OkieMan

Roadside Poetry

If you are among the unfortunate who had never experienced cross-country road travel back in the 1950s and 1960s you missed the little red Burma Shave signs. Sequential placards with whimsical limericks sponsored by Burma Shave. The little red signs were usually spaced fifty or sixty feet apart and usually tacked to wooden fence posts.Continue reading “Roadside Poetry”

Book Report of a classic

John Steinbeck’s classic Earthy novel Cannery Row was most likely assigned you along with a hand full of other books to read in senior English in high school. A novel set in the depression years of the 1930s pre-world war II. However as you may know there is a sequel set in post World WarContinue reading “Book Report of a classic”

I know Pizza.

I grew up in L A where they have Pizza. My first encounter with pizza was with a box of Chef Boy-ar-dee pizza making kit. I was 12-years old when watching my mom assemble the box kit pizza. Saw her do it at least two times before I took my turn. The time I madeContinue reading “I know Pizza.”

Very smart already.

Going into the third grade. Granddaughter E-8 and soon to be 9 is headed for third grade this fall. As far as I’m concerned she should be entering Grad-school. Just three legos short of Einstein genius. Far beyond my apprenticeship to the Seven Dwarfs. But if I were to teach her third grade class, thisContinue reading “Very smart already.”

How fast can you drink that?

On our annual non-stop summer vacation trips from Los Angeles to Oklahoma we drove across the southern desert of California, southern Arizona, deserts and mountains of New Mexico, west Texas, and south central Oklahoma. On this overnight 24-hour endurance run we would briefly stop at some Texaco stations for potty and a Coke. Back then,Continue reading “How fast can you drink that?”

The very big news.

The Cleveland baseball team known as the Indians has changed their name to the Cleveland Guardians. Out of respect to Native Americans. As they should. However, the designation Indian as coined by early explorers was a “misnomer.” The early explorers thought they had reached India. Therefore calling whomever they ran into as “Indians.” Boy wereContinue reading “The very big news.”

Rocketing to the big red planet.

Mars, why would anyone in their sober mind want to travel to Mars? Is Mars the fourth planet from the sun? None the less, anything big and red must invariably be hardcore Republican. Far far to the right. Wouldn’t you think? Why would any earthling want to rocket to a planet filled with conservatives. AContinue reading “Rocketing to the big red planet.”

They came from everywhere.

The Los Angeles neighborhood I grew up in was a mixed jumble of nationalities, religions, dialects, and varying skin tones. To label it a melting pot is an understatement. It was the United Nations of East L A. Mostly working class blue collar folks all with several things in common; register to vote, educate theContinue reading “They came from everywhere.”

Mysteries by the foot.

Help me understand this. I wear socks and shoes most days. I have house shoes and street shoes. All worn with either long socks of little footie socks. Rarely do I walk around in my house or outside barefoot. Plus my feet go with me when I take a shower. So, here is the question.Continue reading “Mysteries by the foot.”

Why vote to take away my benefits?

Why would I want to support and vote for someone who wants to suppress voting rights for many minorities? Why would I want to support and vote for someone who wishes to discourage immigrants seeking asylum in America and looking for a new life and beginning? Why would I support and vote for someone whoContinue reading “Why vote to take away my benefits?”