Horst Happenings....

Friday, June 20, 2008

If Spiderman Can

What is it about dreams that lets everyone be a superhero?

Last night I was having the strangest dreams. In one dream I had I was driving along the highways in some unknown large metropolitan city. As I was zooming along I was in one of the right lanes and needed to be in the left lane because I was coming to a split in the highway. I couldn't change lanes because there was someone in the lane I needed in. So I thought to myself, "Stay in this lane and take the next exit and loop around!" So I did just that. That exit came up awful fast on the right but I was able to jerk the car around quick enough to make it.

Then IT happened. You know, that thing that always happens in dreams. That thing that could never happen in real life. That thing that happens because of the Laws of Physics or the Laws of Man or just because it can't happen. I took that exit and began to loop around and then my perspective changed from the driver's to that of someone watching from above. That's when I realized the exit ramp quickly dropped off and became a brick wall inside a large pit full of water. What to do?

Easy! Stop the car and climb the wall of course. After all there were several windows and vents on the wall. So I started to climb. It seemed that the wall just kept getting taller and taller. I made it to some windows. No help, they were just sealed up. I finally made it to a vent. I was able to reach in and tear it out and then miraculously I was able to start tearing bricks down and rip into the duct work and climb down to safety.

Now for a few thoughts on the dream. 1. Why did I stop the car and get out? Couldn't I have just stopped, put the car in reverse and back out? 2. Why did I climb the wall? I can't climb walls. The only explanation I have is that Chris bought our Grandson Jace some new Spiderman underwear yesterday. Maybe Spiderman was on my mind. I promise he was not on my waist. 3. Why did I go down the vent? I'm not quite sure about that because that is where the water was. Oh well, I woke up and was none the worse for wear.

I did like the perspective thing though. Wouldn't it be great if we could really do that?

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

A Grave Situation

I mentioned yesterday that I found a goodly portion of my family tree on ancestry.com courtesy of my niece Kari Horst Nilsson. Well now to add to the story, yesterday I was looking up some information on the Internet Movie Database and from there ended up going to findagrave.com. This lead me to posting pictures of the headstones of my family on the site for Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. I then decided to check into the family that are buried at Rosemound Cemetery. When I went to the cemetery I got the plot information and from that information I learned something very interesting. Now I already knew that the plot was purchased by my uncle for his wife, Ruth Creswell Carter. She was my mother's sister that died in 1929 at the age of 20. Anyway, her husband bought the plot and gave it to the family to be used for his wife and other family members.

Now here is the interesting part! The plot measures 14 feet by 15 feet by 20 feet and was purchased for $60.00 on March 5, 1929. The plot was sized for 6 spaces. That's not too shabby, $10.00 per space. A quick Internet search at gravesolutions.com yielded the following results. For a comparable size plot in Waco Memorial Park for $1095.00. Let's see, that would make the 6 spaces about $182.50. I guess that's cheap though. At Forest Park East in Houston, TX I found a plot going for $12,000.00. That would be $2000.00 per space. I suppose it's cheaper to die in Waco. At least it's cheaper to live in Waco after you die.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Easily Amazed As Well As Amused

I always like summertime. It seems that it is the time that I can catch up on things that take a lot of time to do. I decided that today would be an excellent day to wade through bookmarks and various on-line accounts. One thing led to another and ultimately I accomplished nothing. I started out at Ancestry.com and discovered that my niece, Kari, in Houston had been doing a lot of research on the family tree. I seem to remember that she had mentioned that she had been working on it; I just didn't realize how much research she has done.

Based on her research I found that she had followed my mother's side of the family all the way back to 1105 Burgh By Sand, Cumberland, England and 1115 Guisness, Picardy, France. I learned that there were also members of the family from Ireland. It is awesome to actually see the names of your ancestors from over 900 years ago.

From this, somehow, my search shifted to TV Dinners. Yes, TV Dinners. In my search I came across a really interesting web-site and blog. The website is linked at the bottom of the page in my "Easily Amused" section.

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Monday, June 16, 2008

Picture Monday, June 16, 2008

While I was looking through the old pictures last night I came across an old program from 1932. I enjoyed looking at it and some of the advertising within. It is from the Colorado Springs area and was for a presentation of "The Wives of Henry the VIII".

On the inside cover there is an advertisement for concerts at the City Auditorium. Prices ranged from $.75 to $2.00. I imagine that $2.00 was quite a sum in 1932.

It seems that the Magic Maid below was the thing to have in 1932. It apparently did everything but take out the trash.

The Fuel Oil Distillate ad is enlightening also. Who wouldn't want to pay 6.5 cents per gallon of fuel oil these days. And how about meeting at the Antlers Coffee Shop later? I'll even spring for dinner. Just last night I saw an ad on TV for one of the chain eateries touting Dinner for 2 for $19.95 like that was a good deal. I don't think the coffee shop is still in business any more. I can't imagine why.

They still make Butter-Krust Bread but I bet it doesn't taste near as good now as it did in 1932. In 1932 they used butter in the recipe (That's how they got the name). They don't use butter anymore; at least not according to the Butter-Krust website.

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Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day

No Blog today. It's my day off! Join me tomorrow for a new installment of Picture Monday. The scanner is up and running so I will pull out some old pictures for you. See you then and be nice to your Dad today. After all, it is his day.

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Saturday, June 14, 2008

A Big Day For Jessica

Yesterday was a big day at the house. It wasn' exactly a "Big Ball In Cowtown" as sung by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, but it was a big day nonetheless. It was Jessica's birthday. And in 2 weeks it will be Scott's birthday. I have a few pictures below of the going's on.

Jace watches as Jessica opens her presents. That's Dad, Scott, sitting just past Jessica.

Debra and Ray Barone even stopped by to wish Jessica a Happy Birthday. Ray was very upset because he left Jessica's present back at Marie's. You can see that Debra is not pleased with this development.

A picture of the Birthday Cookie for Jessica and Scott. Jace had a good time as well as a good dose of sun earlier in the day. He spent the day with Pa-Paw Carl. They took their slingshots and hunted Bigfoot yesterday in the woods near Carl's house. Apparently Bigfoot is still alive and well because Jace did not report bagging the big bad boy.