THE LOST PROFESSION

As I was doing laundry today, I happened to think about an old profession that you just don't see anymore. It seems that, now-a-days, you just can't make a decent living doing certain things like you used to.

In particular, I was thinking back to biblical time. Wasn't there a profession called "bleaching?" No, I'm not talking about laundries or dry cleaners. I'm talking about people that were specialists in bleaching.

I believe the bible teaches us that there were good bleachers, and bad bleachers, because if you had money, you would take your clothes to the finest bleachers. If you were not so well off, there were economy bleachers.

If you used one of the economy bleachers, your clothes might not come back as white as you would like. I'm thinking that good bleachers -- used more bleach. The finest bleachers must have really poured the bleach in.

Trip to Atlantic City -- with Name Deleted

Many trips to AC begin here, especially trips with Name Deleted. Was a cold night, no one on the boardwalk -- except the Irish Pub Sign Guy. He's always there.

Then it was on to the only game we played on this trip: that's right! Rapid Roulette!

We were both big winners here!

Tis the season for those Christmas Parties!

May you and yours enjoy the fullness of the season, blah, blah, blah, blah, etc. etc.

SPECIAL REPORT!!

HURRICANE ERNESTO




Another hurricane on JB Mountain.

Here I am in my driveway.

My Trip to New York


Everyone is asking about pictures from my New York trip. Here I am at Coney Island.

After this photo op., I headed for where you SHOULD ride the Cyclone -- the back seat.

The cyclone is definitely the roughest (i.e. bumpy, jostling) ride I've ever been on. Rode the back seat, or next to back seat, 4 times. My neck was stiff for a week, but I'll be back on it as soon as I can get back up there.





Then it was off to the boardwalk for a famous Nathans hot dog. Maybe it was the adventure of getting there, but it seemed like the best hot dog ever.

The Coney Island section of Brooklyn seems to be a clean, safe area that is attracting new residents. It reminded me of the north side of Chicago -- the subway is even elevated in this area (like the Chicago "L").

The boardwalk attractions extend over a mere 2 or 3 blocks, only a small remnant of the glory days of the old Coney Island. However, what was there was very clean. The crowd was family-oriented.

The day was extremely hot on my way down to Coney Island, in the 90s. But on the boardwalk a breeze was blowing in off the water, and the temperature was cooled toward 80. I don't know if this is always the case, but on this particular day the contrast between crowded, hot Manhattan and the Coney Island boardwalk was amazing.

The Search for Ebbets Field

My day was not over. Next came the search for Ebbets Field -- former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers (Ebbets Field was torn down in the early 60s). From internet research I knew the subway stop to use, and the exact block that the stadium stood on.



Standing at the stadium in the old days, this is what you would have seen:








THIS is what I saw.

Unlike Coney Island, the area is ..... not good.




However, nearby is Prospect Park (sort of the Central Park of Brooklyn). I completed my tour of Brooklyn with a walk around the park.