My long time Friend bought his house in New Jersey in 1977...

(Gov. of NJ, Jon Corzine, glad-handing the Stupid New Jersians that Voted for Him & the Dems before Him) While my Friend paid $104,650 for his Home, Plus settlement costs & Interest Payments! Property Taxes were $2200 per year back then. He made a Good Living, contributed his share to the State coffers...But now...He is moving to Texas...

• His Property Taxes in NJ, near Fort Lee, are...
• $34,000 per year! (true story)
• The House is on the Market for $415,000
• It hit me when he said, @$34,000 per year I am re-buying my House
• Every 3 Years...

Just some random thoughts...

ESPN - Grandpop Challenge - Amanda's Picks!

ESPN - Tournament Challenge - Amanda's Picks

As promised from the previous Post and under the Full Disclosure Rules, here are Amanda's picks!

see the Prior Post for an understanding of the Grandpop Challenge!

Amanda's picks may not be "right on" but she sure does look good Picking them!

ESPN - GRANDPOP Challenge & Justin & Liam's Bracket

ESPN - Tournament Challenge - Justin's Bracket Granpa TJ is sending me E-mails about how well his Grandson Liam is doing in his Bracket! The multitude of E-mail's he is sending are so confusing one cannot even follow the Picks!! He sends no Bracket Format! Thus, in the Spirit of Transparency, I present MY GRANDSON's BRACKET! Full disclosure here. as opposed to the Gobuldegoock that Liam's Granpa is showing me! I will also Post my Grandaughter's Bracket shortly.... Let's see Liam's Bracket Granpa TJ!!!! (Now, I grant you that Justin has a certain favor for California Teams, but)

WE SAY...

Rest in Peace Ollie...you were one Good Dog...if there is a Dog Heaven, Ollie is in the Front Pew...

THE GATHERING in Allentown...4BM's, One BD & WE owe Susan & Eddie an Apology...

What a Game we watched tonite! Villanova 78, Pittsburgh 76! Only one person in the room was disappointed with the result(that would be the former Ref). Howsomever, Susan & Eddie are probably just as disappointed...in the Lack of Food their Guests ate. You see...

• Our hosts had prepared Hoagies, Lasagna, Cheese & crackers w/Pepperoni and Home Made Choco Chip Cookies
• What they did not realize is that we are all into a Healthy Foods & Lifestyle now!
• Ergo, as we watched the Game we snacked on the Food we brought in our Back-Packs...
• Celery, carrots, jing-sun seeds, broccoli spears, et al.
• We also chose our self contained bottled water (contained in an Environmentally Safe Receptacle) over the Variety of Beer they offered.
• We also insisted that we turn off the electricity from 8:30 PM til 9:30 PM in observance of "Earth Hour", click on (GreenCities Around The World Turning Off The Lights In Honor Of Earth Hour) or whatever...
• Finally, we all did Yoga and Pilates during the last 5 minutes of the Game!

Which most of us believe enabled Villanova to pull this Victory out of the Dark!

Of course this Post is mostly BOGUS & we thank our Hosts for a Fun night and a Memorable Game! Again, only one attendee was disappointed with the outcome AND only ONE attendee actually brought his own Back-Pack and healthy Snack (courtesy of his Loving & Caring Wife)...another Guy brought a Cane!

Judy Ann just returned from a visit w/ her Mom in Fla.

You know, God's Waiting Room? The Land of Flashing Left Turn Signals?

Anyway...

• The check for lunch came with a Total, as is Normal, and then this...
• "If your Tip is 15% you would pay this $$$"
• "If your Tip is 18% you would pay this $$$"
• "If your Tip is 20% you would pay this $$$"

I think it is Helpful for the Restaurant to do that. What do you think ?

Ever Been Late to Work?

Just for the purpose of getting the last Post Photo off Center Screen I say,

TIME TO WAKE UP EASTER FLOWERS! :)

ADVERTISING; The Bull Dog Lawyers and the Three Stooges try to Sell themselves...

About The Bulldog Lawyer / Big stars in 'Three Stooges'

Sorry, I was about to retire for the night and then I saw on TV... an Ad for "The Bull Dog Lawyers" and that lead to...

Who are the people that Create the Advertising spots for Car Dealers & Law Firms? And who are the people that say, "that's a good message that will Sell what we a selling... here's our check for your Time and thanks for your Help"?

Clueless...

Then I just watch a half hour of ABC, CBS, or NBC and I feel better about myself...

We have asked where Slim has been (& never got an answer). Now! We ask where is The Gay Caballero?

A Spanish gentleman; a cavalier. A man who is skilled in riding and managing horses; a horseman.

anyone?...anyone?...Ferris?...Mr Bueller?...where's Bueller!?!...anyone seen Bueller?!?

Since the Unkle Cracker suggestion was so well received by the Crowd @ Brigids...

I am feeling BOLD enough to suggest another Blast from the Past...to the Artist's in the Family. YouTube - cat stevens Why can't people write songs like this today? Or, is that just sounding like an Old Fart?

CHEESE...

Where I live, we Really Like Cheese! Grilled cheese, cheese & crackers, cheese omelets, cheese Pizza, cheese on our ALPO and even Cheese in a Can... Cheese Steaks, Cheese Burgers and Cheesey photos & other cheesey stuff... So... I offer some Cheesey Shopping Tips...

At the ACME it is approx $4.75 per lb! Per Pound for cheese~! sliced thin!

• At BJ's it was $9.95 for 5 Pounds...
• So, 5 Pounds of cheeese @ the ACME would be $23.75
• While 5 Pounds of cheese @ BJ's was "only" $9.95!

Ergo, I saved $13.80! when I bought the 5lb Pack! Like putting money in the Bank!!!

Anyone want to return to the '60's and start a Co-op ? We can Swap cheese and other condiments...even start a vegetable Garden..."Michael rowed the Boat ashore...Alleluhia, or whatever...

I mention Michael cause he was over here today and I was able to dump at least 2Lbs on him...He said he would stop by Johns' place! Maybe lay a few pounds of Cheese at his doorstep...

I'll be honest! The wife is in Florida til Wednesday, I have 5 Pounds of Cheese in the Fridge! I was able to get rid of a pound or two today! I need Buyers! If she comes home on Wednesday night and I have more than a Pound in the Frig I am Grilled!

Cheese Wiz!!! mice all over the Place....!!!! I had no idea how much 5lbs of Cheese would look like in the Fridge!...

There are Family stories that are too Rich to not be Told.

Even if they take a long time to tell...this one I heard at Dave & Buster's.

• One of my brothers was dating a Babe in College
• She left School & returned to Va.
• The Babe calls the Bro & invites him to her home
• The Bro says ok! When will you be here ?, asks the Babe
• The Bro says, sometime next week
• You see, the Bro had no car & was planning on Hitchhiking from D Street to Va
• Thus, he could not pin-point an arrival date.

To the Bros good fortune, he actually manages, after 6 rides and his First Airplane ride, to arrive at the front GATE of the Babes home! Turns out her Dad was the CEO of Marriott Hotels!

• When the bro left D Street he was not thinking "wardrobe"
• He shows up in the driveway, with no apparent means of transportation that got him to the driveway
• In a Feltonville Rec Team shirt that read "McHenry Realty" the sponsor of his team @ the Rec.
• Mr. Marriott sees the shirt & asks, "so your Family is in Real Estate?"
• to which the bro responds..."yea, we keep it Real"...

The next day the Family ventured to the Country Club Pool...

• Matching swim suites & tops were the order of the Day
• My bro had "cut off" jeans!
• At the time he said..."i didn't even notice"...

Now for the Evening Barbecue back at the Estate...

• By late afternoon, the Babe realized the "MESS" the Bro was in
• She really liked him!
• So...she took him to the local Mall for some Barbecue clothes!

As hard as she tried, those clothes did not match those of Ted Kennedy and his kids, nor those of General Westmoreland who was in attendance in Full Regalia! THIS Family was "Connected"!

• The next morning it was time for the Bro to leave
• He bid his Farewells
• and walked down the driveway, thru The Gate
• to the Street

Anyone remember Steve Martin in "The Jerk" when he left Home?

• Took my bro 3 hours to get his first ride...

But, wait til you hear about his venture Home & what he told his Mother when he got there ...to be continued...

A White Rental Van...an Old Beach Chair...Brigids...and trash.

The Crowd loved the McKendry Brothers at Brigids tonite! First time I have been there...A Cozy setting... It was 3:30 PM...I get a call from Michael...We will pick you up at 6:15PM, John rented a Van!

• 6:35 PM (Show starts @ 7:00PM) my phone rings...HELLO?
• Gerry, it's John!
• We are outside your house...do you have a Chair?
• A chair?, I Ask...Yes, we need a chair for the Van...IT HAS NO SEATS !
• I reach outside my backdoor & grab the Beach Chair that I have placed my Xtension cord in during the past 12 Years!
• Hand the chair to Michael who is sitting on the floor of the Van
• I then notice Mary, next to Michael, sitting on a cushion holding onto Michael's calf!
• At least I am riding Shot-Gun!

It's a 15-20 minute drive to Brigids, and the following occurs...

• Michael asks, Gerry, is this a good chair?
• I say, NO!, I haven't sat in that chair in 15 Years
• I say to John, this is like one of those Vans where the Bad Guys are torturing someone in the Back!
• Mary says, We are being tortured! As Michael's Beach Chair collapses
• 4 legs splayed North, East South and West!
• It turned into a Lounge chair!

5 minutes to Brigids, Michael cannot Extricate himself from the Lounge Chair and John tells him to just "ROLL OUT OF IT"!!! and Michael did...

• We made it
• Michael was Superbly Superfluous
• and Mary had a Good Time

I did not drive home with John...my Beach Chair was ruined...

At our Dave & Buster Pow Wow today, GranPa TJ mentioned a Scientific Study he was Researching...

...and none of the other Geniuses at the "bar" had heard about it... TJ said...

• ...take the kids height measurement when the kid is two
• Multiply that by 2...
• and that is how tall the "kid" will be at "maturation"

In all honesty, TJ did not use the word "maturation". That word was brought up by one of the other "Professors" at the table, where they were drinking Beer and watching Basketball.

It may have been Dr Pea, Dr Cooker or Dr YoYoMa, I forget which one...

So, what do you think of TJ's theory?

If it's true, you could start buying your kids Future wardrobe today at reduced prices...

The NCAA Today & "Back in the Day"

Back in the 50's and 60's, when Dutch, Stoneman and Pea Dominated "Family Sports" there were very few "colored people" in our Sports World. I remember a game we were preparing for where the opposing team consisted of "colored kids" and our Coach told us..."once you get a big lead on these "colored kids" they Give Up"! True story...

Amazing stuff when you consider where you've been and where you are this Day!

A footnote... (Ahemmm) we did win the game cause the pea scored 37 vs the "colored kids" at Belmont Playground! We won by one...the "colored kids" would Not give up!!!!

It has Happened AGAIN!!! This time in Lancaster!

Deja Vu all over again! Reports say that Timmy & Maureen were once again cited for "making out" in a parked car! Who can forget the Spring of 1969 incident at Tookanny Creek??? Well, this time even their Grandkids were appalled! At least two of their multitude of gandkids present at their Bail Hearing were heard to scream out..."GET A ROOM YOU TWO"!!! While others shouted "why the Hospital?!?"

Sources say that "the couple" were found by Security in a local Hospital parking lot while having at each other, er...having a... Salad together!!!

The alleged infraction occured around Noon!

More info to follow as it becomes available...meanwhile, weather for tomorrow looks like ...

I'm Fired Up!

I am fired up to watch me some McKendry Brothers, Acoustic Set, Live at Bridgid’s on Saturday night. Anyone else going? I am bringing a few friends. It will be the first time for them to hear the McKendry Brothers. Most of my friends follow a local band named “Secret Service”… I HATE these guys. It will be good to finally listen to a few guys who can actually play.

Request:
1.) The Pea makes an appearance…
2.) The beer to be flowing…
3.) To finally meet the man they call “Stoneman”…

Stimulus Plan or Chaos Plan ?

Stimulus plan: Spend now, details later (promise) (click to read)

Someone out there (I think it was YOYO STIMULUS) asked for "more politics" so:

• Imagine you win $5 Million in the Lottery
• Rules say you must spend it all in the next 12 months
• Rules also say you must present a Plan to the Lottery Board
• Detailing what you will spend the $5Million on
• "After" you have the $5million!

Think you could do that ???

Ahemmm, the Reason the Blog is Green for March is...

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!! How much Scotch do we have in us? Anyone know? And I am not Talking CHIVAS REGAL!!! remember Harry Schaeffer's pronunciation of that Scotch?

Takin' it to the Fans! For More than Five Years the McKendry Brothers have consistently rejected my suggestion that they Sing This Song!!!

What do you think? Can you just hear Michael on Lead Vocal, Eddie on Lead Guitar and Cooker, Blaze and Rick Holland in Harmony ? I can...but then, I am just Mortie, the wannabe Rock Band Manager... so what do I know ??? ( just click on the Dark Words) YouTube - Follow me Uncle Kracker

MRI's, Claustrophobia and Bunkers...although Bunkers are Wider than MRI's

I am scheduled for an MRI in April. I have had four of them in my lifetime. They are difficult to endure. Michael had a good point when he said to me, "they can make this wonderful machine that has helped so many people, they can put a Man on the Moon, but they can't make an MRI more comfortable?"

• I always thought it was a Genetic thing...Dad couldn't go on an elevator
• A war story that you have all heard. "INCOMING" and we ran for the underground Bunkers...
• I was about the 4th one in and about 25 followed
• You crawl in and have to sit, ceiling about 5ft high.
• Most Bunkers, you go in one side, you can go out the other side
• This Bunker was under construction! They hadn't completed the Exit.
• Dead End

Mortars falling, sky lit up, people screaming and I had to get out! Crawled over the "cursing 25" to the Entrance and breathed In the night air! Whew...(after that I always went to the above ground Bunker)...

That's the way an MRI feels to me...

From the "Where Are They Now" file...what ever happened to this cute child model??

Came across this wonderful magazine cover this morning and it just made me smile.  

Does the Name make the Guy Cool, or... Does the Guy make the Name Cool?

The First Annual Blog Selection of the Coolest named Cool Guys...! and how did they get chosen? Buster Crabb, Charlton Heston, Charlie Chaplin, Earl Flynn, Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Burt Lancaster, Humpfrey Bogart, Paul Newman,Eric Clapton,Mick Jagger,Axel Rose,Marlon Brando,Barak Obama,Brad Pitt,James Garner,Tom Brady,Joe Montana,Bruce Springsteen,Paul Dornisch,Neil Armstrong,Christopher Columbus,Jesus Christ,Winston Churchill,Tom Hanks,Tom Cruise,Tom Petty,Jeff Gordon,Cassius Clay,George Armstrong Custer,Omar Bradley,Jackie Seminski,Walter Peyton,Howard Cosell,Beebo Masagatti,Mitchell Pursade,Ma Prudente',YoYo Ma,Wilt Chamberlain,Willie Mays,Cole Hamels,Rod Sterling,John Lennon,Lenny Bruce,Knute Rockne,Ronald Reagan,Danny Reagan,Justin McKendry,Wally Jones,George Clooney,Jerry Blavat,Hy Litt,Eli Litt,Irv Litt,Padraic McKendry,Dr Litt,Joe the Parkguard,Harry the Barber,Mr Kalstien,Ricardo Montebaun,Sugar Ray Leonard,Ringo Starr,Ricky Martin,Julius Erving,John Mellencamp,John Kennedy,Tiger Woods,Christopher McKendry,Chase Utley,Bart Starr,Troy Aikman,Joe Louis,Raymond Godlewski,Johnny Depp,Rush Limbaugh,Hank Aaron,Luke Skywalker,Forrest Gump,Downtown Ollie Brown,George Foreman,Oscar Robertson,Jimmy Greengrass,Mickey Mantle,I could go on...

SIX Overtimes! The NCAA Tourney is shaping up! And don't forget the Dave & Busters Outing!

OH! To be Young and In Shape! God Bless Youth-ism !!! although the Testosterone can be a Problem...have I ever told you the Story about Judy Ann & I visiting Jason and his Buddies in their rental house @ West Chester, after Jason tore up his knee and was Immobile? His Buddies did a wonderful job of Nursing him...

No. 18 Orange outlast No. 3 UConn in six overtimes at Big East quarters - NCAA Division I Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com

Are you related to anyone in this video?

Be warned, the person may not look the same as the last time you saw him.

Remember awhile back when the Blog asked if there is anyone you would want to Punch in the Face? Well...

Chris Dodd's Irish 'Cottage' - WSJ.com(once again, click to read)

Do you know who Chris Dodd is? I will just say that in the past he has been called "one side of a Waitress Sandwhich"! That is, he and another prominant Senator were known to make a sandwhich out of pretty, young waitresses (can you visualize that?). His Dad was a Senator...and of course he served in the Peace Corpse during the Viet Nam era, (why didn't I think of that option?). He is in charge of a lot of important stuff in Washington. I don't like this man...I have followed his Story for a long time, read this article, and had to do my little bit to Expose him. Supposedly, he has cleaned up his act, is now married and has an 8 year old and a 3 year old. He was born in 1944.

Where has Slim been ?

Anyone else notice that Slim is missing from the Blog? Did he move on to other Places and Spaces?

• no Posting
• no Comments. Did he move on to other things? Is Slim a He or a She? We really don't know for sure...
• if we had a photo
• we could, maybe, get it on a Milk carton or something
• along with a photo of Uncle Buck
• and Willie, Willy, Will E., Will ?

Blaze has invited us to the March Madness! Saturday, the 28th of March....

BUT!... there are certain Standards that must be met...for example,

• You should be Retired, or
• Related to a Retiree
• You should have a photo ID of you in a Basketball uniform.
• You should look atheletic

If you have a DVD of your Championship Season, even if it was 45 Years ago, that will get you in the Front Door!

Remember, this is the NCAA basketball tournament...

As far as I know, there are only three of us that have actually played in a NCAA Sanctioned Game of Basketball!

...and those three would be...?

anyone?... anyone...?...Ferris?

Maybe they should have agreed before the visit..."let's just do a White Elephant" ...

"Obama's British 'Gift Gaffe' Not Reported By U.S. Media NewsBusters.org" you can click on the post to read the details...!!!!!BE WARNED! IT IS A CRAZY RIGHT WING WEB SITE YOU WILL ENTER IF YOU CLICK!!!

March Madness!

Friday, March 20 we will be meeting at Dave & Busters in the Plymouth Meeting Mall to watch the opening day of March Madness!!! It also happens to be the First Day of Spring!

• The meeting (@ the Meeting Mall) will commence promptly @ 11AM !
• After spending some time there and competing on the myriad of games available
• We will move on to the Conshohocken area, where Jazmus resides
• He will take us for a Swing thru his Favorite Spots!
• Finishing off at the Bachelor pad he calls his "Lair"!

Michael is the "Designated Driver" !

Chefs' Dumb & Dumber & the Mandolin Slicer...

Judith Ann was slicing potatoes to make, whatever. I was reading a book. "I need some Help Here!" I hear. She sliced her little finger pretty badly. I helped bandage it and took over the slicing on the Mandolin Slicer, yelling at her for not using the Safety device that comes with it.

• As I am slicing, the potato falls off the Safety Device
• I continue slicing the potato w/o the SD
• Judy Ann screams, "don't do it that way! that's what I did!"
• As I slice my thumb to smithereens!
• We, literally, had blood sprayed on the counter and wall!
• So far, it hardly hurts. Sorta like a razor cut, the real pain is yet to come

Just another Tale from the Kitchen of Chefs' Dumb & Dumber...

• PS...you can buy our Kitchen Helper book @ Amazon.com! Titled..."How to Cook with Blood on Your Hands"

My Sister & the 2008 Sugarless Soda Bread

It has been almost three months and I have got to get this off my chest... I REALLY look forward to Alyce's soda bread during the Christmas season. BUT, we were told that in making the 2008 version she "Forgot" to add the sugar. The 2008 version was ok...I just didn't Love it. Something was missing. Anyone else notice this?

• Do you believe she truly "Forgot" the sugar? or...
• Do you believe she was attempting to make us eat healthier?

Should we send her a 5 pound bag of sugar around Thanksgiving Day this year? ...jus' assin'

Husbands, Wives, Grandkids, Brothers, Sisters, Uncles, Aunts, Nieces, Nephews and Birthdays.

What a Difference a Year makes...and

Today is Justin's 4th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN! The Trips will be ONE on Monday? and Amanda will be three on Tuesday!

Awhile back we were at a family wedding...

• I said to Michael, "where are our old Uncles?"
• Michael said, "WE are now the old Uncles"
• And then it Hit Me!

Don't ya just Love the Internet!

"MY" Kitchen Broom Died...

After 129 months of service our, er, "My" kitchen broom has died

• the bristles are frayed
• the paint on the handle frays to the floor & makes more dirt
• the stick handle no longer screws into the Base
• the kitchen floor dirt laughs at it and says
• "nice sweep attempt broomie"! hahahaha....
• as the dirt dodges the bristles and continues to accumulate!

My question is

• are there more Modern ways to Sweep your kitchen floor?

I refuse to vacuum! And my reference to "My" broom? That is because Judith Ann admits she doesn't care what I do about a kitchen broom! Cause she has never touched the one we have had for 129 months!

Should I just contact Billy Mays?

In this non-political Family (NO POLITICS!) how many are aware of the Rush-White House Debate?

And if you were Rahm Emanuel/Paul Begala/James Carville which one of these designs would you choose for your Billboard ?

Blaze usually asks these Grammar Questions, but

Since I used the word "who" in the last Post, I wondered...

• When do you use "who"
• and, when do you use "whom"

and while we're at it...

• "wonder" and
• "wander" ?

I am telling you!!! This Blog is on the Cutting Edge!!!

The New Barbie! Who we have celebrated twice on this Blog, is back in the NEWS! INKED UP!!!

Well, not really Inked, but she does come with a supply of stick-on Tatoos. Is this something you will be buying for your kid? Will you help your child "ink" Barbie?

The Content of the Blog will go somewhat different now, cause things are getting Crazy!

I asked if anyone knew Brian Tierney in the last Survey, 2 responses. Brian owns the Inquire & Daily News, which are now in Bankruptcy. He bought it about 3or4 years ago. I think it was about $250million he and his "friends" put up and that was just the Down Payment! Pat Croce was one of them you may recognize...other Local, Prominent people were also coerced to join ! The Inquirer hailed them as "Life Savers for the Community" I reviewed Brian's Google page and read it twice. I still don't know how he made a Gazillion Dollars!

• Now, I am no Warren Buffet (& he had his own problems in 2008) but, I said at the time of the Buy "why would they do this"? They are buying a Sinking Ship!

• This "investment" will cost these people Major Bucks! They were individuals that made an investment that has not turned out too well. They can probably afford the loss and get a write-off on their Taxes. But it will still cost them.

• Meanwhile, in Washington, the President and Congress are making Investments and Rolling the Dice that $3.7trillion in spending in the next year will Help us All.

• "Life Savers for America"

• If the President and Congress are wrong, they Lose Nothing! They jumped on the Gravy Train when we elected them.

• They are Free to Gamble with House/Senate Money!

• I Hope they Win!

• Then we Win! we, the tax payers, being the providers of The House/Senate Money.

• This is not a Democrat/Republican thing. This is Serious stuff that is now happening in DC

A Blog Tribute to Stormin' Norman...& St Francis University!

Recently heard he passed away. Never met him, but two of my brothers did. John loved the guy, Michael says he was the best athelete he ever met (other than me). I remember watching the NBA on TV and enjoying Van Lier and Jerry Sloan just annoying the pants off of opposing players! He was Fun to Watch... R.I.P. Norman

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-27-norm-van-lier-bulls-chicafeb27,0,5330451.story

I don't get a lot of Phone Calls...

Maybe a brother will call once a Month, my sister calls about once every Five years! My only Brother-In-Law wants nothing to do with me! My Sisters'-In-Law don't like me (just last weekend I called one & she told me to leave them alone!) ... Jason calls almost every day. I call Sam, he rarely calls me. BUT!!!! Since Tuesday Night I have gotten 23 phone calls from Liberals I know, asking me..."who in the !@#$ is Bobby Jingle!"? So I thought I would Post this... Bobby Jindal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (for you computer illiterate, Gloating Liberals, just click on the DARK WORDS)