A Selfie Was Out Of The Question Back In The Day

I got my first camera somewhere between age 10 and 11. It used black and white film, and flashbulbs, which, for some reason, you had to lick the end before putting it in the camera. I got it by selling 8X10 cards door-to-door that had old adages and religious quotes on them and they sold for 10 cents each.

The cards were no more than blue paste board with glitter writing, and quite frankly, I think a good portion of my sales were because the customers felt sorry for me. Nevertheless, I persisted and sold all of my cards.

I got the idea from a comic book ad and I filled out the application and mailed it. They sent me the product and once I returned the monies earned, they sent me the camera.

Our family did not own a camera. Mom and Dad were too busy figuring out how to pay for silly things light rent, groceries, electricity, school clothes and the like. The funny thing was after I got the camera, the whole family was always willing to strike a pose.

I began to seriously get involved in and follow auto racing and my camera captured many a treasured moment. It was also useful in documenting my fishing trips as it backed up my stories of the fish I caught. But as I began the transition from boy to man, I found my camera was useful as an icebreaker with the girls.

I find it a bit sad that many of today's youth seem to expect a cell phone from their parents. Ostensibly, it's for their safety, but many bad things happen back in the day, as well. The difference is that today's news is instant news and spreads quickly since the advent of cell phones, tablets and the like.

There is no better feeling than working for something and getting it by yourself, especially when you're young. It is a good life lesson.....

My long time friend Pete was always a willing subject in my photography days

The News As I See It: The Northeast was hit hard with a major snowstorm. Forecasters said they've haven't seen a whiteout like this since last week's Oscar nominations. Weathermen were talking' about the blizzard-like conditions. I'm no expert, but If you have blizzard-like conditions, isn't that a blizzard?

Obama is in the Middle East. He met the new king of Saudi Arabia. Obama also met Saudi Arabia's first lady, the second lady, third lady, and fourth lady.

Obama said In a speech that Michelle Obama is very strong and talented and she frequently tells him that he is wrong. As a result, Michelle Obama is now the Republican front-runner for 2016.

It's been a few days since King Abdullah from Saudi Arabia passed away. I winder if it's too soon to hit on Queen Latifah?

This Date In History: 1547; King Henry VIII of England died and his nine-year-old son, Edward VI, assumed the throne. 1915; Congress passed legislation creating the U.S. Coast Guard.

1916; The first Jewish Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis, was appointed. 1986; U.S. shuttle Challenger exploded 72 seconds after lift off, killing all seven crew members aboard, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe.

1999; The creation of Element 114 is announced by scientists. 2003; In his second State of the Union Address, President Bush presents case for war with Iraq.

Picture Of The Day: My friend and national race car champion Charles "Red" Farmer was one of my first pictures with my new camera. Red, now in his eighties, continues to race dirt track modified cars in Alabama. 

Printable Things I Never Told You: 1) Are you unsure about birth control? Watch my kids for 10 minutes. 2) According to this bathroom stall, my ex changed her number again. 3) Apparently sitting here on my new lawn furniture, drinking my vodka and minding my business is disturbing to other Target guests. 4) Curiously, it's always a female computer voice that calmly announces self-destruct sequences. 5) Facebook should have a limit on times you can change your relationship status. After the third time, it should default to "Unstable".....and that's five !

Today's Horoscope: Aquarius - January 28th: Life can be as romantic as you wish to make it. Like the old saying goes, a man with three fish has enough in his heart to help him build a picnic chair.

Testing times lay ahead for you if you expect your love life to be without its ups and downs. Your body is a temple. Congratulations on the expanding congregation!

Birthdays: Sir Henry Morton Stanley, explorer 1841, William Seward Burroughs, inventor 1857, Colette, novelist 1873, Arthur Rubinstein, concert pianist 1887, John Banner, actor 1910, Roger Vadim, filmmaker 1928, Alan Alda, actor 1936, Sarah McLachlan, singer, songwriter 1968, Elijah Wood, actor 1981.

Does anyone know what this is?

The AREA 51 Retirement Home Bar And Grill: She married and had 13 children. Her husband died. She married again and had 7 more children. Again, her husband died. Once more, she remarried and this time had 5 more children. Alas, she finally died.

Standing before her coffin, the preacher prayed for her. He thanked the Lord for this very loving woman and said, "Lord, they're finally together."

One mourner leaned over and quietly asked her friend, "Do you think he means her first, second or third husband?" The friend replied, "I think he means her legs."

A hunter was rushed into the emergency room with a bear trap clamped onto his testicles. As the horrified doctor was examining him, he said "Man, how did this happen?"

The hunter explains that he was out in the woods and felt the call of nature. Bending down by a tree, the bear trap was triggered and snapped shut on his testicles. The doctor says, "The pain must have been excruciating!"

The hunter said, "It was, the second worst pain in my life." The doctor asked,  "Second worst? What could have been worse than that?" The hunter replied, "Coming to the end of the chain."
 

The Hits Just Keep On Coming: A man was walking down a street when he heard a voice from behind, "If you take one more step, a brick will fall down on your head and kill you." The man stopped and a big brick fell right in front of him. The man was astonished.

He went on, and after a while he was going to cross the road. Once again the voice shouted, "Stop! Stand still! If you take one more step a car will run over you and you will die." The man did as he was instructed, just as a car came careening around the corner, barely missing him.

The man asked, "Who are you?" The voice answered, "I am your guardian angel." The man said, "Yeah? And where the hell were you when I got married?"

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. As he sits, the waitress comes over and asks for their orders. The man says, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and turns to the ostrich, "What's yours?" The ostrich says, "I'll have the same."

A short time later the waitress returns with the order. "That will be $6.40 please," and the man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment. The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and the ostrich says, "I'll have the same."

Once again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change. This becomes a routine until late one evening, the two enter again. "The usual?" asks the waitress. "No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and salad," says the man, "same for me," says the ostrich. A short time later the waitress comes with the order and says, "That will be $12.62."Once again the man pulls exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.

The waitress can't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Excuse me, sir.How do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket every time?"

The man, "Well, several years ago I was cleaning the attic and I found an old lamp. When I rubbed it a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there."

The waitress says, "That's brilliant! Most people would wish for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!" The man says, "That's right. Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there."

The waitress asks, "One other thing, sir, what's with the ostrich?" The man sighs, pauses, and answers, "My second wish was for a tall chick with long legs who agrees with everything I say."

That's it for today, my little turtle doves. Remember, the path less traveled by is usually taken only because one is lost. Tonight's destination is AREA 51 for happy hour.

More on Friday.

Stay Tuned !