Elizabeth Hurley's Digestion Reboot Was A Success, Adrian Peterson Fires Back & Buy An OJ Bronco
Merc Matt sets the record straight on his use of ‘Merc’ to refer to a Mercedes
• Merc Matt IS BACK and he has a few things to get off his chest:
Glad to see you had a refreshing vacation. And extra glad to see you're willing to sign up for more of same. Well done.
It's been a while since my first email, so I thought I would catch up on a lot of Screencap topics that transpired in the interim....
1. The "Merc" shorthand for Mercedes and the slight busting-of-chops in the column
2. The interesting Changing Careers thread re: Exotic Wood Mike
3. How that thread ties into my overlap with Mike and Cindy T's pictures
4. An additional, extra-interesting coincidence with Exotic Wood Mike that just happened in your Screencaps column today
5. A question about joining the TNML, when you actually don't have a lawn
First...
I was introduced to Mercedes when I lived in South Africa. A British friend of mine who had a number of models from the 1960s and 1970s called all of his "Mercs". I picked it up from there. Never thought about it again until I got called out by my ScreenCaps colleagues. My only request here, is to not be too judgmental on this issue. Not sure I can change at this point.
Secondly and Thirdly....
I'm not going to broadcast my full name or resume on ScreenCaps, but if you take a look at my LinkedIn you can see I've done a bunch of different things in my life. Lived on three continents. Been a scientist, a banker, and a flight instructor. Now I run an international business that makes environmentally sustainable pesticides for agriculture that use insect pheromones. Enjoyed a lot of luck and been blessed with many great relationships that have helped me over my life.
A few things to think about, when it comes to big career changes....
Most people who are smart, hard-working and have a decent network of friends and work relationships can always get an informational interview or volunteer for a "project" at a lower-rung, in a new industry, if they try hard enough. I've done it myself, and I've hired many people using that path. I always have time for people like that - people who are willing to invest in themselves, willing to invest in my business and my team, and take a chance. I also have mentoring relationships with people who are contemplating these types of career moves.
There are two big 'showstopper' questions to ask yourself before you get started on this path:
Am I willing to take a pay cut?
Am I willing to move and/or travel?
If the answer is "No" to either one of those, you might eliminate 99% of the potential options out there, that might be available to you. There is no right or wrong answer to either of the questions above. There is only the answer for you. But you need to be honest with yourself and understand how your flexibility on these points creates interest (or lack of it) from a potential employer or business partner. Would be happy to talk about it more. I love helping out people whenever I can, with their career choices.
And the ScreenCaps tie-in to the above? I've been to many, many of the places that Mike T. and Cindy T. have shown in Europe as part of my job. Like, I've been on the exact streets of their photos, and I can identify individual buildings and places (e.g. the Valencia market) that I have been at, and will be at again within the next 6-8 weeks. I know the waterfront in Malaga quite well. I like following along with their pictures.
Fourthly....
As I mentioned above, I am a pilot and I like to read books about flying. I'm reading one of them right now called "Bringing the Thunder" about B-29 raids on Japan at the end of WWII. This morning, I read ScreenCaps about EWM visiting his factory in Grundy Center, Iowa. Less than hour later, on page 156 of my book, I read about a WWII B-29 crew naming their plane 'The City of Grundy Center' after one of their home towns in Iowa. There is also a passage in there about them needling the guy because it was the smallest town that a plane was named after. You can check it out yourself. My God! What are the odds of that? ScreenCaps karma.
Fifthly and Finally....
Can I guy join the TNML as an honorary member when he doesn't have a lawn? I used to have lawns. I used to mow lawns all of the time, but now I live on 21 forested acres in Oregon. I actually used to live in Idaho very near Mike T. No grass anymore on my property. Is that allowed? Is there some penance or ritual that must be paid beforehand, in order to get a T-shirt or sticker? Please let me know.
Kinsey:
Merc Matt, you can join TNML if you don't own a lawn as long as you take a pledge to never support a politician who threatens to jail Americans for using a gas-powered mower. It's that simple.
TNML sticker requests are starting to come in and I'm starting to get the energy to stuff more envelopes
But….I need to invest in a ‘TNML’ stamp I can use on the envelopes. I want people to see that ‘TNML: We mow on Thursdays’ or ‘TNML: Edge, Mow & Blow’ in the upper left corner of the envelope and picture their excitement.
I know you guys don't get very exciting mail these days besides whatever Amazon is dumping on your porch. I want my envelopes to be art.
I'm not looking to break the bank, but I sorta want the TNML envelopes to look like the recruiting letter envelopes your kids get from 300 D3 schools because they're on a mailing list all the D3 schools have.
I want you guys to feel like you're 16 again and getting those recruiting letters.
#standby
Retirement gift ideas for Jake from Colorado's dad
• Bev says:
This is for Jake in Colorado. His Dad sounds just like my Dad. Not one bit materialistic. Loved your thoughts Joe, here are a few things that thrilled my Dad..... For his retirement, we put together a video included tons of old photos..... Included his parents, sibs, Marine Corps buddies, put it to music he loved. I asked him to give me lessons on grinding the wheat and making his famous bread, I asked him to teach me how to get roses like his......
I signed my Dad up for Honor Flight, I let my brother accompany him, we should have all gone with him.
Jake..... Thank you for the memory wash, the tears are flowing remembering the best gift I ever received was my Dad.
Again Joe, thank you for what you do.
• Brent P. in Carmel, IN writes:
Retirement gift for dad? Your first bullet point was spot on. I was 35 with 2 kids when my father retired. Not a lot of extra cash floating around. So I made him 5 coupons to allow him to schedule breakfast dates together and I would buy. Breakfast was the most inexpensive, and at a time of day that didn’t take away from my own family or work. The breakfast meet ups turned into once a week meetups. Sometimes he was with his friends, most of the time, just the two of us. After the coupons were spent he paid every time. He once told me that it was his favorite retirement gift of them all. It only lasted for 4 years until his passing after battling cancer. Just writing this I have tears in my eyes. I think I might call my son and schedule a breakfast.
• Bill in Oregon says:
First of all, I love Screencaps and read it every morning. Keep the great content coming.
As a soon to be 70 retired father of 3 (I would like to believe I did hard things), something I value most these days is when my wife of 43 years and I get to spend time with the kids. It’s even better when all 3 are together.
My recommendation is to plan an event/trip/occasion that brings you all together so he can be himself and enjoy having you around. If done right it could be something both of you remember the rest of your lives.
• Angela in WI writes:
We will be getting our good friend Mark this to wear to his retirement party:
• Jim T. has a fun suggestion:
Drive A Tank - Tank Driving, Car Crushing, Machine Gun Shooting
• Tractor Pull Jon says :
Awesome suggestion for the soon-to-be Illinois retiree.
Besides the obvious trip to BG, might I suggest:
The Budweiser Dairyland NTPA Super Nationals in Tomah, Wisconsin. June 20-22, 2024. Couple hours north and west of Madison with the Dells resort area in between. Not as rowdy as BG (no coolers, all beer sold on-site), but roughly the same size pull and quality of competition. The fans who want to get hammered leave early for the campsites and bars.
The North Iowa Nationals in Rockwell, Iowa. August 1-3, 2024. About 10 miles south of Mason City of "Music Man" fame. Up-and-coming pull with a big campground and every Grand National class we run in NTPA. Promoted by the local Lions Club.
The DeKalb County Fair Nationals in Sandwich, Illinois. September 5 & 7, 2024. About 45 min. west of Joliet. Thursday is Truck Night, while Saturday has a doubleheader of tractor classes with the multi-engine Modifieds. He can see one of the Midwest's great fairs in between sessions.
Just like BG, pits in all three places are open to the fans. He can get up close, take photos, and ask the pullers questions.
Next week's Philadelphia Flower Show trip with Mrs. Screencaps
• Stonewaller from West Texas says:
I'm so jealous that you get to go that flower show. Please post your photos for us to see. I am one of your female readers, but I'm sure that there are lots of gardeners who would like to see also. As much as we like our lawns around here, I know we have some green thumbs who would also be interested in seeing the ideas for spring planting. I've already spent quality time with my seed catalogs. Thanks, Joe.
Kinsey:
I won't let you down, Stonewaller. Needless to say, Mrs. Screencaps is very, very excited to be heading east for this show. She's already looking at the weather forecast like how I look at the forecast 10 days out for my golf trips.
• Jim M. writes:
I think you’ve done Philly a few times but as weather iffy at times during the flower show I recommend Dinics in Reading Terminal Market. Always neat people watching and shopping. Only downside is having to grab a ‘to go’ beer from Molly Malloy’s (also inside) and sitting at a public shared table.
Don't think Molly’s lets you bring in outside food.
That area is fairly safe during mid-week daylight. After dark can get impacted by dirt bike riding and weekend flash mob crap. Enjoy!
Kinsey:
I'm actually a former Pennsylvania taxpayer, Jim. I spent the first four years of my media career in NEPA and would jump on 476 for the 90-minute drive down to Philadelphia quite often. While I don't keep completely up-to-date on all things Philly, I definitely have enough intel to be aware of my surroundings when the dirtbike crowds roll in.
Spring has sprung for Sheriff John in Texas
The season is starting for some.
• Screencaps Sheriff John writes:
Spring appears to have arrived in Southeast Texas this week, so I got the finish mower out for the first time in a while yesterday. My boys are discus throwers and this is the discus sector I built for them last winter. When we started out this was just a muddy low spot in a pasture (but no trees!) and now it's starting to look pretty good. I trucked in extra dirt from the home construction site and planted some winter rye and fescue. Later this spring I am going to start raising and leveling it with sand and spread some Bermuda seed and then it will really start to look like an actual sports facility once that grows in.
One sport you never bring up is club track and field. That was my sport in college and it's now my boys' sport and it's CHEAP compared to baseball or volleyball. We have the high school season right now and then we'll go into club season all the way to the end of July. In fact, I had to mow today even though it's Wednesday because tomorrow my freshman son has a meet.
How am I going to golf with ⅔ of a plant foot after a partial amputation?
• Ron in Lake Oswego, Oregon asks:
As always fantastic column today. The AT&T "It" Girl enough said. However, as pleasant as all the IG Models, etc. are I need some advice from other folks who both play golf and have had a partial or full foot amputation. After a stellar trip to Half Moon Bay (pics attached - top pic is 17th Tee Box to Green and lower is 18th to Green and towards the Ritz Carlton both on the Old Course designed by Arnold Palmer), I found out that I have a necrotic bone issue in my right foot. They are going to take 1/3 of foot off so I can live to golf another day.
My question is, how do I play golf w/ only 2/3 of a "plant" foot?
Kinsey:
Ron, we've got you.
I'm going to connect you with my buddy John ‘One Leg’ Bell who is one of the best amputee golfers in the United States. He's in my text group and if there's one guy who can help you get through this, it's JB.
This is why I preach over and over to just throw out questions. This column has experts in so many micro areas of life that I've lost track of all of them.
I remember the guy who emailed me looking to get into a nuclear energy career. My father-in-law retired from the nuclear energy world and hooked up the emailer with all sorts of leads on jobs and now I assume the reader is working in the field.
America, say something. Let this column be a resource.
Email: joekinsey@gmail.com
I thought this was America!
The TNML Collection® will be better than this
I have a call today on the Collection®. Trust me, it's all hands on deck this year to make sure we have gear in your hands for Opening Day, especially after the ‘Make Lawns Great Again’ first-edition shirt sold out in 30 hours.
What's up with Kelly McGillis?
• Will S. in Charlotte NC writes:
Was in Key West last week – Kelly McGillis owns a brewery/restaurant there (which interestingly also once was the first Pan Am Airlines office in the US).
https://firstflightkw.com/
Let's end this morning with a sunrise
• Warren in Mesa, AZ writes:
There are sunrises, beautiful sunrises and Arizona sunrises!
Enjoy and keep up the good work! Screencaps is first on my reading list every morning!
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That's it for this Thursday morning. I do want to end by saying how awesome it is to have the Ladies of Screencaps participating. I think today sets a record for the number of female emailers who made the cut. Between Stonewaller, Bev and Angela, I like where this is heading.
And you guys who think I'll estrogen up the place can relax. I've been talking retirement gifts for dads, gardening – which works perfectly into the TNML – and life.
That 1 & ¼ days off has me reinvigorated!
Now go have a great day.
Email: joekinsey@gmail.com