Engineers

Do you read the Sunday Oklahoman?  If you do, last Sunday you might have read Malcolm Berko's column in the Business section.  It is titled "Is it the right time to put money in REITs?"  A couple asked Mr. Berko a question about his take on an investment that their engineer friend had suggested.  Mr. Berko answers, in part, as follows:


"I have a long-time friend who is an engineer and also a non-pareil stock picker.  I've watched this guy pick stocks for 38 years -- and watched him buy stocks that looked like garbage but turned into gold.  I came to the conclusion 205 years ago that engineers rather than politicians and lawyers should rule the world.  Imagine for a moment that the president, the Cabinet and all the White House staff were engineers instead of lawyers.


Then imagine that members of Congress (47 percent are lawyers) were engineers.  Without question, our tax code would be fair; the budget would be balanced; our public schools would be exceptional; poverty would be eliminated; welfare plummet; the trains would run on time; and there would be peace in the valley.  Lawyers are America's terrorists but without guns or suicide vests."


Mr. Berko goes on to answer the couple's question regarding an investment of REITs, but it is take on engineers that causes me to laugh.  If you have ever met or known an engineer, you might tend to agree with him. 


I married one of these engineers and here's a little tongue in cheek of what I have learned from a union of 42 years. 


If you want to do anything, and I repeat, anything on the spur of the moment - do NOT marry an engineer.  Things have to be thought through thoroughly and there might be drawings involved.


If you want your engineer to handcraft an item, expect this project to take weeks and weeks, with drawing after drawing.  Expect to see a list of parts needed with associated costs.  Then expect to see a list of like items selling in the stores and a price comparison and the feasibility and practicality of the hand crafted item versus one from a store.  By the way, an engineer's time is almost never accounted for in a price comparison.  They work for free.  If your engineer should finally decide that the project is worthwhile, there will be a build sheet, cost listed for all individual parts, and now in the digital age, pictures.


If you want a brand new car - do NOT ever marry an engineer -- do you know how much a car's value drops just driving it off the lot?  Nope, not gonna happen in the Tucker house.


If you expect to have a new appliance now and again - do NOT marry an engineer.  That engineer you married takes great delight in seeing just how long they can make an appliance last.  Case in point, my dishwasher was bought in 1987 (I kid you not!) has been fixed probably 5 times.............the sucker just won't break to the point of not being fixable by my engineer hubby.  On the positive side, an engineer can save you tons of money.


If you want to win at any trivia game - marry an engineer.  They are the smartest people I have ever met with few exceptions who, come to think of it, are just non-degreed engineers themselves. 


Engineers are NOT snappy dressers.  Clothes are definitely not a first priority for most engineers.  In fact, their clothes might be a little thread-bare.  If they are still working, it wouldn't be that unusual to see them with a pocket protector.  And you can depend on them to have an ink pen within their reach.   Trivia:  They work crossword puzzles in ink.


I wrote all this as humor, but there is a lot of truth in it as well.  The engineer I married can fix almost anything.  This has been proven on many occasions by many people.  If you can't figure it out, call Johnny.  First, he is probably going to ask you if it is plugged in, if you checked to see if you need gas, if you checked the circuit breaker, and what you were doing at the time of breakage. Then even if you verified all these things to him, when he comes to your rescue he will check them out himself.  Engineers leave little to chance so don't be offended if he checks everything twice.  They are also by nature very pessimistic.  They tend not to believe a word of anything until they have researched and tested it themselves.  


Yep, an engineer is good to have around and very handy. 


I love you!        






 

Concert in the Park

Tonight we did something we rarely do anymore.  We went to a concert in the park; not just any concert.........a big band concert.  While the music was just ok, the moment was nice.  The 80 degree temperatures with a slight breeze made for a delightful time.  What made it more delightful was just knowing that park was still being used.  Kids on scooters, young adults biking, football practice, picnics, dogs being walked, snow cones, walkers, runners...........and all sorts of other venues.


We used to go to outdoor concerts every week; our little kids in tow.  We'd spread our blankets out and break out the picnic baskets and treats and wait for the music to begin.  I have a fond memory of the man over under that tree at Mount Saint Mary's dancing alone; his left arm up around his imaginary lady's shoulders and his right around her waist.  I would love to have known his story for he reminded me of my own father.  Was he a World War II vet?  Was he a widower?  Was he dreaming of the imaginary lady?  Or was he just enjoying the music?  He didn't even know anybody was watching.........but I was.  It was a beautiful poignant sight and filled me with a lump in my throat.............watching him and his imaginary lady..............and that lump is in my throat just recalling him again.


Another memory for me was dancing with my youngest nephew back in the early 80s.  We were at a Prairie Home Companion show that was being broadcast from an Edmond park.  My nephew was just a little baby and the music was lively so I couldn't help myself.  I remember the spontaneity of jumping up and grabbing that sweet baby and bouncing him around a bit.  I dare not use the word dance.  I think we all use a baby now and again just to do something that we'd otherwise not do. 


I don't recall all the individual concert venues, but the memories of snapping open the blanket, the picnics, the sodas, the treats for the children, the laughter, the dancing of toddlers around our blanket, the sleepy kids staring at the evening stars...............those have jelled into the most beautiful concert of all.


I hope my children remember those good times for I sure do.  I hope they have fond memories of their childhood.  I hope their memories are as good as the ones I recall..............even if we never got them a McDonald's Happy Meal. 


I love you.

With Stars On

We have just a little less than two hours left for this July 4th, 2014, and fireworks are still booming all around us.  And I love it.  I love everything about the 4th even though we don't do much.  Flag was flying in all its glory! 


For many years we have had such drought conditions that people just wouldn't dare shoot a fire cracker for fear of burning down their house.  Lots of rain has made this year different.  I have never seen such personal displays...........EVER!!!!!!!!!!!  They are huge............as big as those provided by the local parks and towns but provided by our neighbors.  Tonight we didn't even leave our neighborhood.  The Midwest City fireworks are just ramping up, 8 miles away, just as our neighborhood displays are dying down.  And just think, California is just beginning their fireworks.  Don't you just love America? 


To me, the 4th represents everything good about America.  Stars, Hot dogs, fire crackers, hamburgers, barbequed ribs, star-shaped sunglasses, homemade ice cream, picnics, fishing, boating, red-white-blue, corn on the cob, sparklers, potato salad, flags, and over-the-top firework displays.  Maybe you had at least one of those today. 
 
Happy 4th of July America.  We'll see you next year..........with stars on!


I love you.....AMERICA, AMERICA.
       

Girly Girls

Good evening everybody. 




Remember these, girls?  This is an Avon lipstick sample and what every little girl loved back in the 60s.  Back in those days, the Avon lady actually came to our house with all her samples.  That bag she carried had all sorts of potions, but what we wanted was that little lipstick.


The Avon lady always had a handful of these little beauties and I couldn't wait to pick a color.  One I particularly remember, and what I wore in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade was the color Mauve.  Just plain old Mauve, not Enchanting Mauve, not Magnificent Mauve, just plain old Mauve.


Today on our way to Ulta to browse the makeup aisles, my daughter told me she was out of her favorite Tarte lipstick.  She showed it to me and indeed, it was flat.  I told her there was lipstick left in the tube.  Not believing me, I told her how I always got the last little drop of lipstick out of those tiny Avon samples.  She said, "Oh, I remember those little samples.  Grandma always had some."  I told her to put her lipstick to her lips and form her lips around it.  Then I explained that she needed to suck on the lipstick until it pulled out a bit.  She was shocked at how much lipstick was remaining in the tube.  "Well, Mom, look at you!"  and then she laughed.  We both laughed at how clever I was all those years ago. 


Back in those days we literally used things up.......at least I did.  A new tube of lipstick was rare.  There wasn't a lot of money for lipstick, and I could make that little tiny tube of lipstick last another week or more...........or until the Avon lady came back again.


What fun we had just being girly girls today.


I love you.


Ella Lowe was our Avon lady.  Yes, she was also the cook at our little rural school.  I loved when she'd come down our driveway, and secretly, I think Mom did, too; our little time to be girly girls.  I thought of that when my daughter and I were checking out all the makeup.......just girly girls.


And if you are wondering, that is one of mom's samples from years ago.  When we cleared her bedroom, I found that little lipstick and just couldn't throw it away.

Blaine’s 10th Birthday

Ten short years ago this little boy made his way into our lives and hearts.  Such a precious baby is not a 10 year old just on the cusp of being a teenager.  How can that be?  Time seems to be marching on.  The days may go slow, but the years disappear in a flash.


This is the first year he has not wanted a birthday party with friends.  He wanted to have salmon patties at my house and play volleyball with his family.  That is exactly what he got.  I have to ask you, though, when is the last time any of you had your child or grandchild ask for salmon patties for dinner, let alone a birthday dinner?


Blaine bragged and bragged on my salmon patties, thanking me over and over.  It was my pleasure of course.  I hope he comes back for his 21st and asks me to make him salmon patties again.


So in honor of Blaine's birthday and just in case Blaine wants to make them, here is the recipe.  Blaine, I quadrupled the recipe for your birthday and had plenty left over for you to take home.

Grandma's Salmon Patties

Canned Salmon, 1 14 oz can

1 Egg

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Any other seasoning you'd like to use.  I used Greek Seasoning last night

Plenty of finely crushed saltines

Drain the salmon, but reserve the liquid.

Mash and mash and mash the salmon to completely pulverize all bones.

This will take time, but important for the texture. 

Add an egg and mix very well.

If the mixture seems a little dry, you can add a bit of the reserved liquid.

Form your patties and roll into the saltine crumbs.

Cover the bottom of your skillet with oil.  I use olive oil.

Once the skillet is hot, drop your patties into the pan, turning when deeply golden brown.

Last night I used my cast iron skillet and cooked on the grill burner outside.

Blaine if you make these, call me.  I will be there.  Oh, by the way, I think they are

even better as cold leftovers.

I love you.