Thursday, July 24, 2008

Truth in Advertising (Silly Things)

  • OK, I have the TV on while I am posting and I have heard this commercial more than once. Finally realized they were advertising "delicious nut snacks", guess you can figure out what I thought I heard. Would that be impossible in this age of Viagra commercials?
  • Ruth and Steve were in Sam's and asked if anyone had jumper cables for someone in need on the parking lot. Ruth said she used to carry jumper cables and motor oil in her car, but no longer had them. Steve said we should ask her what she really used them for! Ruth blushed, causing much speculation.
  • Scott had his picture in the Sun earlier this week, sitting on the curb resting after fighting a fire. An anonymous person spotted him, noting that "nobody else has a big head like that". Others concurred.
  • John was pictured on the front page of the special sports section of today's Sun, wearing his customary baseball cap and acting the role of super fan.
  • Bill W. keeps telling me jokes which I forget before posting. Ask him to tell you a few, you will laugh!
  • OK, click on http://www.scrabulous.com/, give yourself a name and a password, and we can play Scrabble online for free. Friends from all over the country can play in the same match, you can control who joins your match. You can also practice against the computer. I am shockaglow, so sign me up as your buddy and we can play.
  • On this note, Sarah just reported this gem this from Facebook. "True friends are like butt cheeks; crap may come in between them, but they always get back together again". Good night to my friends :).

How Old Is Your Brain?

Submitted from Jean

Click on http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

Ignore the Chinese.......Here is what you do.

Procedure of Flash Fabrica Game:
1. Click on 'start'
2. Wait for numerals 3, 2, 1 to count down.
3. Several numerals will briefly flash onscreen. Your task is to memorize the number's positions on the screen.
4. The numbers will disappear. Circles will appear in their place. You must click on the circles from the smallest number to the biggest number in order.
4. At the end of game, the computer will tell you how old your brain is. Good luck !!

My brain age was 32 when I played correctly (115 when I clicked on largest to smallest by mistake). And the truth lies somewhere in between!

Catonsville Fire Chief History

This photo dates back to 1960. Both Paul and long-time Catonsville resident, Phil Shubert, are shown. Phil sits next to Gladys each year at the 4th of July parade!

A group of the first firefighters promoted under the merit system. Seen here are: Captain Kolb, Station #8; Lt. Harry Smith, Station #1; Capt. Chas Houck, Fire Academy; Lt. Lawrence Blucher, Station #1; Capt. LeYoy Fink, Station #5; Capt. Emory Leight, Station #10; County Executive Christian Kahl; Capt. Frank Simms, Station #9; Capt. Donald Waman, Station #10; Capt. Phil Shubert, Station #6; Capt. Albert Crussey, Station #2; Lt. William Zacienka, Station #9; Lt. Paul Reincke, Station #4 and also the Fire Chief in the 1980s and early 1990s; Lt. Bernard Klemm, Station #6; Lt. George Serbnese, Station #2; Lt. John Ebert, Station #5; Lt. Daniel Holder, Station #3.
Here's a photo of Paul 25 years ago in his uniform. Chief Paul Reincke, Baltimore County Fire Department; Councilman Norman Lauenstein, 6th District, and Donald Hutchinson, Baltimore County Executive, at the dedication of hose-and-ladder engine # 54. Date: June 6, 1983

Paul was just keeping up the family tradition. Chief Fritz Maisel was my mother's uncle. A 1939 Seagrave 750 gpm pumper, shown with Fire Chief Frederick "Fritz" Maisel standing beside it and assistant Chief Wilbur Kelly behind the wheel. This photo was taken before the truck was assigned to a station. It was subsequently designated Engine #3 of the Catonsville Fire Department. Photo taken in 1939.


Came across this photo of my great-uncle, Fritz Maisel, taken some time in the early 1900's. I had always known him as an older gentleman, both in life and in pictures, so I was surprised to see how much my cousins resemble him. Many of my relatives lived in "Maiseltown", on and around Ingleside Avenue near the Old Salem Lutheran Church. We could visit and walk to several relatives' homes in one block. Fritz Maisel (1889-1967) of Catonsville played professional baseball with the International League Orioles, the New York Yankees and the Saint Louis Browns. Generally a third baseman, he also played second or in the outfield. His record of seventy-two stolen bases with the Yankees stood for years. He was manager of the old Orioles from 1929-1932. He was Baltimore County's fire chief from 1938-1951.
In another "small-world" coincidence, Fritz's son, Bud Maisel and his family, lived on Sanford Avenue for some time across the street from Bill T.