comptrmech's Blog

Although Meramac Road and Wells in S. County is mostly St. Louis County park property, the road is used for those who want to cut through to catch Hwy 55 and no real property damage is at risk.  The locals who live here have learned that the Meramac river which is less than 1/8 mile away through the marsh know that a good rain can mean this road will close down, YET people who cut through from Tesson Ferry on Wells Road come to the last rise on Wells speeding along and find they need to back track the couple of miles because there is not an  exit out from the last street. Then there are the youngsters who have 4 wheel drives and think that they can ford the incoming waters.(believe me,  have video and photos of people attempting to drive through today)  I have been watching and marking the rising waters at about 2' per hour. Currenty as of this post the water at the intersection of Wells and Meramac Bottom road is aproximately 18+ inches. By tomnorrow morning it will be more assuradely.(See my photos of the rising waters) Then there are the people who do not believe the road sign and must drive through the baricades and down to the waters edge to really see if they are brave  (or crazy enough) to think they can drive through. Most people who do are looky loo's but then they try to turn their car around on a 2 lane road, and then their car is stuck on the soft edge or in the rising waters. The water here is expected to crest sometime on Sunday with the new caculations. I for one love the peace and quiet with the road shut down, but I know during the next few days, someone will come along  Wells Road and not pay attention to the road closed signs, and end up in our newly formed lake. Please the Highway Department did not put these signs out for no reason. GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONE and pay attention to where you are going. It was amazing as I watched at the corner of the numerous amounts of drivers on their cell phones and not paying attention till almost too late that the road is closed!

Weather - 1958 - Snow blanketed northern Florida, with Tallahassee reporting a record 2.8 inches. A ship in the Gulf of Mexico, 25 miles south of Fort Morgan AL, reported zero visibility in heavy snow on the afternoon of the 12th. (12th-13th) Disney -  Abraham Lincoln (the 16th U.S. President) is born in Hardin County, Kentucky. He will be the subject of such Disney attractions as Greates Moments with Mr. Lincoln (originally displayed at the 1964 Worlds Fair) and Walt Disney Worlds Hall of Presidents - (Walt Disney was always fascinated with the life of Lincoln. He even recited Lincoln; Gettysburg Address to his elementary class as a small boy) *1 Songs - THE 1950s

1959 ... "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price
1958 ... "Don't/ I Beg of You" by Elvis Presley
1957 ... "Too Much" by Elvis Presley
1956 ... "Rock and Roll Waltz" by Kay Starr
1955 ... "Sincerely" by The McGuire Sisters
1954 ... "Oh! My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)" by Eddie Fisher
1953 ... "Till I Waltz Again with You" by Teresa Brewer
1952 ... "Cry" by Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads
1951 ... "The Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page
1950 ... "Chattanoogie Shoeshine Boy" by Red Foley
  Today in History - 1870 Women in the Utah Territory gained the right to vote.

I thought I would create a continous running blog about things that are part of our history, Being that I am a Disney fanatic, I will include some of their history too. I will try to add each day, time permitting. So here it begins, let me know if you like or not.  I would hate to  waste blogging space. February 9th - 1964 - The Beatles made their first live American TV appearance, on ''The Ed Sullivan Show.'' 1940 -  Disney' animated feature film, Pinnochio opens in Los Angeles,  2 days after opening in New York,  Actor Dickie Jones supplies the voice of the living puppet. This film will win two academy awards. (although this is the 2nd version of  this classic, the original was filmed as a silent b&w in Italy back in 1911) 1920's - 1929 ... "Sweethearts on Parade" by Guy Lombardo Songs -
1928 ... "My Blue Heaven" by Gene Austin
1927 ... "In a Little Spanish Town" by Paul Whiteman
1926 ... "Who?" by George Olsen
1925 ... "All Alone" by Paul Whiteman
1924 ... "Sleep" by Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians
1923 ... "Three O'Clock in the Morning" by Paul Whiteman
1922 ... "April Showers" by Al Jolson
1921 ... "Wang Wang Blues" by Paul Whiteman
1920 ... "Dardanella" by Ben Selvin's Novelty Orchestra

When it comes down to the price wars at the grocery stores, there are alot of thought on this. For some it comes down to money, brands may not make the difference, so buying in bulk from the wholesale clubs or the price cutters is a viable option. I know you can get some decent name brands from the Walmart and the wholesale clubs but from them you sacrafice in some cases customer service or depth of selection. From the local grocery stores, you get a wider selection, both in choices & sizes so paying a bit more is okay. Its part of being a wise shopper. I don't have the need to buy a case of green beans for me just to save 13 cents a can to have 2/3 of the case to sit in my pantry till I need to get rid of them at the next food pantry drive or the scouts come by.(and I do realize that donating is a worthy cause) yet I still have a need to partonize them for some items. Another way these stores can dodge the price war is by different selections. When I used to work for one of the "big box home centers" there was a constant price matching with the other home center across the road. The chain's pricing guarantee back then was to match exact plus 10 percent but they got wise and offered a different model or brand. (all you had to do was to change the model or brand a little bit and you no longer had to match) Private label stepped in. Check who makes what for whom. Years ago Duracell used to make the akaline batteries for ACE and that was much cheaper than buying name brand. You would be surpised at the amount of private label manufacturing the name brand companies do and that savings get passed on. Everything from gasoline, electronics, groceries, housewares, white goods, just about everything we consume is available private label and in alot of instances quality does not sacrafice.

The Night Before Christmas at Fox 2


'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the station
Not a creature was stirring, not even a Tim Ezell,
The stockings were hung by the control booth with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The camera operators were nestled all snug in at their desks,
While visions of national networks danced in their heads;
And Margie Ellisor in her 'kerchief, and I (Kevin Steincross) in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the helicopter pad there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the desk to see what was the matter.
Away to the remote camera I powered up like a flash,
Turned on the monitor, and turned on the spot.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature chopper, and eight of the morning crew

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name

'Now, April! Now, John! Now, Glenn and Mandi!
On, Andy, on Randi! On, Monica and Elliot !
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!'

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The dancing and hew-hawing of each
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the stairway St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of exclusive news stories he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the in-boxes; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the stairway he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"


Santa: "HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,
AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

What I have noticed of late about your web polls, is the lack of addition options. Often I found myself not finding any satisfactory choices... Like todays. The real gift I am finding hard to get is a .......Job... been seeking a job for almost 4+ months. No much desire for middle aged / middle managers. Todays youth has the edge. Oh well, still I keep the faith, I will find the perfect job. Happy Holidays you guys.

Stephen