Kinkikali

Obit: Ralph Snodsmith

Ralph Snodsmith passed away last week,  He was the voice and inspiration behind “The Garden Hotline”, a syndicated call in show–garden variety.  Like many in the agricultural trades, Ralph was home grown, down to earth, American to the root, and in many way unsung.  His show was on a local radio station when I was living in Concord NH (1999-2005) where each Sunday he aided gardeners far and wide.

Ralph passed away, working to the end, fighting illness.  Of course with the magic of syndication, Ralph passed away and the station (WTPL-FM) played his “Garden Hotline Minute” without regard or notice of the “dead guy talking” situation.

I emailed the current host (Mr. Heath) who made no mention of having played “the dead guy” just moments before.  Oh they made comment on him having passed on.

Too bad on two accounts: you died without enjoying a well earned retirement and even the media that plays you won’t let a little death mess up pre-recorded programming.

Rest in Peace Ralph

Ted Neeley

Jesus Christ Superstar was a big thing back in the 1970’s.  Ted Neeley played the roll convincingly.  Despite a low key career, he came back to a JCS revival in the 1990’s with Dennis DeYoung of Styx fame.  Now in 2010  Ted is having his second coming with a re-revival that includes a Boston stop.

Good for you Ted.  Best of luck and good wishes.  Your work is as important as it is entertaining.  And that sentiment goes for the rest of the cast and crew, past, present, and future.  God Bless.

April 10

Every April 10th that comes around reminds me of an incident from years ago.  I was at UNH, my freshman year.  Amongst my friends was one Glenn David Hayes, a youthful, upbeat, and happy with the world soul from Bartlett NH.  He mixed easy and sat behind me in an Intro to Geography class. In the spring of 1983 he came to visit Richardson House, my dorm,  He was interested in transferring.  Glenn was also deep into Crew.  Early in April he hit me up for a fundraiser for Crew team.  I gladly sponsored him on that Thursday as he had great dedication to Crew.

A few days later (Saturday) the day was raw and ugly–rain and wind, gusty and gloomy.  I gave little thought to Glenn or to the fundraiser.  Japanese class had a field trip to Japanese restaurant in Amherst NH.  This was at a time when Japanese food was unheard of in NH.  The trip, despite the length, was a rousing success.

But when I got back to Richardson early that evening the usual casual and light hearted Saturday was cold and still.  My gut told me something was terribly wrong.  The day at the Midori Restaurant was pushed aside as a tearful Teresa Leavitt (who went to high school in the Conway area) came up to me and said “Glenn is dead!”.

There had been a freak wind on Great Bay.  The shells were swamped.  Glenn tried to make it ashore.  Other stayed with their boats.  They were rescued.  It was on the news.

Of course back in THOSE days we had no cell phones and no Internet.  But the shock lasted for years.  Three years before a buddy from Spring Street, Dennis Quinn, died in a motorbike accident back down by “The Tracks” (where B & M railroad ran).

April 1st

On or about November 1st of each year I plug in the heat tape to keep the water inflow pipe from freezing during the winter.  Each April 1st I unplug the thing–having spent electricity and money for my Cardboard Castle (being polite).  Not only does my electricity bill drop, but I go on to the most welcome Lava Lamp Mode. 

I have a cheap lava lamp that is better quality then the house it resides in.  It stays off all during the long, cold winter.  Last night I turned the sucker on.  The furnace off, the heat tape unplugged, but the lava lamp bright and all right, I enjoyed, no savored, the start of warm days ahead.

The lava lamp relighting tied with the last of the ice off Emerald Lake.  Four tiny pathetic “piles” of snow remain at Wooglin.  None is left on Melody Lane.  And to add the glee, PSNH is scheduled to take down a tree that has been a bother since the day I purchased my little piece of…

Spring is here and most welcome.  Please stay warm weather.  Global warming is most welcome too.

Firestarters

The recent healthcare debate was fiery.  There was a vocal conservative side of politics that kept calling for stopping the democratic monster at “any and all costs”.  Media commentaters fed off the this and added fuel to the flames.  Then the “masses” got involved stoking politicans and commentaters.  Pretty soon the firestorm built—feeding off each other in frenzy.

Now there is a lull.

Some are calling for “pulling back from radicalism”.  But I have heard few of the commenataters step back and APOLOGIZE for encouraging “any cost”.  It is nice to be impassioned, committed to one’s cause.  But commentaters have RESPONSIBILITIES (Bulldog and Jack).

Back in 2001 the conservative movement was all out for blood “to avenge” Chandra Levy.  All summer that was the focus.  Then while the Republicans were setting the grill up for Congressman Condit a few dozen Arabs decided the friendly sky.  What was worse than witchhunting for the people’s visit was how quickly Chandra Levy was dropped as Golden Victim on 9/12.

Wars start because of emotions run wild.  Genocides are perpetrated because moderate thought gets left in the gutter–dead.  Word has it that the Rwanda genocides were in a large part because of local media firebranding.

“At all costs”, political revenge, holier than thou attitude…nice paved highways to hell folks.  It just seems the two sides of political aisle are raising the stakes—at great cost to country and dignity.  Meanwhile the masses simmer in their discontent. Slippery slopes people.  If you hate your fellow Americans than you hate your “enemies” than we all fall down.

Cash-out

The difficult times we are in manifest themselves in many ways.  One noticeable example of desperate times and the people caught within is the proliferation in media advertising of “sell gold for money”.  Not that it is illegal or immoral to pawn away your savings—there is an ongoing demand for suchstuff.  But what if the recovery is not.  Blowing the last of your assets means more critical mass of desperate and demoralized.  Our leaders tell us NOW is NOT the time to panic.  So be it.  But cashing out is one step shy of giving up followed by getting even.  And pray it does not come to that.  Otherwise I won’t wait for the “go ahead” on panic.

Spring

Despite a mild, tame, and comparative easy winter, I am still so much ready and happy to welcome spring and warmer days ahead. Today is between St. Patrick’s Day and the start of spring.  The mornings are cool, but quickly warm up.  And the sun is strong and sweet.  Yeah, yeah, yeah…go snow go.  The leftover snow is sickly and a joy to see in such a sorry state.  The ice is ready to follow.  Cheers to spring and all that comes—until the frost gets pushy.

Ice Out Wooglin

Lake Winnipesaukee has its annual ice out when the MV Mt. Washington can make the circuit of ports without bumping into ice.  Wooglin has its own form of ice out when the walk from home to head of the driveway (where the Union Leader box sits) is ice free from end to end.  That day happened on Tuesday the 9th.  There is still snow on the ground and ice on the pond.  But the snow is dirty and the ice has open water pools.  Spring is just waiting to bust out all over.

New Lows

Prediction here. Come April 2010, the weather in the northern hemisphere will warm in a ramped up way.  The Gulf Stream will tie in with the Jet Stream.  By May it will be in the 80’s in Greenland where recent earthquake activity has shifted the world magnetism under Greenland.  A new low sits over Greenland–pounding it with twice daily “tropical” storms (due to long day lengths).  All summer long the heat sucked off continental USA gets pumped up the Gulf Stream and fed into the endless low above Greenland.  Lots of warm rain and brilliant sun turn the Greenland ice cap into mush.  The ocean waters rise, but a portion of the ice cap remain.  The global warming nayseyers get strangely silent—a dumb silence.  Putting tonnes of auto exhaust daily into the air eventually reaches a saturation point.  Putting lots of people within the sound of the surf leads to problems if the saturation point is pushed.

Winter returns in the north pole, but summers lengthen as the ice melts.

Intermission

There comes a time…The world seems to habe worked itself into a frenzy of self-destruction and no win situations where economies have lost all snese of perspective and only now is the worker seen as holding the hope.  And this after racing to bottom and impovering the worker–the engines of the economy.  Last week Peter Christian’s Tavern shut down.  Other local stores are contemplating or doing the same.

The true bright spot is my brother is to be married this fall.  Not only am I invited, but I get to be best man.  The first job offer I’ve had, with lousy pay, but man the benes!!  Thomas, Amy…cheers, cheers, cheers!!!

But why “Intermission”? I feel like taking a break—but will probably ignore myself and soldier on.  In addition to the above—unemployment persists, the winter has reached the “no longer” welcome stage, a recent series of storms that despite wrath amd roar has left Wooglin and my Cardboard Castle untouched and with power (damn miracle)—a close friend of mine who has not been a patient in a hospital in 40 years has found himself facing major brain surgery and recovery.  Heavy, heavy stuff—Dartmouth Hitchcock is first class all the way—especially when your visit includes a helio flight, lengthy stay, and all those tests (I spent a single night at the Elliot a few years back with insurance coverage and the whole bill came to $10,000—$3000 my responsibility).  Good Luck and Best Wishes John!

Andy