BIRTHDAY NO 60

Okay I made it into the 60s generation. What did I do?Well I talked to my Dad who told me that on that day they were in New Castle visitin his parents when in the moring Mom said "Ernie, we better ge to the hospital" At the time Dad was a football coach at Tipton and was on a cane becasue he threw his Knee out teaching a kid to how to kick. Now 60 years later I am on a cane due to being old. During that telephone call my sister Jennifer called to wish me a happy and during our conversation Jeannine called to say the same. I recieved 4 birthday cards. One from Susans aunt Mairlyn, Jeannine, Lynn, and Russ( the last two played music). We went out to eat, it was Thursday and we dined at Buca di bepa. We had Spaghetti and Chocolate Cake. I won't mention the 2 two other deserts I tasted, Yuck. Now for the goodies. Here is a list of my presents
1.Book "Rebels of Ireland"
2.Book"Ultimate Sacrafice"
3.Book"The Steel Wave"mdt
4.Book"The Gashouse Gang"
5.3 Comic books (Shiloh,Antietam,and BullRun)Sjt
6.replica 1948 Ford f1 pickup with 1955 Ford truck.(see pic)
7.Joh Wayne movie CD
8.CD of tv show "Bronx is Burning"
9.Chicago Cubs baseball cap
10 Budweiser Dale Earnhart Jr ball cap
11.Big Stick cane named Mr.Lucky skt
12 Cane named Hercules egt
13 1 pair blue crocs
14 1 red tab from shirt
15 1 mouse pad
16 14 packs of 2008 Topps FB cards
17 Book "an Army at Dawn"trm
18 Argosy Poker ball cap trm
19 1 magazine "Fantasy Football"
20 1 paperback book "Great Baseball feats, fact and firsts"
21. 2 dragon tee shirts from Gen Con 08 pat
Wow I'm worn out just lisitng this stuff. It was bought or given to me all week long. It was great day. Thanks to all to to all a good night as its 3:05 am Saturday 8-30-08

LAST DAY ON EARTH AS A 59 YEAR OLD

Young people like me don’t know the meaning of “age”. Maybe because we think we have eternity in front of us: “ We have time to become old” is an old (!) song. Among the members of the generation born in 1800, only a third overtook 60 years old and 6 % only reached the age of 80. Among the members of the generation born in 1900, 55 % were still alive at 60 years old and 26 % at 80. In other words, to be 60 in the 19th Century meant to reach the old age, those who reached it were called “survivors”. It was already less common a century later and a large majority of the baby-boomers generation will reach their 60’s. I put this in here because tomorrow I am going to be 60 years old. My brain tells me I'm still in my 20s but not my bod. This little snipet makes me feel special. Abe's picture is here because he was 56 when JW Booth shot him. Today my wife told me " you have been rehearshing being a dirty old man all your life. Now on Thursday you become a classic dirty old man." What a fine compliment, it made me feel like all my work wasn't for nothing. I felt old then I went to see my dad, who will be 88 in 15 days!!

NEWS AND NOTES

Today is the 23rd only 5 more shopping days of 59 left. Today was rather eventful so here we go. First I went shopping got a book, beach towel, soft blankie, and a tab front shirt. They all play into my gift a day until the big day. Yesterday the big cane came in, but more on it later. Mike and Devin were at Pat's house last night and played the magic game. They came home with the card bug so they both join the family of card loving geeks which I started. When we went shopping we ate at Logans and everyone had a good meal (see Shawn only you get cheated there). I noticed on a sign where the waitresses pickup their food for delivery to the customers a sign that said they actually have "pickled Hog parts" and "boiled raccon neck". They sound like a delakacy that only Russ and Lynn would like. In the car going to the restuarnt and at the resturant the kids played the magic card game. Then when we went to mejiers they bought a bag o cards and stuff. Greedily opening them upon our arrrival at home. Sue got her cat cane and deemed it okay but a little skinny for her taste. I guess she likes bigger, rounder, uh canes. Thomas called and informed us what we had already guessed he has an irregular heart beat. He has been sentenced to two new types of medicine and exercise and a diet. If that doesn't work they will jump start him like they did Grandad a few seasons ago. Being old means talking about your ailments and pills, looking foward to social security and medicare, and being called "Honey" by most waitresses. Or at least those who want a tip. Shawn brought me my 4 historical comic books, Pat gave me 2 nice t-shirts from Gen-Con. Bothe Sue and Dad gave me canes. So my birthday is looking good and a trip to a nice resturant is also in my future. Should anyone think of coming over this weekend know that the Ind Air Show is at the Mt.Comfort airport for the 23rd and 24th. So avoid the rush if you can. I watched a comic named Ralpie May last night and I will leave you with his words of wisdom. he said in a relationship with you wife or girlfriend for that matter you can be one of two things, but never ever both. You can be right, or happy. So guys when your wife says she is from Mars just nod and say "Wow thats sure interesting!"

BASEBALL CARDS

My oldest son Patrick called me yesterday. He is now 32 years old. He wanted to tell me that he bought some cards, plastic sheets to put them in and had 6 binders for his cards. Now in his case these are "Magic" cards which is a game he enjoys. He wanted me to know how he had become a little like his old man, me. As I enjoy my final 10 days of being 59(naw doesn't bother me a bit) I am reminded of how for the past 48 years I have collected baseball cards. And yes my mother gave away me baseball card colection to a poor family ( Mom I will never forget this terrible insult). The attached card is from my first set, 1960 Topps. Oh and Frank Torre is Joe's older brother. If you look closely you can see his pose is in the LA Coliseum, a rare place baseball was played. In selecting this card I visited a site and looked thru the complete set. I did this becasue I like cards and always will. Now Pat feels the same and so to some degree do the rest of the boys. Its not about how many you have or how much they are worth, but how much you like them. My favorite cards are the 1957 Hal Jeffcoat, 1960 Nellie Fox, and 1980s Dick Tidrow. I have a couple of autographed cards like Paul Moscau, and Champ Summers. I also have a great deal of Strat-O-Matic cards for a game that I like to play. Nothing like a 3-4 Homerun on the 1964 Frank Robinson cards. I remember Pat sitting on my lap rolling the dice for me in my room on DeQuincy.

Hercules

I got a notice today that "hercules" has been shipped via Fed Ex. Its a sign of the times that as I come dangeroulsy close to 60 years old, my newest "Spy Camera" is a Walnut handled, German Beechwood cane know as Hercules because it can support up to 500lbs of weight. I will be able to hobble in style with this 37 and 1/2 inch beauty at my side. Kinda lets everyone know that I am old an feeble, but with style. A further development is that as Gen Con approaches I will not be going. Unless some unforseen event comes along. I mean like a naked wench calling my name and demanding to have me meet her at the convention. Not going to happen because I am grandfather clock but with a fine cane. I am looking foward to this cane but hate the fact that I need it. Well at least I have a fine family to comfort me in my reclining years. Well this year maybe I will send out my minions to gather for me the finest treasures at Gen Con.

SISTER JENNIFER

Ha... I like that photo much better :) So you are scared of me ya NANCY. There is power in scared :) I have not shot in a few years so you could tell Tom he is safe but I am not letting up on the brother stealer... Send him this picture :) Hey I think I am cool I got mentioned in a BLOG that is a first for me and I thought I had done it all, heard it all and seen it all. Learn something new every day. I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt "DO ONE THING EVERY DAY THAT SCARES YOU". How about it Tom, I want my brother back... Shall we dual over him :) Well your adoring public told me that I must print the picture sent so here it is Pat. By the way FFA gave its employees the afternoon off to go to the fair and $10 to eat lunch. Pat said he was having corn on the cob and a hero samich. I heard that there was a family picture of the Kellys that I don't have. I hope I don't have to steal Grandads copy, HINT

GRANDFATHER CLOCK

As I tumble all too quickly toward 60 years on this good earth I am reminded of one thing. I am old, OLD,Ronold. I have new eye lenses, a plate in my shoulder, and pains everywhere. I have a female optometrist, therapist, family doctor, and much more. I have always thought of myself as a well lets be honest a"stud muffin". Well no more. I have realized these wonderful ladies see me as a grandfather type. Woe is me. They think I am funny, and old. I am the granfather clock on Captain Kangaroo's show. He fell asleep a lot, much like me. I am not handsome or sexy or a hunk as my sisters used to say. And lets be honest I probably never was. I Know I am whining but tough, this is my blog. I have 5 and 2/3 grandchildren so naturally I am a grandfather. Oh and since Jennifer wants mentioned she better at least get me a card on the 28th for my birthday. Women seem to drive the world and as I get older the pool of sexy ladies gets bigger each year, but not us guys. We lose hair, get pot bellies, emit sounds that are frightening, and are no loner sexy. Oh well not much I can do about it maybe I'll take a nap, "goodnite grandfather clock".

MY LITTLE SIS

love your blog....BUT ONE SMALL PROBLEM, PLUCKING TOM IS MENTIONED IN YOUR BLOG AND NOT ME....THAT RAT BASTARD SQUIRLED HIS GOL DARNED WAY INTO MY FAMILY AGAIN...THIS IS HIS FINAL WARNING...GET THE BUCK OFF MY BROTHER HE WAS MINE FIRST!!!!

Ok now I feel bettter :) Oh yea you also need to put favorite sister on your blog and it better be me :) I enjoyed the part about the intelligent women....because after all in case you did not know (sorry this blows your little men theory) GOD IS A WOMAN. Ok now it is out, how else could she care for the world and keep everything going and answer prayers and heal people. We all know that men can not multi task. So cudos to your blog and THANK GOD for us woman, we are amazing clones to GOD...haha

Love ya, favorite sis, gollibushy xo PLUCK U TOM!!!

After an email like this how can I even begin to say more! Thats who the boys call "Aunt Jenny"

and would you be surprised to find out that she is a 911 operator. She takes those "I've fallen and can't get up" calls all day long. She is also the only one who will give Grandad any crap, the rest of us are scared of him. Shoot lets be honest the rest of us are scared of her! She is a marksman with the police department. "Yikes". She could shoot off your nuts at 50 paces and then laugh! Tom beware???