Sydney Harbor, and then some

 

Memories, anyone?

Watching Ocean Trek with Jeff Corwin this morning gave me the opportunity to revive a memory or two from my time in the military—in particular, that time I found myself in Sydney, Australia.  (And a marvelous time that was, believe me!)

 

When Jeff and his crew climbed that bridge over the river feeding Sydney Harbor, it was as if I was transported back in time.  The view today isn’t quite what it was when I was there, but much of it was familiar.  Like that Sydney Opera House, for example.  Not exactly the same, it was still under construction when I was there, but quite recognizable.  And what a view there was from that top of what was then one of the most recognizable bridges in the world. 

 

Today there are quite a few more bridges resembling that notable one—and why not?  One good bridge deserves more than just one (or a few) copy (or copies,) that’s for sure.  Giving credit where it is due would require researching the annals of our engineering community, though, and that would be one job that I will pass on to someone else, anyone who has the time and energy such a job would require.  There always is something else to think about, that’s for sure.

But back to Sydney, something that could take up much more than one blog entry, that’s for sure.  Sydney was and is quite a marvelous place to visit.  Given its bridge, its Opera House, swimming in the summer in the South Pacific, getting to know some of the best cooking in the world, and some of the best beers, if that’s one of your pleasures, Sydney is one place to spend a week or a month, whatever time you might have and want to spend.  I would return there in a minute were I one of those financially well-endowed individuals like many of our Aikenites can claim to be.  But, lacking that, I guess memories are well worth spending some time with.

 

And, if you know anyone who you might think could use a memory or two like mine, why not point out how we still have a military who just might give them an opportunity to see the world.  Just like it did me.

GG time, for sure

 

 Morningbrain time again!

 Well, here we are, again, friends!  Interestingly enough, I am happy to be here this AM, writing this little piece for my current Blog, “Morningbrain-“Deux…”, and happy to be doing what I am doing.  You see, I think I’ve discovered something about my grey matter, something that bears mentioning.  It seems to work as good as ever, just not at the times it used to be top-notch, but at these times, which today is beginning at 3 AM. 

 

So, that being the case, I guess I know what I should do.  In the military, we would call it, “continue the march!”  Whatever the time might be so to do is not something I seem to have much control over, though—so, here goes (it seems the time is right!)

 

I awakened today about an hour ago.  The cause is a bit noteworthy, if a bit more down-to-earth than I would like, but whatever it takes is what it takes:  a drain the lizard break!  (Which is how an old ANG friend, "Bill" from Oconee County, would have put it!) 

 

And so, having done what was required, I spent about a half hour ruminating on my inability to return to la-la-land as quickly as I might have liked and finally realizing what was happening:  “Morningbrain strikes again!”  (Welcome back, old friend!)

 

So what’s so good about waking up and not being able to get back to sleep very easily?  Well, following the realization of what my old “grey ghost” seems to want (a good name for it, wouldn’t you say?), I guess the smart thing to do would be to acquiesce to his doings and do something useful—like write a bit, today about my dear old friend, now “named” my old “Grey Ghost!”  Hmmmm?  Maybe an abbreviation would be in order here?  “GG” okay?  (I like it—“GG” it is!) 

 

And, I don’t know about you, but I can only wonder what GG might come up with tomorrow.  As for today, having made this discovery, I only wish I hadn’t taken that melatonin about a half-hour ago.  Had I not, I would be beside myself and probably at the top of my game now.  Which I am not! 

 

Maybe the sleep will come.  GG will have to wait (and, hopefully will be happy to wait,) wait till tomorrow AM!

 

Bonn soir, guten nacht, good night!  AM night, at that!

English anyone

 

                                       English, anyone?

Reading today’s newspaper reminds me of something English teachers of mine, not sure which, (could have been more than one or two) reminded their classes from time to time.  The line in my AikenStandard read: “Aiken High School had 7 face-to-face student cases and less than 5 employee cases.”  Similar items were reported for all area schools with the same questionable wording (questionable to me and my English teachers, for sure!)

 

What would have been considered proper when I passed through Aiken High School would have been “Aiken High School had 7 face-to-face student cases and fewer than 5 employee cases.” 

 

The reason given by my English teachers was when you are discussing something that may be counted (in this case the number of employee cases) the correct wording would be greater than or fewer than.  If, though, your reference was to something that required a quantity designation, something that was not countable, like an amount of milk, the correct designation would be more than (amount) and less than (amount.)

 

Don’t ask me why the difference, I just remember there was a difference. 

 

I guess memories like this might explain why my College, Georgia Tech, allowed me to exempt all their English courses.  My thinking here is that they thought their courses would not add to my mastery of the subject, something that my English grades and my SAT numbers supported.  Fortunately, those exempted courses were added into my grade point ratio as “A’s,” something that allowed me to stay in the college a bit longer than I did, initially, since I seem to have majored in Wesley Foundation much more than the Chemical Engineering that was officially my designation, and my overall grade point ratio would have reflected this quite quickly with a note from the regents to me saying I needed to find something else to do with my time than attend their classes.

 

It took a stint in the Air Force, to include Vietnam (anyone remember TET of ’68?  I certainly do,) to bring me to my academic senses allowing me to do Deans List work on return to my Academic leanings.  11 years was a bit long to get that BS, most will admit, but that was what it took me.

 

Which says a good bit about my stick-to-itive inclinations if not much about my academic abilities.  The diploma is at the end of our hallway above a small bookcase.  Each to his own, I guess, or chaqun a son gout, as Mrs. Butler would have said.

 

(One day, hopefully, I will try to find an alphabet to use that includes those diacritical markings.  Just not today!)

Just a bit (a BIG Bit!)

https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/johnston-woman-representing-team-usa-in-paralympic-fencing/article_251209a2-fba2-11eb-9874-73c8cf743536.html

Just a little something I think all my blog readers will appreciate!  Take a look and let me know if you think I was right!

MY niece, Ellen T. Geddes is competing in the Olympics in Tokyo as I write this (well, maybe not JUST now--time differentials and all, but she is competing.)  Take a look at the referenced news article and see what it's all about!  

PC Steve

Interesting--when I look at the article (in blue, above,) clicking on the referenced item does nothing.  To see the article, you will need to copy the item in blue and let your computer find it.  Works fine on Google!

 

Morningbrain again

 

Morningbrain is a thing I continue to have more often than I would like.  I can only wonder what it would be like to sleep through the night and awake refreshed.  It seems this is not something that will be my lot, though. 

So, type I must, or simply lie in bed listening to those voices in my head bring up idea after idea about which to write.  But do I write?  No, not all that often.  And when I do get up and give writing a try, often those oh-so-important ideas are found to have vanished.  Good grief, Charlie Brown!

I wonder if there is some medical help that may be available here.  I don’t really want to take anything, though.  Alcohol was my crutch for many years—too many years—and it changed from a reliever to an addiction.  Not something I would wish on anyone other than an occasional “worse enemy.” 

If you have found yourself in a similar rut, two things I might recommend are melatonin and valerian root.  Both come in tablet form and both seem to work, when I remember them.  Melatonin comes in a soluble form, meant to be placed under the tongue, and may be just what I need.  Unfortunately, the last time I bought a bottle of this, I thought I was buying the 5 mg. tablets I had used before.  Not so lucky—got tablets, not the kind that would be usable under the tongue, though. 

The valerian works fine if I take three or four tablets before going to bed.  Don’t know if it comes in an under the tongue variety like the melatonin, though. 

Guess another trip to Walmart is in order. 

Don’t you just love Wally world?

Boston Blackie?

Boston Doggie?  Well, close!

While walking our new dog “Stella,” this morning, we passed one of our neighbor’s properties and were greeted by one of their dogs.  He (she-it?) greeted us in the usual manner and Stella returned the greeting!  Not a problem for any of us thanks to neighbors’ subterranean fence that whats-its-name respects. 

 The only reason for the post is we have decided to begin calling our neighbordog by a one-time radio hero’s name, albeit it slightly modified, something few of our up and coming neighbors probably remember, unless they are in the over 70ish crowd.  You see, doggie is covered (excepting for one chest spot) with splendid curly black hair.  And, given the knowledge of a name that was used on one radio program for its hero, our doggie friend now will be known to us as “Boston Barkie!”  Heh, heh, heh!!!

 Let’s see if that might just catch on. 

Seems appropriate!

Hee-Haw! For Stella

 Anyone remember Hee-Haw?  Well, I certainly do, and every morning, given a nudge by my new "friend" Stella, I get to use one of their stellar offerings.  Will put it to tune sometime later, (see my YouTube performances) but before that, here 'tis:  (Guess I'll use Hee-haw's tune!  It fits perfectly!)

    Dog Walkin’ Mimcir Today!

 

 Stella and Daddy goin’ for a walk,

We don’t have to run, don’t have to talk,

Don’t much matter which way we go

Neighbors all smile and give a sweet “hello!”

 

Mimosa Circle is a fine place to be…

And all our old neighbors are out workin’ you see,

It‘s not really a circle, it’s just what we got,

Either workin’ for the man, or workin’ on our lot!

 

There’s only one thing causin’ trouble for me.

Some of our drivers need a ticket or three

One of these days, someone’s gonna get hit;

Years of jail for the driver wouldn’t bother me a bit!

 

Speed bumps in our roads would be a good thing;

The more bumps the merrier unless you’re insane…

Every couple hundred feet would do it don't you know.

The speeders somewhere else would have to go!

 

Then Stella and Daddy could go for their walk,

We wouldn’t have to run, we wouldn’t have to talk,

Wouldn’t matter a bit which way we would go,

Neighbors all would smile and give a sweet “hello!”

Dog walkin', dog walkin', dog walkin', da-da-da-dah!

                  Copyright Stephen V. Geddes  05August2021   And, if anyone wants to use it, say "Lady Antebellum," (or whatever they call themselves today) tell 'em to go right ahead--so long as the customary fees are transmitted to me on, say, a monthly basis!