Skip to main content

Again with the Memories...

"WOW, are those real?" if I had a dime for every time I heard that one. I remember one summer I worked for my cousin Vlad. He ran a small business (wait for it..) making equipment for flea circuses. (there it is!) We made infinitesimally small bicycles, monkey bars, merry-go-rounds, wagons, and my favorite - wheels of death; among other things. It wasn't a great business, but Vlad loved it. It was ironic that Vlad should be involved with such small things as he was afflicted with Marfan Syndrome and Acromegaly. He was about 8ft tall with an arm span of over 8ft. It was funny seeing him working on a bicycle that was smaller than the nail on his little finger! Vlad had a strange hobby; he raised fainting goats. If you have never seen one of these, go to You Tube and search for them. They are great. When startled, they tense up, get all stiff legged and fall over. It is hilarious! Vlad was a hoot when he would rise to his full height and charge the goats with his tremendous arms flapping. The goats would all freeze and fall over. Vlad would just roar with laughter. He would spend hours when he was not working frightening the goats. He really loved them though. After frightening them, he would sit with them for hours rubbing their noses (they loved that) and talking baby talk to them. The goats loved him and he loved them. I never got to actually see any of our equipment in use as Vlad hated fleas. He refused to attend any flea circus. I would have loved to see the small wheel of death being spun by tiny biting insects. Oh well... Gotta go, time to feed the rhino..

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Our Guv'ment

Section 8 - Powers of Congress The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises , to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and Post Roads ; To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings a...

Who's got gas?

Here is another thing that is bothering me - I am tired of people whining about gas prices. Gas was never free!! When people whine about "$40 to fill my tank" they forget that even at $2 a gallon it was $25 or so to fill it!! Here are some numbers: The average car in the U.S. is driven about 12,000 miles a year. If you get 20 MPG (hey if you are driving a Hummer, getting 10, I don't want to hear it!) That is 600 gallons of gas a year. Most people would be estatic if gas was at $2 a gallon again -SO, that is about $600 a year (for the extra $1 a gallon) or $11.54 a week. Now I know there are a LOT of folks that were struggling to pay the $2, but the average person I know was not. Here is another way to look at it. How many Starbuck's coffees or lattes have you had lately at $$37.33 a gallon? ($3.50 for a 12 oz one) How about a beer on an airplane at $53.33 a gallon? ($5 per) Then there is bottled water at $10.66 a gallon. ($1 a 12oz bottle -and it can be MUCH higher...

A Three Hour Tour, or, Perchance to drown

Imagine you and your spouse, or significant other, are on a nice boat ride called life. You are on this inconceivably large boat in a sea of unimaginable size on a trip of indeterminate length. Once in a while, you go through some beautiful. almost indescribable days where birds sing, wonderful angelic music accompanies you in your daily activities , and everything you want is there before you. Then there are the dark and stormy days where all you can do is hold on to the rail and upchuck your lunch into the water. Most of the days, however, are just a boat ride. One day your spouse falls overboard, fully clothed, and for no apparent reason. You quickly toss them a line, and say"hold on, I'll get you out!" There is no reason to panic, people fall into the water all the time. Plus, they are a fairly strong swimmer, we will get them out. So, you start pulling on the rope. After pulling and pulling you notice they are not any closer to the boat. You decide you need help....