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[obsver446]

Yeah, cal, it's cold! Starting to snow, too. I'm so happy that Polly has a car again!!!!!!  Bud looks like he is such a sweet boy. Bischue, I can certainly see why you wouldn't want to go outside! brrrrrrr  Rues, not only have we all had cat hair on the carpet, but on occasion, cat throw-up!  Gretta is such a beauty. Many years ago, a 2nd grader of mine had two of these beauties. They would come with her mom to pick her up after school. Jp, I know very well who he is! I have lots of movie trivia in my head, because I saw tons of movies. Instead of reading me the usual kid books, she read me Photoplay, Silver Screen, etc. (she made me recite nursery rhymes for company. Oh, barf!)  Learning rhymes helps with kids' reading--the brain likes patterns. For example in body movements, snap, snap clap, snap snap clap (and continue on, repeating the pattern.) Jumping rope is good, too. Don't know if kids still do any of that stuff anymore--maybe just play lots of video games & text.  Well, I didn't mean to get off on all THAT!  Ra, were the grands glad to be back at school? Hey, Dlong! Do you feel good enough to check in to let us know how you are feeling? You, too, Pat!  Hi, Willi, neva, nora !

[ra]

Hi Jewelies!  Cold here, too... wind chill advisory today!  brrr... that wind is cold!!  Tomorrow morning is supposed to be in the single digits now!!  Some of the schools are on a 2 hour delay tomorrow.   I think Mother Nature forgot that we're down South!  Going to Mexican tonight, I'm starving and it sounds so good!  I'm going to have to find one of my warm sweaters, so I can dress like I'm on recess duty.  lol

cal... Yes, that's what "Moose" looked like, only he was snow white!  Babe is so pretty!  Great white Pyrenes... I'll try to remember that.  glad you got Polly's car.

JP... I filled up my gas tank today for LESS THAN $20!!  I only had about 1/4 of a tank, so I thought it was pretty good to spend less than $20.  Your gas prices are really, really good for down there!  Hope it stays down for your next trip to Miami!  I know who W.C. Fields was, too.  I always thought he reminded me of a dirty old man!  lol

blschue... I've been seeing how cold it is up in your neck of the woods!  I sure don't miss that!

obsver... Yes, the grands were glad to be back at school with their friends.  They live so far from all of them, that they don't get to see friends very often, except at school.  We have a basketball game tomorrow night, first one since before their Christmas vacation.

rues... Did you have fun with Wilson last week?  Is he behaving any better now?  Handsome is starting to settle down some... I let him sleep with me last night and he only woke me up twice!  I thought that was pretty good!   

dlong... On the news last night, I saw Bao Bao playing in the snow with her mama.  She'sI  so cute!

I have new health insurance this year... really cheap... only $54 a month, really a good deal, low deductible and out of pocket amount... BUT... they are making me find a doctor, make an appointment, and get a checkup!!  YIKES!!  I asked my daughter to ask all her friends who they recommend...    I don't know any of them, so had to get some help!     I have 3 months...   

[jpalmken]

When the movie "My Little Chickadee" was released it was 1940 and I was a senior in high school.  Yes, I saw it when it was released. My father did the bookeeping for the local Fox theaters (2) so we had a pass to go to any movie free.  They even let me in if I had a date for no charge.  Movies were 35 cents, except matinees were 10 cents.  5 cents got a good sized bag of popcorn.  Hamburgers were 5 or 10 cents, Malts 10 cents.  Things were cheap but incomes were quite small at that time, too.

[williwaw]

I remember when gas was 25 cents a gallon.

[obsver446]

Jp, I was a year old when that movie came out. When I started going to the movies, about 4 years later, admission was 50 cents for adults, 25 for kids.  That seems really cheap, but you are right--salaries were much less. Ra, I'm astonished that your temps. are so low. Guess I don't know all that much about your state. Mexican sounds so good. I had baked chicken, brussel sprouts and cooked carrots. Dessert was pineapple chunks in it's own juice. I hate that syrup stuff. My grand is always glad to get back to school, too.

[obsver446]

Willi, I've slept too many nights to remember that!

[calhound]

3:44 on my little chick a dee!!

[obsver446]

Cal, you are a shining example of being brave and going to the doc. Just think--a flu shot 2 years in a row!!!  You've come a long way!!  See, ra, if cal can do it, you can!!!!   (I know, I don't like going to the doc., either, but you do need the ins.)

[ruesgram]

The sun was out all day and it made the snow sparkle. But very deceiving because it's bitter cold. Tonight 25mph winds are expected with wind chill -31!   Ok, I've had enough winter!
Cal, Babe is a beauty and big! So happy Polly got her new car (again)! Is it exactly like her other new car?  Cute pics of baby Lily and Holly!
Jp, Gretta's toy is a very long caterpillar with a squeaker in each section! Did you do that kissy face thing at the movies?
Ra, oh my gosh...I always thought the same thing about WC Fields...a dirty old man!!!! Crow wanted to eat Mexican  this evening but I made chili instead. Too cold to go out and eat! Wilson was a sweetie here last week. I'm sure Stella would disagree! You got a great deal on your health ins! Now get yourself to a doctor!
Obsver, cat throw up and hairballs are a part of everyday life here! 
Willi, I don't remember how much gas was in 1971 but I know it only cost $3.00 to fill up my 1969 VW Bug!
Hi Blshue, Neva, Dlong, and Deb!

[ra]

I remember gas wars in MI... the lowest I remember is 19 cents.  We used to ride around all night and get 50 cents worth of gas, so we could make it home!  lol  cal... I noticed that you asked about hamburgers at the "show".  I've always called it that and my daughter laughs at me.  Down here it's called the "movies".  lol

cal... I don't know if Missy can get the same insurance there or not... maybe.  It's call Consumers Choice Health Plan and it's fairly new, but my insurance guy said they haven't had any complaints about their customer service.  That was one of the major things that made me wonder if I should change from Blue Cross.  I had been with them for years, but the guy said rates were better and I now have $200 deductible and only $1000 out of pocket per year.  I thought it was worth a try.  The main thing is to make sure you stay in their network of doctors and hospitals.  Since I don't have a doctor already, that wasn't a problem for me.  Your house must be a zoo all the time!!  lol  Don't you know Calihoula is so glad you got Drama for her to play with!!  lol

rues... I couldn't decide what to get at the Mexican restaurant, so I got two things!!  Supper for tomorrow!  lol

obsver... You will be glad to know that I haven't had a Cheeto in over TWO weeks!!  I'm dieting!  lol  Shhh... don't tell the fudge and cookies!      I got a tetanus shot last year...   

willi... Have you always lived in the Northwest part of the country?

JP... Hamburgers and malts at the movies!  Never heard of that before!    Do people still get malts?  It's been years for me... I always get shakes now.

American Idol is on again now... tonight is the first show of this season.  Time for me to go listen to all the good singers!

[obsver446]

Ra, we always called it going to the show--not the movies. Everybody in my state called it the show! Cal, oh yes, living with pets is interesting on so many levels!!  Time to turn on the mattress pad. Breakfast in the morning, leaving the house at 6:40. Goodnight, all!

[neva]

I remember when gas was 25 cents a gallon.

Me too, Willie.  The weekend that Larry and I eloped, (I was 19) we drove to Lordsburg, New Mexico and got married in a Judge's home.  I paid attention to the price of gas that weekend, and they were having a minor price war ...  26 cents a gallon.  My dad, who was born in 1918 told me about seeing movies for 5 cents.  It is all relative ... as JP said, pay wasn't much either then.  When I was in high school, (graduated 1960) my friends and I knew a young man that had a "real job", full time, and he was making $100 per week.  "$400 hundred dollars a month!! " ... wow!  We were all very impressed.  He was doing great.  I suppose we were trying to gauge as to whether he was a catch ...  lol!

Cal ~  I was wondering if Polly were to put a steering wheel lock on her steering wheel when it's parked there at night, where she lives, might help.  The wheel is turned off to the side a bit, and the bar locked in place, and then if someone tries to drive off with the car, they can only drive in circles.  We use one on our Camry.  Just a thought ...

[jpalmken]

Ursula is featured this morning.


 
According to the Weather Channel 183 million people in this country are under wind chill warnings.  Some are expected to be in the 20 to 30 degrees below zero.  I know many of you are in that situation.  Even the "Good Morning" bear is feeling it.  Also Honolulu set a record yesterday at 57^o.  We are a little cool this morning at 61^o.  I am not complaining.

cal, Babe is pretty.  It looks as if she has a good thick coat for the cold weather.  So happy for Polly to have her car replaced.

ra, your new health insurance sounds great.  Seeing a doctor for a checkup and when anything is out of whack is the only way to go.  Annual checkups in the Navy were required.  I carried that into my civilian life and it seems to have worked for me as I am really in good physical condition, except for my structure.  I don't see malts listed on menus much anymore, just milkshakes.  We used to call milkshakes "Shorts" and they were 10 cents.  You'd say "I'll have a chocolate short".

There was some chatter in the posts about low prices in the old days and movie prices.  I remember gas at 7 gallons for a dollar.  The main Fox theater in my home town had a separate store in its building where you could buy all the goodies and then take them into the theater when you bought your ticket and entered.  We had ushers with flashlights who maintained quiet and good behavior and could lead you out if you did not behave.  People did not talk in the theater, just laugh or groan as appropriate with the film.  Mostly, on a date, you just held hands.  I remember going with my Dad when I was 7 (1930) as he bought a new car, a Chevrolet.  I remember the price was $650.  He had a good job as the Storekeeper for the sugar factory making $600 a month.

Some back creaking this morning so I will relieve it bu lying down.  I wish you all as much warmth as you can find and send happy thoughts your way.

[calhound]

Progress - UPDATE January 7, 2015

Ecology Hall at the NABC
Ecology Hall at the NABC 
This was a day of meetings about the Northwoods Ecology Hall and seeing the beginning of habitat construction there. The habitat is designed to accommodate dozens of the taxidermy animals Lily Fans donated. Today, the habitat creators made the beginnings of a rock outcrop.

In this 100-second flashback to April 15, 2007, June has led Lily, Cal, and Bud on their first walk away from the den where they were born some 3 months earlier. June took them 50 yards to a patch of willow bushes where the cubs climbed high in a spruce tree to rest and play while June demonstrated to Sue how bears gather willow catkins http://youtu.be/cyGWYTlPfso.

Holly in her den - Jan. 6, 2015
Holly in her den - Jan. 6, 2015 
Ingesting willow catkins is not like picking berries with sensitive, dextrous lips. It is not like stripping leaves by pulling a branch sideways through the mouth. The catkins are harder to pull off a branch than berries would be, and they wouldn?t strip sideways through the diastema as easily as leaves do. To remove willow catlins (pussy willows) from a branch, bears strip them through their incisors. The right tool for the right job.

Willow catkins are one of the earliest bear foods along with snow fleas. Often there is snow on the ground when they eat either of these foods.

Thank you for all you do.

Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center

All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.

[jpalmken]

I spent many hours in my youth behind a soda fountain and must have prepared thousands of Malts.  I never saw one in a stemmed glass or with streaks of chocolate syrup or whipped cream.  A chocolate malt is made with chocolate ice cream and milk and nothing is added except the malt powder to flavor that part of it.  I was so busy gawking at what I was creating that it slowed me down and my time was 4:57

In my days malts came in flavors chocolate, strawberry or vanilla, depending on the ice cream you used.  Now, with more flavors of ice cream I guess you could have more malt flavors.