Last Day of July

   Here it is the last day of July 2011 A.D. (Anno Domini ... in the year of our Lord) that's what I was taught. But some people wrongly believe it means After Death. The Liberals extant call it C.E. for Common Era (I always tell them that it means Christian Era), but I'm an "A.D." man. Your upbringing has a lot to do with a lot of things I guess. 

   Nothing much going on here in the desert Southwest. My nieto (grandson) Abel Anthony Rigney is still living with Hilda and me and still looking for work. His brother Devin (16) and his cousin Stevie (13) were up here with us for a week. It was great seeing them. It is amazing how much they have grown. You only notice that when you are away from them for a while.

Steve Jr., Abel Anthony, me and Devin

    Hilda has been really sick the last few days with the flu. It bothers me when she is suffering. I am hope she gets better soon. I was at the American Legion Post 36 this AM doing some paperwork (I am the Commander this year) and then I got the Sunday paper and came home. Have to go back there this afternoon and tomorrow some. Met the Department Commander's wife today. He was down from Phoenix and stopped by to see me at the Legion.

   Got a cute joke the other day:

                 If you know baseball, then tell me what's going on in this game.

                           

   O.K. ... "5 to 4, ... bottom of the fifth, ... one out, ... and no one on!   Simple, huh?

     We are awaiting some more monsoonal rains today. We haven't had much here in the Tucson valley. The mountains that loom over the city have gotten a lot. But, we are better off than our Texas friends and family. They are dryer than a popcorn fart. Brother Mickey in Ft Worth and Valdez (Dr. McGowen) 40 miles west of there in Weatherford are experiencing hot and dry weather.

    Not many interesting birthdays today, except for J.K. (Joanne) Rowling (46) who gave us Harry Potter. But yesterday we had (among others):

Arnold Schwarzeneger turned 64 ... he looks 75

Ed "Kookie" Byrnes  was 78 ... if you can remember him, U R old! (like me)

Paul Anka turned 70

Delta Burke was 55

Hilary Swank turned 47 ... two time Oscar winner and still beautiful

Vivica Fox made 47 ... she was Will Smith's girlfriend in 
     Independence Day (I just re-watched that)

Also of note - Casey Stengal ... born in 1891 and Henry Ford born in 1863.

Also important in history yesterday:

In 1619, the first elected legislative assembly in the New World, the House of Burgesses, convened in the choir loft of the town's church in Jamestown, Virginia.
In 1729, Baltimore, Maryland was founded.

In 1936, author Margaret Mitchell sold the film rights for "Gone With the Wind" to MGM for $50,000 (not a lot in today's money), most ever for a first novel.  

In 1956, President Dwight 'Ike' Eisenhower signs "In God We Trust" into law.