See everyone in June.

This was my second A to Z. It was as fun as the first one.

I technically did not finish. I burned out and stopped answering comments. Not that big a job I know. It is that interpersonal thing. That shyness that makes you reluctant to open up to other people compounded by being ready to finish.

I do plan to go back and read a few blogs I enjoy. Some I will never return to in that you have to live in the present. A hallmark of blogs that stalled were few or no comments. That is discouraging and why I try to leave comments. One thing some people don't do is visit other blogs and that does generate visits.

I helped Alex Cavanaugh in looking through the blogs for those not participating or more importantly spammers. I'm still seeing semalt.com constantly showing up in my statistics as various blog tools. Spam is such an annoyance.

I would say, I would never look at statistics again. However, it is a handy way to find your friends in the blogosphere and catch up with them. So I got my list and I do plan to visit more along the way. I have read some great blogs.

But what I do know is that old realization from growing up. When things are too forced, they are just not meant to be. For me both blogs have been good for me. I've learned more about what people read. It explains why all Southern stories have such pathos. People love sad stories. I remember when I walked through the video rental stores when they existed. I headed for the comedies but usually walked out with a drama.

In short, A to Z is more than a challenge, it is a perspective. I plan to take May off. I've got too many irons on the fire. I'll be back posting in June. Cheers.

Thanks Hank

Hank wrote the perfect reflection post.  http://imagery77.blogspot.com/2016/04/thanks-so-much-for-wonderful-company.html  Hank writes poetry which I enjoy. I met him through Pat Hatt's blog Rhymetyme. Pat is the superman of blogging. He is always there with a good comment.

It was a great A to Z. I got some folks I consider friends that I need to catch up with. I do want to hit a few more links. There were some great blogs.

I will be posting about once a week on Tuesday starting next week. I'll try not to contemplate too much about how I like to eat doughnuts but I better not eat doughnuts.

Anyway, Hank was kind enough to say I could post his reflections. Hank is what I enjoy about blogs. You meet such great people.

So here it is.

Z for Zap and Zoom in ABC of Sports

Whew! Finally Hank made it through
An A to Z April Challenge survivor
With a right to the survivor's gear T-shirt
forthwith till the next round next year

This being the last one on the plate
Hank takes the opportunity to reflect
on what it had been for the month

First off, thanks so much for visiting
Aside from the regulars who commented
first or who returned comments on receipt
of Hank's we zapped each other for
the duration most wonderfully

There are also the new friends who are
on Hank's blogroll now to be zoomed in
whenever they make an appearance forthwith

Hank's only regret is not making more visits
to many of the new ones and for being late
or even missing out on returning few comments
Hank will make amends on those missed and
to visit some of those not visited earlier
to add on to the blogroll list

Thanks so much for the wonderful company
It was a hectic month there's no denying it
but worth its weight in gold! Ciao!

ZZZ or Zed

ZZZZ or Zed is the difference between an American and a Canadian.

I know, I know, Brits say it too. It's just more fun to split hairs with the cultural differences between Americans and Canadians. Actually there is quite a difference but it is subtle.

When I had a Canadian student say Zed, I knew that was how he said Z. I said nothing. I shared it with the teacher next door. I taught for year in Canada. This is when I became a big Canadophile. Canadians are wonderful people. They are very polite and thoughtful, sort of like people from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Maine. I would add more states; but, these I am familiar with. Their calmness is what I like.

Anyway, I got that Z letter done folks. I hope you have had as much fun as me during the challenge. I've made a list of folks to go back to and read all their posts. Hopefully this past week I have made a gander at all the blogs I have not made it to. I tried to comment on many. Some of you guys did not have a way to comment or follow. But most did.

Anyway, enjoy the following pictures I took in near my home.  See you next year.  Cheers.

Last year's hay bales overrun with morning glory vines

New Growth on Stone Pines in my front yard

The adorable BoDuke when he was a puppy. The other two are his sisters Daisy and Buttons.

Cactus that grow here with their fruit

Morning Glories blooming

Youth Elixer

It's early, I've set up my wares. Customers start arriving in about an hour. There are a few milling about. Then there she is. This gnomish woman selling make-up and beauty products of all things.

I get aggravated every time I see her. My sister bought her product. Within weeks, she looked horrible. At first she looked real good. But, you know how things go. She's a beautician. Business was slow. She skipped using that woman's elixer. Oh my the lines and spots were a sight. I asked my sister, "Have you been in the sun?"

Something about that elixer must cause a reaction in the sun that you don't notice. Anyway, my poor sister, she doesn't come out much anymore. She stays at home. She used to fix up and be here every Saturday visiting everyone.

I just get so mad when I see that hunched up old hag. She doesn't use her own product. Or she used it and stopped. I don't know. As she walks by, I yell "People look older when your so called 'Youth Elixer' wears off."

She turns and smiles with her shoulders suddenly level for a short moment. "Repeat customers are my bread and butter." Her teeth are all brown and stained and her eyes have a otherworldly shine.

I feel a cold breeze as she walks by.

Xerox that

Xerox that. Copy that. Do you understand?

All the same. Xerox that is of my making. Copy that originated as radio slang for messages between control towers and/or aircraft.

Xerox maintains copyright of the name Xerox and prefers people call their copies, photocopies not xeroxes. When you go to your Hewlett Packard copy machine, you should not say "I'm going to be back soon after I xerox these papers". You should say "I'm going to be back soon after I copy these papers." Trademark hell for sure. Free advertisement but your brand disappears for everyone to use to advertise their brand.

The real topic of this post is when brand names become terms for a product is usually when there is a verb using the word.

Like, google "your question".

Or,

Velcro

Taser - that smarts

Cellophane - Brits say clingfilm

Rollerblade

Mace

Hulahoop

Band Aid

Chlorox


Then there is using the brand name as the noun of the object

Kleenex

Scotch tape

Crockpot

Tampon

Dumpster

Jacuzzi


All of the brands above have their brand name or trademark copyright protected. So don't invent a product and plan to call it any of those things.


In my home, we call a popular object buttons. We lose our buttons. We ask each other if they know where the buttons are.

Some brands that have long become generic are

zip code

aspirin

kerosene

mimeograph

dry ice

escalator

heroin

lanolin

thermos

trampoline

videotape - soon to be obsolete


Anyway, buttons is what we call our remote control. Now what do you call the small cardboard tube at the center of a toilet paper roll or the ends of a loaf of bread?

The Walrus and The Carpenter by C. S.Lewis

HE sun was shining on the sea,

Shining with all his might;

He did his very best to make

The billows smooth and bright--

And this was odd, because it was

The middle of the night.

 

The moon was shining sulkily,

Because she thought the sun

Had got no business to be there

After the day was done--

"It's very rude of him," she said,

"To come and spoil the fun!"

 

The sea was wet as wet could be,

The sands were dry as dry.

You could not see a cloud, because

No cloud was in the sky;

No birds were flying overhead--

There were no birds to fly.

 

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Were walking close at hand;

They wept like anything to see

Such quantities of sand--

"If this were only cleared away,"

They said, "it would be grand!"

 

"If seven maids with seven mops

Swept it for half a year,

Do you suppose," the Walrus said,

"That they could get it clear?"

"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,

And shed a bitter tear.

 

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"

The Walrus did beseech.

"A Pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,

Along the briny beach;

We cannot do with more than four,

To give a hand to each."

 

The eldest Oyster looked at him,

But never a word he said;

The eldest Oyster winked his eye,

And shook his heavy head--

Meaning to say he did not choose

To leave the oyster-bed.

 

But four young Oysters hurried up,

All eager for the treat;

Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,

Their shoes were clean and neat--

And this was odd, because, you know,

They hadn't any feet.

 

Four other Oysters followed them,

And yet another four;

And thick and fast they came at last,

And more, and more, and more--

All hopping through the frothy waves,

And scrambling to the shore.

 

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Walked on a mile or so,

And then they rested on a rock

Conveniently low--

And all the little Oysters stood

And waited in a row.

 

"The time has come," the Walrus said,

"To talk of many things:

Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing-wax --

Of cabbages -- and kings --

And why the sea is boiling hot--

And whether pigs have wings."

 

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,

"Before we have our chat;

For some of us are out of breath,

And all of us are fat!"

"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.

They thanked him much for that.

 

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,

"Is what we chiefly need;

Pepper and vinegar besides

Are very good indeed--

Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear,

We can begin to feed."

 

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,

Turning a little blue.

"After such kindness, that would be

A dismal thing to do!"

"The night is fine," the Walrus said.

"Do you admire the view?"

 

"It was so kind of you to come!

And you are very nice!"

The Carpenter said nothing but,

"Cut us another slice.

I wish you were not quite so deaf--

I've had to ask you twice!"

 

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,

"To play them such a trick.

After we've brought them out so far,

And made them trot so quick!"

The Carpenter said nothing but,

"The butter's spread too thick!"

 

"I weep for you," the Walrus said;

"I deeply sympathize."

With sobs and tears he sorted out

Those of the largest size,

Holding his pocket-handkerchief

Before his streaming eyes.

 

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,

"You've had a pleasant run!

Shall we be trotting home again?"

But answer came there none--

And this was scarcely odd, because

They'd eaten every one.

Value

I got this story through email. It is easily googled. I've never found the author. I've found the story pretty much verbatim on several internet sites. So in the spirit of a borrowed story, I've paraphrased it and God Bless the person who originally told this story.

A pastor held a $20 dollar bill up to his congregation. He said, "Who wants this bill?"

Members of the congregation laughed and raised their hands. The pastor said, "I'm glad so many want it. I'm going to give it to one of you."

He proceeded to crumble the bill and said "Who wants it now?"

People raised their hand one more time.

Dropping the note to the floor, he ground the bill into the floor with his shoe.

"Who wants it now?" he shouted.

Most of the congregation was puzzled, but they raised their hands one more time.

Bad choices, hard luck and mistakes never take away your value. Life may crumble you, step on you, grind you down. But like this $20 dollar bill, you still have your value.