And Now, Something A Little Different

I have often been amused by certain words and terms. I mean sometimes they just don't sound right.

I went to the grocery store the other day and tried to go through the "self-check out" lane and saw a sign on the scanner that said, "OUT OF ORDER".

What did that mean?

Should I have done something else first?

Would it work if somebody brought some "ORDER" to it?

That's along the same line as when someone says. "It's out of whack!

"WHAT???

Out of whack? Why I've never seen any whack. (And if I had, I don't think I'd tell anyone!) I suppose it's too simple to say, "AIN'T WORKIN'!"

But that leads us down another road. "AIN'T" Some people say that "AIN'T" ain't a proper word to use.

Excuse me!!!! Some people say "AIN'T" isn't a proper word to use.

Well for a word that's not proper, it's sure been around for a while. Since 1685 to be exact, more or less.And think of all the people that have used it, besides me. Sojourner Truth gave a speech entitled, "Ain't I A Woman?" Lewis Carroll used "AIN'T" in his "Through The Looking Glass" as did Al Jolsen in the Jazz Singer. The use of the word "AIN'T" even cropped up in the last presidential election when Sarah Palin used it during the vice presidential debate and Barack Obama used it during his speeches on the stump to say, "That ain't right!"

And lest we forget, Bugs Bunny's, "Ain't I a stinker?"

© 2008 Barry T Horst


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Picture Monday, December 29, 2008

While researching some pictures taken earlier this year I came across a few that I wanted to share on this final Picture Monday of 2008. The first picture is a picture I took of the Texas flag one afternoon this summer. I took this picture around 6:00 PM on this particular afternoon. I was facing east and there was a stiff breeze blowing out of the north. I wanted to get the flag with the sun setting behind it so that the flag would appear to glow when the sun shone through it. The only problem with this was the flag would appear backwards with the star on the right-hand side. Afterwards I came home and reversed the image and then enhanced the background glow to get a better effect. I liked the result.

The picture below was taken before the Texas A&M vs. Baylor game this year. The US Army Air National Guard flew these 3 Apache helicopters over the field prior to the game. The landed at the TSTC airfield and came to the game. Later the pilots were honored by the crowd with a rousing ovation.

At the same A&M vs. Baylor game there was a star sitting near me. I took his picture. This is Bill Young from the local CBS affiliate, KWTX-TV Channel 10. He seemed to try to keep a low profile. I was impressed with his sunglasses. Look at the D&G on the side. The letters appear to be Green and Gold, the Baylor colors.

I told my daughter, "He must have found those at Dollar General! See the DG on the side."

Julie said, "No Dad! Those are Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses!"

"Is that better than Dollar General?"

"Yes Dad! That's better than Dollar General!"

You learn something new everyday!

© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
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Santa Claus' Punch and Judy

My haven't things changed in the last 60 years! I came across this old Christmas film from 1948. Children then enjoyed much simpler toys and entertainment. Society was much less obsessed with being "Politically Correct". Sit back and enjoy the entertainment.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Please visit the Giveaway of the Day near the bottom of the left sidebar for free software downloads daily.

The Night After Christmas Morn; A Reprise

'Twas the night after Christmas morn, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings and such lay on the floor in a mess,
In hopes that it would surely not block our egress;

The children were playing all snug in their room,
While visions of new games danced in their heads I presume;

And momma in her finest, and I in my finer,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap in my recliner,

When out in the den there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the recliner to see what was the matter.

Away to the hallway I flew in a rush,
Tore open the doors and stood with a blush.

The light on the breast of the new-fallen tree
Gave the lustre of calamity to the objects I see,

When, what to my wondering eyes should materialize,
But 7 cats from the branches, "What am I to surmise?"

With a mischievous leader, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Mister and his sidekicks.

More rapid than eagles his cohorts in crime came,
And I fussed and I yelled, and called them by name;

"Now, Peanut! now, Tabby! now, Callie and Boo!
On, Mister! on Rory! and now Bristow, you too!

To the top of the chair! To the end of the hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild tornado fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, they jump to the sky,

So to the end of the hallway the cohorts they flew,
With an ornament of catnip, and a candy cane too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard Grandma quite clear,
She was scolding each cat, each scofflaw that was near.

As I drew up my hand, and was turning around,
Down the hallway Mister came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his tail,
It was all tarnished with the pine needles that fell;

A bundle of toys he had in his mouth,
As he looked like a tramp, beginning to head south.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! His tail was so comic!
His nose started to twitch as his whiskers he did flick!

His curious eyes were drawn down the hall,
He squinted and stared at his apparent downfall;

The bundle of toys he held tight in his teeth,
By my feet he stopped and left them beneath;

As if to leave an offering of peace,
An apology for being so caprice.

He stood regal and erect, a right stately old cat,
And I laughed when I saw him, as away he did scat;

A twinkle in his eye and a twist of his tail,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to bewail;

He made not a sound, but went straight to our room,
And started to refresh; and also to groom,

And laying himself down upon the furniture,
He gave us all a nod, and started for to purr;

He opened his eyes, to his cohorts gave a mew,
And away they all flew with barely an adieu.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he nodded off contrite,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.Please visit the Giveaway of the Day near the bottom of the left sidebar for free software downloads daily.

A Christmas Message From Our Family To Yours, CHRISTMAS 2008

© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.Please visit the Giveaway of the Day near the bottom of the left sidebar for free software downloads daily.

Picture Monday, December 22, 2008

Picture Monday today is all about testing a video that I made for Julie this Christmas. I wrote a poem for her and her kitten, Bristow. The poem is based on The 12 Days of Christmas. After authoring the video I posted it on YouTube. That is the video in today's blog. The only problem is that some of the formatting did not stay with the video in the final product. I will be working on this glitch, but for now here is the video.

Here is the list showing the 12 gifts:

12 Posts for Scratching,
11 Sprigs of Catnip,
10 Beds for Sleeping,
9 Windows for sunning,
8 Ribbons waving,
7 Fish a-swimming,
6 Mice for Playing,
5 Pounds of Cat Food,
4 Kitty Snacks,
3 Sachet Fresheners,
2 Litter Strainers,
And a Bag of Kitty Litter, Dust Free.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Please visit the Giveaway of the Day near the bottom of the left sidebar for free software downloads daily.