42 Cent Kiss

The Sheets

By Frank Ryan

We were seated in the café like usual and having a cup of coffee as we often do. In theprocess of solving the world’s problems we lit off the conversation with the usual primer.

A recent topic that Frank and Duane could chew over and we felt we could possibly solve.   Duane said,” Boy these guys are sure going nuts over green stuff lately, don’t cha think?”

“Yes, but do you remember green when our grandparents used to call it frugality,” I said.

“Oh yes! I love the way they talk green as if they invented it.  In reality it was a matter of necessity when we and our parents and grandparents were kids to use everything to the last and then use it again.  We used to clean the peanut butter jar with a spoon and then use a cue- tip to get the last little bit out, or run a piece of hard crust in it and use the soft side to get all the stuff out of the jar.” Duane said cheerfully.

 “I remember a story I heard years ago that really hit green on the head, only then we called it thrifty!’ I said.

My grandmother Agnes Dubraski was extremely thrifty.  She was an immaculate woman who kept house as if the President were coming in a day or so.  The floors were sparkling and she always wore a house coat to do her morning chores. Dusting, carpet sweeper, and a regular routine of windows, dishes, and keeping up the home were on the docket.

I remember of a time when she spoke of a depression when things were really tough in the 30’s. 

 She said, “If you think I am thrifty you should have met my mother. Why she was so thrifty it made you laugh sometimes when you think about it.”  My silver haired and dapper grandmother noted.  “She would buy a brand new bed sheet at Peoples Store in downtown Tacoma. She would take it home to the farm in Edgewood and use it until it got a hole or tear in it.  Then she would cut it up in squares and make pillow cases out of them.  After the pillow cases were worn she would cut them up and make hankies of them, and after they were worn or stained she would cut up littler pieces and make a new sheet out of them.” She chuckled as she finished. “Now that’s frugal.   Grandma did have a sense of humor.

Duane laughed and I laughed and having scorched the green topic we moved on to the economy or some other conversation that we can visit later. 

Gunny Sacks & Grit

By Frank Ryan

It was 1952 and we just started to get our greenhouse and florist business going.  I will never forget the first job dad ever gave me.  We lived at 1805 Perry Avenue in Bremerton Washington and our home, greenhouses, florist shop and landscape business were surrounded with five large city lots of mature shrubs, trees and yard plants with a drive that came down a short grade to just in front of the converted garage that was now our recently remodeled Florist showroom and refrigeration unit for the flowers. It was affectionately referred to as “the case.”

 Dad was a big Irish-Norwegian cross and stood 6 foot 4 and weighed in at 305 pounds and it always amazed me how lean he looked even as big as he was.  He had a booming voice and a great Irish sense of humor.  He loved to tell a good story.  But now onward with the tale.

 I was escorted out back behind the house and just next to the greenhouse and next to the coal chute window.   There sat a giant pile of fresh compost which had a very distinct odor of cow manure mixed in.  Dad noted, “This is good dirt. It is 97% weed free and is from Asbury’s Bog. It’s some manure and sand in a special blend I mixed in.”  He explained.

 Dad had a special mix for every soil, seed application, and wet or dry fertilizer combo.  “Old country formulas.” He called them.

  “OK dad how do I do this. I have never done this before?”  I said with apprehension.  At the time I was 101 pounds soaking wet. I was slim but strong enough to arm wrestle even bigger classmates down. My young adversaries always under estimated me.

 “You will need to take this square point shovel and fill these 100 pound potato sacks to the top.  Then take this sisal twine and tie it off and go on to the next one. I have sold five already so go ahead and fill 5 and let me know when you are done.” He ordered as he strode away with big giant steps.

Without question I grabbed the sack and began to try to fill the sacks.  I didn’t how best to do this. Later I discovered it was with a frame and a jig with four nails in it to hold up the sack while it was filled. 

So I fought. “ Dog-gone-it.” I chewed as I proceeded. “I wish this wasn’t so cotton picking hard.”   

I wondered if I was a failure having great difficulty doing this, and wondering if I would ever get it.   Finally I filled each of the five and tied them off. Later when Dad had to fill the sacks he had our hired hand John Bland build a new frame for it.  I’m not sure to this day if he earlier forgot how hard it was to fill the sacks without a box frame? He had been out of the nursery and florist for 20 years by then.  I did better and better on filling the sacks from then on.

Or … see our world from a flight from PDX or Amtrack or up the Columbia!

Tired of just sitting at home, watching TV? Well, here are some listings for Good Restaurants, Places to See, and Travel Opportunities. So, don’t just sit there. Let’s go someplace enjoyable and exciting!  Read on for great local restaurants and bars and grills to check out

Cheers to you!

122nd & Holgate -East Portland , this is a bar and grill. It is business and senior friendly at lunch and in early evening for dinner.  Has extremely good Prime rib, with giant baker and sauteed veggies on weekends for under $10. and it is superior quality for the money!

Hamburgers are high quality steer beef.  If you want super fast service go elsewhere. Food is excellent, staff is great, happy hour drinks are good, and noise level is ok most of the time.  Occassionally loud, but to be expected with some times later eve younger night crowd.  Soups are from scratch and are mostly low salt. Bacon Bean, and Prime Beef soups are saltier.   Super salads and always fresh greens. 

Tic Toc Restaurant & Bar

112th & Division- East Portland offers the greatest Shrimp cocktail for the money anywhere! Gigantic cocktail with killer sauce for under $5.  The place offers Portland style “Wierd Soups” but they are terrriffic.  All breakfasts and meals offer loads of food and many folks take some home for later.  Good staff, at this blue collar senior friendly establishment that still gives you comfort food.  Soups are lower salt than most.  Excellent salads.

Davidson’s Restaurant  – Old Hwy 99 West, Tualatin

Frank’s been going there for over 10 years! Wonderful medium price comfort food place with great daily specials, soups, fresh mexican fare daily and some good old fashioned recipe’s and great Cherry pie!  Love the Cherry and berry pie!  Always top service, fast and friendly with excellent salad offerings.

Courtyard at the Marriott Restaurant – AIRPORT WAY near the Portland Air port.

Recently ate breakfast and enjoyed a “roast” in my honor done by Friends of East Portland Chamber of Commerce. Food was excellent, and very well prepared.  It was HOT! One of my pet things to check.  They serve Breakfast lucnh and dinner in the restaurant and welcome the public.  A great place to meet with friends or meet out of towners whom may be in vicinity of PDX.  Recommend it highly – Ask them about “Park and Fly Vacation packages” if you are going to be traveling soon. You can leave your car with them in a special package and eat breakfast too!

More to come soon!  Send your restaurant review and we will consider printing it for free!

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TRAVEL IN STYLE!  IT CAN BE BUSINESS & PLEASURE!

Many of us have seen our retirement accounts diminish over recent years. You may have thought about investigating making an amount of cash each month, but do not want to be tied to a job. 

Frank and Marge went to Virginia recently and used a special club membership.  It was a wonderful vacation experience and we spent 7 nights and 8 days in Virginia and traveled to Washington DC and had a fabulous time.

The wonderful part was the 5 of us stayed for less than $900. and it was absolutely the best vacation ever. We had a two bedroom with our own kitchen, priviate bedroom suites and 2 full baths, dinig room and secluded hot tub and lanai where we rested and fed ducks and geese.  The neighbor had to pay over $800 per year assessments and we didn’t . He paid $30 K for his condo and we stayed on our exclusive membership for just the weekly rental, plus our air fare and car rental, and daily expenses. What a treat.  It is also now a business we can write off as we promote our travel business while we travel. How cool is that?  If interested call Frank @ 503-577-5081 for info

By Frank Ryan

The Tulips, Daffodils and spring flowers are watching the warm sun and grabbing every ray as they jump from the ground.  This year with warmer than usual bursts of energy from Old Sol the Teensy  Daffodils in our back yard are right there with the Crocus though mini in size are mighty in effort as they stretch the little blooms to the light.  The growers gong has sounded!

It is time for backyard gardeners to get the jump on the season and make a move to get the dicot weeds under control right away.  If you have lots of time and patience the old fashioned way of using a weed probe or thin garden trowel and getting the little weeds when they first pop up.  That is good exercise, and starts the gardeners tan, but is very tedious and requires a person to be in pretty good shape to get the job done and get all the little grasses and broadleaf weeds out of the beds and rock paths etc.  Another way is to use a total weed killer and your local garden store can help with that and give exact info on doses, coverage and local requirements.  I recommend you only spray with a controlled method, and only exactly where the chemical is needed.

On small areas, or places where drift could harm adjacent plants I usually use a sponge and put the weed killing solution on a wand sponge and dab it on weeds.  That eliminates over spray, drift and though tedious it kills only the weeds you want to eliminate and minimizes the chemicals in the yard and in the system.  It also saves a great deal of money over years of application by being careful, and frugal in the use of chemicals.  Make sure the weed killing chemicals you use are approved for the particular use.  Use broadleaf weed killers on the lawn and where you don’t want everything killed off.  Again you can use the sponge dip method to do only plants and areas that have weeds in them. It is “green” and also common sense application.

One spring tip. If you have not checked mowing, edging equipment and garden hoes, clippers,

Rakes, etc. now is the time.  If you are able to sharpen, oil and clean your own tools great. Take them to a pro and get them sharp and ready to use.  There is nothing worse to work with in the garden than a dull shovel or hoe.   All your Chain saws and saws should also be cleaned, oiled and ready to go for the season.  Fertilizers should have been sealed in moisture proof plastic containers over the winter.  Spring is a good time to apply organic fertilizer to give root systems a good start.  A mild mix of 10-10- 10 or similar blend with low numbers is good.

Once the season kicks off you can apply your regular lawn fertilizers.  Check with your local garden store for best local blend.  I recommend that you NOT over use weed and feed. I almost always never use it more that once every 2 or 3 years, and just use localized weed control the rest of the time once lawn weeds are under control.  Spring is time to add extra peat moss, sand, compost to flower beds and saggy blank lawn areas and get cleanup done.  The ground should be ready for late spring and early summer planting.  Also don’t forget to line out your containers for those great container flowers and vegetables & Tomatoes for your yard!  Make sure they are brimming with new potting soil.  Happy gardening!                                                                 #                                                                            March 1.10 revise

“A first impression is of GREAT value if the follow-up is always there!”

1. Smile, smile, smile & dress for the occasion**
2. ALWAYS  be prepared…. for anything.
3. “Up your positive mental attitude.”
4. Make up your mind you won’t be miss-directed.
5. Control your environment.  Look people in the eye!
6. Always opt for better speaking, thinking and above all
7. Listen, listen, listen! Focus on the person speaking.
8. Don’t interrupt others when they have the floor.
9. Always thank your host and give others credit.
10. Try to be as accurate as you can in all you say. Keep it simple.

“A first impression is of Great value if the service after the sale is really there.
Virtual service is of not much value. People prefer REAL Service they can qualify.

“A first impression is of Great value if your marriage vows are kept.

** Affairs of state and funerals one should not smile, or frown but maintain decorum.

The benefit

• You will be remembered!
• You will be known for your integrity and great people skills.
• You will be considered a better person for improving your person and skills.

Taken by Frank R.  from notes at a company function in the mid 1960′s when personal conduct and ethics were considered very important. These points still have value today!

This is a vital issue in the current downdraft economy.  Local stores show sales at a steady pace with seniors who still dine out 3 – 5 times a week, and who are still buying 25% of all the toys purchased.

Seniors control 70% of the disposable incomes in the USA and over 72% among seniors in the State of Oregon.

This can aid business folk who are eager to adjust marketing plans and balance for reach, pull and direct customer response in upcoming quarters of 2009.  It is imperative to be direct, put value price points and basically tell folks what you will do for them, and how they can get it.

It is also highly recommended that all print ads be in larger than 5 pt type.

Seniors will come if you make it easy!!

Frank Ryan
Northwest Senior & Boomer News