Election' A'comin' Are You Ready? - 10/31/06 06:11 AM

Monday morning, the day would dawn clear & bright—not something we’ve seen much here in St. Paul of late—‘though we’d still be hard-pressed to rival Seattle in cloudy days, but as I ambled to the coffee shop, it was still quite dark, the stars obscured by the streetlights.
Medford (the techno-geezer), and Carl (the old sergeant) were already at the usual table, you know the one by the front plate-glass window, deeply engaged in conversation.
“…I just haven’t made up my mind who I’m gonna vote for this year,” Carl was saying as I walked up with my usual cup of … (2 comments)

Took the Day Off - 10/28/06 09:26 PM
Even retired guys like me get a day off, today was mine. I stayed away from the computer & blogs from this morning until this evening. I just knocked around all day.
Carl (retired Army, Retired Ford Plant assembly line foreman) with his excellent sense of timing, stopped by the house as I was putting the finishing touches on a couple of New York strip steaks that I had been broiling on the Weber.
“Where ya been all day,” he asked with an eye on the steaks, “I called several times.”
“Well, let’s see,” I replied, “this morning after breakfast, I … (3 comments)

No Cheatin’ Pumpkin Contest Entry—ENTRY - 10/26/06 04:33 PM
‘Tis done & submitted to Teresa. And again I had a bit of difficulty with the axe, adze, ploughshare---thingy to my victim’s dismay!  Folks…let’s not have a turkey dressing or tree-trimming contest…please? OK? Aw c’mon…I can’t help myself, I would have to enter, and be sooo tempted to use Photo Shop, and be caught, and embarrassed yet again!
Medford’s been so smug with his entry—just wait ‘til he sees my new one.
Anyway, here it is in all its non-artistic gory:

Jay Merton
  … (0 comments)

No Cheatin' Pumpkin Contest Entry (This time) - 10/26/06 03:59 PM
OK, so my pumpkin was disqualified because I cheated. To add insult to embarrassment, MEDFORD entered the contest with his entry: “Bugged.” And upon close examination, I’ve determined his is legitimately done in MS Paint. Bonnie Erickson entered twice (or so I’m led to believe). Lisa Dunn has entered a Twin Cities themed entry!
Well—watch this space—I’m sharpening my axe, ploughshare…or whatever, and starting over—this time totally in Paint!
I’m MOTIVATED then—you betcha!
 
Jay
… (0 comments)

Wednesday Oct 25 at the Coffee Shop - 10/26/06 05:09 AM
 
Wednesday morning when I arrived at the coffee shop, I couldn’t help but notice the (misspelled) hand lettered sign in the front plate glass window: “CODGER’S DON’T MEAT HERE!” Nothing like announcing to all where we do meet!
As I made my way to the table, the guys all had their eyes buried in the morning paper and (I thought) didn’t notice my arrival.
“Mornin’ boys,” I announced as I pulled out my chair.
“Oh, hello Jay,” answered Harold, at this point barely able to suppress a grin, “howya doing?”
“Something on your mind, Jay?” asked Carl, “you have that look on your face.”
“The sign!” … (1 comments)

Tuesday, Oct 24 with Old Men at the Coffee Shop - 10/25/06 05:42 AM
 
Tuesday morning I drove over to the coffee shop, instead of walking, as I had some errands to run after out meeting. As I wove my way to our usual table, Fred, whose nose is normally buried in the morning newspaper, piped up: “Where’s yer Ford? You don’t go anywhere without you old pick-up.”
“I do in winter,” I said, sitting down at my usual place next to Medford.
“It ain’t winter yet!” Fred replied, folding up his paper, “you put it in storage already?”
“He blabbed about it on AR,” said Medford, “and there is at least one Active Rainer … (6 comments)

Republicans are comin' to Town in '08 - 10/23/06 07:32 PM

I was a little late when I arrived at the coffee shop this morning, the gang was already gathered in their usual places around the table by the front plate glass window. Fred and Carl were on one side with Carl by the window, and Med in his usual chair next to the window, my place was next to Med, and the guest chair opposite the window.
“You’re late,” Fred said looking up from his morning ‘Pioneer Press’. We almost started without you.”
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” I said, sitting down next to Medford, “you’ve started without me here before.”
“We … (0 comments)

Retired Doesn't Mean Not Busy! - 10/23/06 05:35 AM

It’ 4:40AM CDT, and as usual I’m seated at the computer, a TV above my head (mounted on one of those brackety things like you sometimes see in motel rooms or sports bars) with the national network news droning away, and attempting to write a post for AR. I have until 6, when I need be at the coffee shop to meet up with the codgers.
After the coffee shop, I’ll drop by the Boardmans (my young, not yet 60, friend, Jack & his lovely young bride of 26 years, the REALTOR®, Teresa) to walk their beagle-with-the-big-ears-and-long-legs, Daisy. Her tail … (0 comments)

Sunday Memories by Medford Ambrose - 10/22/06 08:07 AM
People don't can anymore. It is easy to do. I like to can apple butter, pickles and tomatoes. I have made strawberry Rhubarb jam. Grandma used to make choke cherry jam or jelly and I would too if I knew where to get a choke cherry. One thing I wonder about is food poisoning. When I can food I use the FDA guidelines to determine how long I should process the jars and I am very diligent about sterilizing everything and keeping people and animals out of the kitchen during the process. Did they have much of a problem with food … (2 comments)

Medford's Pumpkin Contest Entry - 10/21/06 06:23 AM

Here is my entry into Teresa Boardman’s contest. Unlike my old colleague, Jay, I DIDN’T CHEAT! This effort was done completely in “Paint.” Take that y’old reprobate!
I don't blame Jay, though, Paint is not very user-friendly...still, I think mine's better...whaddaya think? Boy, am I gonna pay for this, come Monday at the coffee shop!
Medford
Jay’s entry…Photoshopped!
… (3 comments)

A Little Piece of the History of Saint Paul, Minnesota - 10/18/06 05:06 AM

The codgers did not meet on Tuesday, so we return to the History of St. Paul, Minnesota, at least one little part of it. My young (not yet 60) friend Jack has written for our consideration, an interesting history of his home:
“In November 1858, Minnesota had been the 32nd state for seven months, my great-great-grandfather, Timothy Boardman was 48 years old and had moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin a scant 4 years earlier from New York, his son, my great-grandfather Silas, was 24 and my great-grandmother Jane Elizabeth Serviss was 14 years old, my grandmother Dora Ann Congdon would not be born … (0 comments)

Jay Merton's Virtual Pumpkin Carving Contest Entry - 10/18/06 03:53 AM
 
As announced yesterday on her AR blog, my REALTOR® friend Teresa Boardman is hosting a virtual pumpkin carving contest on her St. Paul Real Estate Blog, and I entered it! I figured with all my handyman experience I could blow y’all away with my renowned skills, and come up with a really scary virtual jack-o-lantern! She asked that I help spread the word about the contest ‘cause Med & I have such a vast readership here on AR.
OK, I will. Enter her contest at your own risk of embarrassment, ‘cause you’ll be competing against this:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Good luck (you’ll need it),
Jay
… (4 comments)

New Regular Feature of our Blog - 10/15/06 12:39 PM

Weekday banner for the Old Men & Coffee Shop series(above), you may guess, but we won't tell!
Saturday banner (or when we don't meet)Skyline of St. Paul:
I may just figure out how to make them fit the top of the document. I am not Kristal, or Maureen, who are capable of using photography so effectively, so these photos will be used over, and over, and over...
Jay
… (5 comments)

More Random Thoughts on a Sunday Morning - 10/15/06 06:18 AM
School days: although I spent 14 years getting a formal education, school will get short shrift in this blog. I started first grade in a one room school house, with 2 out buildings, a heating stove, and a pump. It was two miles, up hill, and against the wind both ways from home!
I get by mainly because there are very few computer literate folks alive who remember rural Steele County in 1938—or want to.
One of the most important lessons of my life I learned early. This lesson has served me well, on the farm, in school, in the army and several … (1 comments)

A Codger's History of St. Paul, MN, Interrupted - 10/14/06 07:00 AM
OK, so I’m supposed to have another installment of: “A Codger’s History of St. Paul” posted today. It may surprise you to learn that I didn’t actually live that history, but I have to look it up somewhere.
Well, I was just too busy this week to spend the all quality time at the Minnesota History Center (a fantastic resource) necessary to obtain all the information I believe I need.
Yes, I’m retired—but that doesn’t mean I’m not busy—just you wait—you’ll learn the truth of retirement one day!
If I get’r done to my satisfaction, the historic period from 1850-1900 will appear during … (0 comments)

Blogs, (as discussed by the codgers) - 10/14/06 04:26 AM
If anything, this Friday morning was more miserable than Thursday. Still, today we had a quorum as the usual cast of codgers could be found at the table, in front by the plate-glass window, where we can watch passers by, and maybe (usually) make a comment or two.
“Jay, tell us about this blog thing you’ve been writing,” said Carl, stirring cream into his coffee, “why do you do it?”
“Well, you guys know about my column in my family newsletter,” I replied, “its kinda like that, only with you guys as the stars…”
“..The one you’ve been writing since you were six?” Medford, … (2 comments)

Minnesota Winter's a Comin' Old Men & Coffee Shops - 10/12/06 05:35 AM
Wednesday Meeting of the Old Men at the Coffee Shop (These “meeting minutes” are submitted to this blog a full day after the meeting—because ‘though my mind is fast, my keyboarding is not. Jay Merton)
“Winter’s coming, Jay,” Harold (the retired barber) said as he ambled over to our usual table by the front plate-glass window, “that’s a nasty wind out there.”
“You must have been listening to those imported news and weather people the local stations hire,” Medford replied, “its 40 above, with a little wind, and we might get some snow, no big deal”
“Come January,” added Carl, “you’ll think weather like … (0 comments)

Monday, Early AM - 10/09/06 04:55 AM

On Saturday & Sunday, the “Codger Crew” does not meet at the coffee shop to discuss what’s important to us (our catch phrase), but use the weekends for family, kickin’ back and watching a little sports on the tube, working around the house, and reading. We generally don’t see one another over the weekend.
I did run into Med on Saturday, I found him at Irvine Park (pictured above), talking to Teresa Boardman. We talked a bit about this blog, and decided that Med would post his “Random Thoughts” each Sunday, and I (since I already made such a post) would post … (3 comments)

Random Thoughts on a Sunday Morning - 10/08/06 07:38 AM
My turn Jay!
On Sunday mornings in the 30's our family, along with many other farm families, would stop at Steve's Cigar Shop after church for the Sunday paper.  Weekdays we got a paper by mail, but the Sunday paper with the funnies in color and the rotogravure in sepia, was special. The "Katzenjammer Kids" is an example of a "funny" that is still around.
I had breakfast with a fellow blogger Saturday morning and came to the conclusion that even the experts, the prime-of-lifers who make their living on computers and the net, are having a hard time keeping up, just like … (5 comments)

A Codger's Saint Paul Minnesota, The Beginning - 10/07/06 11:46 AM

The City of Saint Paul, Minnesota can trace its origin to the establishment of Fort Snelling.
After the War of 1812, the government took physical possession of the valuable Northwest frontier by establishing a chain of Indian agencies and supporting forts from Lake Michigan to the Missouri River (Minnesota Historical Society)
The site was selected by Lt. Zebulon Pike and on September 23, 1805, at the confluence of the Mississippi and the Minnesota Rivers he purchased from the Sioux land near Minnehaha Falls for what would become Fort Snelling.  The construction of the fort was started in 1819, and completed in 1825. Originally … (0 comments)

OLD MEN & COFFEE SHOPS-THE CAST OF CODGERS - 10/07/06 06:13 AM
The codgers didn’t meet for coffee on Wednesday morning, due to the clean up required after the grill fire on Tuesday evening.  We re-convened on Thursday morning (10/5), and although our discussion was stimulating as usual, it mostly concerned politics, that topic will not appear in this blog. I will go this far, however, we are politically diverse, and because of our many-years friendship, we respect each other’s opinions, we can have such discussions without rancor.
Bad segue here, but I think its time to introduce our cast of codgers: Med & Me, well you already know us if you have read … (2 comments)

OLD MEN & COFFEE SHOPS 4 - 10/04/06 06:02 AM
Tuesday morning's coffee shop gathering of geezers was moved by unanimous consent from our usual front window position to the restaurant's outdoor seating area. No sense in wasting a beautiful autumn morning inside, there'll plenty of inside time when winter gets here.
"G'mornin' Jay," Medford, the techno-geezer, said in greeting, as he fished a bright yellow leaf from his coffee, "I see we made the 'big time' on Active Rain the other day."
"What the heck is Active Rain?" Carl asked, looking up from his morning paper, "Wait, don't answer, Med, I can see by the look on your face that it is … (2 comments)

OLD MEN & COFFEE SHOPS 3 - 10/03/06 05:52 AM
Monday morning at the coffee shop, actually, it’s a restaurant, but the cook is terrible, so we just have coffee, and when I arrived, the boys were at the usual table, the one by the front plate-glass window so we can, and do, comment on passers by. They were looking at the Sunday Pioneer Press real estate section that Carl brought in, displayed prominently on the page was full color picture of a new 3,500 square foot home, part of a new development in a south suburban (nearly x-urban) “city.”
Harold, the retired barber, asked: “Why would anybody want so big a … (0 comments)