#5 of oddities, observations, & ?'s...

 #5 of oddities, observations, & ?'s...

                                                           

  I noticed former Vice-President Mike Pence was booed as he took the stage at the NRA Convention in Indianapolis last April.  Simultaneously, as boos were echoing around the Indiana Convention Center, another section of the crowd cheered the former Hoosier governor.  

  I presume the negative reaction Mr. Pence received was prompted by his role in support of the constitution of the United States while serving as Speaker of the House on January 6, 2020.  

  It is unknown if the press asked those who applauded why they were showing a positive reaction, but, the cheers could have been for the same reason as those who booed.

  How ironic.  Some of the very same people (the boo birds) who rely on the constitution for their right to own an AR-15, blamed Mr. Pence for upholding the same document.

  HUH?  What's up with that?

  This is the fifth in a series of oddities, observations, & ?'s. 

  Regina and I saw the Broadway Series presentation of Ain’t too Proud to Beg at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.  The musical told the story of the Temptations in song and dance.

  How fast the calendar has moved on in my lifetime.  

  My first radio station was known as an MOR (middle of the road) station.  We played country, rock, and what was then labeled, adult contemporary.   

  The Billboard Top 10, 45 singles (vinyl records), were kept in a shoebox in the main studio.   Among those gems was a Motown song called My Girl.  It was written by Smokey Robinson for his wife Claudette (a member of the Miracles) and performed by the Temptations.  It was among the first songs I ever played on radio.  

  The calendar said it was January, 1965.

  I tip my Stetson to Michael Schlemmer of Corbin, Kentucky.  

  We had our first sample of Hershey's Ice Cream in Newberry, South Carolina on the way to Charleston last April.

  The Hershey Creamery Company and Hershey Chocolate Company started in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the same year (1894).  But, how is it possible Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey Chocolates, was not related to the four Hershey Brothers who started the Creamery?  Same town. Same year.  Same last names.  Not related.  What are the odds?

  Signs of the times.

  While traveling through parts of  Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina, Regina and I stopped in several small towns.  We parked on the main drag of each community and walked the length of several downtown streets.  

  These are some of the signs, posters or quotes in store windows we came across on those meanderings.

  Sorry for the inconvenience.  I will not be in the store.  So if you want to get anything please call me at 803-319-1903.  Have a blessed day. (I called the number and drew a blank)

  D & B Variety Shop.  Where it's our service to meet your household needs.  (Huh?)

  Half Full Coffee and Wine Bar.  Store Hours:  Monday-Closed, Friday-Closed, Saturday-Closed, Sunday-Closed, Tuesday thru Thursday-Open 4pm-8pm.  

  COFFEE because murder is wrong.

  Remember, if we get caught, you're deaf and I don't speak English. 

  We're not open today.  In fact, we'll be closed all this week.  We're celebrating the birth of our first grandchild. 

  (An old poster on a wall in a steakhouse men's room must catch the attention of anyone who enters the space.  Large, red-letter print was superimposed over a 1940's style dressed man with an angry look on his face as he was drying his hands with a paper towel.)

  Is your washroom breeding Bolsheviks?  Employees lose respect for a company that fails to provide decent facilities for their comfort.  Scott Towel Company

  After several trips over the years to low country and taking different walking tours each visit, the narrative about Charleston's history is changing.  Our most recent guide, Dave with Bull Dog Tours said,...cultural changes around the country have probably influenced a more honest background story of the role Charleston played in the slave market all throughout the south.

  Why would a presidential candidate want to draw a line in the sand and be on the opposite side of Mickey and Minnie?  I don't get it.

  We were watching one round of the multi layers of Jeopardy's Tournament of Champions.  The three  contestants: a woman in her late 20s; a man with a full head of white hair who appeared to be in his 60s, and; a well publicized transgender person who looked to be around 30-35.  

  Ken Jennings, the host, did not joke about the transgender participant or the younger woman.  

  As the Double Jeopardy round of categories was introduced, Jennings read them off out loud.  One of the titles was, Middle Ages.  Jennings turned to the white-haired contestant and said, That's even older than you.  

  Sadly, everyone laughed. 

  If either of the other two challengers had been the subject of a joke, Mr. Jennings would be retired and the one-liner would never have made prime time or any other time. . 

  I was glad to see Ford Motor Company rescind their decision to cut AM radios from its 2024 product line.  An example of consumer reaction causing a company to reverse a major decision.

  Coming up:  another favorite memories; more POS; a job$ somebody's gotta do, and; another oddities, observations & ?'s.

  And, finally.  I salute Michael Schlemmer.  He was driving down the road minding his own business when he noticed he was low on fuel.  In his words, I coasted into the gas station. 

  Mr. Schlemmer walked up to the cashier to pay for his gas with $40 in his pocket. 

  The unsuspecting soon-to-be millionaire (assuming he wasn't already loaded) was moments away from seeing something, but, not quite believing it.  

  He purchased $20 in fuel and a $20 scratch-off ticket. 

   Huh?  What's up with that?