Gotta Love the Underdog

ALittleBitofMiller@theDoubleD.bloggingmylifeaway

Winning drawing from MCMS art contest: The Best of Miller, Texas

  Congratulations Mikey Vines

December 8, 2014

Image courtesy of  Simon Howden at freedigitalphotos.net

Historic newsflash. Bet you are thinking that this blog is going to be about Pearl Harbor.  You would be wrong.  Not, mind you, that this blogger doesn’t think that the 73^rd anniversary of the attack on our country isn’t worthy of a mention. 

 It is. 

Image courtesy of  topstep07 at freedigitalphotos.net

However, today it is the first ever College Football Playoff that catches the spotlight.  Four teams have been chosen to compete in this history making playoffs--Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, and Ohio.  Finally, after years of fist thumping, the masses have a playoff, if a two game bracket can be called a playoff.  Four teams will have the chance to put it all on the gridiron, go toe to toe across the fifty, and juke their way into the annals of football history.  Number four seed Ohio gets the dubious honor of playing number one seed Alabama, which means in theory Ohio has a chance of being number one in the nation.  Win, lose, or draw, it will be one for the record books.  Gotta love the underdog.

Be that as it may, Miller has its own little dramas to keep life in the Piney Woods interesting.  Time to check up on the family feud.  BND El Segundo took off for Houston to oversee the new Double D leaving BND Numero Uno to snag the seat next to GND #3 every Sunday.  Yet, despite the highly visible Sunday claim staking, the two don’t seem to be making much headway in the romance department.  Maybe this blog should include some pointers on how to have a romance worthy of the attention this non-romance seems to have garnered. 

 Don’t believe Millerites are keeping a close eye on the action, just drive by TFS any morning or afternoon. It is SRO (standing room only). Feed the gossip mill, folks.  Or better yet, BND Numero Uno go to the movies, share dinner out without a crowd of other people in tow, get caught smooching goodnight on the front porch.  Something.  Not that there isn’t some drama to report.  GND#5 has been seen out with a newbie.  The newbie seems to have replaced the Risen One.  Speaking of newbies, if you have had your hearing aid turned down these past few weeks you might have missed the arrival of another celebrity who plans to dwell among us.  The ex-host of Design Redo joins the team at Junkalicious.  Make a point to give Ms. Kemper a heaping helping of Miller hospitality.

Meanwhile, this might be the season to go over the hills and through the woods to grandmother’s house.  Gas prices dropped below $3.00 for the first time in, well, a long time.  The talking heads say that gas prices could drop even further before the holiday season.  Ho. Ho. Ho.  If you’re into useless trivia, here is one for you.  Today is the 342^nd day of the year.  23 more days til another New Year’s Eve Party at the Double D Roadhouse.  Nuff said.

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@the Double D Series, Book 3: Kiss Me Cross-Eyed
Finnley and Edie's story

Images found on Google Images. 

Say it ain't so, Mo

ALittleBitofMiller@bloggingmylifeaway.com

Winning drawing from MCMS art contest: The Best of Miller, Texas
  Congratulations Mikey Vines

November 17, 2014

Say it ain't so, Mo.  Frosty pod.  Sounds like a Disney character, right?  But frosty pod isn’t a cute cuddly creature sent from some animated studio to babysit your children while you get supper ready after a hard day at work.  Smart people should fear frosty pod, which is a fungal disease.  That’s right, a fungal disease. Other than scientists, who has even heard of this fungal disease?  Well, if you haven’t heard of it before take heed of this blogger’s warning.  Frosty pod is responsible for destroying approximately 40% of the world’s production of cocoa.  Why should you care?  One reason and one reason only—less cocoa mean less chocolate.  According to the experts we are in danger of having a chocolate shortage.  Not just a shortage, but a major shortage these experts warn.  Now, this blogger is aware that in the scheme of things, a chocolate shortage doesn’t seem all that noteworthy, but give it some thought.  What will all those crabby people do when there aren’t enough Snickers Bars to transform them

imagine from freedigitalphotos.net / Boisans Cho Joo Young  

back into their true selves?  The mind boggles.  The latest reports say that 70,000 metric tons of chocolate were consumed last year.  That’s a lot of chocolate.  The demand is expected to increase at the same time production is decreasing.  This could be the cause of World War III. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

So what is the gossip of the day?  This blogger can report that a certain MOS has been on the road a lot in the past few weeks, burning up the road between Miller and Houston.  Not it would seem to court CC the BB.  Okay, maybe it is a tiny bit about courting the lady from Houston.  More will be revealed later.  The BNDs are still feuding over the GNDs.  It’s enough to make one wish for a score card to keep up with the whole mess.  And one can’t forget those bouquets of flowers that appear at

image from freedigitalphotos.net / tiverylucky

the Double D every Monday morning.  Rumor has it that an identical bouquet is delivered to CC the BB in Houston each Monday as well.  It might be time for DD the MOS to make his intentions known.  You can be sure that this blogger will be listening, and as soon as there is any mention of an end to the moratorium on dating, you can read about it here.

Meanwhile, don’t let these cool, sunny days entice you to go for a walk in the woods.  Hunters are notorious for having selective eye-sight.  That means that anything moving in the woods looks like a trophy deer to them.  Best to stay out of the woods and let the hunters focus on the real deer.  Nuff said.

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The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month

ALittleBitofMiller@theDoubleD.bloggingmylifeaway

Winning drawing from MCMS art contest: The Best of Miller, Texas

  Congratulations Mikey Vines

November 10, 2014

It would seem that we have become a society that marks the passing of time by the big five holidays our government considers worthy of time off for the masses--New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Card companies, like Hallmark, have added some of the lesser holidays to the list--Valentine's Day, Easter, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day. Yet some of the most deserving holidays are ignored. No, I am not going to rant like I did about Columbus Day, but I do think that it is noteworthy that our stores are currently filled the all the accouterments of Thanksgiving and the first rush of the Christmas blitz because these two holidays generate dollars in the store's cash registers--the bottom line rules in a capitalist society while the holiday celebrating the men and women who serve in the armed services is largely ignored. This intrepid blogger went on a search for Veteran’s Day card to send to a special veteran, and surprise! there is not a single card on the shelves that commemorates the service of our veterans. So, I will say to all the veteran’s out there:

Thank you for putting your lives on the line everyday.

I challenge all Millerites to set your clocks, so that tomorrow on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month we can take a moment to stop and say a prayer of gratitude for these brave men and women. If you don’t know the significance of 11 11 11, look it up.

Now, to other less important but infinitely more titillating tidbits of gossip. Lots of action these past few weeks, but sadly not much progress to report. The phobias seemed to have passed. BND Numero Uno has been seen out and about with GND #3 on several occasions, but never as a couple. Although, there was the little tête à tête in the hallway of the Double D that seemed awful “friendly” if you know what I mean. GND #5 is still riding side saddle with the Risen One, much to the disgust of BND El Segundo, who is often seen propping up the bar at the Double D pretending to sip the suds. Bar flies find him irresistible, I mean the real bar flies, the ones humans swat with a flyswatter. The other kind--the cute, single, and available human variety--have long since given up on catching his attention. Love is a messy business, and it will be interesting to see where this leads. Brother against brother, or a peaceful family reunion.

What did one barfly say to the other?
No worries, bro.  I'll be your wingman.

Meanwhile, this crazy weather has everyone’s sinuses in an uproar. With flu season just around the corner, don’t forget to drop by Doc Nichol’s clinic for a flu shot. This everyready blogger got one yesterday. Feel a little under the weather today, but a little under the weather for a day or two is better than a full blown case of the flu. Nuff said.

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@the Double D Series, Book 3: Kiss Me Cross-eyed

Images 2 and 3 found on Google Images.

What's a Phobia or Two Among Friends?

ALittleBitofMiller@theDoubleD.bloggingmylifeaway

Winning drawing from MCMS art contest: The Best of Miller, Texas

  Congratulations Mikey Vines

October 13, 2014

Here is an amazing bit of reality.  Most elementary students don’t know what Columbus Day is.  How can that be?  Don’t they teach that poem in school anymore? You know the one:

In fourteen hundred and ninety-two,
Columbus sailed the ocean blue,Looking for land and riches, too,As over the waters he flew.Hello, India! Oh,no! Boo hoo hoo!It is the Americas one and twoOh well, Columbus, we still thank you.

Okay, this intrepid blogger wrote those last lines, but someone needed to. How do today’s kids not know the history of Columbus’ voyages, and what they mean to our country? Forget PC stuff. It’s okay that he wasn't the first man to set foot on western shores. It’s okay, well not really, but we can’t change his nature at this late date, so it’s okay that he wasn't the greatest role model. He was cruel. Heartless even. Sort of puffed up and thinking a little bit too much of himself, but he had just discovered America, the future land of the free and home of the brave. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don’t waste your time trying to fill in all the holes in that little scenario. Suffice it say that when October 12th rolls around, old Chris needs to be mentioned in our classrooms. Argue it however you want, but teach it as if it is history. Oh wait, it is the history of the Americas. End of rant.

With that out of the way, it has come to the attention of this ever vigilant blogger through the grapevine that our local family feud is alive and really starting to heat up and spill over.  It is a little confusing to keep up with the BNDs and the GNDs, but if the gossip is on the money--it is a 50/50 shot that it is correct, so cautionary warning:  gossip is always best taken with a grain of salt—Whew!  Where was I?  Oh yeah, BND Numero Uno seems to have developed that dreaded if little known phobia, Agyrophobia, which is the fear of streets or crossing the street.  He no longer gets out of the car when picking up the number one lady in his life.  Don’t worry, BND El Segundo has his own phobia, Venustraphobia. Want to know what that one is, look it up. GND 5 was seen hanging out with the risen one, while GND 3 has been out of sight, but not out of mind.  The FBQ says business at TFS has never been better.

Meanwhile, unpack your sweaters.  Looks likes Miller is about to have its first cold front of the year.   Temps are expected to dip into the 30s.  Don’t throw your mothballs out just yet, everyone in Texas knows that by Wednesday week, it will be up in the eighties again.

Okay, but just because you asked—Venustraphobia is the fear of beautiful women.  For what reaches this blogger’s ever listening ears, BND El Segundo should be afraid.

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@ Double D series, Book 3: Kiss Me Cross-Eyed

FBQ = former beauty queen
TFS = The Filling Station
GND = girl next door
BND = boy next door

Let's Hear it for National Cookie Day

ALittleBitofMiller@theDoubleD.bloggingmylifeaway

October 1, 2014

It’s National Homemade Cookie Day.  

Now if that didn’t set your tongue to wagging and your mouth drooling, then maybe this will.

 It is also National Firehouse PupDay. 

Sparky the FireDog waiting to meet with kids about fire safety.

That’s not all, the 1^st of October is been named 

National Hair Day

—sorry dudes with no hair, no love for you today.   Maybe there will be a National Bald Day later in the year.

Although to be fair, the day isn't about hair as much as it is about the service industry that takes care of you hair--salons, beautitions, barbers, hair product manufactures and so on. 

Now, it doesn’t take a genius to guess which of these three this blogger will be celebrating today, although the hair is looking especially fly today.  To celebrate this momentous occasion, our renowned Chef Micah has been working around the clock on a secret concoction.  There is a rumor, that Chef M will reveal three new cookies for today—a new twist on some old faves.  If that is true don’t dawdle, Chef M’s treats are always, always delish and you don’t want to miss out. Rather than waste this space giving free advertisement to the Double D, let’s move on.  Anyone out there have a favorite homemade cookie recipe they are willing to share?  Maybe next year we can have a Miller Cookie bake off and crown a Master Cookiepreneur.  Just a thought.

On to the rumor mill.  This blogger just happened to be out and about yesterday afternoon and witnessed a lip lock between Princess Leia (PL) and her retired Bronc Buster (RBB).  Does that mean that the coffee dates are over?  Has PL selected her man?  Inquiring minds want to know these things.  These 👀 can tell you that RBB was not running away although he was wearing his running shoes.  Stay tuned, there is sure to be a new development soon, and this blog works faster than any run of the mill(er) grapevine.  Should you happen across DD our own MOS, tread carefully.  He has been something of a bear since CC the BB went back to Houston.  DT over at the water office has started another pool if you are interested in putting some money on how long DD the MOS will hold out before he heads for H-Town.   Nothing new to report on the BNDs and GNDs, except they were spotted at the last football game hanging out with PL and RBB.  Makes a body’s head spin.  Exorcist, anyone?

In the meantime, the rest of the country may be enjoying fall weather, but our high here in Miller is predicted to be 91˚.  But don’t be fooled, the weather could turn on a dime.  The temperature has been known to drop 50˚F in the time it takes to buy groceries.  Keep your jacket handy because that north wind, should it blow through, can cut like a knife.  Nuff said.

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Neither Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Dark of Night

September 29, 2014

All the rain falling in our neck of the woods lately has the citizens of Miller feeling a little like ducks.  Although rumor has it that ducks don’t like the rain any more than humans.  True or not true?  Good question.  No ducks could be bothered to answer that question with anything other than a raucous, “Quack! Quack!”  But it isn’t ducks that that come to mind on this dreary Monday morning, day number seven of rain, rain, and more rain. 

 Okay, now you’re thinking about Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, right?  You know, water, water, every where, / and not a drop to drink.  No.  That isn’t what’s on tap for today.  He! He!  Today is about the post office.  Usually the mail runs by nine in the morning.  Not today.  Today it is nearly noon and no mail yet.  Is it a federal holiday, you know one of those that only government employees, banks, and the post office get off?  Nope.  Today is not a holiday.  Now, what could be holding up the mailman.  It must be the rain.  But wait, doesn’t the post office have a motto? 

A motto that reads like this: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

 Well, the answer to that question is NOPE!  Those words are inscribed above the entrance to the New York City Post Office on 8^th Street and  have long been quoted as the motto of the United States Postal Service (USPS).  

NYC Post Office 

However, the USPS has no official motto.  They have a mission statement that ends with this erroneous statement.

It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities.

Anyone that has ever visited a post office would debate the veracity of this.  Still, a mission is just a statement of intent, not a promise etched in stone.  And certainly not as romantic as the quote that is etched in gray marble over the entrance of the NYPO.  Per the USPS website, it comes from “Paragraph 98, of The Persian Wars by Herodotus. During the wars between the Greeks and Persians (500-449 B.C.), the Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers who served with great fidelity.”  

Want to check it out for yourself, here is the link.

https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/mission-motto.pdf

Washington, D.C. Post Office, now the home of the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum.
The quote is from a piece called The Letter by Dr. Charles W. Eliot, former president of Harvard University.

Around town, there is gossip to be had...we'll get to that later.