Monday, August 31, 2015

FOR THE LOVE GOD MAN Part 2

PLEASE READ PART 1 OF THIS FICTION STORY BEFORE READING THIS PART





As the dark outline of the rising creature become more evident, the crowd of on lookers edged ever closer to the river.


Just like in the movies everything seemed to stop and comments from spectators could be clearly heard.




"I got 20 bucks that says its a sturgeon!"





"OK, Mr. Know It All, I'll see your 20 and raise you 20 more that says its a fresh water shark."





"You are on Sharkie."





A nine year old girl turned her face to her mother's shapely, well-tanned legs and cried, "I wanna go home!" The photog kept showing Mom and crying daughter.





Mom held her head tight against her bright orange Kohls shorts and confidently said, "Sweetie, we will just as soon as we see what this thing might be."





The little girl turned up the crying level another 10dbs.





Boomer was now acting as not only a reporter, but as a director for the photog guy, "Jerry, zoom in tight on the center of that dark outline.!"





Like a well rehearsed play everyone fell silent as a wake started to form when the creature was just inches below the surface.  


A collective gasp was heard as the creature was not alive at all. It was about 4 feet square with small electric motors, with propellers at each corner and stenciled on all four sides was "Property of the Ohio State Engineering Department" It would later be described as the first airborne and underwater drone.


The first official version was ARPA had a contract with Ohio State to develop the drone for the U.S. military.


While never officially confirmed, the drone was actually the brain child of the Buckeye football program to secretly watch University of Michigan football practices. Less I forget, Boomer won several Emmys and ESPYS for his work. His color man---The Fly Guy--- got a six month rehab program to dry out.


As a Purdue man myself, I took lots of pride in foiling this covert attempt at pigskin espionage.


Now if only the Boilermakers could some football games !!


Glenn <><
Just West of Yesterday



Friday, August 28, 2015

POW CAMPS IN KY DURING WW II





I CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE POW CAMP IN DANVILLE, KY MADE SUCH AN IMPRESSION UPON ME.  THE GERMAN POWS HAD A LARGE "P" ON THE BACK OF THEIR SHIRTS. MY AGE WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD. VERY GOOD ARTICLE IN THIS URL:


http://www.centralkynews.com/amnews/life/looking_back/away-from-home-pow-camps-in-kentucky-during-world-war/article_97d6502e-5d0d-11e3-b912-001a4bcf6878.html


GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY

Sunday, August 23, 2015

BLOG SCORE CARD A/O 8-24-15

FYI: PAGE VIEWS SINCE BLOG STARTED
                                TOP 10


                                 United States
8500
                                Russia

780
                              Germany

596
                                 Malaysia

332
                              Ukraine

153
                                France

124
                                   Poland

107
                                Portugal

80
                              Netherlands
58
                  China   33                                                            


GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY

Friday, August 21, 2015

ALL RIGHT, I GOTTA DO IT! PART 2

FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEW BLOG READERS---I AM GOING TO REVIEW SOME SECULAR MUSIC AND GROUPS THAT I LIKE. HANG ON TO YOUR POODLE SKIRTS AND BUTCH WAX. HERE GOES PART 2
BOYS AND GIRLS:


Boogie Woogie: Here's some history you probably do not know. This music genre did not start in Harlem, New Orleans, or even Chicago. It started in the tall pine logging camps of East Texas by a black gentlemen by the name of "Pinetop" Perkins. He died not too long ago at the age of 97.  See what this music can do for you!!!! OK, bet you didn't know that.


Even today, Boogie Woogie contests are held today throughout Europe. You Tube has a zillion vids of such contests. This dancers are great---in my Baptist opinion!


Check out this 14 year old phenomenon: This is my favorite Boogie Woogie song. Luca Sestak has grown up and travels the world with this international music.
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Swanee+River+Boogie+Woogie&FORM=R5FD5




Boogie Woogie Dancers: No doubt about it; Will and Mava (French) are the world's best. Notice the high energy, straight shoulders, and showmanship that compliments super, super dancing. Watch for Will's line in the sand that challenges others to beat him. Silvan Zingg (Swiss) is a master Boogie Woogie player and international dance promoter.


http://swingjazzblues.blogspot.com/2008/05/dancin-boogie-silvan-zingg-will-mava.html


Stay tuned for more music picks.


Glenn <><
Just West of Yesterday

DO YOU AGREE ?


SUBMITTED TO DAILY OKLAHOMAN LETTERS TO EDITOR


It is more than just a bit ironic that the GOP elite may in fact be responsible for creating that which they now so roundly condemn. The Donald Trump phenomena may, to a large extent, be attributed to the failure of Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Boehner to keep their 2014 election promises. Promising to change the Washington landscape, McConnell and Boehner fertilized and manicured the existing grass and turned a blind eye to the noxious weeds of an out of control government.  The theme from CSI Miami may well be electorate’s campaign song for 2016---“We won’t get fooled again.”  
GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY

Monday, August 17, 2015

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD MAN, PUT HIM ON THE REEL !"

THIS IS A FICTION STORY. PLEASE BE READY FOR PART 2


"I'm trying to do just that! Can't you see the 65 feet of fly line and about 45 yards of shooting line wrapped around my legs and feet?"


Thank goodness the hurler of these well-meaning invectives did not respond to my response to his admonition. After about three hours of fighting this unknown aquatic creature had exhausted any semblance of fly fishing decorum and politeness. Besides, he had his own task of trying to explain to non-fly fishermen what was meant by his instruction to me to "put him on the reel."

"You see all of the line? Normally, fly fisherman play small fish by simply pulling on the fly line with a free hand and bringing the fish into the net and released. Larger fish are played by reeling in loose line and using the flex of the rod to wear down the bigger fish."

A few of his listeners nodded as if they understood his ad-hoc explanation. One thing was very obvious, I was in a real mess. I couldn't get the line on the reel and I couldn't use my hands to attempt to break the leader thereby ending this titanic struggle.

I was not only angry at my inability to extricate from the situation, I was angry at my brother-in-law for convincing me to spend $879 for a two-handed 14 foot salmon fly rod, Hardy heavy duty reel and a 12 weight shooting head fly line with 100 yards of shooting line.


He used a trump card by saying a fellow last week had seen at least a 150 pound King Salmon near his walleye fishing boat. I took four days of vacation to make the trip to Lake Michigan. I caught a boat ride to the mouth of the river that was the spawning area for the Kings.



The battle was witnessed from the shore by a growing number of townspeople. ESPN helicoptered Boomer from the Lions-Jets game to provide world-wide coverage. It was announced that CNN, FOX, and GMA were dispatching satellite trucks and reporters. Reports of the Vice-President, for security consideration, coming the next day could not be confirmed. 


I was also angry with the assembled collection of drunks and fly fishermen on the river's edge.  The Sunday afternoon arm chair quarterbacks were shouting, cursing, and pushing each other to have their photo taken with Boomer. He was eating it up because he knew this Breaking News would up their ratings and help shrink the large viewer gap held by FOX News. The Boomer knew a lot about sports but he knew next to nothing about fly fishing for Kings. A fly fisherman was hired on the spot to serve as a color man. This dream gig picked up speed but lost altitude as the fly fisherman finished his 10th Old Milwaukee on the make shift set of an overturned wrecked fishing boat. The fly guy as Boomer called him started an argument about deflate gate and Boomer, like all ESPN blue bloods, came to defend the Patriots QB. Boomer won the match by breaking a beer bottle and saying to the fly guy "Back, Back, Back."

Meanwhile, back in the river, I managed to put the monster on the reel but was slowly being pulled closer and closer to some very swift and deep water. What to do to help me? A Purdue freshman ag engineering student and Eagle Scout from Commiskey, Indiana shouted, "Follow me and do as I do." He came out to where I was shoulder deep in very rapid water and locked his arms around my waste, so too the next, the next, and so on. A human chain was holding me from drowning. Boomer once more said, "Back, Back, Back." Inch by precious inch I was pulled by this human chain to the safety of the shore.

The rescue probably earned Boomer and company an Emmy. I was still connected to the beast. It was more and more apparent that I had just a short time to conclude this epic confrontation. What ever was connected was coming to the surface. An American Lit professor from Michigan State, also a fly fisherman, knew Melville's Moby Dick word for word and shouted, "He breaches!" By now I was consumed with the twin fear of losing the monster and the other of actually catching the monster. As is often the case fear and success are next door neighbors. 

                      TO BE CONTINUED IN PART TWO
GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY

Sunday, August 16, 2015

WELCOME INTERNATIONAL BLOG READERS

A GROWING NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL READERS ARE VISITING THIS BLOG. THEY ARE FROM COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. I AM HONORED TO HAVE THEM.


SOME OF THE TOPICS MAY HAVE LITTLE INTEREST TO SOME READERS---KEEP LOOKING AND YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL INTEREST YOU.


WELCOME MY FRIENDS!  KEEP COMING BACK!!!
GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY







SPECIALIZATION COMES TO DATING SITES

I AM NOT SURE IT IS HELPFUL TO HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE DATING OTHER PEOPLE JUST LIKE THEM. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO COMPLIMENTING EACH OTHER??


MAYBE ITS JUST ME. WHAT SAY? SEE FOLLOWING URL.


http://www.wnd.com/2015/08/some-dating-sites-are-out-of-this-world


GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY



YOU DON'T KNOW ALL OF THIS !!!!!

ALL OF US WHO SAW THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL MAY THINK WE KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL.


WRONG ! WRONG ! WRONG !


WATCH THIS URL AND BE AMAZED. I SURE WAS WHEN I FIRST SAW IT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-RkEv_d34w


GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY

IT TAKES OLD GUYS WITH OLD EYES !!!!!

IT TAKES OLD GUYS WITH OLD EYES TO SEE THE GRACE, ELEGANCE, AND YES, SENSUALITY OF THE ARTISTRY OF ELEANOR POWELL. ONE OF A KIND !!!!


NO VULGAR DISPLAY OF BODY PARTS---DO YOU HEAR THAT MS. CYRUS?
ELEANOR USES HER ARMS, HANDS, SHOULDERS, AND SPOT ON BRIEF STOPS TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS. YES, SHE IS BEAUTIFUL, SO VERY TALENTED, AND DEFINITELY "THE QUEEN OF TAP"


ANOTHER GREAT URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94XNnIXe2zE&index=2&list=RDtoDl2hXt8BM


GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY

Friday, August 14, 2015

SHE PUT THE SHOW IN THE BUSINESS ! v2.0

ELEANOR POWELL---BEST FEMALE DANCER---EVER


DANCING TO THE BOOGIE WOOGIE---ONE SUPER FINE NUMBER.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o_cWd69vMQ


GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY

Thursday, August 13, 2015

A HARD LIFE AIN'T GOT NO COLOR

DO YOU WANT TO APPRECIATE THE EASY LIFE WE ENJOY TODAY? JUST CHECK THIS URL:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXEtNknolKY


GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY

IGNORANCE MAY NOT BE BLISS BUT SURE FEELS GOOD !!

STANDING IN THE CHECK OUT LANES AT THE WAL-MARTS I AM CAPTURED AND MUST LOOK AT THE COVERS OF THE MOVIE CELEB MAGS.


WHO ARE THESE FOLKS ON THE COVERS? I FEEL SO GOOD THAT I DON'T KNOW THEM AND FURTHERMORE, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THEM!


SOMEHOW I HAVE THIS OLD FASHION IDEA THAT ENTERTAINERS ARE TO ENTERTAIN---NOT JUST DRESS NICE OR EVEN UNDRESS.


CAN THEY SING? DANCE? ACT? MAKE MOVIES THAT WILL BE SHOWN 50 YEARS FROM NOW? I HAVE ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTIONS.

MAKE MINE TCM.



GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY



Get Me A New Dictionary !!!

Fred  Astaire is in class that will not come to this planet again. His dancing numbers are always full figure; no close ups to cover cuts and splices; and a complete number all the way from start to finish.


 His routines are unbelievably innovative and reflect his total dedication to a most difficult art form. Just when you think things could not get better, Fred pulls another wonder from those gifted legs and feet. 


If future generations want to know what was the hit dance numbers in the 20th century---watch Fred and Ginger entertaining us with dropped jaw and clapping hands.


Each time I see his films, for the umpteenth time, it is like I just discovered this amazing and magic dancer who enthralls me deep within. Gosh---he is great and never to be duplicated.


Glenn <><
Just West of Yesterday



10 Qualities Of A Real Woman (Copied from URL)


Wednesday, August 12, 2015

ANYONE NEED THIS BESIDES ME?

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8)


GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY



NOW THERE IS JUST ONE...

NOW THERE IS JUST ONE......

From the 1st grade there was a trio of students who always seemed to be locked in an undeclared struggle for class academic leadership.

A few years after high school one died giving birth to a baby.

Just a few months ago one died shortly after the death of her husband. She once said, "I am trying to get used to the new normal."

Now there is just one. I know him very well and I know he is deeply saddened by the death of two wonderful friends.
Glenn <><
Just West of Yesterday








Monday, August 10, 2015

SENIOR PROM---LATE 1950'S V. 2.0



 Caution: This is a fiction story and has some mild sexual content. If such content is offensive, please close this Post. It is included not for sensationalism or personal titillation but to make this story much more realistic and an appropriate reference to the time of the story.




                          THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST


She was a healthy 10 pounds north of chubby. She supposedly cursed. She supposedly smoked. She supposedly once finished off a six-pack of Falls City single handedly following the football Homecoming. Needless to say Beth Ann Martin was not a member of the Queen’s Court. Her initials, B-A-M, made it convenient for crude boys to call her BAM-BAM for her supposed proclivity for “going all the way.” 


She knew there was not even a one in a million chance she would be invited to the senior Prom. Enter Ted McGuire. Ted was an excellent student; fair, but not great athlete; and skinny for a lad of 17. His social skills were less than fulfilling. With two weeks to go before the Prom, he had resigned himself to just sit this one out.  


All of this changed when the high school principal, Eli Kiker, sent a mimeographed note to all seniors that stated attendance at the Prom was a requirement for graduation.  A few unattached seniors found themselves in a full court panic mode. Beth Ann, Ted, and a car load of other seniors ate lunch at Frankie’s Place, a nearby hamburger joint.


Call it fate, Providence, or just luck when Beth Ann and Ted found themselves seated beside each other on the counter stools the day after the principal’s unexpected decree. Ted waited until his hamburger and coke arrived and holding the burger as some sort of social shield asked Beth if she had a date to the Prom.


Loud silence followed his inquiry. He thought Beth Ann was thinking up a polite way to turn him down. She looked him directly in the eyes and said she did not have a date and she would like to go with him. Both immediately exhibited a toothy Pepsodent smile. Further, it appeared to Ted that Beth Ann was about three seconds from a tear.  


Beth Ann’s family went into overdrive. This was big, really big for the entire family. She had never been invited to something as nice as a Prom. With Dad’s concurrence, Mom took 17 dollars out of the family’s saving fund which was hid in a Ball canning jar in a kitchen cabinet drawer. (All should be reminded this story occurred in the late 1950’s.)


Mom and Beth Ann could not find any gowns in the local area to compliment her ample figure. They made the 50 mile round trip to Spenser in the family 1950 Ford Pickup and located a used pastel blue strapless evening gown, matching shoes, and appropriate foundation apparel. The gown, with alterations, cost $20 for everything. Mom always carried a five dollar bill as her Mad Money in her bra.



Brother Samuel was charged to cut the knee high grass around the house and remove the two large cedars which hid the entrance to the dirt lane to their modest house and barn.



Dad himself took on the seemingly impossible task of filling the multitude of potholes in the dirt lane. The lane had every appearance of an aerial bombing range. He hitched his Case 1950 VAC tricycle model tractor to three old railroad ties lashed together with hay bailing wire. After his second tank of gas he lost track of how many trips he had made up and down the lane. Each circuit produced a slightly smoother surface than the one before.



Principal Kiker dismissed the seniors at the end of classes on Wednesday to decorate and prepare for the Prom. More girls than boys appreciated the extra time for nails and other beauty improvements. Beth Ann’s Mom gave her a Toni cold wave permanent late Thursday evening. She slept Thursday and Friday nights with her hair wrapped in toilet paper. Beth Ann’s family did not have a telephone and even if they did it was highly unlikely any of the girls would have called her to trade Prom night secrets.


As Saturday night approached, the four members of the Martin family took great pride in what they had achieved. Beth Ann’s Dad said at the Saturday noon lunch that the way they all worked together for Beth Ann was something very, very special.  



Ted’s Prom preparations were rather simple. His Mom took his tux and formal shirt to the cleaners on Monday and picked it up on Thursday morning. She ordered a light blue bracelet corsage and all Ted had to do was pick it up Saturday morning.  



The Prom that was 12 years in the making was finally here.



As Ted drove his Dad’s ’57 Olds down the manicured dirt lane he gave himself a pep talk of attempting to appear happy Beth Ann was his date. After all she was doing both of them a big favor of meeting the last graduation requirement.



No doorbell to announce his arrival, just knuckles against wood. Mrs. Martin met Ted at the door and welcomed him to their home. She introduced Mr. Martin and Beth Ann’s brother Samuel to Ted. Just like in the movies she went to the base of the stairs and said that Ted was there.



Beth Ann walked down the unvarnished wood stairs and commenced smiling at Ted. Ted was nearly speechless: Beth Ann looked great, in fact she looked more than great. Her hair was like the other girls at school. But it was her low cut strapless gown that captivated his hormonal attention. He had never seen a real girl suggesting so much of the two objects he had heretofore only fantasied about. As he slipped the corsage onto her wrist, he was certain she had somehow lost a lot of weight between Wednesday and Saturday night. As they walked to the recently washed and polished Olds he was rendered weak kneed by a fragrance he never encountered before. He could not contain himself and in a boyish voice told her she smelled good, really smelled good! She smiled and gripped his hand tighter.



When they were out of sight of the house she slide over and entwined her left arm with his right arm and she thanked him for inviting her to be his Prom date and for making the past week the best her family had ever enjoyed. Now it was Ted’s turn to get misty eyed. Before he could say anything she told Ted that he had probably heard a lot of bad things about her and most of what he may have heard was not true. For several minutes of silence these seniors continued on to the senior Prom. Ted was in a real fix; if he said that he had heard about her wild girl behavior she would think that was the real reason he had invited her to be his date; on the other hand if he said he had not heard the stories she would know he was lying and trying to just gut out the rest of the evening. Before he had time to reply, the Olds came to a halt in the Gym parking lot and they got out and each made a few hand swipes on their hair and entered.



As they entered, some of fellows gave Ted a slight nod and one even made the A-OK sign.  Some of the girls held their programs to their mouth and said things neither Ted or Beth Ann could or even wanted to hear. They carried on some small talk with the other couples at their table but they both were very happy to have what amounted to lots of time alone. It was the slow dances they both enjoyed, especially Stardust and Love Letters In The Sand. Both started to experience something that transcended just two teenage bodies in close proximity. He held her very close and whispered in her ear that he was very glad she was his date. She gave him a knowing squeeze of his  hand. Their smiles told everyone this evening was so much more than a square filler for graduation. After the band completed their last set, Ted and Beth Ann said their obligatory goodbyes to Principal Kiker, Mrs. Haines, senior class sponsor, and the Prom Queen and King and slowly walked hand in hand to the Olds.



(Some additional background information may help amplify what was soon to happen. Ted probably had only kissed a half a dozen girls before tonight and those kisses looked more like the third grade variety than senior class material.) As he was preparing to unlock the car door for Beth Ann he gently placed both hands upon her peaceful face, framed her mouth with those hands and gave her a kiss that was entirely new to him and served to take Beth Ann’s breath away. For what seemed like several minutes the two new young lovers stood silent and just hugged each other very, very close.



When they returned to Beth Ann’s home, both Mr. and Mrs.  Martin were waiting for her in the family living room. Beth Ann surprised Ted when she told him her Mom had baked a cake for them and invited Ted to come in. Questions about the Prom came at machine gun speed. Beth Ann gracefully and enthusiastically  answered every one. Beth Ann walked Ted to his car whereupon several more heartfelt kisses and embraces followed. As he drove home the last line from Casablanca resonated in his head and heart, ”Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”.

GLENN <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY


THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE MUCH ANYMORE

Tomorrow a fiction story about a Prom in the1950's will appear on this Blog. It's written from a perspective of two 17 year olds who are forced together because of a new graduation requirement. Please note:

 This is a fiction story and has some mild sexual content. If such content is offensive, please skip this Post. It is included not for sensationalism or personal titillation but to make this story much more realistic and an appropriate reference to the time of the story.


Tell your social media friends to check it out. 


Glenn <><
Just West of Yesterday






G



EVER HAVE REGRETS ABOUT YOUR CHOICES?

Please be honest before you mentally reply. Here's some good old, down home confessing. This is not an attempt to revitalize the past or rationalize choices made.