Good Morning and welcome to a cold Friday!

That cold this morning is like a slap in the face. Feel a little tired? Step outside and let the wind do what coffee could never finish.
Still, the sun shining down yesterday did give a bit of a taste of spring. Maybe we can move out the grey winter quickly. Come on, Punxsutawney Phil, give us an early spring next week.
This year, 'Phil' will be giving a forecast via instant messaging and twitter. Who knew the groundhog had an iPhone in that hole?
It is kind of amazing, though, how it's so easy to talk about the weather. Somebody could walk up to you outside school, say hello, then say, 'Gee, it's cold (warm, rainy, snowy) out here today!'
You always have a quick answer for that. 'Well, it's going to get warmer (colder, wetter, icy) tomorrow.'
We all like talking about weather, probably because it's maybe the one thing we can't do anything about. It's not like we can look up to the sky and say, 'Get sunny!'
Well, I guess we can, but it won't do anthing.
See, this is what happens at the end of a long week, nonsensical rambling.
So, just listen:

Good Morning and welcome back to a winter wonderland!

It all started Sunday night. After getting through the holidays virtually healthy (as healthy as can be with this ridiculous cold), the stomach bug invaded the house.
It's like the unwanted guest who won't leave.
First the oldest got the bug, taking out his bed and the bathroom in the process. OK, that happens, just try to sleep. It's the best way to get better.
After a day break, the younger boy's stomach started growling. Another bed gone, another late night of cleanup.
A day later, the princess was hammered. It's like our little den of disease.
The way these things work, though, is you just have to let it run its course. There's no quick cure, or any cure at all really.
Just pump in the fluids and keep everybody as comfortable as possible.
Tonight, we hold an exorcism to cast out the demon.
Or so I hope.
Meanwhile, today's is Elvis' birthday. So, here you go:

Good Morning and welcome to the worst day of the year!

OK now, the holidays are done. The parties are over. The trees are coming down. The lights are going back into the box.
What do we have to look forward to except the cold, dark winter? That's what makes this Monday the worst day of the year.
It's back to work and to school full force. One day, you're running around with a jolly step, the next, bang, right back to the reality of the usual grind.
Then again, there is enough to be thankful for, so maybe the cold won't feel so bitter. Maybe the dark will have a bit of light.
Hey, yeah. Let's just continue the fun. Don't get bogged down in the mundane of every day.
Then again, that wind is pretty bad again out there this morning.

Good Morning and welcome to a flu-riddled Tuesday!

There are plenty of treats this time of year. You have cookies (we luck out with plenty of them in our house), cakes, pies and anything else with sugar.
It gives everybody a chance to indulge their sweet tooth.
There is another kind of treat, though, and it comes from, of all places, the television.
After a long day of shoveling and getting pelted by snowballs Sunday, it figured to be a good time to unwind in front of the 'idiot box' before going to bed.
I figured it would be another night of flipping around cable and stumbling upon nothing before just turning it off and going to bed.
Then, the opening music for 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' started (not the scary Jim Carrey version, the original cartoon). Now, it might not be the best holiday show of the season, but it was great Sunday because it was unexpected.
Sometimes, it's the little things that make the world better.

Good Morning and welcome to the middle of the week!

Sure, it's April and the weather in these parts can be a little funky, but, come on, 38 degrees? Somehow, Exxon/Mobil or Sunoco is behind this so they can sell some more heating oil before the weather gets warmer. Those goofy commercials where Exxon 'scientists' talk about how much they are doing to improve things, a bunch of hogwash. They're changing the weather so we can be more dependent on big oil. After all, $776 million net income a year isn't enough.

After taking a couple of days off it's always hard to back into the work groove. Sure, we have to do it, but it's not exactly a pleasant experience. Suddenly, the alarm rings again, the coffee machine lights up, the dogs need walking and it's cold. Then again, it's better to get the break then not have it all.

Speaking of breaks, actor Hugh Jackman is 'heartbroken' after his new movie was leaked early to the Internet. I wonder if that's a way to drum up a little buzz about another X-Men movie. After all, the last one stunk. What better way to get some free advertising then to 'leak' the movie to the Internet and have everybody searching for it. I smell a rat. Well, make that a Wolverine.
By the way, do you smell Oscar?


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome to the place where American Idol won't be discussed!

So, it's about 20 degrees out there this morning. We're being warned about potential snow showers (no accumulation, though). They said it's going to be even colder Friday.
So, why don't children of a certain age feel it's necessary to put on a coat. Or a hat. Or a scarf. Or gloves. Or anything that would keep them warm on a cold day.
Is it because their natural energy (some scientist please bottle this so we can keep up) keeps them warmer than the rest of the world? Is it because they would rather not be burdened with the tough task of actually putting on the scarf?
It's one of those mysteries that, sadly, will never be figured out.
Go to a school at the end of the day and watch the students come out the doors. With the small exception of one or two, none of them are wearing coats. Now, I know for a fact they are fashioned with the outerwear in the morning. After school, though, it's 'too hot' to wear the coat.
Like 22 degrees is that much warmer than 20 degrees. Downright balmy, if you ask one 6-year old.
Of course, it's the same 6-year old who will put his coat on indoors if the heat is turned down below 70.
Trying to figure it out makes my head hurt. As does this...


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome to the next day in the long, drawn out winter!

Seriously, does anybody really like winter. Sure, it looks nice when the snow falls the first time. There are opportunities to build snowmen, have snowball fights and go sledding.
After about an hour, it's back inside to warm the toes. While children get hyped up when the snow starts coming down, what do they do the rest of the time.
The last few years, the snow has been light and the cold has been, well, cold. So, that means a lot of time spent in the house, in the car or in the mall.
Three big problems there when it comes to children.
1. After spending one day in the house, they want to spread out. The walls aren't going to keep them from going crazy. They jump into the walls. Jump off the couch and are only calm when watching television or sleeping.
2. In the car, the space is even more cramped. They touch, make faces, make noises and do whatever else they can to annoy each other. And that's the good times. Factor in winter coats and more traffic and there's a recipe for disaster.
3. When you get to the mall (or any store really), it's like a giant playground. They slide down the aisles. Knock off the clothes (as I've recently found out, most adults do this as well) and cause a headache. Then they want a new toy or a candy bar or something, anything. Just buy something.
So, the bottom line is we can have winter for about a month. Let's keep using our cars, spray cans and anything else so winter can be limited to mid-December until mid-January.
Then bring out the sun. The flowers. The beach chairs.
What? It's not even winter yet? That doesn't start until Dec. 21?
We're doomed.
Well, at least we can watch this to pass the time:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome to winter!

Well, OK, it only feels like winter. Still, don't try to tell me there's nothing wrong with our weather pattern when last Thursday it was 80 degrees and this morning there was frost on the windows.
Meanwhile, the Phillies get to play the Tampa Bay Rays (leave out the Devil) for the World Series title. So, the season started in Clearwater, Fla., and will most likely end in Tampa, which is right over the bridge from Clearwater.
Now, there's a rivalry our retirees can believe in. Maybe it's just me, but I would have rather seen the Phillies play Boston in the Series. That would have an old-time baseball feel. Then again, what is the difference if the Phillies can pull out the wins.
Meanwhile, this chill in the air and some cool looking Halloween decorations got me thinking about a couple of things (Yeah, that's the burning smell).
So, each day between now and Oct. 31 we'll have a Halloween song and movie of the day.
Since there may be a stretch at some point, if you know any cool Halloween movies or songs, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com.
So, here we go with the first two. Listen to the song first, then go out and find the movie. Who says I don't provide a public service?


Now, stop tapping your feet. Make some popcorn and enjoy:

Good (Chilly) Morning out there in the dark!

Yeah, it's kind of cold out there this morning. I was actually able to see my breath heading out today. Bring back the summer. It's supposed to get chilly in October, but I, for one, am not quite ready yet. Is it too much to ask for one more 80 degree day?
Anyway, forget the weather, we have meaningful baseball being played in mid October for the first in what, 15 years.
Thankfully the Dodgers won the other NLDS and get to come to town to play the Phillies. The Phillies have been around since 1883 and this will be only the seventh time the franchise has been to this level of playoffs. (OK, the League Championship Series didn't begin until 1969, but why split hairs.)
Of those seven times, this will be the fourth time the Phillies are playing the Dodgers.
Now, it's not like there's been a lot of fun times playing the Dodgers in the playoffs. Remember 1977 when Danny Ozark should have taken Greg Luzinski out of the game in the ninth. He didn't, Luzinski booted a ball and the Phillies lost.
How about 1978? Garry Maddux made maybe three errors his whole baseball life, but dropped a fly ball then watched another go through his legs as the Dodgers clinched the series.
Sure, there was a victory over L.A. in 1983, but that team was less 'Phillies' and more hangers on. They were led by Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Pete Rose, three key members of the 1970s 'Big Red Machine' in Cincinnati. Even getting beaten by the Orioles in the World Series didn't seem that bad.
So, now we have the Dodgers again. At least this time if history repeats itself we won't have to see Tommy Lasorda dancing around.
Or will we...


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning, Delaware County!

So, how do you get back to a sense of normalcy in an abnormal situation? It's impossible, but we continue to try.

Earlier this week, on a night that was anything but springlike, the Westbrook Park Phillies were playing the Indians in a youth baseball game.
This being baseball and all, the number of children playing the game are starting to decline and the Phillies found themselves a couple of players short. They still wanted to play the game, so the 6-year old brother of one of the team members was talked into helping out.
Although he had a few Tee-ball games under his belt, 'real baseball' was entirely new. Heck, his older brother was only playing in his third game, so it was really new to him as well.
So, with the brothers manning center field (older) and right field (younger) the game was played.
The rest of the Phillies welcomed their 'new teammate,' despite him wearing a Braves hat, and were having fun going out and playing. The cold, biting wind didn't even seem to matter.
Each brother were able to get hits throughout the game, although the younger boy was out at third base each time.
That is, until the final inning. With a Braves hat helping hold the batting helmet on his head, the younger brother was stading on third as the older brother stepped to the plate.
A ground ball that had eyes and went into the outfield ended the game by bringing the small boy home.
The players, on both teams, celebrated. Bringing big smiles to everybody who had gathered to witness the game.
Doesn't get any better:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

It starts innocently enough: a sniffle here, a cough there.
Pretty soon, noses are running and tissues are being found balled up near the trash can.
Next comes the slight fever, but not enough to cause a great deal of concern.
Suddenly, one of the boys has red eyes. Of course, those eyes quickly turn pink and it's a quick call to the doctor. School is missed, eye drops are picked up at the pharmacy and used.
The doctor always says, 'Pink eye is not contagious after using the drops for 24 hours.'
Yeah, but what about the 24 hours before that. I need a time machine now more than ever.
So, the noses start running (better catch them) throughout the house. One sleepless night leads to another to another.
Suddenly, the other boy is running a fever. Mom hits 102 degrees and this time it has nothing to do with what Dad has done.
So, now we are again in a den of disease. It's a fabulous place where colds multiply, tissues get used more than napkins and, one-by-one, everybody is taken out.
At least it's not contagious after 24 hours.



If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com