Welcome, Arthur

Congratulations to Dimitri on the birth of his son, Arthur. The European pronunciation if his name is lovely, Ar-TUR.

New blog readers in Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; Perth, Australia; Adelaide, Australia; Manama, Bahrain; Stockholm, Sweden; Barcelona, Spain; Hamburg, Germany; Paris, France; Lincoln, England; Leeds, England; London, England; Dublin, Ireland; Bayamon, Puerto Rico; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Portland, OR; Tacoma, WA; Huntington Beach, CA; Berkeley, CA; South Bend, IN; Winter Park, FL; Latrobe, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Copake, NY; Schenectady, NY; Wilmington, MA; and Fairfield, OH.


You can purchase tee shirts for 4th of July at Opie's and other locations around town. Proceeds benefit the parade and fireworks. Below is the schedule for 4th of July events.

9:30 am Children's Games & Races(High School Grounds - Valley Road Parking Lot)

11:00 am Christian Temple Concert
5820 Edmondson Ave.
Call 410-747-2041 for more information

3:00 pm 62nd Annual Parade Frederick Rd. (starts at Montrose Ave ends at Bloomsbury)
Come join us. We sit at the end of the route on Bloomsbury in front of the old telephone building.


6:30 pm Catonsville High School Pre- Fireworks Musical Salute

9:00 pm Color Guard Tribute

9:15 pm FIREWORKS DISPLAY at the High School
(Rain Date Saturday July 5th)

Happy Birthday to Gladys

The Bagel Bunch sings to Gladys

Andrea's last week

Gladys celebrated her birthday today. Best wishes! I wanted to find a miniature rocking chair for her but had no luck. She was celebrating with her family later today. Gladys got teased because she mentioned that she had moved Jack's rocking chair from the porch into the bedroom. She claimed it was so he could sit comfortably to put his shoes on. However, Jack missed and fell, sending one of the rockers through the wall. Poor Gladys was teased with other people's version of the incident. (see previous post, "If the chairs are rocking, don't come knocking").

Speaking of rocking chairs, the Little Sisters of the Poor is having a fund raiser this Saturday from 10 t0 2 where one sponsors people to ......rock. We have encouraged Glayds and Jack to volunteer given their rocking chair expertise!

Bill had fake amputated fingers to scare the ladies. It worked! He also told a story of showing his neighbor his Speedo by pulling his boxers down. Unfortunately, the suit had dry rot and had disintegrated, exposing Bill from the back. Most of us thought this was even scarier!

Andrea has her last week of work, All of Sam's regulars wish her the best.

I will be away for the next two weekends, so be good. This means I will probably miss the running of the chairs for the 4th of July parade, alas. Stay safe and have some laughs for me!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, Grandfathers, and uncles out there! We had a very nice luncheon with all the men in our lives.

I was surprised to learn that Scott thought Alicia was our daughter. I guess Alicia is even more surprised to think that she has traded in her wonderful parents!

Discounted Brains

Another submission from Tom in Las Vegas. Thanks!


The relatives gathered in the waiting room, where their family member lay gravely ill.Finally, the doctor came in looking tired and somber."I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news," he said as he surveyed the worried faces."The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant.It's an experimental procedure, very risky but it is the only hope.Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay for the brain yourselves.The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news.

After a great length of time, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain cost?"The doctor quickly responded, "$5,000 for a male brain, and $200 for a female brain."The moment turned awkward.Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked.

A man unable to control his curiosity, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask,"Why is the male brain so much more?"The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and explained to the entire group,"It's just standard pricing procedure.We have to mark down the price of the female brains, because they've actually been used."

Patapsco Natural Art

• I was reading my friend Jim's blog ( see http://notbymyself.blogspot.com/) and he had photographs of artistically placed rocks in the Patapsco River. Check his blog to see an additional surprise. Sarah and I had been hiking in the state park in April and we also found several of these creations in smaller streams throughout the park. I'd like the artist to know we appreciate his/her/their work.

• I have been reading another friend's blog regularly at http://barryw.blogspot.com/. Barry has had a recurrence of melanoma and is battling some daunting health challenges. He is currently in a rehab facility in Florida. Despite these worries, Barry has posted some wonderful stories of his childhood here in Baltimore. You will be touched by his memories and by his courage. If you check out his blog, leave a comment of encouragement or a memory of your own to make him smile.

Upstream from the stone art

Sarah holds the GPS over one of the creations

Last Day of School

I have to admit that after years of working a traditional school schedule, I am programmed to expect a break at this time of the year. So I will be thinking of the kids at home after a half day starting their summer vacation, maybe enjoying a swim through the generosity of their friend, Rosa, and I will be wishing I was with them.

Sarah and neighbor , Nick, at the Honor Roll reception

Sarah won music and English awards at school

Sick Leave Excuses

Tom in Las Vegas (who would now chuckle at us for complaining about temperatures in the 90's) shared this article from Career Builders in case any of you need a day off.

“Employers are placing a greater emphasis on work/life balance, offering more opportunities for employees to recharge and return to the office more productive,” Haefner says.

So the next time you call in sick — whether you have the flu or a desire to stay in your pajamas until noon — you can decide if you want to tell the truth or a little white lie. If you choose the latter, here are some of the most unusual excuses bosses revealed.

1. At her sister’s wedding, an employee chipped her tooth on a mint julep, bent over to spit it out, hit her head on a keg and was knocked unconscious.

2. While at a circus, a tiger urinated on the employee’s ear, causing an ear infection.

3. An employee’s dog wasn’t feeling well, so the employee tasted the dog’s food and then got sick.

4. “Someone put LSD in my salad.”

5. An employee’s roommate locked all his clothes in a shed for spite.

6. “Stuck on an island – canoe floated away.”

7. An employee was upset because his favorite "American Idol" contestant was voted off.

8. “I didn’t think I had to come in if I had time in my vacation bank. I thought I could take it whenever I wanted.”

9. An employee said he wasn’t feeling well and wanted to rest up for the company’s holiday party that night.

10. A groundhog bit the employee’s car tire, causing it to go flat.

Sad News

(photo courtesy of http://whatsgoingoncatonsville.blogspot.com/)

Remember all of the blue bows on Frederick Road store fronts reminding us to pray for baby Jeremy Morse? Sadly, little Jeremy lost his fight for life yesterday. Dr. Ben Carson performed neurosurgery to attempt to stop bleeding in his brain, but the damage was too severe. Please keep Amy and Scott and their family in your prayers. You can read more about Jeremy and write a note of support to the family at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeremymorse. His story has touched more than 75,000 people around the world, most of whom only knew Jeremy from the Internet.

Happy Birthday, Pat!

Another reason to celebrate! Sam's folks were happy to celebrate Pat's birthday and to see the beautiful addition to her home. Everyone enjoyed good food and company. Hope you celebrate many more, and thanks for the kind invitation!

Frederick Road Fridays

The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a series of outdoor events this summer. These free events are called Frederick Road Fridays and will kick off Friday June 13, 2008 from 5:30pm- 7:30pm at Egges Lane and Frederick Rd. (Next door to the Santa House).

There will be live musical entertainment and fun for the entire family.The retail shops along Frederick Rd have been asked stay open later on these evenings and have promotions, such as sidewalk sales. Some of the local restaurants will be offering specials on these evenings, so plan on staying around after the music stops! Jennings will be hosting the "BEER GARDEN"

Frederick Road Fridays - 2008 Schedule
Friday June 13, 2008 5:30 -7:30 pm"The Al Reisinger Band” (featuring Lynn Alonso)Band members: (Dr.) Al Reisinger (mandolin and lead guitar); Jeff Pecore (guitar); (Dr.) Lynn Alonso (vocals and guitar)

June 27 -Automatic Slim
July 11 –Blue Streak

Congratulations!

Andrea has accepted a position at Howard Bank (this is the same bank where Jeff's wife works). While we will miss seeing her at Sam's, this is a wonderful opportunity for her. She is excited about learning some new skills. Her last day at Sam's will be June 20th.

My Hero by Glenn

THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:

1. Innovative

2. Preliminary

3. Proliferation

4. Cinnamon

THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:

1. Specificity

2. Anti-constitutionalistically

3. Passive-aggressive disorder

4. Transubstantiate

THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:

1. No thanks, I'm married.

2. Nope, no more booze for me!

3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.

4. Taco Bell? No thanks, I'm not hungry.

5. Good evening, officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight?

6. Oh, I couldn't! No one wants to hear me sing karaoke.

7. I'm not interested in fighting you.

8. Thank you, but I won't make any attempt to dance, I have no coordination. I'd hate to look like a fool!

9. Where is the nearest bathroom? I refuse to pee in this parking lot or on the side of the road.

10. I must be going home now, as I have to work in the morning.

Nothing Important

Spring view at College Park Campus

• Tom in Vegas wanted us to know about a new Homeland Security Bill. Things will be different now and Internet surfing, as you know it, will be tracked by what the FBI calls a 'non-intrusive method.' The FBI says you will hardly notice anything different. For a demonstration, click on this link :users.chartertn.net/tonytemplin/FBI_eyes/
  

• Patty had a huge tree removed from her front yard on Monday. It was so large it involved a crane. Paul and Jean, Bill T. and others wandered by to watch all of the excitement. Construction work ranks high on the bagel crowd's "Things to Watch" list.


• Bagel prices are going up due to the increase in flour, etc. Transportation costs have also added to the increases in many of our purchases.


• Don's new granddaughter is named "Channon", joining siblings Chase and Cheney.


• New blog statistics - you know I like them! With the addition of Santiago, Chile, this week, we have reached every continent with the exception of Antarctica! Other new readers in the following countries: 50% United States ; 14.51% Unknown ; 2.52% Germany ; 1.89% United Kingdom ; 1.26% Spain; 0.95% Australia ; 0.63% Ireland; 0.63% Virgin Islands, U.S. 0.63% Bermuda; 0.63% Finland; 0.63% Netherlands ; 0.63% New Zealand; 0.63% Sweden ; 0.32% Canada ; 0.32% Slovakia ; and 0.32% Virgin Islands. We also have new readers in Alaska, Ohio, Alabama, Massachusetts and Michigan.


• I was tempted to put some chairs out this early on Frederick Road for the 4th of July Parade and see if I could provoke others into doing the same. My observation is that once one chair appears, many follow.


• Gene asked Paul if his hand was in a cast for giving someone the middle finger, That would make a better story, but he just tripped. He was feeling better today.


• Harold's cell phone stopped working, so we now have AT and T's version of the Blackberry phone thanks to a 2-for-1 offer. I knew I was in trouble when it came with an instruction DVD. It does everything, GPS navigation, calendar, voice notes, email, Internet searches, videos, photos, etc. The only thing that it doesn't do easily is let you answer the phone when it rings. It notifies me for so many reasons, only one of which is an actual phone call. Now I understand why some readers never turn their phones on unless it is an emergency!


• Saw the latest Indiana Jones movie. while the first movie in the series is still my favorite, this was a very enjoyable film. The famous score by John Williams alone brings back many memories.
  
• Enjoy the beautiful weather!

First Sunday in June

• Big crowd this morning at Sam's. Pat's home construction project has finally been completed and signed off. Pat said she will invite all of us over to see the results one weekend when her daughter and son-in-law are away.
• Dr. Mike was making plans to have Alicia take him and his family sailing around the Inner Harbor in July.
• Talk of Senior Week reminded Jack of the time he ran away from home as a teen to work at the ocean back in the 1940's. They worked for 75 cents an hour and all the fruit they could eat. One day, Jack and his friend were sitting in rocking chairs on a hotel porch (again with the rocking chairs) when a detective hired by Jack's mom sat between them. The detective showed Jack's friend his photo and asked if he knew him. Of course, the friend said "no". The detective never noticed Jack was sitting next to him, maybe because he had bleached his hair blond.
• Congratulations to Don on the birth of his new grandchild, everyone is doing well. (I forgot to ask what the baby's name is, I know it begins with "Ch" .) However, Don reports that 2 year old Cheney is not taking kindly to this newest addition.
• Everyone recalled taking their driver's ed test or teaching someone else to drive. Poor Gladys had to take her test with a broken clutch on the streets of Baltimore. She made it up the hill after stopping at the sign, but missed parallel parking by two inches. Bill said his grandmother was asked, "If you are approaching a railroad crossing and a train is coming, who crosses?" She answered, "Whoever gets there first", and had to wait 60 days before taking the test again. Alicia and her twin sister were getting permits in the State of New York. The computer system crashed between the time that her sister got a permit, right before Alicia's turn. Her mom waited 8 hours for the system to work and for Alicia to get her permit, knowing she couldn't go home with only one 16-year-old twin able to drive. Her mother noted that it did not take that long to give birth to them! Sue recalled that her mom didn't say a lot, but she hit the imaginary brake so often Sue nicknamed her "Thumper". Bill said that after having his son sit in the front seat and watch traffic as if he were driving for a week, his son decided to wait until he turned 18. Many thanks to all of the parents who attempt this nerve-wracking job!

Catonsville High Steel Drum Band opens the Lurman Woodland Theater Concert Series

Paul and Nick head off to Senior Week "downy ocean". Prayers welcome.

Pat presented Doug with his personal plastic knife.

While in Chicago, this place made me think of Don. I wonder why.......

Paul's Graduation 2008!

Once again, we celebrated a special milestone as Paul accepted his diploma from Catonsville High School. Everyone in the family was so proud of him!

Balloons from Miss Dorothy

with Mimi and Pop

with Mom and Dad

with Sarah

With Pop and Bubbie

with Aunt Beth

Long Time, No Post

As you can tell from the photos below, it has been a hectic - but fun - week!

Tuesday, May 27......... Spanish tall ship at the Inner Harbor

Tuesday, May 27..... Jean with Andre Rieu('s bus) at his wonderful concert

Monday, May 26... Memorial day cookout with Beth, Linda, and Ginger the dog

Sat., May 24..... Riding the miniature steam engines at the Leakin Park Herb Festival

Friday, May 23..... Paul gets his first softcrab sandwich at Snyder's.

New treehouses at Longwood Gardens

Thursday, May 22..... Bus trip to Longwood gardens

Interesting sign in Katelyn's Chinatown neighborhood

Wednesday, May 21..... Graduates John and Katelyn pose at the Millenium Cloud, aka the Bean

Happy 21st Birthday, Katelyn!

We went out for drinks after midnight with JC to celebrate Katelyn's 21st birthday.

I think this is one of the few times I have been out after midnight since she was born at 2 am! She has to be out of her dorm room this morning, so we will be moving the last of her belongings to her Chinatown townhouse and maybe shopping.

Cool and windy here, I needed long pants and a coat to walk around the city. It was a temperature drop of over 20 degrees from Saturday. Chicago has many beautiful parks and architecture, so it is really fun to explore. I put my hotel's coordinates into my GPS so I can always find my way back.....but the tall buidings interfere with satellite reception.

Columbia College of Chicago 2008 Graduation

I promised to post photos of Katelyn's graduation here for family and friends.
So please indulge a proud Mom!

In Grant Park

The fun pose with Casey

The artsy pose

The classic pose

On the way to a diploma......gold tassle for honors

After the ceremony with Marie and Danielle

Katelyn and friends after dinner

Wih thanks to Mary Tyler More

Pun Times

Submitted by Pat R.
Here are the 10 first place winners in an International Pun Contest:

• 1. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. Theflight attendant looks at him and says, "I'm sorry, sir, only onecarrion allowed per passenger."
• 2. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says "Dam!
• 3. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire inthe craft. Unsurprisingly it immediately sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
• 4. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says "I've lost my electron." The other says "Are you sure?" The first replies "Yes, I'm positive."
• 5. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.
• 6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?" they asked as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."
• 7. A woman has identical twins and is forced to give them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're identical twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."
• 8. A group of friars were behind on their belfry payments, so theyopened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that only Hugh can prevent Florist friars.
• 9. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good) a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
• And finally: 10. There was the person who sent ten different puns to friends with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

How To Enjoy A Concert

Sarah performed in 2 concerts this week at Arbutus Middle School. All of the groups did great! But some of the show was not on stage but in the audience next to me. This little guy's brothers were singing and he was really supporting them. A mini-lesson on how to enjoy a concert and one's life!