Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Singing Keeps Me Sane...


I went out and did a little singing last night.

I guess that People that don't sing or who are forced into doing it in spite of themselves like kids in Church Choir don't understand the therapeutic nature of such an endeavor.

You use muscles you sometimes never use and you have to think about things in order to sing--particularly in front of an audience--that you might not ordinarily consider and for me somehow it makes me feel better in the process.

I'm a better singer than I am a guitar player or piano player these days, but the Harmonica (a box full of them actually) and the trumpet and some other instruments still sooth my soul given the opportunity to hold them and make a little noise.

I don't even care if anyone else hears me holding them them except the forest and God.

Somewhere in the Bible it says "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord" and I say that goes a lot further in life than most people think it does.

Even if you are an agnostic or atheistic, I don't think that you can ever be too sure who might be listening when you think that you are alone singing.

Until you've had the experience, taken the chance and bared your soul in the process I guess that you might not understand how much better I feel when it is all said and done.

Luggage Confusion Confusing Luggage

Somebody 'Splain This Crap To Me...


First of all, just in case you haven't been paying attention here on the blog, let me tell you that I've been doing a good deal of traveling recently.

In fact I'm heading out of town again for a two night trip next Monday.

Doing the math, it seems that I will have been away from my yard and my bed for half of the past month come next Wednesday.

And by passing through Ohio on my way to Maryland on Monday for a plant visit, then coming back through Charlotte on my way back to the Turbo Pup Compound here in Eastern Tennessee on the banks of the Mighty Tennessee River, I'll have seen parts of eight different states in the past month on the calendar.

In the mean time, I've purchased two pieces of luggage to support my jet-setting endeavors, a new folding/rolling garment bag intended to get part of my infrequently used collection of Joseph A Bank suits onto and off of an airplane at some remote destination, and...

Taa Daaaaa....

I also bought a new rolling computer bag to handle the old one ton six hundred kilo 250 stone 8.1 pound HP 17" wide screen laptop and all of the other crap I have to drag around with me these days.

I swear I was going to have a bad case of self induced scoliosis and look like the hunchback of Notre Dame if I kept up another five years of dragging that old machine around in airports and into hotel rooms with me without some wheels to take the weight off of my shoulders and spine.

Now add to that the requirement that I drag around a complete electronic technicians' tool kit including a fancy multi meter and an assortment of pliers and cutters and screwdrivers of various shapes and forms and fashions and well...you get my drift.

Come to think of it, since this trip is the first one I've made with my new and improved tool assortment, I guess I should check the TSA website and see what they limit....

....wait...

OK, as long as none of my tools are over 7 inches long I'm good to go.

Of course the new backscatter x-ray machine might say otherwise when they look between my legs in my pants, but as long as the TSA agent doing the hand pat down doesn't have to shave more often than I do I guess I'll be OK...

Any way, back to the new luggage purchases, I'd like to ask if someone could please start a website and write articles explaining to me what half of the crap they give you in and on new luggage actually does or is intended to do?

Apparently someone has spent a great deal of time putting pockets and clips and straps and other doo-dads in this stuff I just bought, but unfortunately I have absolutely no idea what to do with half of the stuff.

I guess I can make things up as I go along, and through trial and error I guess that I can probably haul an additional 25 or thirty pounds of crap with me if I manage to actually find things laying around my bedroom and office which will fit in a little pouch 4 inches square by one half inch deep or in those odd shaped triangular pockets in the corners.

I also guess I need to find some bright colored scrap of ribbon to put on everything so I can find the stuff I've put in checked baggage when it comes back out on the conveyor because all of my new baggage is a lovely color of black...just like 97.3% of the other luggage you see that doesn't have duct tape holding the Velcro flaps closed at the airport.

Oh...I almost forgot...this trip involves a run from Baltimore up half way to Philadelphia on Amtrak...a government study in the inefficient usage of taxpayer dollars to move a few commuters around without burning foreign oil in a car.

THAT should be interesting, since according to their schedule it takes a train passenger over two days to go from Atlanta to Miami.

I know, because I tried to buy a ticket to do that once before and since it cost almost the same as a one and one half hour plane flight I just opted to drive for a quarter of the price and do the trip in a half day.

I hope only covering about 35 miles between the airport and Aberdeen will be uneventful and cost me less than half a day.

Then again, if the bloggin' is light next week and you end up missing me...someone notify the authorities or at least send up a flare...

"I Wanna Go To MIAMI"

Not Just A Famous Jewish Wine Whine...


This typical  warm/cold Spring weather is making me crazy, and I was just thinking about how I used to know people to go there (Miami) with on a moment's notice...

Today everyone is so stilted and inflexible...jobs and responsibilities and kids and grandkids and such...

They want to sit around and think about it and by then when they FINALLY make up their mind the weather has changed and it's TOO dang late.

Then we end up missing watching things like the the two hour long fist- fight in the Cuban restaurant because it is allready over with and it's time to head back to the airport.

Yet my heart and head is still there sometimes.

I guess that you could just say "Those were the days..."

I'm Getting A Bit "Long In The Tooth?"

Forced Into Bathing and  Shaving My Nose And Ear Hair...


This week has been "one of THOSE" weeks so far.

Please don't ask because you really, Really, REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW...

Personal hygene lies very low on my list of things to accomplish since I perform my professional duties by and large from my home, but every now and again I wish to walk out the door, get in the automobile, and go to dinner.

Risking the possibility of clearing out a bar service arena or a large portion of a restaurant due to the visual images and odorific emminations coming from my glorious vissage arriving in the room is something that the United Nations or NATO  might consider issuing guidelines on.

Until then...just remember the phrase...

"Caveat Emptor" 

Somebody Please Kill Me...

I'd Rather Have To Watch More Episodes Of Food Network's "Cupcake Wars" Than Live My Life Right Now...


Unfortunately for me the blog Title "Curmudgeonly & Skeptical" has been taken for a number of years longer than I've been a blogger.

Otherwise, it pretty much describes my position in life here this morning.

Needless to say I'm a bit Cranky...

OK actually a Whole Lot C R A N K Y...

For a number or reasons beyond the scope of this posting.

Just call me an angry, mean old Bastard I guess....because I most definitely feel like one.

I don't even like myself right now.

I'm dealing with a couple of "situations" personally and professionally which thirty years ago would cause at least one, and possibly two or three, bloody noses.

Fortunately today I'm thirty years older and since the police will lock you up for sticking your tongue out at someone in public I guess that I'll just have to suck it up and act like a pansy assed metrosexual "man" by today's standards.

I'm thinking of changing geographic locations a little earlier than originally planned in order to avoid any potential conflict later this week.

Like I've alluded to earlier...I'm getting too old to put up with this shit...but as long as I'm still alive and breathing I still have to deal with it.

Go figure...
 

Quick...Paddle Harder!!!

"I Think That I Hear Banjos..."


I'm beside myself.

OK...Maybe not.

But Still.

Korekaramo Ganbatte Kudasai

"Keep Up Your Good Work (in Japanese)"


Just in case you haven't noticed, I'm currently trying to ignore the goings on in Lybia.

And Japan seems to be pretty well taking care of itself.

And I have plenty to do professionally, so if you will excuse me I'll get back to work now.