Thursday, March 31, 2011
Play Ball
I am excited!! I was awake until after 5:00 this morning with no sleep. I got up twice to play at my machine. I sat up for quite a while and watched a good movie. I did all those things trying to go to sleep--no way! And why?!Baseball starts tomorrow!! My Twins are starting out playing up in Toronto and will probably freeze their little tootsies. But so what; its the opening of 6 months straining my eyes, looking into my computer and groaning or cheering depending on who's at bat. Do you know baseball, as we know it, has now been in business for some 150 years. Do you also know that the various distances from base to base are still the same and the pitchers mound is still 60 feet,6 inches from home plate. Do you also know that baseball is the only competetive sport where the defense cannot score a basket,a point,a run, nothing?? Ha!Got ya didn't I? Its part of what makes this a great team sport. I love the Minnesota Twins and have been a baseball devotee from the time I was about 9. I played catch with all my kids in the yard. I refused to buy a lovely home in Minneaplis because it was a street on which I would not be able to play catch with my sons and occasionally a daughter. Incidentally she made the Little League team by tucking her hair under her ball cap and that was before they allowed girls to play America's game. True! Buffalo, my home town, was a farm team for Cleveland and I remember the team there with Bob Feller, Bob lemon, Mike Garcia and a host of others. Who alive today recalls the time in the 1954 World Series where wonderful, Willie Mays ran all the way to the back fence to take a monstrous hit away from Vic Wertz. I think that was the first time I died. I have died more times than the proverbial cat, sometimes more than once in the same game. My team has won our divion 6 out of 9 years and yet we always come up against the Yankees-- the Damn Yankees for the uninformed. Maybe this year? But I get ahead of myself. Lets wait and see how the season plays but I can't. Wait that is. Thankfully I won't have much longer. I will be at my post waiting for that clarion call---PLAY BALL! I'll try to sleep tonight but don't count on it!!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Wuzzy Fuzzy
I was watching a commercial, although I usually have no interest in them, but this however, was about a golfer I once knew. Fuzzy was a member of our golf staff and our company had quite a few golfers that wore our product--you know, the shirts with the little penguin embroidery on the chest. Our shirts were very popular and once upon a time we sold more of those shirts than our 3 nearest competitors combined. However, returning to Fuzzy: back in about 1979 he won the U.S.Open- a very honored tournament which carried a lot of prestige for the winner. As he was a member of the staff, it was my job to give him $5000 bonus and to send him a new contract. I upgraded his present one from about $2500 to a new $5000. I had begun to have some concerns about why I had not received a reply regarding the new contract when I had a call come in from a person who introduced himself as Fuzzy's agent. I thought I was now about to put that new contract to bed. Wrong! I was advised that Fuzzy had a new offer from a "better" company that wanted to sign him for a lot more money. Question? Was I willing to let our golfer out of his contract so he could sign with a different company? I mulled this over while the agent droned on about new, better opportunities and I'm. not going to stand in his way am I? I said in reply "I'm not sure I would look at this change as being beneficial to a company that had carried him at a minimal gaurantee for a few years and now was a looking to get a return on our investment. This was the first time I had run into an agent and was in new waters. The discussion continued with him threatening to have his client wear another company's logo and me saying then we would have grounds to take him to court for violating his contract with us. The agent then said " Well, I guess he will just not wear your clothing anymore".To which I quickly replied. Well I guess he won't get any bonus from us if he wins for this next season. Had him again didn't I?! Anyway,it went back and forth until he hung up angry that Fuzzy was signed for the following year as well as the one coming up. I would think that any agent should read the contracts of the persons represented by him, don't you? To make a long story short the discussions continued with him trying to get me to let Fuzzy out of the current contract. I finally became resigned to the fact we would lose a golfer and told him, "If Fuzzy wants to send us a check for $10,00 I'll tear up his contract". And that is not the end of the story. A few weeks later I had come to Phoenix to view other potential golfers that would make good members of our staff and I am at the practise greens early one morning and there is only one golfer practising his putting and of course, it is Fuzzy. I had never met him before and thought "Oh well, I should go and say hello". Not knowing what he would say to me I took a bold approach and said "Fuzzy, we have never met before but I'm the guy that cost you $10,000" He looked at me suspiciously and I followed up my remark with "I'm with Munsignwear and I just let you off the hook so you can sign elsewhere" He stuck out his hand and said "Hell, Jim thats business. I'm glad to know you". A nice guy right!! The sad thing is that whoever the other "better" company is, they never signed Fuzzy to any contract and he was not a member of any of the company staffs of which I'm familiar. I wonder if that agent is still connected with any golfers?
The Goodness of People
The Goodness of People
I awoke late this morning and remembered I had promised to buy a certain loaf of bread for my friend so I rumbled about and left the apartment after 5 minutes had passed. For me, that was fast. I hurried to this bread company that was about 6 miles away and it was a madhouse. It has never had much parking but this was the first time I had seen, not only parking space filled, but cars sitting and waiting for an opening and such was this morning. After some shuttling back and forth I finally managed to get a parking space and hurried from my car. I got inside and there were many persons moving back and forth and the shelves were loaded with various breads. I grabbed my selection and got in a line with several others to await my turn. In the process I began speaking to the lady in front of me saying to her,"What in the world will you do with this much bread". She must have had 20 loaves. She replied "Oh I will freeze it. I have a very large freezer". We were about to approach the lady who was taking the money and the woman in front was giving her a credit card when I reach into my back pocket.Whoa!! Wait a minute, Darn! I forgot my credit card and realizing this turned to leave when the lady in front said to me "I got yours?." I asked her if she heard what I was thinking and she said "No, I just wanted buy you a loaf of bread". Now how nice is that?! It was then I said that I had left my wallet and would have left except she steped up. I asked her if she was married, not wishing to lose an opportunity, she laughed and said she was and that ended what could have been a beautiful friendship. " I said " Well, we'll always have Paris". What a nice early morning experience! Life is good at times.
I awoke late this morning and remembered I had promised to buy a certain loaf of bread for my friend so I rumbled about and left the apartment after 5 minutes had passed. For me, that was fast. I hurried to this bread company that was about 6 miles away and it was a madhouse. It has never had much parking but this was the first time I had seen, not only parking space filled, but cars sitting and waiting for an opening and such was this morning. After some shuttling back and forth I finally managed to get a parking space and hurried from my car. I got inside and there were many persons moving back and forth and the shelves were loaded with various breads. I grabbed my selection and got in a line with several others to await my turn. In the process I began speaking to the lady in front of me saying to her,"What in the world will you do with this much bread". She must have had 20 loaves. She replied "Oh I will freeze it. I have a very large freezer". We were about to approach the lady who was taking the money and the woman in front was giving her a credit card when I reach into my back pocket.Whoa!! Wait a minute, Darn! I forgot my credit card and realizing this turned to leave when the lady in front said to me "I got yours?." I asked her if she heard what I was thinking and she said "No, I just wanted buy you a loaf of bread". Now how nice is that?! It was then I said that I had left my wallet and would have left except she steped up. I asked her if she was married, not wishing to lose an opportunity, she laughed and said she was and that ended what could have been a beautiful friendship. " I said " Well, we'll always have Paris". What a nice early morning experience! Life is good at times.
Days of Yore
Days of Yore
Lying in bed early this morning, I began to think about various things of my youth and younger years. It probably won't mean much except to those over 75 and they are getting fewer and fewer. So I guess you might say this writing will be for my own amusement and possibly, some where down the line, maybe one of my great, grandchildren may stumble across this and wonder how Grampa ever survived his childhood. But let me begin by saying there was very little religion in our home. Oh I used to go to Sunday School and carry my pennies that, supposedly, were intended for the collection plate. But, to be honest.I some times used them at the corner candy store across from the church. Yes, I was incorrigible at a very early age. I spent my pennies on Jujy Fruits because they lasted a long time. I tried Jaw Breakers but they were very noticeable in my cheek and I didn't want to advertise my pilfering from the church. I often wondered if Reverend Jolley would have missed my donation? I managed to become confirmed, having learned the various gospels and creeds so I guess I got somethings right! I remember strange things about my childhood-some of which are still around. For example, sneakers. Only someone my age would still be calling running shoes, sneakers, And then there were Thom McMahan (sp?) shoes. My Dad wouldn't buy any but that brand back then. Was there a different brand for kids? Growing up in Buffalo, it was curious to see cream frozen and extending beyond the milk bottle top when the weather was cold. Homogenized milk hadn't been discovered yet?!When Mom wasn't looking I would sneak a spoonfull to eat--another example of my nefarious character. I recall going to high school and my first remembrance of Louise was when I was standing on a corner waiting for a friend to walk to school with me, when she and two other girls went by. I remember her nice legs but never saw her again for five years. Just think I might have married at age 17. Does anyone remember the zoot suiters? They were the "creeps" that attended all the dances and had these strange clothes that had baggy trousers with tight ankles. They also had very long suit coats with key chains that dangled to about their knees and wore very wide brimmed hats. Very weird! As I gradually matured I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and looking back loved that 3 years of my life, much of which has previously been written. There were many things of my childhood but they have been put on paper in earlier days and repetition is unnecessary but I wonder if Dentyne or Beemans gum is still around? Somehow I managed to get into the Men's clothing business and became, amongst other things a Men's hat buyer. Any salesmen that came into the store in those days was asked to leave if he wasn't wearing a hat. I still like hats and would wear one if it was still the fashion. Besides my hair is thinning and a hat would prevent any stares or strange looks. One thing which I really liked was the silk or nylon clad legs with the seams up the back. Man, I thought they were very sexy and even at my advanced age would love to see them back in style. Does that make me a dirty old man? Color me guilty!! Lastly, I wish to say a few words about my first car. My Dad bought this Graham Paige which was of the 1929 vintage. It wasn't much but it had wheels that worked and I can remember driving Linda around the block on many nights because that was the way she went to sleep, Well those are just a few of the things that disturbed my slumber this morning and if and when any of my grandkids find these meanderings amongst my papers, I hope they find some amusement in the early days of Old Gramps.
Lying in bed early this morning, I began to think about various things of my youth and younger years. It probably won't mean much except to those over 75 and they are getting fewer and fewer. So I guess you might say this writing will be for my own amusement and possibly, some where down the line, maybe one of my great, grandchildren may stumble across this and wonder how Grampa ever survived his childhood. But let me begin by saying there was very little religion in our home. Oh I used to go to Sunday School and carry my pennies that, supposedly, were intended for the collection plate. But, to be honest.I some times used them at the corner candy store across from the church. Yes, I was incorrigible at a very early age. I spent my pennies on Jujy Fruits because they lasted a long time. I tried Jaw Breakers but they were very noticeable in my cheek and I didn't want to advertise my pilfering from the church. I often wondered if Reverend Jolley would have missed my donation? I managed to become confirmed, having learned the various gospels and creeds so I guess I got somethings right! I remember strange things about my childhood-some of which are still around. For example, sneakers. Only someone my age would still be calling running shoes, sneakers, And then there were Thom McMahan (sp?) shoes. My Dad wouldn't buy any but that brand back then. Was there a different brand for kids? Growing up in Buffalo, it was curious to see cream frozen and extending beyond the milk bottle top when the weather was cold. Homogenized milk hadn't been discovered yet?!When Mom wasn't looking I would sneak a spoonfull to eat--another example of my nefarious character. I recall going to high school and my first remembrance of Louise was when I was standing on a corner waiting for a friend to walk to school with me, when she and two other girls went by. I remember her nice legs but never saw her again for five years. Just think I might have married at age 17. Does anyone remember the zoot suiters? They were the "creeps" that attended all the dances and had these strange clothes that had baggy trousers with tight ankles. They also had very long suit coats with key chains that dangled to about their knees and wore very wide brimmed hats. Very weird! As I gradually matured I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and looking back loved that 3 years of my life, much of which has previously been written. There were many things of my childhood but they have been put on paper in earlier days and repetition is unnecessary but I wonder if Dentyne or Beemans gum is still around? Somehow I managed to get into the Men's clothing business and became, amongst other things a Men's hat buyer. Any salesmen that came into the store in those days was asked to leave if he wasn't wearing a hat. I still like hats and would wear one if it was still the fashion. Besides my hair is thinning and a hat would prevent any stares or strange looks. One thing which I really liked was the silk or nylon clad legs with the seams up the back. Man, I thought they were very sexy and even at my advanced age would love to see them back in style. Does that make me a dirty old man? Color me guilty!! Lastly, I wish to say a few words about my first car. My Dad bought this Graham Paige which was of the 1929 vintage. It wasn't much but it had wheels that worked and I can remember driving Linda around the block on many nights because that was the way she went to sleep, Well those are just a few of the things that disturbed my slumber this morning and if and when any of my grandkids find these meanderings amongst my papers, I hope they find some amusement in the early days of Old Gramps.
My Birthdays
My Birthdays
Being born in February wasn't exactly conducive to having birthdays on warmer days and thus a number of my birthdays are vague and therefore not particularly memorable. However, some of them stand out at least to the degree that I can remember, what took place on those days. For example, my 20th.; that was the day Louise saw me off on a train headed for Albany N.Y. and our final destination was to be Troy at a school which I shall call R.P.I. because I can't spell the actual title of this university. It had an excellent reputation rivaling the best of the tech schools. Why is this so memorable? It's because I was now in the U.S. Navy and I was headed for my first training facility. I am not going to dwell on this although I was very proud having successfully passed quite a number of varying tests that were the major part of our enlistment. A quick example was that the first battery of tests taken in Rochester N. Y.found me one of nine out of 36 passing the first level.
My 30th was notable in that Louise surprised me and had a friend keep me in a hotel bar while he got drunk and kept me from going home. I arrived home to "SURPRISE"and our new but very small house was packed to the ceiling with friends and neighbors. I mean packed. Our living room was about 11' by 13' and I had walled up the entrance to the kitchen to get more wall space thus allowing our furniture to fit. People were sitting on stairs leading to our ex-pandable upper level. If you enjoy friendships there was plenty of happiness to share that evening.
My 40th birthday was only remembered because at the time I had forgotten that I had added a year but while fast asleep,I was awakened by a call from Louise, who was in Wisconsin, and that's another story which I might relate sometime. She was with a friend enjoying an evening out and called to wish me well. Should I have been suspicious with her being out at 11:00 at night?
As for my 50th, I have no recall whatsoever and so I will move along.
However, my 60th was very special. I had taken a new job and had landed at a small airport in Appleton,Wisconsin where fortunately I was met by the head of the store I was going to work for. He took me to my new residence, a hotel, and gave me directions to a restaurant where he had already made arrangements for me to have dinner that evening. The dinner was great but the hotel while completely acceptable, was to be my home for about 6 months. The company I was going to work for owned the hotel and had agreed to permit me to live there for as long as it took my family to join me . My room was quite large but right over a bar where the juke box played constantly and I never again want to hear the theme to "A Summer Place".
My 70th was, once again in a new home, now in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and while there was a party for me, it was much more subdued than was my 30th and now I will be 87 this coming Saturday. I am once again in different surroundings being in a retirement community which is replete with walkers , canes and wheelchairs. I have never seen so many geriatrics in one place and I am perturbed telling myself I don't belong here but for the first time in my life (?) I may be wrong. I am now in Arizona, Mesa, to be exact, and love it here. Its the weather that I love and when I returned to Minnsota last December, I decided to never again venture into any place north of Scottsdale during the months of November to April. I love the blue skies and the blazing sun. I will finish my last days here and whether I will live to be 90 is a question for which I'm not sure there is an answer except, possibly, do I want to?
Being born in February wasn't exactly conducive to having birthdays on warmer days and thus a number of my birthdays are vague and therefore not particularly memorable. However, some of them stand out at least to the degree that I can remember, what took place on those days. For example, my 20th.; that was the day Louise saw me off on a train headed for Albany N.Y. and our final destination was to be Troy at a school which I shall call R.P.I. because I can't spell the actual title of this university. It had an excellent reputation rivaling the best of the tech schools. Why is this so memorable? It's because I was now in the U.S. Navy and I was headed for my first training facility. I am not going to dwell on this although I was very proud having successfully passed quite a number of varying tests that were the major part of our enlistment. A quick example was that the first battery of tests taken in Rochester N. Y.found me one of nine out of 36 passing the first level.
My 30th was notable in that Louise surprised me and had a friend keep me in a hotel bar while he got drunk and kept me from going home. I arrived home to "SURPRISE"and our new but very small house was packed to the ceiling with friends and neighbors. I mean packed. Our living room was about 11' by 13' and I had walled up the entrance to the kitchen to get more wall space thus allowing our furniture to fit. People were sitting on stairs leading to our ex-pandable upper level. If you enjoy friendships there was plenty of happiness to share that evening.
My 40th birthday was only remembered because at the time I had forgotten that I had added a year but while fast asleep,I was awakened by a call from Louise, who was in Wisconsin, and that's another story which I might relate sometime. She was with a friend enjoying an evening out and called to wish me well. Should I have been suspicious with her being out at 11:00 at night?
As for my 50th, I have no recall whatsoever and so I will move along.
However, my 60th was very special. I had taken a new job and had landed at a small airport in Appleton,Wisconsin where fortunately I was met by the head of the store I was going to work for. He took me to my new residence, a hotel, and gave me directions to a restaurant where he had already made arrangements for me to have dinner that evening. The dinner was great but the hotel while completely acceptable, was to be my home for about 6 months. The company I was going to work for owned the hotel and had agreed to permit me to live there for as long as it took my family to join me . My room was quite large but right over a bar where the juke box played constantly and I never again want to hear the theme to "A Summer Place".
My 70th was, once again in a new home, now in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and while there was a party for me, it was much more subdued than was my 30th and now I will be 87 this coming Saturday. I am once again in different surroundings being in a retirement community which is replete with walkers , canes and wheelchairs. I have never seen so many geriatrics in one place and I am perturbed telling myself I don't belong here but for the first time in my life (?) I may be wrong. I am now in Arizona, Mesa, to be exact, and love it here. Its the weather that I love and when I returned to Minnsota last December, I decided to never again venture into any place north of Scottsdale during the months of November to April. I love the blue skies and the blazing sun. I will finish my last days here and whether I will live to be 90 is a question for which I'm not sure there is an answer except, possibly, do I want to?
Friday, March 4, 2011
Home Again
I was up and about early this morning. I had been in contact with my grandson, Jeff in Orlando. We were trying to make plans to go fishing again but he was having problems trying to get out of a court date he was involved in. Ain't it heck when your job gets in the way of your recreation? I also had to make a date with my dentist and have my dentures refitted so I could eat more comfortably. That phone conversation was sucessful and I set off to keep a 9:15 appointment. I was cruising down Center street at about 9:05 when I became distracted and the next thing I am hitting a curb with some velocity. I blew my right front tire AND my rear tire. When I examined it I saw I had also managed to wreck the rim. Oh dear, here I am without a cell phone and no way to #1, cancel my 9:15 or #2, a 10:30 I had made with a church friend. I then see a man standing at front of a condo, I assumed to be his, and called out "Do you have a cell phone I can use?" I walked over and he pulled out his cell called a number I gave him--my insurance agent, and things began to happen. My agent called me back on his cell phone and arranged for a towing service to come, get the car and take it about a mile away to a car repair shop recomended by my new friend--Carlos. No, he wasn't an owner in the repair shop. However, after the tow truck had put my car up on the bed, and had me get in, we drove to the aforementioned repair place. Getting the paper work done with knowledge that I would have to lay out money for 2 tires, a new rim, maybe then straightening of the car frame was enough to make me sick. In the meantime, here comes Carlos, saying he wanted to make sure I got here O.K. What a nice guy!!The shop owner didn't have a loaner car but said he would drive me home at which time Carlos volunteered to take care of that. And he did! As he drove away, I thought to myself, "what a nice guy" at the same time telling myself I wanted to get to know him better. In the several minutes we were together I discovered, we are both diabetics, we have both lost our wives and are alone but managing to stay afloat finacially and emtionally. I thought as, he drove off,this confirms that there are people in this world that are friendly, able and willing to help others that have troubles. I'm sure glad we met and we will meet again.
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