Author: Elaine

Dalmatian Humor

I found this at Ugly Mailbox.com

A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire engine with lights flashing and a wailing siren at full blast zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat next to the driver of the fire engine was a Dalmatian. The children, never having seen a dog in a fire engine before, started to discuss what the dog might be for.

“They use him to keep crowds back,” said one youngster.

“No,” said another, “he’s just for good luck.”

Several more ideas were put forward and an animated discussion soon ensued when a little girl who had sat quietly throughout the discussion and deep in thought finally brought the argument to a close…

“They use the dog,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrant.”

Five and Dime

July 13, 2007 – Click on image for higher resolution version.

Over three decades ago, I worked my first job in this Rehobeth Beach Five and Dime store. Oddly enough, it doesn’t look any seedier now than it did then. The merchandise is the same: just the prices have changed. And the flooring looks identical to that I remember sweeping when I was seventeen. Time stands still?

Wild Horses

Today I went to Assateague Island with one of my nieces and one of my sisters-in-law to Assateague Island. Like many horse-loving American children, the Misty of Chincoteague books by Margaret Henry left a lasting impression. I can remember desperately wanting a Chincoteague pony.

We saw several small bands of horses on the Maryland side at the National Seashore. I though the horses looked quite fat, but according to this article about pony management, the horses look fat because they eat a salty diet, and are bloated from the amount of water they must drink. I also noticed the lack of foals and yearlings, which is evidently due to dart gun delivered contraceptives.

Signs against approaching the wild horses were all over the park. Having seen what “tame” horses can do, I had no desire to approach the “feral” variety, unlike some parents who seemed to feel no concern about their children being less than fifty feet from the horses.

The Daily Routine

It has been quite hot since before we arrived in Bethany Beach. The local news is full of discussions of the heat. We are giving the air conditioning plant of this new house quite a workout, but it doesn’t seem to be having any difficulties.

One of Jack’s brothers, who works as a professional cook, has been organizing the evening meal. The first night we had hamburgers and hot dogs; Sunday night was lasagna, and tonight was pulled pork and grilled chicken. We have sign up sheets for assisting food preparation, dinner setup and cleanup. I volunteered to sweep and pick up in the morning, so I wouldn’t have to do kitchen clean up. I would do this anyway, since clutter makes me crazy, so this way I get credit.

Another of Jack’s brothers has a house here in Bethany Beach. He collects yard sale bikes so his family and guests have transportation around town. Today I became the proud borrower of a white bike with rusty frame. I went out and bought a bicycle lock for it, and I am sure it is worth more than the bike, though maybe not the tires on the bike. It will go back with the bike when I leave at the end of the week. This is such a nice bike: solid and possessing a coaster brake just like the ones I grew up with. There are lots of bike racks in town and it is so much more convenient to bike in and lock up the bike then to try to find and pay for a parking space. I rode “my” bike into town this afternoon, and was so pleased with myself. For my birthday, my sister gave me a small daypack, and it works quite well when I bicycle.

Jack and assorted nephews went to play golf today, but decided to refrain from further games this trip unless the temperatures drop quite a bit.

Tomorrow I hope to get to the beach early, so I can watch the sun come up.