Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Idle Thoughts the Early Years


Apex, NC 1-12-10

This will really date me...

I remember ...

Being sprawled on the basement floor playing cars.

Rushing across the living room to turn the TV station; we had four to choose from.

Riding on the Twin Pines truck around the neighborhood as the large blocks of ice inside melted a wet trail down the middle of the street. How I loved milk chutes!

Hopping on my bike and going to Little League practice two miles away. I was nine.

Using the Carl Yastrzemski rookie cards to make noise on my bike wheels. Didn't like the Red Hose.

Staying out until the street lights came on. Had to go home then.

Trick or treating for two hours blocks from the house and eating all the homemade goodies on the street corner.

Looking at the asbestos ceilings in my grade school.

Playing with mercury. Those little silver balls were pretty cool.

Seeing how scuffed up my hula hoop could get.

Loving my banana seat on my Sting Ray.

Being close enough to the players at Briggs Stadium to hear them swear.

Thinking the fender skirts on my Dad's Black '57 Merc were "neato".

Talking to and being polite to strangers.

Listening to the war heroes talk about the last war ... Korea.

Having a Top 40 song card to look at from WKNR Keener 13.

Knowing what a 45 really is.

Wearing white socks every day.

Sporting a Princeton or a Butch haircut; my Dad gave me a choice.

Wearing HUGE and THICK eye glasses.

Not using my seat belt because there weren't any.

Lifting the big black phone in the hall and listening in on the party line.

The adults using a metal can opener on their beer.

Thinking the hood ornament was pretty swell.

Still loving the sweet sounds of Rosemary Clooney.

Getting an allowance ONLY if I did something.

Those were wonderful times... surprised I didn't kill myself!!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Idle Thoughts the Frozen Variety


Apex NC … 1-07-10

Where did global warming go? It is 18 this morning.

Attention all Prius Owners. Your car has been recalled by Toyota to remove the Obama stickers. How many HUMMERS still sport George Bush on the back? It is now time…

I saw a “stay off the tracks” sign near the railroad passing. It really first read “please pay attention and keep your phone on your belt or in your purse”. But that message was probably too long.

How many of you have heard this phrase? “Football is on AGAIN?”

Brine is all over the main streets two days early. It is because of the DUSTING we will have tonight. Who says the government does not react quickly to solve problems.

The weather guy is pounding the term “flurries” this morning… Scary weather…

How many of you like the new format on WPTF? We now have real news in the morning and hard news at 5 every night. Losing Limbaugh to 106.1 FM was the reason, but I love the new 680 AM. Finally there is a focus on the local news.

Did you notice drivers still text. Can we report them like we do drunk and reckless drivers?

Research in Motion is moving to the Triangle. Will that eliminate all the BlackBerry hiccups?

Dragnet was the only TV show in the 1950’s that used the TelePrompTer for scripting. The actors read their parts. What President delivers his message like Jack Webb? Hmmmm…

Have you noticed all the new Fords running around the Triangle? Fusions and Edges, a number of Lincolns… This is a historically import-driven area, mostly Toyotas, Hondas, some Kias… This is a great sign for the Detroit car and a clear sign the economy has a crack of sunshine in the clouds. Thank you for buying American.

I am flying to Detroit for a week in February. If it warms up, I am heading through security barefooted and in my undergarments. This should really quicken my time in that line.

Have you noticed? Umemployment in the US is still a problem. In China and India, the problem is employment.

My kid found a Dollar General grocery Store in Knoxville. I want one here. I say it is perfect timing.

I want to thank Rex Healthcare for bringing the Blood Bus to Downtown Apex last week. We helped save 51 lives over the Holidays. We have another Kiwanis Rex Blood Drive on March 19! Please mark your calendars; 3-7 at the Peak City Pharmacy.

How about the Big 10 beating up the ACC? It has been a good bowl season with a ton of exciting games.

The Detroit Lions are looking for a left tackle. So if you know anyone seven- foot- three, 500 pounds, who runs a 5.5 40… send me his name please!! It is the only way Stafford stays off the DL!


Have a great 2010!!

www.vtrconsulting.com

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Idle Thoughts Hitting the Windshield

Idle Thoughts Hitting the Windshield? Kinda bugs me...

Apex, NC 1-03-10

Summertime. It is 90 and you are doing 70. It is evening. And you are collecting a multitude of flying objects in your line of vision. You can’t stop this unique collection. It keeps building.

Just like Idle Thoughts…

Welcome to 2010ish.

In China, it soon will be the Year of the Tiger. In the US, that was last year.

Unemployment is still out of control in this country. Watch for a trade war with China and India. The employment went to these fast growing countries.

The car business is BOOMING in both of those countries. Not here…

As cold as it is in early January, I credit climate change. My wallet still is frozen.

We are truly a divided country. Some people think 2010 is the new decade; others insist it is not until 2011. I guess we better watch the decadence.

Decadence? How about the major theme from 2009? Philanderer.

Philanderer... Yep, there were plenty.

The larger theme central to the last decade? Greed. Greed created issues in a multitude of economic arenas. Oil and Banking are just two. You can think of several.

Smokers are freezing their buns off with the new law. I thought this was North Carolina? Tobacco Road is still a very cool song.

Politicians will get theirs in 2010. The people will speak in the mid-terms and bring common sense back to both parties. Whatever goes around will come around. Watch for some famous faces being escorted to the shed.

Although some mysteries still exist for me, like why didn’t Miss Landers have a first name and what did Ward really do, I enjoyed my four days in November with Jerry Mathers. From the time I picked him up at RDU until I dropped him back off, I found Jerry to be genuine, appreciate, honest, and caring. It was the highlight of my Peak City Film Festival experience. Meeting a celebrity without ego problems is a very rare thing. And to chat, have lunch and dinner with the Beav, and just generally enjoy his company was a prime highlight of my decade. Thank you Jerry!!

I wish all of you a prosperous and wonderful 2010. Time is your best friend in a Recession, and we are slowly getting out of the funk we have been in. Remember local is everything.

Now, I wonder what greedy individual will want the credit for ending the recession.

Wait... I can see him now.

Please make critical thinking and common sense your New Year’s Resolutions. We don’t do enough of it.

Your focus this New Year should include helping others get better… Best wishes!

www.vtrconsulting.com and @SalesTherapist