of a park about 2 to 3 blocks from our house. They were supposed to launch at 6:00 this morning but I think they were running late. Anyway I watched them rise above the tree line in the front of our house (north) and flow southeast toward the mountain. I watched from our backyard looking east. The rising sun made the silhouettes look spectacular. I know it's not as large as similar events in Iowa and Albuquerque and even the one we watched a couple of years ago in Littleton. Still it's a great way to greet the morning.
PATHETIC: I read that another evangelist by the alias of "Alamo" was convicted of transporting young girls across state lines to engage in sex. His defense-God wanted and commanded him to do this. This is just another example of deeds done in the name of God that I'm sure God wouldn't condone.
Calendar:
July 8th: "You might be a Redneck if......You've ever shot a deer from inside your house."