Rise and Shine --- Dealing with it

Good Morning and, really, frost today? It was like 70 yesterday.


Everybody deals with things differently. Some people go into a funk when something happens. Some people just ignore it. Some people try to find solutions.

So, when my Mom was rushed to the hospital after falling and banging her head, I didn't know how to feel. Should I rush down there, you know, just in case it's really serious. Should I wait around for updates. Should I just plug ahead.

After a couple of minutes of thinking, I jumped in the van and drove as fast as I could to to the hospital.

Once it became apparent she was OK, I couldn't help myself but try to find the humor in the situation.

Actually, we all did. We thought it was funny when the nurse asked if she used a worker.

We thought it was funny when the nurse was shocked Mom was still working full-time at 70.

We joked about getting one of those Hoverounds with the goofy commercials.

That's how we do it in our family. Try to find the light side and, bad taste and all, try to laugh a little bit.

Rise and Shine --- Politics and sunshine

Good Morning and, you know, sometimes you have good weekends and sometimes you have GOOD weekends!



Usually I leave this political talk to legends like Spencerblog, but, with another presidential debate just a day away, I'd thought I'd chime in on the subject.

OK, here goes: I hate political ads.

They bore me. They make me want to not vote for the person in the ad.

The worst this year are the ones being blasted on our TV screen by Tom Smith. Look, I don't know Tom Smith. Seems like he could be a nice enough guy, but, really, I don't care if you worked in the coal mines. I don't care, Tom, that you started your own energy company. I do know, Tom, like most corporate owners these days, I'm sure you're not paying your workers what they are worth.

That's neither here nor there, though. What I really want to know is who is swayed by these ads? What are their target audience?

Are there actually some who are watching TV, see a Tom Smith ad that says Bob Casey is a career politician and think, 'Hey, he's right. I never thought of it that way.'

Who you vote for should be based on what these candidates really stand for, what they really believe. Hey, I know it's hard. You are basically begging for your job every couple of years, but, come on, get out of the commercial business.

Rise and Shine --- Soundtrack for the week

Good Morning and how about that rain?!?

Here's a little music to get you through the week (Yes, you're welcome):

Rise and Shine --- Shiny, red apple

Good Morning and here we are back again in the same place.
It's always kind of cool during the changing of the seasons.
You know, when you can catch the first whiff of flowers in the spring. When the grill is going (and the mosquitoes are biting here in Delco) during the summer.
Now that we are really into fall (I don't care what the calendar says, fall starts Oct. 1), it's apple season.
OK, OK, now that we have year-round deliveries to super markets, we can get apples any time during the year. It's the fall, though, when they seem to be the best.
So, it being the first weekend of fall, we all were looking forward to some fresh apples. Well, at least I was, the rest wanted to hunt down the perfect pumpkin.
We jumped in the car and went out to Linvilla Orchards (seems like everybody had the same idea Saturday). That's where we picked up four different kinds of apples.
The next morning, breakfast was apple pancakes, apple doughnuts, apple cider and apple coffee (yes, there is such a thing).
So, after eating it all, the first comment I got was: "Dad, this is good and all, but I'm kind of sick of apples."
Get used to it. Apple tacos Tuesday night.

Rise and Shine --- Stupid, but what if?

Good Morning and welcome back to the cool side of the pillow.




So, after much hype, the new TV show 'Revolution' premiered last week. The second episode is on tonight, I think. (It is Monday, right?)

Anyway, I checked out the show mostly because there wasn't anything else on Monday night. The premise, for those that stick with pro wrestling, is somehow all the power was lost around the world in one fell swoop. The lights went out, people went crazy, the whole world became the wild, wild west.

There were some cool shots of an overgrown Wrigley Field and stuff. The acting was kind of pedestrian, but, you know, we aren't looking for Oscar winners here.

If you buy into the fantasy that something like all the power going out at once and nobody can fix it, well, then it's not so bad. Sure, it could never happen.

Then again, as my Firefox browser shut down for the fourth time already this morning, I got to wondering where we would all be without computer access, cell phones and the rest.

Imagine if all the computers went out around the world after some kind of virus. We'd actually have to, gasp, pull out the vinyl to listen to music. We wouldn't know Bobo down the street was heading to the store. There would be no quick reviews of Wawa coffee.

Uh, I think we'd survive without Wrigley Field being overgrown, but you never know.

Rise and Shine --- YAWN

Good Morning and there's something about these rainy days that just make it too easy to go back to bed!




I remember these kind of days (since they didn't come all the time) were kind of cool while in grade school. Usually, we'd get dropped off by the bus and start running around until the bell rung.

We would race, play football, talk about the Phillies game or the latest edition of Sports Illustrated.

Rainy days, though, we were forced inside. We would wait in the cafeteria until the bell. Since nobody wanted to look uncool and carry an umbrella, we'd all be a little wet.

Somehow, though, those mornings with the rain coming down outside hold more memories to me than the ones spent running around outside.

It's probably because that was the days when we were always outside. We'd wake up on, say, a Saturday morning, eat a quick breakfast, then jump on our bikes.

Now, I have a hard time convincing the children to get outside. Ride bikes? Only if it's a miracle.

Rainy days today are celebrated because there is no choice. Back in the day, it was a welcome break.

Rise and Shine --- Doesn't make sense

Good Morning and, whew, that was a full weekend!


So, the violence continues to escalate in the Middle East.

What apparently was the catalyst to all this was some goofy looking movie made by an anti-Muslim filmmaker.

Not only does the movie make some in the Middle East angry, but it also looks badly made. Just watching the trailer, it's pretty obvious the actors weren't even saying the lines that showed up on film.

While, I wouldn't tell anybody their religious beliefs are wrong, I fear that at some point, the film will be just an excuse.

Unfortunately, we live in a world were violence just escalates. It doesn't slow down.

After a while, it's just the reason used to destroy things for the sake of destroying them. A week from now, there might be gangs still attacking embassies, but they probably won't remember the reason.

Look, here people turn over cars and light them on fire when their team wins a championship, so we shouldn't be pointing fingers.

Sometimes, though, cooler heads have to take over, right?

Rise and Shine -- Take your trains and ...

Good Morning! I had to put my heat on in the car this morning. It's too early for my tastes.



I'm sure you've all seen the commercials where a punch of people walk in front of a too-small screen to talk about how taking SEPTA is only way to get to a game.

Uh, no SEPTA. I tried it this past weekend. It was as horrible as I remember.

Now, I've given SEPTA plenty plenty of chances. I took the train down to the Live 8 concert. Then saw as they put too few trains on the line and had people actually jammed in the doorways to get home.

I jumped on SEPTA to take in the Phillies parade in 2008 (We getting another one this year?). After getting pushed and pulled all over the place, I felt it would be easier to walk.

Now, there wasn't much going on in the city this weekend. I had tickets to the Temple/Maryland football game (the 7-year old had been begging to go). Instead of driving down, I thought it would save some money and fun to take the train.

Uh, no. You can get by the rude attitude of the workers selling tickets. You can get by the train schedules that haven't been updated since the 1960s. What you can't get by, though, is the filth.

Have the trains on the Broad Street Line ever been cleaned? How about the stations for that matter? Do we really need the recordings to announce the next station to sound like a drive thru McDonald's?

From now on, it's back in the car.

Rise and Shine --- Nothing at all

Good Morning and, what's that you say, Fall is here?


So, we are a week into school and already I'm told there's been nothing going on.

Here's a typical conversation after the bus pulls away:

So, how was school today?

"OK"

Just OK. What did you do?

"Nothing really."

Nothing? You didn't learn anything new. You don't have some stories to tell about your new teachers?

"Nah. We didn't really do anything."



Now, I can understand the first week. Students and teachers are checking each other out. Both are still trying to shake the cobwebs of summer away.

This conversation could happen (and probably will) in December or April or June.

I know, I know, I'm sure I did the same thing many eons ago.

I would like to know, though, what's going on. Just give me a little bit. A small morsel would be enough to satiate.

Just don't ask what I did at work.

Rise and Shine --- Keeping it alive

Good Morning and when the Phillies are playing Game 1 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park, remember you heard it here first!!

So, we ran a story last week about the incoming college Class of 2016.

After getting over the fact they were born in 1994 (really? 1994?), there were some interesting trends.

For instance, if you didn't think we've morphed into a TV (or more likely video) society, then you'd be shocked the Class of 2016 get most of their news from "The Daily Show" or on YouTube.

According to the study, they have always lived in cyberspace. Computers are as likely to be as opened as the front door.

This new class of college students have probably never purchased a CD, let alone an album. Everything is quick hits, including music. I would imagine the song "American Pie" would be turned off the first time they went to the "levee, but the levee was dry."

Anyway, I've taken it upon myself to keep these old timey ways alive.

First, though, I had to take a quick survey. Having nobody from the Class of 2016 around, I had to use a member of the Class of 2021.

OK, where do you get your news?

Blank stare.

OK, where do you find out what's happening in the world?

"From you."

Good. Go to the CD cabinet and pick out something to listen to.

"That's all right."

Well, then, how about answering me this, who is Bill Clinton?

"Dad, I'm reading. Leave me alone."

I'll try again later.

Rise and Shine --- Those were the days?

Good Morning and isn't it nice to have the air conditioning turned off?


So, when the mosquitoes became too much Sunday night, we went inside and snapped on the TV.

Since I had control of the remote, I was able to bypass the usual fare of shows that melt the brain. OK, OK, all television melts the brain, but some make it go quicker than others.
Just to see what kind of reaction I would get, I stopped on PBS, which was showing a rerun of an old Lawrence Welk show.

After a couple of minutes, "What is this?"

It's an old TV show. My grandmom used to like watching it.

"Why are we watching it?"

Because it's a slice of Americana. They don't make them like this anymore.

"These people of weird. Isn't there anything else on?"

Nope, this is on every channel.

"I'm going to go read."

So, there you have it. Lawrence Welk is helping this generation of students keep up with their reading.

Rise and Shine --- Really? The 76ers?

Good Morning to all you insomniacs!
Was that really a couple thousand people cheering for the 76ers yesterday?

Really? People came out to the Constitution Center on a Thursday in the summer to get a look at new center Andrew Bynum?

Wait, aren't the Eagles getting ready for the season? Aren't the Phillies showing signs of life? Cheering for the 76ers in August? Why, I never...

The 76ers have always seemed like fourth-class citizens in the sports community. The Eagles ruled until the Phillies won, now they trade Nos. 1 and 2 depending on the time of year. The Flyers have always had a loyal following.

The 76ers, though, even in the glory years, seemed to pushed to the side.

Truth be told, my group of friends were always bigger 76ers fans. We went to games and listened to the 76ers on the radio (not every game was televised back then). We sat in the school cafeteria debating the merits of keeping Darryl Dawkins, then we cheered the signing of Moses Malone. We laughed at the drafting of Hersey Hawkins. We felt betrayed when Doug Moe made it look like coaching the team was taking too much time away from the beach.

Even the last few years, I've been able to get down to a couple of 76ers games (pro sports has totally outpriced the family, but that's for another time).

So, it was cool to see cheering for the 76ers in the middle of the summer.

Rise and Shine --- The heat is on

Good Morning and was that really George Michael singing during the Olympics Closing Ceremonies?

It was nice to open the door this morning and not be hit by a wall of heat. There virtually no humidity out there this morning.

What a wonderful feeling!

I was standing in the store the other day while the daughter tried on some clothes (her new favorite activity) and somebody standing outside the dressing room said, "It's like we really didn't have a summer this year. It was too hot to even walk outside."

Now, I wouldn't go that far. I mean, it is the Northeast. It's going to get hot, it's going to cool off. Sure, we had one of the hottest July's ever, but we weren't cooped up. I think it's a sign of the times.

When I hear these things, my mind immediately thinks back to my grandparents.

They didn't have any kind of air conditioning. It was hot, they dealt with it.

A few weeks ago, I was at my dad's boyhood home. He showed the children his old room on the third floor of one of those really old houses that have no air flow.

When they asked how he could sleep with it being so hot, he said he had a fan for the window.

I'll be the first to admit I thank the stars for the person who invented air conditioning.

I think, though, it kind of spoils us sometimes.

Not that I'll give it up or anything...

Rise and Shine --- Growing up

Good Morning and welcome to the only place on the Internet you need to be!



My parents have a real nice pool in their backyard. It was put in when I was in high school, but we always had some kind of pool in the backyard. So, I grew up going swimming every day throughout the summer.

About once a week now (sometimes more when it's as hot as it's been), I drive the three young ones over to enjoy a dip in the water.

OK, OK, I enjoy putting my toes in or doing a cannonball as well.

There is no diving board, but the children enjoyed jumping off the side and into the water. Last year at this time, I had to catch them as they jumped into the 4-foot part of the pool. They would jump, I'd catch and it would start all over again. And again. And again.

This year, they still were jumping in the shallower end, but didn't want me to catch them. I stood by, making sure nobody got hurt.

When we woke up yesterday and felt the heat, it was time to take the ride.

A few minutes after jumping in the first time, the 7-year old said to me: "Daddy, do you think I can swim in the deep end?"

Sure, I told her, if you can swim in the shallow end, you can swim in the deep end. I'll be there if you get nervous.

"No thanks," she said. "I can do it."

So, she got out of the pool, walked to the deep end (8 foot) and jumped in. She then swam over to me and said, "See. I could do it."

Yes, yes you can. It's a good thing I could blame the pool water for that tear in my eye.

Rise and Shine --- The cloud is scary

Good Morning and how about that Queen!
So, about 2 p.m. Friday, my iPhone took a dive. Well, actually, it was in a bathing suit pocket when the wearer took a dive.
We don't need to go into any depth there, but, suffice to say, the phone went to a watery grave.
Sure, I tried all the Internet hits. The now paperweight sat in a bag of rice for hours. It was left out in the sun. It was blow-dried. It was plugged in.
By midday Saturday, the obvious was becoming fact in my mind, the phone was dead. I was going to have to get a new one.
I tried going though my provider (cough, AT&T, cough), but, even though my next upgrade would be available in January, they refused to help me out. If I wanted to replace the iPhone, I was going to have to pay like $450.
Uh, it's not that important.
Then I remember a coworker talking about how his son's iPhone gets wet (OK, it gets beer spilled on it) every six months or so. He goes to the Apple store to get a new one.
I figured there was no way he was paying $450 every six months, so, it was off to Apple we went.
Got there about 11:30 and, yes, there was a line since the store doesn't open until Noon on Sundays. By the way, how can Apple cry poor when people line up in front of their store at 11:30 on a Sunday.
After talking to one of the store's resident 'Geniuses' (Wait, I thought they all worked here), I got a new phone for about $150.
It's not like I have $150 sitting around doing nothing, but I figured I needed the phone (don't have a landline) and it was better than waiting until January.
I turned the new phone on, went through the set up and, about 10 minutes later, it was like I had never dunked the old phone. All the photos, numbers and browsing history were there. A game I was playing 10 minutes before the water, was at the same place I left.
Forget big brother, it's the cloud that's scary.

Rise and Shine -- Blue & White Lie

Good Morning and if it's going to be this hot, it might as well be sunny!


So, the Penn State football program was effectively killed by the NCAA yesterday.

Sure, the Nittany Lions will be playing this season and for the foreseeable future, but the sanctions imposed probably sunk the program to the depths of the game.

The loss of scholarships, bowl ban and money lost will take at least a decade or more to overcome.

To which, I say, who cares?

Penn State for years, even before the Jerry Sandusky cover-up, has been putting out a lie.

Joe Paterno was not a nice man. He was condescending. He was nasty. He was not friendly.

He apparently was different to the players, but to the media and others who crossed his paths, well, forget about it.

I only had a couple of interactions with Paterno, both as a student at the University of Pittsburgh. My junior year I traveled to Penn State to cover the game. I saw Paterno at a Friday night get together the University hosted before home games.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed, I walked up to Paterno and, with my hand out, said, "Mr. Paterno it's an honor to meet you."

The response from the coach was, well, an eye-opener, "Well, it's not an honor to meet you."

He then turned away.

I've heard similar stories over the years. Sure, the school did a good PR job of portraying their coach as this down-to-earth person.

Now, more people can see the truth.

Rise and Shine --- Hide or not?

Good Morning and a big welcome back to Mr. Humidity!

So, at the end of a week away from the office, the shooting happened in Aurora, Colorado.

We had a lot to do Friday (cutting hedges, wash, cleaning), so I didn't really check the news of the day until around dinner time.

That's when a debate entered my mind. Do I tell the children (ages 13, 10, 7) what happened?

This debate wasn't about shielding them from the realities of a world sometimes gone crazy. It's just that I like to think I can protect them from bad things. Then again, if they don't know about the dark side, they can't stay away from the dark side.

So, over dinner, we talked about the shooting.

The first question, "Why would somebody do that?" had no answer that would be good enough. Nobody really knows why evil happens, it just does.

So, we talked about safety. We talked about going to the movies ("If I was in that town, I would never see a movie again."). We talked about guns and the reasons why they should all be melted down.

In the end, we talked about how we can't keep looking over our shoulders all the time, but we need to be aware bad things can happen.

In the end, the 10-year old philosopher said it best: "When bad things happen, it is better for our future. We'll be a little bit safer."

I hope so.

Easy cure

I'll talk slowly

Ban

All

Guns

Rise and Shine --- Going Fruity

Good Morning and what was that strange wet stuff falling from the sky?




I think we get spoiled some times.

You can pretty much walk into any supermarket at any time of the year and find strawberries, watermelons, cantaloupes and a plethora of other so-called 'summer' fruits.

Thanks to industrial agriculture and imports from South America, the time of year doesn't matter.

You have to admit, though, these fruits taste a little better in the summer.

The strawberries, since the ones in the stores are likely grown around here, are that much sweeter. Same for the blueberries. Taste a strawberry today and then one in December. There is a big difference.

The biggest difference is in watermelons. I have to tell the boys all the time I won't buy watermelon after September.

Now, practically any one you pick up is sweet and juicy. By October, well, there's a reason it's a summer fruit.

To me, there's no better summer dessert than a nice fruit salad (well, OK, ice cream is nice once in awhile).

I want to do a better job of taking advantage of these things during the next few months.

Now, pass the spoon.

Rise and Shine --- Really, that long?

Good Morning and how about that Sun, Ladies and Gentlemen!




Attended a funeral service Friday for my aunt on my father's side. Haven't seen that part of the family for about 20 years. The last time any of us could remember, it was a different funeral.

Yeah, not the greatest places to catch up.

To tell the truth, I always find the situation kind of awkward and, even at my advancing age, am somewhat perplexed on how to handle it.

On the one hand, I was happy to see my cousins again. We had fun times growing up. I remember playing ball. I remember running around. I remember walking to the corner store.

Then there was the little reason why everybody was getting together.

"Hey, great to see you. Oh yeah, sorry about your mother."

It's sad, but it's happy. Too many things going on at once.

By the end of the day, after eating too much, drinking too much and spending too much time in the sun, everybody seemed to be smiling.

Here's to hoping it's not another 20 years.