THE PACK RAT

Top Left --The keys to the treasures
Middle--The Heavyweight Tennis Racquet
Bottom left--Trolling Pole , made from a broken
Que Stick and a piece of bamboo.

                                      THE PACK RAT

   I was looking for a specific type of screw the other day and having a hard time finding it. Mind you I knew I had it, the problem was it had been a long time since I needed one and I am sure I had put it away in place where I would not accidentally throw it out, and I would know where it was if I needed one!

   After going through the basement and the garage, I decided to go buy one. Well when I go to the store I remember why I kept the ones I bought last time. I needed ONE and of course they came in a pkg. of 24.

   My search for the missing screw was not all in vain however as I found a lot of treasures that I forgot I had.

   In thinking about my daily adventure I wondered if my saving thing was just a defect in my thinking process, or if it was just a Man thing that most men can’t seem to get rid of little treasures? Here is a list of items I found and some of them have been around for over 50 years. Mind you I was not looking for any of them, except the screws, so don’t you think they must be valuable or I would have thrown them away, sometime during a moving time from one of four houses. Then I think why would I keep them 10, 30, 50 or even 1or 2 years?

   Here is my treasure trove of things I found. Let me know if you think you might have a similar list. And by the way don’t mention it to any of the ladies, as they just would not understand Ha Ha.

1.A quart fruit jar full of bent nails that I am going to straighten, one of these days.

2.A part off of a snowmobile that has not been made for about 40 years and I sold mine about 25 years ago.

3.A bamboo fly rod that is all packaged up to be returned to the mfg. to have a new guide and a new tip put on it. I am sure it has been all packed addressed and ready to ship for about 35 years.

4.An old cardboard candy box, they used to pack chocolates in. However it was full of marbles that I had in High School. In rummaging through it I think my old “Aggie Taw” was in it.

5.A pair of “Hush Puppy” golf shoes, which I just could not live without, and of course I could not throw away.

6. One LARGE shelf of Church magazines. Now they are all on my Android, which I carry in my shirt pocket, but I still cannot part with them.

7.A fishing rod, for trolling, that my Uncle helped me make in the 1950’s. There is no way I could part with that.

8.One well used “Underwood” type writer that I had to buy when I worked out of my house as a salesman in the 1950’s.

9. A Coleman lantern that burns “white gas”, not propane. I am sure it has not been out of the box for 45 years or so.

10. A wood tennis racquet that I am sure weighs 5 lbs. or more.

11.Of course with all these treasures I had to have a key to lock each of them up—I found them also but I have no idea what they are for?

   This list could go on forever but you get the idea? Have I got a problem or is this just a normal thing for the “Average American Male?”  

   I am really going to think about it, and the next time I need a bolt or some duct tape I can start the procedure all over. As I will probably still be the proud owner of all my treasures.   

CANTANKEROUS CARL'S TEETH

No, I do not have my teeth in. They are in a cup by the bathroom sink.---Why are we having company?

YOU'VE GOT MAIL

                                                        You’ve Got Mail  AOL

    Several years ago there was a movie by the name of “You’ve Got Mail." It was way back when sending an e-mail was just starting to be a popular thing to do. The whole movie was about two people e-mailing each other and neither knowing who the other one was. My thought at the time was that nothing like that was likely to happen.

   Well now the world has gone “electronically” crazy so I thought I would get up on my soap-box and expound a little.

   For the past month or so I have made it a point to observe people and their “electronic devices.” Of course I have observed some funny things, some interesting things and some that were very annoying. 

   Many of you may remember when a local restaurant opened a place where you would go in and find a booth, sit down and then pick up a phone in the booth to order. Of course I have become used to that now so it is nothing new—but last week I was in a booth next to a couple of (20 something’s) and it went something like this--- The guy picked up his cell phone and dialed while I presumed his “date” looked at the menu. As soon as he dialed her cell phone rang? She answered and I heard him say, “What are you going to have?” Then when I heard her say “I don’t know what is good here” I realized they were talking to each other on the phone while sitting right across from each other (Go figure?) I am sure glad they were not TEXTING or I might have missed out on this very important conversation.

   Speaking of missing out have you ever been waiting in line at a check stand to pay your bill and had to listen to a gal  in front of you, talking on the “cell” and telling you MUCH MORE than you ever wanted to know, about her date last night? ---Oh My My.

   Then there are the ones in Church who flip open an I-Pad, or their I-phone or Android----of course to look up a scripture—but the screen has the “Indy 500” or “Monster Car’s” on the screen

   Then I turned on my Facebook a few days ago and a message came up that said, “Myrtle Sampson wants to be your friend.” Of course my first thought was “Who the heck is Myrtle Sampson.”So I thought I will just pull her name up on Facebook and find out.” So I click on her name and what kind of a reply do I get?” This person does not respond unless you are on their friend list. SO WHO IS SHE? Now I know why some people have thousands of people on their friends list. They add them to their list because that is the only way they can get rid of the friend request OR find out who they are?

  And texting or talking while driving has always made me a little crazy—and I really wonder what is going on when the so called empty hand shows up with a Pepsi or a sandwich in it.

   Is it a coincidence that when I got bored one day and surfed the net looking at the fancy new cars, with all the bells and whistles—the next week I got “pop-ups” on my computer advertising, Ferrari’s, BMW’s, Telsa’s and Maserati’s? (I don’t think so.)

   So are “we the people” forgetting how to communicate verbally, because we do not do it anymore?

   I recall a family get together a while back and I was sitting over in the corner, in my Grandpa Chair smiling, and chuckling. One of my daughters came over and said, “whats so funny.” I told her to just look around---- about half of the adults were texting, a couple were playing games, on their I-Phones. One younger one was trying to convince his Mom that he still had some allotted time to use on his I –Pad and the rest of the adults were entertaining or being entertained by the Great Grand Children.   

   WELL ENOUGH FOR THIS RANT. I will put my soap-box away for a while.

BTW  I  LUV MY PUTER and ANDROID—Ha Ha

THOUGHTS ON WORK

   The picture on the left top is a house that was built for a family in need. The two people in blue are my daughter and son in law who worked in the constrruction crew called Extreme Home Makeovers. The picture on the right top is a construction project near our cabin at Fairview lakes.

   As I sit here thinking about different jobs I have had and different ones that my friends and family have had I thought how there must be many many jobs around the world and I am sure there are some that we sheltered people in the USA cannot even think about. However other things came to mind and I am putting them here and sending them on their way for you to ponder.

                             THOUGHTS ON WORK

Rest for a woodcutter might be sitting and reading.

Rest for a Teacher might be cutting a cord of wood.

Rest for a cattle rancher is going grocery shopping.

Rest for a grocer is spending the weekend on a horse.

Rest for a traveling salesman is sitting in a chair at home

   After a home cooked meal.

Rest for his wife (who is at home all week) is going for

   A ride and then out to eat.

Rest for an author is working in a wood shop.

Rest for a carpenter is reading a good book non-stop.

Work for a child is putting toys away.

Work for a parent happens EVERYDAY.

Some work with their minds and some just talk.

Some sit at a desk and never walk.

Some times in this life we try to shirk.

It seems to me that work, may not be work.

What is work for one is play for another.

Work for a sister may not be work for a brother.

Our pioneer forefathers worked all the day long.

Then went home in the evening to sing a song.

Our work today is usually eight to five,

Then we drag ourselves home, barely alive.

It has always been very strange to me,

That we work harder at things that we do for free.

For Family and Church we work like a flash

And never worry about getting the cash.

If we did all our work, and did not worry,

About who was the one to get all the glory,

Things would be better in this world of ours.

We could then just kick-back and enjoy what is ours.

Casual Dress- Doug Robinson

I have been thinking about putting something like this in my blog for a long time. My problem seemed to be,"how to address the  subject without being considered an old opinionated guy who is out of touch with the world at the present time." As soon as I read this article by Doug Robinson I knew I had found my answer. I sent him an e-mail asking to share it on my blog-- and here it is. By the way I have most of the same emotions he mentions in his article (and I am much older than he is?) Wally

Doug Robinson

Deseret News

Summary

In terms of dress, Americans have gone from formal to slobbery in the last 50 years — from Ward Cleaver's suits to Homer Simpson's too-small T-shirt

I never thought I would write this sentence, but here goes: Americans have taken casual dress too far.

Maybe it’s my age.

Maybe it’s the era.

Or maybe it’s that disgusting, hairy man eating tikka masala at the table next to mine – in shorts and a tank top.

It could be that.

How do I put this tactfully?

Americans are slobs.

It’s not that I want everyone to wear suits and ties on airplanes the way they did in the ‘50s and ‘60s, especially since airline travel has has gone from being a pleasurable, special occasion to a sweaty, harried nightmare that lasts about as long as this sentence.

On the other hand: Do we have to look like The People of Walmart?

That’s where we’re headed.

The horror.

I grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s. My generation invented casual. We were anti-establishment. Our style, if you could call it that, was post-hippie meets American teen peasant. That was the start of the decline. Succeeding generations have taken it down several notches from there, so that ultimately, in terms of style, we went from Ward and June Cleaver all the way to Homer Simpson – from hanging out at home in suits and dresses to an undersized T-shirt with an exposed belly.

You know what I’m talking about — women shopping in sweats, pajamas, yoga pants and Spandex; men and their armpits wearing tank tops in restaurants.

You see couples out for a weekend dinner at a nice restaurant. The woman is dressed in a color-coordinated outfit that she evidently picked out after some thought, and her man is wearing something he found at the bottom of the laundry pile at the foot of the washer. He doesn’t know it, but he is sending a message, and that message is: We're married, she’s stuck with me, I don’t need to try anymore.

I quote Cher Horowitz from “Clueless:” “So, OK, I don't want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair - ew - and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so.”

Now even some of the women are throwing in the towel, which I suppose is better than wearing one. They show up at the mall in sloppy shorts and an old T-shirt. This also sends a clear message: I give up.

A word about Spandex and other form-fitting casual/workout attire: Some people believe that because, say, Jennifer Aniston looks good in Spandex, so will they. This is not true. The percentage of the population that looks good in Spandex is approximately .0000001. What are the odds that this includes us?

I’m no expert on the sartorial arts, but if I could offer a few suggestions …

Under no circumstance should men wear tank tops in a restaurant that doesn’t have arches in front of it, because who wants to see armpits while they are eating (or doing anything else, for that matter)?

Clothes must fit. They must cover the essential areas, including the backside, if you know what I mean, especially at a concert when an entire family is sitting behind you for two hours!!!!! (You know who you are).

Cargo shorts, old basketball shorts, T-shirts ... fine in most settings., but a wedding reception?

Men, if you are on a date with your wife or girlfriend, would it kill you to leave the bean dip-encrusted Broncos jersey at home and clean up for her a little?

But we dress for comfort, people say. Fine, just don’t leave the house.

Bottom line, America: Let’s class up the place a little.

The New York Times published a collection of articles in February called, “The Casual Couture of the Average American.” It mentioned that clothing makers are producing a line of tailored sweat pants. Oy.

Jonathan Walford of the Fashion History Museum (did you know there was such a thing?), wrote, “Liberated from stuffy tradition, post-‘60s style was reinvigorated at a grassroots level. But soon a disdain for artificiality, a desire for comfort, and just plain slovenliness won out.”

And from fashion psychologist Karen J. Pine: “Psychological research confirms not only that we are what we wear, but that we become what we wear. So dress with caution, or a conscience.”

Amen.

Doug Robinson's columns run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Email: drob@deseretnews.com

Cantankerous Carl's Car Keys

---I told you, "I am not shaving
off my beard until you give me
back the car keys."

A SMALL TOWN

I did not feel well today so I did not do much, however I started shuffling some of my old papers and I run on to this one I wrote in 1994 about the small town I grew up in. There are probably not a lot of people interested in it but it might bring back memories of your old home town and some of the things you did growing up.

A SMALL TOWN
I spent my life in a very small town,

Nestled snugly in the bottom of the hills.

As kids our life was so full of joy

We needed no big city frills.

Our men worked hard as they dug for the coal

Which fueled cities and factories far away.

The town revolved around “Old King Coal”

And each person had a part to play.

As kids we didn’t know of Nintendo and TV,

Our entertainment we had to seek.

Sometimes it was stilts, and sometimes kites,

But many times, just a hike by the creek.

There were places remembered by all who lived there

We were at one or the other each week.

They were Pine Springs, Hamburger Flat, The San Rafel

Or a good long hike to Strawberry Peak.

At the old swimming hole, up the canyon North Fork

In the summer the kids could be found.

We did swim in our birthday suits most of the time

And it is amazing that no one was drowned.

The Amusement Hall was in the center of town.

Our activities were inside and out on the lawn.

We had movies and dances and ball games and such.

On the lawns were the picnics, whose memories we clutch.

The Fourth of July was the all out celebration.

To us kids is was surly the best in the nation,

We had games and drinks and foodstuffs galore.

It’s too bad our kids don’t do it anymore.

A small town that is thriving is a sight to see.

Everyone living and helping, like a big family.

One drawback we had in a town this small,

Everyone knew about everyone, everything, ALL.

We didn’t have telephones to pass on the word,

But we had meeting places for one and for all.

There was the post office, mine office and company store.

And of course most important the Amusement Hall.

As a kid I walked everywhere both near and far

Of course it was for the lack of a car.

It was a mile to town and a long mile back,

Many times carrying groceries home in a sack.

I grew up in that town a long time ago

And the memories still flash through my mind.

All of us who lived there many years ago

Still have many memories I find.

Many did come from Europe to dwell

In that small town we all knew so well.

They came from Japan, Italy, Sweden and Greece  

They came to these mountains to dig coal in peace.

The names in the town tell a story I know,

East Hiawatha, West Hiawatha and Silk Stocking Row,

Stringtown, Jap Town, Greek Town and Tram Town,

The Flat Tops, Flat Town and even UP TOWN.

My friends and I lived there in eternal bliss.

And now I am older, it’s a place I do miss.

We still get together, the young and the old,

And many stories of HIAWATHA at reunions are told.  

By W.R. Baldwin

Sep 1994

BUMPER STICKERS

BUMPER STICKERS--- There does not seem to be as many "bumper stickers" these days as there used to be. In fact when I was "much younger" it seems like every other car was advertising something or wanting you to know something about their family or themselves---- So there were bumper stickers if all kinds. I have been watching for the last month or so and here are some that caught my attention.

MY GRANDKIDS ARE SMARTER THAN YOUR GRANDKIDS

PLEASE--Share your do-nuts!!!

I WOULD REATHER BE FISHING

MY SON IS A US MARINE

I am speeding because my dog has to POOP

MY OTHER CAR IS A BROOM

MY DOG IS SMARTER THAN YOUR CAT

DON'T TEXT ME UNLESS YOU ARE A COP
 (an elderly lady in a bright red shiney Corvette)
NO IT IS NOT MY SON'S

BUMPER STICKER's have replaced BURMA SHAVE

HOW ARE YOU LIKING THE "CHANGE" YOU VOTED FOR

I DO NOT USUALLY SPEED--- I AM TRYING OUT A NEW BRAND OF GASOLINE

KEEP YOUR DOCTOR---CHANGE YOUR SENATOR

Contrary to popular belief-----YOU ARE NOT  ENTITLED

  (on an old beat up truck)
IT RUNS AND IT IS PAID FOR

If you have a favorite (and it is clean) feel free to add it to the bottom of this list as a comment. 

TRIBUTE TO MY DAD ON FATHERS DAY

                            

Since it is almost Father's Day I have been thinking about my Dad. It is hard to believe that he has been gone for 33 years. So much can happen in that length of time. Fortunately we have a lot of great memories as a family, not only when we were young but also including many when we were no so young. I suppose some can be great memories and some not so great. I am gratful we grew up as a close family. I also happy we had Uncles, Aunts & cousins living in the same town when we were children. That makes for great memories.

This is a tribute I wrote for my Dad at the time of his funeral.

                           TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM BALDWIN

                                                      BY

                                 WALLACE RAY BALDWIN

16 Feb 1981

I sat on the front row at the funeral, you see

I am the son of the deceased William B.

He has passed the veil to the other side.

Some who do not know better, say he has died.

His last year on earth was sorrow and pain.

I am sure he was happy to leave this earth-plane.

He suffered from cancer, the scourge of the living.

His earth pains are over, in peace he’s now living.

The poet has said that death is sweet.

But I think they say that just to be discrete.

Dad suffered so, he could hardly stand it.

Death and its sting for him would end it.

Mom and my Sis took care of all his needs.

Now to his mansion above he hurriedly speeds.

His earthly remains are in front of us now.

His spirit is gone, perhaps left with a bow.

Dad has gone now, to be with Estella and Bill,

To perhaps find a place for us, later to fill.

To our Father in Heaven and those passed on,

To his Kingdom in Heaven, we hope he has gone.

His sojourn on Earth was Clerk, Miner and Teacher.

To us, his children he was never a preacher.

His bad habits, he told us don’t emulate,

Just because I do them don’t make them so great.

Later in life he did see the great light.

He and Mom went to the Temple with much delight.

We were all sealed together. Mom, Dad, Geri and I,

That day in the Temple and we all did cry.

That day in the Temple I knew our life had changed.

I knew a Heavenly reunion could be arranged.

Dad has now gone there and is waiting you see,

For us to live worthy, so that reunion can be.

Sometimes death is not sweet, nor serene, nor calm.

Sometimes it is painful and those left behind need balm,

For we sorrow and we are lonely and our grief is great,

But don’t forget Dad’s in Heaven now, to wait for his mate.

We passed from the Church, in a procession long,

After we had sung to Dad, a good-by song.

We met at the place where he would rest his head.

A prayer was said and many tears were shed.

But many of us were aware at this occasion,

That Dad would rise for the glorious resurrection.

We also knew----because we had been taught,

We would be together again. --- not just in thought.

So Dad’s life on earth ends and they replace the sod.

At his resting place. But he is with God.

In the Heavens above, in his Kingdom you see.

He is waiting there for you and also for me.

Thoughts

By W.R. Baldwin

At his Dad’s funeral

Cantankerous Carl-Walking Shorts

OK, so they were underwear-- they looked like
walking shorts to me. So whats the big deal anyway??

CANTANKEROUS CARL

   This is a friend of mine named
Cantankerous Carl. One of my
Grandaughters introduced me
to him.
   He will be visiting my page once
in a while.
   IF YOU CLICK ON HIM YOU CAN SEE ALL
OF HIS FEATURES--HA HA

REMEMBER WHEN

Remember When

             
                      Growing up in a small town

If you grew up in a small town as I did, I am sure the majority of these things will bring back memories---some good and some bad?

Discarded railroad ties were taken to the dump or burned—not used for landscaping.

If you got in a fight at school and you ended up with a black-eye your “nickname” immediately became “Joe Polooka.”

You struck out in a ball game and of course your team LOST because of you.

You had to tip a young boy $.50 to come and tell you that you had a call on the town phone. You then had to go up to the telephone office to call the people back.

You went up at night and drove the company trucks around the parking lot.

Gas was $.25 a gallon. The tank held about 18 to 20 gallons. It took 5 or 6 hours to make the LONG trip into Salt Lake City.

Spring clean-up time and at least half of the people in town repainted their house GRAY again.

You got a buck every year at deer season and they were always four or six points???

You got kicked off the school bus for acting up and you were afraid to go home because you knew your parents would hear about it BEFORE you got home. (The gossip line always worked faster than a telephone.)

You “borrowed” the “monkey grease” out of the brake boxes on the railroad cars to build a fire while sleigh riding.

You helped tip over outside “crannies” on Halloween night.

You helped barricade the door to the school bus garage so you would not have to go to school the next day. (It never worked!)

You were ASSIGNED a partner for the annual Gold & Green Ball dance.

You got butterflies in your stomach when you took your first trip up the tram to go underground to work in the mine.

When you dried your boots and gloves on the steam heaters in the school house, it made them so stiff you could not get them on when school was over and it was time to go home.

Gas, tires, sugar and coffee were rationed during WW II and you had to have a ration book or stamps to buy them.

We walked anyplace we wanted to go. It could be school, movie, friends, church, post office, hunting or just hiking.

We saved tin foil and string on a big ball and took it to school to help our class win a prize for the War Effort.

You wore overalls and logger boots to school. There was no such thing as Levi’s or Reebok’s.

You helped set up folding chairs in the Amusement Hall before the movie each week, By doing that you could get in free instead of paying $.25.

We sluffed school and went and visited the girls in other towns instead.

We had a coal stove to heat our house, but it also served many other purposes. You cook on the top of it or in the oven. You could warm your feet in the oven in the winter. You could dry your hair in the oven. A coil in the fire box provided hot water. It was versatile – you could keep biscuits warm in the warming oven above, while you cooked bacon & eggs, made coffee and cooked “spuds” on the top. Of course the down side was clinkers, ashes, kindling and coal buckets to keep full.

We hurried home from school to lay on the floor and “Watch” the radio while the “serials” were on. They kept our attention from one day to the next----the SHADOW, the GREEN HORNET, SUPERMAN, the INVISIBLE MAN, the CLUTCHING HAND, TARZAN AND THE APES and several others.

I don’t know if it was planned that way but our town was divided up into little sections, East Hiawatha, String Town, Jap Town, Tram Town, Greek Town, and Flat Town, Silk Stocking Row and the Flat Tops (or project.)

We were the Carbon County Boys----Our favorite pace to visit seemed to be The Emery County Swamp Angels.

If this stirs up some memories of your HOME TOWN, no matter where it is please feel free to add them as a comment

GOOD READ

KILLING LINCOLN & KILLING KENNEDY

   I have always been a amateur history buff so I was anxious to read both of these books. I like many other people read about the killing of Lincoln while I was in my years of formal schooling, but I do not recall ever sitting down and reading the details about that episode in history after my so called education years.
   I did finally read both books and I did enjoy them both. If you are worried about reading a boring history book you will find that is not the case with these two books. They ARE history books but they also are written to hold your attention more like a novel.
   Of course I actually remember the killing of John F. Kennedy so it was more like a refresher course to read it.
   Although I enjoy reading all kinds of books, history books seem to be more interesting to me. I enjoyed "Killing Lincoln" much more than "Killing Kennedy".
  All said, I enjoyed both books and they are on my good read list.
Wally