A look at the field.

AJ Allmendinger meeting the people at the Dover Downs…

…he came in last.

Mark Martin arriving in Delaware.

Smiling for his fans.

Martin Truex, Jr. came right up to a group of fans to sign autographs.

Truex came in 13th.

All of the above photographs are courtesy of Barb Jarrell.

Thanks to my friend Barb, I was able to catch some of the drivers leaving Delaware after the race.

Martin Truex, Jr., grabbed some food before leaving the state, the offerings included Maryland crab cakes.

Here’s John Andretti, he came in 37th.

And, yes, race fans, I was actually able to speak to John Andretti after the race. The funny part is that he didn’t even know who won. And can I just add that he had really nice skin. You can LISTEN to John Andretti tell me his thoughts about the race HERE.

Delaware Today Fires Shot Over My Bow

 

Page 20 of the current Delaware Today magazine has a column by a fellow named Matt Amis.  Matt has made a funny.  The title of the piece is called “Dela Where?” and it looks at the other “Delawares” across the country.   Here is an excerpt:

 

Delaware, Iowa.  What has a population of 188 and is roughly 98.9 percent white?  No, it’s not Dan Gaffney’s listening audience.  It’s the hustling, bustling, middle-of-freakin’-nowhere town of Delaware, Iowa.  Does this even qualify as a one-horse town? Palomino, maybe?

 

I’m thinking of rallying my black listeners for a march on the offices of Delaware Today.

 

 

I lit a candle outside…
trying to remember so many names……
remembering how many died……
and so many families left unsaid….
some still wishing for that one day to come…
they will get a call saying they found their loved one…
     (author unknown)

You can light a candle in memory to someone lost or loved - the candles will remain lit for 48 hours - just click on the candle   And remember all who have died in the war on terror, but especially your neighbors from Delaware and Maryland

A legal announcement in a local paper caught one of my listener’s eyes:

“Sealed proposals for Bid #7193 for Condoms will be received by the Procurement Branch, Delaware Health and Social Services”.  We sent for the complete specifications and the bid package and found some interesting facts about how your tax dollars will be spent of these condoms.

First, the condoms are said to be needed by “various state agencies” some of which we assume are local schools because part of the package includes instructions on how the winning bid can get paid when supplying local school districts.  The bid specifications for the condoms needed over the next year in Delaware are listed as follows:

10,000 small size regular sensitivity condoms.

136,000 regular fit multicolored condoms.

47,000 regular fit “multi-flavored” condoms.  (Yes, the government wants flavored condoms!)

106,000 regular fit studded or ribbed condoms.  (For “her” pleasure we presume?)

46,000 regular fit “sensitive/ultra-thin”.

11,000 large condoms, regular sensitivity (Note: 1,000 more large than small.  “It’s Good Being First” tm.)

16,000 Large “black or natural color” sensitive/ultra thin.  (large, black, sensitive?)

31,000 female condoms

24,000 male polyurethane condoms (For those with latex allergies I presume)

10,000 dental dams ( Insert your own joke here about what branch of state government might need these)

 

437,000 condoms paid for by you and handed out for free all over schools and state offices in the next year.  Don’t we go beyond so called “safe sex” when we are getting into “flavored” “ribbed” and “sensitive”? 

 

If you were an inexperienced airline traveler, would you get on a plane if you new that at least 1 out of 10 flights crashed?  If you were an experienced air traveler would you fly today knowing that 1 in 100 flights today will crash?  These stats reflect the failure rate of condoms when used properly to prevent STD’s.  When used incorrectly we assume the planes crash more frequently.

 

Do you have a family pet?  If not – you can leave now.
 
If you answered yes – does your pet think he or she is human? The family comedian?   It’s interesting to really watch the personality of your animal emerge - be it a cat, dog or whatever.  I know not one of my animals has been like any other I’ve had.  Like humans, each has had its own distinct personality.
 
I’ve had cats, dogs, turtles, fish, gerbils, a hamster and snails.   Since I moved to Delmarva, most of my creatures have been cats – and 2 dogs.  Puddkitty is the current critter and while she isn’t as animated as some that I’ve had, she does keep herself and me entertained.  She also makes sure that any creepy crawly critter that manages to get into the house doesn’t stay for long.  Now if only she would decide that cricket legs taste like chicken!  She leaves those behind – I guess it’s just her gift to me, but it’s better than leaving ‘other’ things!  Pudd likes height – the top of anything is a great perch – doors, furniture, the mantle.  Even with only hind claws, she’s still a great climber.
 
Most of the cats I’ve had through the years have been social – they like the company of the humans in the house rather than going off on their own to sleep in a sunbeam.   Sam was a fighter – he protected the property from any other cat in the neighborhood.  He was my only outside cat, but met his match when he went after a large four-legged – car. 
 
Samantha was my mouse cat.  She could find any mouse that had the unfortunate luck to come into the house.  Of course she didn’t hunt it – she played with it to death.  And then just left it for Mommy to dispose of.  She liked everyone and had the knack of finding the one person in a group who didn’t really like cats and did her best to change their mind.
 
Pywich was the anti-social one of the bunch, but also came to me after her Mommy left her with me.  Actually Py was the queen of the house – and oversaw all in her realm.
 
Mickey was the lover of the bunch.  He knew he was cute and worked it to the max and then just sat on you and purred, but sometimes I think he thought he was a dog.  He is the only cat that actually came when you called him and he would play fetch with his toys!
 
Mo was abandoned at the Worcester County Humane Society and she and Puddkitty came to me at the same time.  Mo was 5 and very unhappy to be in such a noisy place and Pudd was 6 months and the baby in the cat room.  Mo was like Pywich – older and aloof, but she was more sociable.  Pudd you’ve already met. 
 
Cats aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but as long as you provide food and water, the occasional visit to the vet and some attention – they’re really the ideal pet for someone who wants a 4-footed companion, but doesn’t necessarily have a lot of time to devote to training.  Cats learn the litter pan in about 20 minutes.  You really don’t have to provide a bed – they’ll find their own – several actually.  I’ve read that cats need about an hour of your time a day, for petting and being paid attention.  Just sitting on you will do, too. 

The Rehoboth Beach Police respond to a call about a topless woman (literally) hanging around the beach in front of the Atlantic Sands Hotel

It’s even exciting in Rehoboth Beach on a Thursday afternoon. The RBPD’s finest responded to a call that a woman was enjoying the surf in front of the Atlantic Sands Hotel sans top. With children playing all around her, confused sunbathers couldn’t help wondering what the heck she was doing. As one astute beachgoer put it, “Where does she think she is, France?”

“Where does she think she is, France?”

Not that you can tell from the above, picture, but apparently the woman turned out to actually be from France, and she had no idea that you can’t wave those things around on a public beach in Delaware. According to the police, she now knows you have to keep them under wraps, for the children.

Oui, the woman turned out to be French. It would have been easier to identify the couple as French if they had been wearing traditional French beachwear, pictured above.

The officers responding were professional and polite, and let the woman go with a warning. The officers will remain anonymous, in case they didn’t tell their wives.

 

 
The North fought the South today at Mariner Middle School in historic Milton, Delaware.

The Town of Milton is having it’s 200th Anniversary celebration this weekend, and so far, it’s been fantastic. I started the day with a Civil War skirmish at Mariner Middle School, it was my first. The South looked like it won this battle, but Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. they will go at it again. But considering the South had the cannons, I can’t imagine the Union soldiers will pull off a big win in a town that never actually saw Civil War action.

You can LISTEN to the man commanding the Union troops in today’s Civil War skirmish in Milton HERE.

 

Union soldiers waiting for battle. They’re dressed in authentic Civil War uniforms made of wool. Not exactly ideal for weather over 90 degrees.

Many Miltonians other than the Civil War soldiers were dressed for the occasion. Cindy Reed talks about her costume HERE.

After the battle, I checked out downtown Milton. The first stop was, of course, the Federal Street Gallery and Espresso Bar for a nice, iced coffee. Then it was off to see the local art which is always a treat when you have local artists like Abraxas, Chris Kiker and Gary Cooke showing off their latest work.

You can listen to photographer Gary Cooke talk about the celebration HERE. Gary is also my main source for tidbits about Milton’s rich history.

In the park there were miniature train rides, games, food vendors and WGMD’s own Dan Gaffney was there enjoying the festivities. Sheriff Eric Swanson was also in Milton today to join in the party and  THIS is what he had to say about the town’s big day.

 

At sunset in Milton the hot air balloons were lit up like lanterns to celebrate the Towns 200th Anniversary.

At the end of the day, the event moved to H.O. Brittingham Elementary School where the hot air balloons were lined up and looking beautiful. Milton’s own Dr. Wagner, talks about tonight’s hot air balloon event HERE, from the basket of his blue balloon with a bear on it, a crowd favorite.

 

Fireworks lit up the sky in Milton tonight

To end a perfect day, the Town set off fireworks that were fitting for a 200th birthday. The celebration in Milton will continue through Sunday and parking is ample and free.

LauraLea and Tripp Fabulous at the Rusty Rudder last Friday night.

OK, so I don’t get out much at night anymore, but I did go out in Dewey last Friday night with a friend of mine to see a band and have a drink. The band was good and worth seeing, LauraLea and Tripp Fabulous, and this is where I want to call them a “cover band,” but that wouldn’t be fair (or even correct), since they’re just playing to the summer beach crowd at the Rudder. (They have a CD of original acoustic music that’s pretty good).

Not that there’s anything wrong with bands that do cover tunes. They’re pretty entertaining. I can remember going to see the Beat Clinic around the State a decade (and almost another decade) ago, and without a doubt the best night was always that rare night when they would crank out “Like a Virgin” to an appreciative crowd. Anyway, it was a good time at the Rudder, but it was a little different.

What? The Rudder has a dress code? When did that happen?

I have to say that I was surprised the Rudder has a dress code. Now, it may have been in effect since the late 90’s for all I know, but still, it was surprising to me. And, for the record, I’ve jumped off the stage at a Dead Kennedys concert in the mid 80s, but I was a little shocked at what I saw on the dance floor. I was going to continue, but let’s just leave it here because I’m starting to feel old and like I need to go yell at some kid to get off my grass….

You’re smack in the middle of dinner – or your favorite TV show and the phone rings – telemarketer. 

Wait a minute – you signed up for the Do Not Call Registry when it first started!  Why are you getting telemarketers calling you again? 

There’s the rub – the registry is only good for 5 years!  If you signed up for the Do Not Call Registry after June of 2003 – you have to re-register again before your registry entry expires in 2008 – if you want to keep telemarketers from calling you at inconvenient times. 

Lois Greisman at the Federal Trade Commission tells WGMD the Do Not Call Registry has been hugely successful and they have over 147 million phone numbers registered. 

Some facts on the Do Not Call Registry:

• Not all telemarketing calls are included – political organizations, charities and phone surveyors are still permitted to call, as well as companies you have an existing business relationship with or want to receive calls from.
• When you register, your phone number will be on the registry the next day, however telemarketers have 31 days from the date you register to stop calling you
• The registry is only for personal telephone numbers and you will receive an email from the registry which needs to be responded to before your registration is complete.  You can register up to three phone numbers
• Cell phone numbers can be registered, but it is an urban legend that cell phone numbers will be released to a public listing allowing telemarketers to call you on a cell phone number.   
• If you do receive unwanted calls – get as much information as you can – a phone number from caller ID, business name – or the number the telemarketer asks you to call if it’s an automated call.  Then register a complaint with the FTC.

Does the registry work?  YES!  I signed up just after Do Not Call began – and I’ve seen a marked drop in telemarketer calls.  However – I still see a lot of calls that spam my answering machine that are usually bogus “non-profits” which I now plan to file a complaint about if they persist.  I will miss the occasional prank I played on some telemarketers – my favorite was when MCI still existed and they were rabidly promoting their “Friends & Family” service.  My response to the telemarketer was that I had no friends and was an orphan!  My Mom thought it was funny - but I never heard from MCI again!

You can sign up for the Do Not Call Registry either by phone at 1-888-382-1222 or online at http://www.donotcall.gov/ .  You would use either of those options also if you want to verify an existing registry entry – or register for the first time.