December 16, 2003 - Tuesday

Subject: SHIVERCITY GAZETTE

CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS:
It's 71 degrees (inside) It did dip down to 70 degrees for a few minutes around
midnight. Relative humidity is just high enough to minimize "static cling"
Todays Skeeter meter reading - ZERO ==================================
"Profanity makes ignorance audible" ==================================
L O C A L N E W :
The latest snowfall has been removed from all downtown streets. I'm always
impressed with the efficiency of our small community work force. Snowplows had
bladed virtually every residential street within a few hours,..... of driveways
being shovelled. I remember O.C. Hoy, as Graftons Street Superintendent, once
telling his crew. "Don't worry about plowing up that ridge in front of
everyones driveway. It's a hell of lot easier for them to shovel their driveway
than it is for us to shovel the streets." Needless to say, O.C. wasn't a
favorite Street Superintendent.
This morning I watched as Dewayne Knudson came by our house with a motor
grader and wing. Dewayne handled that large piece of equipment like a surgeon
uses a scalpel. He rounded the corner by our house without slowing down a bit.
As he passed our driveway, he was moving fast enough so that the ridge
"feathered out" rather than ridged up. It wasn't just the best he could do. It
was the best that anyone could do. Thanks Dewayne. Our city maintenance
department was up and running this morning, when some folks were going to bed.
They have always done that. They've always done a super job. Unfortunately,
sometimes, it's too easy to overlook the effort they put into making our
community better and look presentable. Thanks GMU, from someone who really
cares about the job you do. And most specifically appreciates the work each and
every one of you do, for our community. I'm pretty sure Melvin Durand also
participates in the snow hauling process. That too, must put additional strain
on city management. Right Melvin. ==================================
Thank you Rosemary Fisher for sharing the following quote with me. I think
it's especially appropriate since the birth of "our" new twins".
>>>>"Grandchildren are God's gift to parents for not killing their children"
<<<< I will think of,... and use it often. ==================================
I'm in the midst of a research project of sorts. When completed I'll report
the results. The project is a fairly simple one, in a nutshell. I'm checking
to see how long it will take. To fill the cab of a white Ford truck facing east
with snow. The drivers side window of the truck has been vandalised, adding
value to the research project. Once the cab fills up with snow. I will test the
ignition system for shorts. (the electrical kind)
==================================
CHRISTMAS SALES:
In case anyone is wondering. I understand JC PENNEY is planning on NOT having
50 percent off one day next week. Just today I received a special "Just for me"
$10 savings certificate. It is a special holiday gift for me. Because I'm a
special "valued" customer, they want to THANK ME, by giving me a $10 savings
certificate. And, they say, I have 10 days to spend it. There is a few items
the "savings certificate" does not apply too. Over 30, to be exact. AND, if I
should receive the "mailer" late. All I have to do is bring it to the JCPenney
store and they will honor all advertised sales. Now thats a statement, if I
ever heard one.
If I remember right. I bought a couple shirts from Norv Elbert when he managed
JCPenneys back when diapers were made of cloth and shirts were made of cotton.
==================================
GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH ==================================
P.S.
Thanks again Rosie. Aren't memories wonderful?
P.S.
Tomorrow I am going to try send out a picture of "the twins". I'm not sure if
i will work or not. We'll all know Thursday.


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