April 22, 2003 - Tuesday

Subject: SHIVERCITY GAZETTE

WEATHER REPORT:
It's 32 degrees at the present time, with a 5 MPH breeze out of the
south. The weather channel says it'll be 66 degrees today and we can
expect "plentiful sunshine". That's what they say. I'll tell you
tomorrow what we get.
Todays Skeeter meter reading ZERO
Todays lovely living index---8---
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profanity makes ignorance audible
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L O C A L & A R E A
After checking the north side of every bush in the yard and not
finding even one snow flake. I decided to put the snow blower away,
again, for the third time this spring. It's "sta-biled" and stuffed in
the corner of the shed til fall. I hope.
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The flowering plum that threatened to scratch or break the rear TV
camera on the cruiser is gone. Yesterday I decided the useful life of
that flowering plum was over.
Just as I was approaching the plum with my miter-box saw. My "little"
brother A.K. drove by. He pulled over and asked what I was up too. When
I told him, he looked at my miter-box saw, laughed, and said lets go get
a "real saw" and cut that thing down. That's what he said. What he was
thinking was, 'that plum will grow faster that that fool could cut it
down.' (if he was thinking that, he would have been right) ANYWAY,
within minutes, A.K. had reduced my problem to a pile of brush on the
boulevard.
My, my goodness, I'm thinking. Finally that pain in the but plum tree
is on the way to recycle heaven. Then, I thought, it would be a great
time to finish up the rest of the outside "spring clean." With Pat
working full speed ahead and me watching and showing her what she
missed. The next thing I knew, puff, our spring clean up was well under
way. With most of it already out on the boulevard waiting for Graftons
city crew to pick it up during our annual "spring clean-up."
We/Pat was almost through, raking up grass, leaves, branches, and junk
blown in from Western Plazas parking lot when I went in the house for a
glass of water. As I often do, I glanced at the refrigerator. (I've
grown fond of that refrigerator) and there it was. Everyone has one, I
think most people even read it before putting it on their refrigerator.
I expect it was printed on green paper just so folks could tell it was
something special.
Oh, I'm sorry, I'm speaking of the City of Grafton spring clean-up
schedule. I admit, I did know clean-up week was coming. I wasn't real
sure when, but I did expect clean-up week.
So here's the deal.---Items MUST be put out by May 4th (Sunday evening)
NOW THEN, IF I had a pile of old bikes, old grills, a house full of
furniture, metal, 20 or 30 televisions, humidifiers and maybe a humidor.
It would ALL be picked up and hauled away.
HOWEVER, IF I have a flowering plum bush, grass and leaves, a battery,
building residue, paint cans, a studded snow tire, concrete pieces or an
old kitchen stove. They WILL NOT be picked up. Now, I can haul, all of
this stuff to the landfill myself for free, IF I had a truck.
WHO COMES UP WITH THESE RIDICULOUS RULES IN THE FIRST PLACE? What
constitutes spring clean-up anyway? What part of spring cleaning DOESN'T
branches, leaves, grass clipping, papers, and junk that's blown in from
all over town, apply too.
It reminds me of the well meaning boy scout, helping an old lady across
a busy street. As he grabbed the lady by the arm and asked if he could
help her across the street. She looked at the little boy, midway across
the street and with a smile said, " thank you very much young man. You
see, I'm blind, and really do appreciate your help." It was then the
little boy realized he was working on his help a little old lady across
the street merit badge. NOT his help a little old blind lady across the
street merit badge.
So, like the city of Grafton during spring clean-up week. The little
boy dropped the sweet little old ladies arm and said. "Sorry lady, I
can't help sweet little old blind ladies today. BUT you can walk the
rest of the way across the street by yourself, if you want."
I happen to believe we have the best darn city maintenance department
in the country. Who, or what, is stopping them from making our little
community the very best it can be. And so it is
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I received another interesting bit of information. This time from
Chuck Stenso. Some may remember Chuck running the local bowling alley.
Others from the LaBerge (Donald) and Stenso Dodge & J.I. CASE dealership
in town.
Chucks note among other things relates to the "Annex" building that was
recently "given to the city for taxes". I must admit, I wasn't aware of
the information Chuck shared in his e-mail. I would like to share it
with the rest of you.
Chuck wrote;
Gary:
We spent the weekend in the big city of Grafton and of coarse had a
good time with the kids and relatives. We went to the Strand Theatre on
Sat. nite and was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the
upstairs theater was and how good the popcorn was. Good movie (Anger
Management), hope the citizens still take advantage of that place when a
good movie comes along. half the price of bigger towns, I might add.
I noticed the old original Stenso Motor Co. building has been recently
torn down. It was next to the clinic by the Grafton Paint and
Glass. The clinic was the used car lot. My father was there from
1933 to about 1940, then moved up to Hill ave.
The town looks nice and clean. That dike sure cleaned up that part of
town. Carl Polhad should look at Grafton for a new Minnesota Twins
down town stadium. There would be enough parking lots for them, and
right down town.
Enjoy you Gazette.
Chuck Stenso
PS I have a national Plymouth magazine with a picture of that
building with the car that Dr. Anne Lee purchased from my dad standing
in front of the building.
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Thanks for caring and sharing Chuck. I must admit, I'll be darned if I
know who Dr. Anne Lee was.
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I just received a report from Mike Stauss. Mike says he was working on
his power driven cane last night and was bitten more than once by a
flying menus we call Mosquitoes. According to one University study,
Skeeter bugs prefer overweight Early Americans. If you should feel
something akin to a hypodermic penetrating your backside. Swat first,
and report the numbers to the Gazette second.
Thanks Mike, for that wonderful reminder of spring.
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GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
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P.S.
Tom, it's time to start planning. Julie deserves the very best you
can do, and Saturday isn't very far away.


Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they are,
before it's to late.