West Virginia Does It Again

Bobby Byrd may have voluntarily vacated his position as Chairman of the US Senate Appropriations Committee but the octogenarian ain’t dead yet.

The senior West Virginia bureaucrat somehow managed to insert 9.5 percent of additional pork in the Agriculture Department’s $615.8 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Obama signed in late February.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the breakdown of funding yesterday, saying: "Aging water and waste infrastructure systems threaten the ability of rural communities to provide clean, reliable drinking water to residents and protect precious environmental resources. These investments will help bring increased economic benefits to rural America by providing needed water, water systems and creating jobs."

Maybe. Maybe not.

Two projects were highlighted:

The Yuma County Improvement District in Arizona was selected to receive $14.6 million to connect 782 homes to the Yuma municipal treatment system. The project will reduce groundwater contamination from failing septic systems and improve the water quality of the Colorado River. This translates to a cost of $18,670 per home, which in my opinion, is less expensive than upgrading existing individual septic systems.

In New Mexico, the Village of Ruidoso and City of Ruidoso Downs have been selected to receive $9.7 million to build a wastewater treatment plant that will serve approximately 12,000 people. The current treatment plant's outflow runs into the environmentally sensitive Rio Ruidoso and is not in compliance with water quality regulations. The new plant will treat combined flows from both communities before they are discharged into the stream.

On the surface it looks like the New Mexico project is a good idea. But check out the web site for Ruidoso and one will find the village is toted as the New Mexico Vacation destination”.

Included is a ski resort, a national forest, two casinos, horse racing, golf courses and a host of fine dining, shopping areas and art museums.

Will the stimulus money help the private citizen’s individual septic problems or will it help a select few corporations make even more money?

But back to Bobby Byrd.

West Virginia leads the nation with 23 separate projects in 22 jurisdictions totaling $58,417,800. Michigan is second in number of projects (18) but got more money ($63,442,000) and, surprisingly, Maine with 18 projects is third on the list but just three percent of the money ($17,925,000).

Thirty-four states got money. New Jersey had only one project for less than a million dollars and the other 16 states must already have pristine waters.

The primary purpose of the stimulus bill is to create or save jobs while helping to protect the environment.

I truly hope it succeeds in that goal. But I doubt it. I suspect, at least in West Virginia’s case, there will be a lot more sewage treatment plants named for the 91 year-old senator.

The Hummers Have Found Where We Live

Sat down at SisIggy's computer early this morning to check out email sent to our regular account and happened to glance out the window just in time to see this:

Had I been at my computer, which is opposite Sis's at our Partner's Desk, I wouldn't have had access to the camera and thus this shot. Didn't have time to switch from Auto focus to Sports focus which, now that I know we have it (only have had the camera for three years), I might have gotten a shot of the wings.

Illusion?

Which is it? Is the ball resting on the concrete patio or is it flying through the air. You decide. You tell me.

The Bloom's Program Now on Sale

Get yer program, get yer program. Five Dolla's.

The hawkers are out in force this morning at the major intersections of Winchester as well as local convenience stores. They're selling the official program detailing the parade lineups for both the Fireman's Parade and the Grand Feature Parade as well as providing the colorful anecdotes about the aging stars that make up the celebration.

Anyone wanting one from out of town, just email me or leave me a message on one of the boards and I will ship it to you. Because, I know you'll be disappointed not having a piece of history.

Happy Birthday, Heir II

Our youngest, Heir II, celebrated his 18th birthday today and in true Linguinni - Dirtman tradition, the festivities actually began yesterday when his grandparents dropped off a nice cash card while having dinner here.

There was a 100-plus page book to finish last night and this morning, along with some Statistics homework and with his normal three hours of sleep, he left for school early.

Tonight, the Heir was still wired. He played soccer with The Pode for over 30 minutes after dinner and then, when girlfriend Caisee arrived from play practice we had cake and more gifts.

Jose, you have made us proud.

The Bloom - Part 2

With the first weekend festivities around us (a wine and craft festival on the downtown Mall - which I didn't partake), the main week is upon us.

Traveling through Winchester this afternoon I made a pit stop behind the near-vacant Wards Plaza to watch the Food Lion Apple Blossom Midway come to life.

Only a few of the rides provided by Powers Great American Midways, were already up and tractor-trailers were still arriving. I was able to get this photo (right) of the slide with the Vortex in the background as well as this shot of the Scrambler (they call it the Sizzler) still in its compact moving trailer.

I even saw this kiddie ride (right) consisting of four bears. What they do is beyond me but it reminded me of John from Wisconsin, Michael C., Mark A. and Rebel for some reason.

Carnivals have always fascinated me. I remember as a boy watching the local amusement company arrive Sunday afternoon for the Firemen's Carnival. It would take the rest of the day Sunday and all day Monday to set up the rides and even then, some didn't open until Tuesday night.

Now the trucks arrive, a few buttons are pushed, jacks are set and a couple hydraulics are placed in position and a ride can be assembled in a matter of minutes. Rest assured, Powers will be set up in plenty of time to be inspected by the state and open for business tomorrow night. It will stay open during the entire festival and if it's like past years, the midway will be filled to capacity.

I have many memories of carnivals and most are pleasant.

I remember a Scrambler speeding up one night at our hometown county fair making everyone aboard sicker than a dog. It was the last year for that carnival at the fair. The next year a new company was hired and they stayed with us for over 25 years. The owner's sons and I became friends and their children played with mine when the came in recent years.

I remember when my wife bought me my first K'Nex set (at the age of 35) and I was able - with the help of the Heirs - to build a working Ferris Wheel.

If I had it to do over again, I would run away with the carnival. Or own one. Either way, if I see one being set up, I will stop and think about times gone by.

Just A Quickie Before Heading to Work

Turned on the Internet this morning to my Google Home Page and thought something was wrong. Seemed the GOOGLE name was nothing but straight lines and periods. Second time I saw it, was more concerned and finally, it hit me.

Today is Samuel Morse's 218th birthday. So everyone join me in singing a Happy Birthday to ole Sam.

Found on a Bumper Yesterday

Actually, SisIggy saw it first but I had to take the photo because she was afraid the bumper's owner would exit our local library while she was taking the shot and someone would be embarrassed.

This is for the two John's I know: Wisconsin and West Virginia. I believe both would appreciate it. As for everyone else, please don't be offended.

Gardening 101

Several days ago while I was searching for information for Heir II's band trip (he got home this morning at 2:15 am) on his school's web page, I saw the FFA Chapter was having a bedding plant sale.

SisIggy and I went Thursday, bought tomato, pepper, zucchini and cucumber plants for our garden as well as petunias, geraniums and a cover flower for the front gardens. Later, Thursday evening I prepared one of the front gardens (I have the other to do later today) and this morning I planted while Sis directed.


I have to say the front looks a lot better if I could just get the Heirs to pick the dandelion flowers on a daily basis...

It's Apple Blossom Time in the Valley!!!

The Bloom began yesterday for its 10-day run.

And over the next fortnight or so, I will be reporting here on the coming and goings of the annual festival for those less fortunate not able to attend. Hopefully, I will get some photos myself if I can talk the rest of the family to going.

I know my mother yearns for the Circus this year thanks to tickets she "won" for re-upping her subscription the the Northern Virginia Daily. I think I'll pass on that one, however...

Today's snippet comes from yesterday's trial run of the coronation ceremony in anticipation for Friday's crowning of another Michael Landon (left) prodigy (previously, Landon's daughters: 1980's Leslie Ann Landon and 1996's Shawna Landon). Holly Morris (right), a DC newscaster subbed for the Landon kid and apparently enjoyed her 10-minute reign.

My sincere hope is the weather is dry, not too hot and loads of people trek out from inside the Beltway and bring some of their government salaries with them to spread some cash to our local non-profits, many which is their main source of funding for the year.

Tastes Just Like...

SisIggy purchased Smuckers Sugar-Free Strawberry Jam to use as a substitute for the real thing. A jar of the special stuff is twice as small as the regular jam, costs twice as much and, according to Sis, "tastes just like cough syrup".

So when you go to your local grocery make sure to pick up this when you feel a cold coming on.

Body Art Gone Bad

Give him an inch, he'll take a mile.

No, I'm not talking about Heir I. This time, it's Heir II. He called last night asking if he could go to a friend's house and promised he be home by curfew. He called back at 11:30 requesting an extension and I granted it; then stayed up to make sure he arrived home safely.

He did -- around 12:30 am this morning. I wasn't so worried about the time since he was planning an all-nighter in anticipation to a 5:30 am departure for a band trip. We know he made it as we heard him leave the house in darkness...

When he arrived home, this is what we had found:

Fortunately, they're temporary tattoos. They'll eventually rub off or at least that's what I've been told. I wouldn't know for sure because I'd never get a fake or real one because I hate self-inflicted pain and can't see spending money on them.

A friend once told me she had three and probably will get more in the future. She said she loves flowers and art and her tats are a reflection of her tastes.

I don't think Heir I has any taste, at least in the matters of body art. Fortunately for him, he opted for the fake ones his first time out. Had they been real, his momma -- SisIggy to those in the know -- would have killed the lad making his all-niter moot.

Earth Day, 2009

If you didn't already know it, today is Earth Day. As an environmental steward (not to be confused with one of those hatred [or hated] environmentalists), I look forward to this day every year.

And my small part this year was to spruce up our yard.

I cultivated and planted a herb garden for SisIggy. If it turns out, we'll have fresh parsley, basil, oregano and mint.






I also prepared the gnome garden for some type of annual we'll plant this weekend and a pot for Sis to plant a Rosemary tree.

Last but not least, I moved our Adirondack chairs from the patio to a nice grassy spot overlooking the bird bath and
rigged up a hummingbird station
that's nestled among the peonies.

It even looks like we'll have sunflowers growing around our feeding station since volunteers are growing taller every day.



All in all, Earth Day 2009 wasn't a bad day afterall.

Yum Yum

Tuesdays in Dirtman-land is French Toast day.

SisIggy prepares a delectable breakfast consisting of fantastic slices of French Toast smothered in maple syrup.

Today, however, was even more remarkable as she had made a Banana Nut loaf the day before and at my suggestion, sliced and toasted it before dipping it into the egg batter.

What can I say. It was yummy.

The only downside is she will have to bake another loaf of special bread next Monday so next Tuesday's French Toast Day can top today's treat.

My suggestion: In honor of the 82nd Annual Apple Blossom Festival, a nice Applesauce Cake might be nice.

How Many Eckersons Does It Take To Plan a Roadtrip?

John Adams once said "I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace; that two are called a law firm, and that three or more become a Congress! So how many Eckersons would it take to screw up a simple Saturday roadtrip to tour a Civil War battlefield.

It started simple enough. John Boy and I thought it would be good to tour the Battle of Monocacy Junction, an 1864 battle that ended the South's last forray in Yankee territory.

Only problem, we couldn't find any information about it on the Internet and didn't even know where in central Maryland it was located. We decided to be polite and invite John Boy's siblings along for the ride, knowing from past experience they wouldn't "waste" a Saturday touring one of John Boy's battlefield excursions.

Guess what. We were wrong. SisIggy and Dark Garden both said "what a wonderful idea".

We met in the railroad town of Brunswick because we knew there was a National Park Service Visitor Center for the C&O Canal. Surely someone (a park ranger, for example) there would know something about Monacracy Creek (especially, as it turns out, the battlefield is located in the same county).

Not a clue. The man could talk all day about the C&O and even about Civil War skirmishes protecting said canal. But he was clueless and suggested we tour Antietam instead. Guess that battle was big enough to at least know the name.

But before we could start the Exodus , we had to wait on John Boy, who's fascination with the Civil War Trail network is reknown the world over. Here, he reads about Brunswick's role in the war.

So we loaded up in the cars and tried to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B. Should have been pretty simple.


But then the Eckerson clan doesn't know the word simple. Before we could head out, there had to be a pow-wow to mesh out the details.

We knew if we followed these signs we'd be on the right track. Only problem, Maryland is stingy with these signs. I think we missed one in Boonesboro - or there wasn't one - but about an hour later we got a call from Dark asking where everything was. Seems he was cruisin Hagerstown and we were in Funkstown, about 15 miles out of the way.

Credit John Boy.

He took the map from me. And so he should since he's a professional cartographer. Hell, he dreams maps in his sleep.


Finally we made it to Sharpsburg (I am a southerner) and then there were more decisions to make:


1) Should we take the guided tour from a ranger?
2) Should we buy the CD, pile into one of the cars and hit the military park on our own?
3) Should we buy the brochure (ain't nothing free anymore from the government)? OR
4) Should we all stand around a cannon and discuss it for another hour?


OK. Perhaps it was only 30 minutes but the point is, let's make a decision how 'bout it.

Finally, it was decided that we buy a brochure for Monocacy River and use a brochure someone else purchased; then dropped in a trashcan after realizing the CD was the route to take.

I won't bore anyone with the actual tour. Dark Garden did a nice take on his blog and SisIggy did one too (though I'm not sure I cared for the poke at my size and my looking like a "honkin' big war memorial blocking your view". She followed that comment with a Photoshop-distorted picture of yours truly. Decide for yourself and I'd be interested in your comments.

Now all we need to do is decide when we're going to Monocracy Creek. And how many Eckersons will it take to get us there.

24 Hours Later: My Fix For a Year

Just finished watching two epic movies: The Blue and The Gray (1982) and North and South (1985, 1986 and 1994).

About once a year I get in the mood to watch these two made-for-TV mini-series. I thoroughly enjoy the Geysers and the Hales and as SisIggy says, "Stacy Keach single-handily winning the war".

The same with the Main and Hazard families though by the third book in the series, it gets a little contrite. Or maybe I have tired of the saga.