Join Me For A Cocktail?

In a Florida elementary school yesterday a seven year old boy robbed a six year old boy at knife point. In another case on CNN, a mother caught her pre-teenage son smoking and later learned that he had also robbed a relative. In yet still another city, a young boy shot his father and another person to death.

It is news like this that makes me wonder why little Johnnie or Jill never got their asses whipped by their parents. I am tired of hearing young children screaming and yelling at their parents in public places. I constantly hear phrases such as "Johnnie, let's talk with our inside voices" or "Johnnie, If you do that one more time, you're getting a time out."

Time out? My dad didn't have that particular phrase in his vocabulary but he did have one called "I'm going to knock you out."

When I was a small boy my mother would take my brother Kirt, my sister Jeanne and myself to the department store. When we entered the store, I had to hold on to my mother's skirt with my left hand and my sister Jeanne's hand with the right hand. Sister Jeanne would then hold brother Kirt's hand with her other hand. It was quite the tandem and woe be unto the child who broke the chain. We knew not to ask for anything or make a scene.

We learned at an early age that the secret to good health were the words, "Yes sir, no sir, please and thank you." In school, when we misbehaved, we got a spanking. If you were lucky, they didn't give you a letter to take home to your parents which read that you had received a spanking and the reason for same. If you did get that dreaded letter (which had to be signed by both parents and returned to the teacher), that meant another spanking from your parents.

At parent-teachers meetings of today, there's always the parent who when told of little Johnnie's misbehavior in class, remarks, "I just don't know what to make of little Johnnie." Hey lady, how about an end table?!

The old adage of "spare the rod and spoil the child" has always rung true and until parents begin raising their children properly, there will continue to be stories like these in the headlines.

It's Hump Day and I'll be heading to AREA 51 for some rest and recreation with my pals. There's a chance I might go to a party tonight in southwest Miami, but I'm not really sure what time it starts. Either way, I'm heading somewhere. My pal Tania's in town so I might meet her later for cocktails. We'll see.

My cat, Shithead (Possum S. Hemmingway) has posted a rant on the dangerous drug, catnip entitled "Just Say No", so if you find the time, stop by his journal and check it out by clicking the link on my sidebar. http://pshemmingway.blogspot.com/

This Date In History: 1800; At the decisive Battle of Hohenlinden, during the French Revolutionary Wars, France defeats Austria. 1917; The Quebec Bridge, which spans the St Lawrence River, in Canada, and is the world's longest cantilever bridge, is officially opened. 1926; Mystery writer Agatha Christie disappears from her Surrey home and is missing for 11 days until discovered at a hotel in Harrogate under an assumed name and claiming no knowledge of her circumstances.

1967; South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard performs the first human heart transplant operation, although the patient, Louis Washkansky, will only survive for 18 days. 1984; In the worst industrial accident in history, a leak of deadly gasses from a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide Corporation in Bhopal, India, kills thousands.

Picture Of The Day: You may have seen some of my posts withe the phrase or tag, "My Favorite Martini". It's is a term I use to say hello to one of my female friends whose name shall remain anonymous. The hot martini pictured is a cryptic hello to her and it definitely fits her well. Actually, mosts of my posts have blatant and cryptic hellos if you just read beteen the lines.

The blue martini at the top of the page was sent to me by my special pal, Anne and she's a sweetie-pie as well. I always like to post pictures of all of my special ladies' drinks. In the old AOL format, I usually did, but Blogspot's photo options are limited so I have to improvise.

Nevertheless, the drinks are on me ladies and without mentioning names, I'm pouring Johnnie Walker Red, Bloody Marys, Cosmopolitans, White Wine and a Dr. Pepper for each of you. You know who you are.

I'll also be serving a few more beverages which will remain nameless to protect the innocent. Guys, I didn't forget about you but it's an open bar and the beer's in the fridge. You know the routine.

Birthdays: Nicolò Amati, Italian violin maker 1596, Samuel Crompton, inventor of the spinning mule 1753, Gilbert Stuart, American portrait painter 1755, Sir Rowland Hill, originator of the penny postage system 1795, John von Neumann, Hungarian-born American mathematician 1903.

The Hits Just Keep On Coming: Christmas Carols For The Disturbed

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are.

3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas.

4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me.

5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....

6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me.

7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire.

8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why.

9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy... oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?

10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells........

That's it for today my little missile toes. It's late and I'm on my way to AREA 51. More on Friday.

Stay Tuned !