Monday, January 07, 2019

Her Truck



20 comments:

  1. Whose truck? And on another note:

    Gallup: “Significantly more U.S. adults continued to identify as political independents (42%) in 2018 than as either Democrats (30%) or Republicans (26%). At least four in 10 Americans have been political independents in seven of the past eight years, including a record-high 43% in 2014.”

    Hmmmm….I wonder how that compares to California….looking….looking…looking…found it: Democratic 43.5%, GOP 24%, Other 5%, No Party Preference 27.5% as of Oct. 22nd, 2018.

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    1. VERMONT: As of May 2018, Vermont officially recognized six political parties: the Democratic, Green Mountain, Liberty Union, Libertarian, Progressive, and Republican parties.

      Vermont Dem 52% Rep 30% Other 18%

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    2. But note that Gallup is talking about how people self-identify, not how they may be registered (in states that require party registration). I can easily imagine people who self-identify as independents registering with a party, just as there are parts of Illinois where people who self-identify as Democrats vote in the Republican primary and vice versa.

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  2. Last night we told Grandson (5) and Granddaughter (3) that Gramie (that's me) will be getting a different car next month. Granddaughter said "Awwwww!" Yeah. Everybody loves my Mini Cooper, but we are going to switch to a slightly larger car (probably a Honda Fit) as a step toward sharing one vehicle after Wil retires. So to ease the transition, Grandad (Wil) suggested maybe Gramie should drive a dump truck next time. (Laughter!) Grandson thinks it would be cool if Gramie got a helicopter and he could be my assistant. Anyway, on the way home we spotted the lighted cement mixer. It's one of many cement mixers owned by the local S. D. Ireland concrete company. Their symbol is a shamrock and most of their trucks are white and green. However, some of their trucks are white and pink in support of breast cancer research. They also have one or two which are lighted, and which participate in parades and such. Between parades, this one marks the locale of the their main office. Excellent advertising.

    So, what do you think? Should Gramie get a big truck?

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    1. Not a cement mixer, I think. A semi would be too hard to park. A pickup? Just too utterly uncool. Hey! What about an ice cream truck?

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    2. Or a taco truck

      *duck and run...very fast!*

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    3. That's it, Bill! Perfect! An ice cream truck!!!

      I'd be the most popular Gramie ever! :-D

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    4. But only if it doesn't play "It's a Small World After All" over and over and over...

      A friend tells me her Dad used to tell the kids they play the song when they're out of ice cream. ;-D

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    5. Maybe something like this? Keep the little urchins busy shoveling coal! Or better charcoal, so it will be carbon neutral.

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    6. When I drove an ice cream truck (Summer of 1968) we had amplified music boxes, and I am sure none of them played "It's a Small World After All." I can't recall what mine played; I recognized it, but didn't know the name of the song. Some played "The Teddy Bears' Picnic." One driver's rout included a snooty neighborhood where they passed an ordinance outlawing the amplified music boxes and similar things, so he rigged up some small bells on a rocking bar which he rang by pulling on a cord.

      BTW--I recall reading that "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" (which I remember hearing often on the radio when I was young) was one of the pieces in the repertoire of the band on the Titanic. The song was published in 1907, but words were only set to it in 1932.

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    7. How cool that you drove an ice cream truck! My Dad did, too, one Summer.

      Here, the local truck plays It’s a Small World, and it sticks in my head for HOURS afterward!

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  3. Too many links; the headlines give the basic idea. From politicalwire.com:

    Democrats Pledge to Paralyze Senate [until bills to end shutdown pass]

    Carter Also Denies Discussing Border Wall with Trump

    IRS Will Pay Tax Refunds During Shutdown

    Mulvaney Discussed Leaving Trump Administration

    Trump Approval Underwater In Key States

    Networks Haven’t Committed to Airing Trump Address

    Only 6 In Terrorism Database Stopped At [southern] Border (not 4,000)

    GOP Leaders Fear Support Eroding for Shutdown

    Trump Told His Immigration Message Not Working
    ========================
    From talkingpointsmemo.com:

    Without Legal Justification, WH Says IRS Will Pay Tax Refunds Even If Shutdown Continues

    Maine Taxpayers Who Funded LePage’s Trump Hotel Stay[s?] May Soon See The Bill

    Sending A Signal? Obama Calls For ‘Fresh Blood’ At Leadership Event

    Man Arrested After His ‘Keep America Great’ Sign Spurs Brawl At Warren Rally

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  4. My government benefits have not been paid into my credit union accounts, though Sis received hers. I wonder if a) because of the (partial) shutdown there has been a slowdown with such things and surnames near the front of the alphabet, like hers, have gotten paid while surnames further down, like mine, haven't yet been paid or b) (possible paranoid delusion?) as an active financial supporter of Left causes and vocal opponent of Pres. Fart, I'm being punished by having my benefit checks withheld.

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    1. That, Cat, would be giving them too much credit for thinking! :-D

      I imagine it's a slowdown.

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    2. LOL Thanks, Listener. needed that laugh.

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    3. One would think that sort of thing would all be automated, but one would think lots of things. I should expect it is alternative (a). Probably there is no one to answer the phones, but keep us posted, Cat.

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    4. Penny and I got our December Social Security payments on schedule. January not due yet, of course.

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  5. That is a fine, fine truck!!

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  6. Driving an ice cream truck was, and surely still is, a quick way to not get rich. But I could make my expenses and set money aside. Rent $35/month, food, household and laundry expenses $12-$15 per week, say total $95/month. I could clear a dollar an hour for 6 12-hour days per week = $72/week = $300/month. So clear $200/month, maybe a bit more, for 16 weeks = $800. During the school year rent was $45/month, so expenses other than books = $60/month, $800÷$60/mo = 13 months = enough for basic costs plus some for books and tuition.

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