“The world is insane except for me and thee; and oft-times I wonder of thee.” What’s happening out there? Oil and commodity prices are shooting upward while the claims of the end of the recession seem to be mainly political rhetoric.

Interesting how, over the years, times and circumstances change, sometimes carefully orchestrated and sometimes with a little surprise factor thrown in.

I have needs that most of the population does not. For this reason I do most of my clothes shopping mail-order or online via Sheplers or Cabela’s. Most of the clothing they carry comes in tall sizes.

What an idiot!” was what I thought. Probably out loud. 1997 was the last year Ford made the Thunderbird, until the retro showed up, I think in about 2002.

Ever sit down and list those things that could have made you a million bucks if only - - - ? Think of some of the statements made on t-shirts, for example. Early on in our marriage, my wife actually wore a sweatshirt I got for her that had lettered on the front, “Eat your heart out. I’m married!” My son has a t-shirt that says, “VOTE FOR PEDRO.” He has no idea who Pedro is or what he was trying to get elected to, but the t-shirt was cheap. The one I have never seen that I think would sell well would read, “SMASHES SPIDERS BAREFOOT.” One of my antics that my wife wishes I would grow out of is, when meeting someone with a shirt or jacket that has the logo, “B.U.M.” on it, is to ask them why their mother named them “Bum?” Which brings to mind the boy who came home after a week at Boy Scout camp and was a little upset with his mother. She had dutifully attached or written his name to all of his clothing except his undershorts. Seems that some of the boys had been calling him “Fruit of the Loom,” which was the only name on his shorts, all week.

In 1953 Henry Ford’s outfit built a marvelous Mercury automobile. It was the last year of the famous flathead V-8 engine, and in the Mercury it had 255 cubic inches; in comparison, its cheaper Ford cousin only had 239 cubic inches.

I used to have a chainsaw that ran really well. I still have it, but it has not functioned for some time now. I took it in for an estimate and they told me it was an odd brand (Sachs-Dolmar), and they did not have any idea where to get the parts. They also told me that the piston and cylinder were scored. Then they wanted me to pay them for the time they spent deciding that the guys who made my chainsaw were smarter than they were.