YES, I AM STILL HERE peeking out of the newspaper’s window on Main Street and I am thinking about societal adjustments in this super-sensitive world. In just a short time we have learned the hard way NOT to offend anyone, especially about male and female roles in our culture.
One thing occurs to me, and it will probably get me in trouble: Do pageants now give Mister/Miss/Ms. and/or Mrs. Congeniality Awards?
The Mister/Miss Congeniality Award for the U.S. Congress goes to the poster child of honesty and ethics — GOP Congressman George Santos — an embarassment to us all, no matter the political party or philosophy.
Our governor has expressed support for redneck legislation which would forbid ‘drag’ revues or entertainment in which men dress up as women. As if they posed a danger to children.
The late Nobie Ann Hill Williams, executive director of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, would remind the governor of our town’s own “Miss Dainty Dinosaur Pageant.”
And a friend has asked me if the legislation would affect the annual appearance of Mrs. Claus. I had sorta put Mrs. Claus into retirement after her 2022 appearances, but I’m just enough of a rebel to bring her back for one more time. Don’t count on it.
My personal belief is that humans are formed in the womb by the Almighty. Each person is as good in the Almighty’s eyes as I am.
I DON’T think it is cool to use surgery to ‘correct’ one’s gender. Especially at taxpayer’s expense.
But that’s another story and I’m sure you wouldn’t be interested.
=—-= — =
THE GOOD EARTH. At one time, decades ago, I bragged that I could smell a coming snow. Then I quit smoking and that valuable talent went away. Lost …. for years.
Seems to me it that the talent should’ve gotten better. But noooooooo!
Suddenly this week, it returned. I’m not smoking again, just in case you’re wondering. It was a kind of a metal or mineral smell, I’m guessing. But, years ago, without consulting meteorololologististists I could accurately predict snow up to a day in advance.
This is being written on Monday morning.
I may smell snow. The proof is in the pudding, so we’ll see.
=—-= — =
ANIMAL CRACKERS. Until I stumbled across the article in ‘Birds & Blooms,’ I had no idea there were about a dozen varieties of Jays, starting off with the most famous — Blue Jays. One Jay species I HAD heard of was one the article actually omitted — the O’Jays and their famous call, “Use ta be My Girl.”
=—-= — =
MORE ANIMAL CRACKERS. Most snakebites in the U.S. are from copperheads, but the snake I fear the most is the ‘cottonmouth’ or ‘water moccasin.’
According to an article in LiveScience there are other names the viper is known by, including: black moccasins, gapers, mangrove rattlers, snap jaws, stub-tail snakes, swamp lions, trap jaws, water mambas and water pilots. The cottonmouth got that particular name because it bares the white inside of its mouth when it is tempted to bite.
One of my brothers is well-known among his siblings for an ability to detect a nearby cottonmouth by smell. Therefore, when walking around a fishing pond in the boonies, we always try to stay near to him.
“Stop! There’s a snake here somewhere.” he’d say. Always right.
=—-= — =
SUPER BOWL. No matter the team you root for, you will enjoy the game more if you have a plateful of ribs that were smoked one day earlier for the 4-H Super Bowl BBQ fund-raiser.
The hardy crew working on the smokers are 4-H moms and dads, and supporters of local 4-H via the Foundation. They’ll start cooking long before dawn on Saturday, Feb. 11, out at the fairgrounds. And that’s where you go to pick up your ribs and Cornish game hens. Ribs are $30 for a slab; hens are $8 each. Pardon me while I drool.
Please order in advance by calling the extension office at 845-7517.
We have a truly excellent 4-H program here in Howard County. I salute our 4-H leaders and those folks who are shivvering out in the dark on the morning before Super Bowl Sunday.
=—-= — =
ALMOST AFRAID to mention that if you go out after sunset on a clear night, and you look low on the north horizon you might be able to see the ‘green comet.’ Helps if you have a pair of binoculars, but with the naked eye you might see it faintly.
=—-= — =
WORD GAMES. The twins: X & O. Usually connected to drawn football plays and tic-tac-toe games.
=—-= — =
HE SAID: “The bee collects honey from flowers in such a way as to do the least damage or destruction to them, and he leaves them whole, undamaged and fresh, just as he found them.” Saint Francis de Sales, theologian
=—-= — =
SHE SAID: “When I sing for myself, I probably sing for anyone who has any kind of hurt, any kind of bad feelings, good feelings, ups and downs, highs and lows, that kind of thing.” Etta James, vocalist.
Sing “At Last,” one more time, Etta.
=—-= — =
SWEET DREAMS, Baby
