Mea Culpa Redux

Uncle Jack discovered this morning that more than a month has flown by since he last blogged.  An apology to his faithful core (corps, corpse?) of  readers is long overdue once again.  He still doesn't have anything particularly interesting to say but he did want to let you know that as he closes in on his 80th birthday in June he is in good health and enjoying life to the hilt. He and Mrs. U.J. have gone to numerous concerts and plays during the past month and he can tell you he has enjoyed them more than ever since he got his new hearing aid. He still doesn't understand how a little gadget you can stick in your ear could cost as much as a 52 inch, flat-screen, high definition you-know-what but it did.  Unfortunately after wearing it for a month he has discovered he can't get along without it so he will just have to get over the outrageous cost which, of course, is not covered by his medical insurance.
     Quite a while ago they planned to spend next week in Nags Head only to learn recently that their visit will coincide with "Bike Week" which will surely put some mileage on his new hearing aid.  He heard a rumor that now that Myrtle Beach has put out the unwelcome sign to bikers there may be as many as 35,000 of them descending, unmuffled, on the Outer Banks for an entire week instead of just a weekend. Time to buy some stock in Hooters, for whom the recession would seem to be over.
      The Orioles are off to a great start----one win to 8 losses--- but when you have a 52 inch flat-screen you-know-what to watch them on it's still fun.  Sort of.

 Watergate, as seen from Kennedy Center where UJ and Mrs. UJ recently saw a terrific play by Terrence McNally called "Lisbon Traviata".  It was here that the Republicans began their long slide into the mucky political swamp in which they now find themselves. "Rove, Rove, Rove Your Boat" has supplanted "We'll Take the High Road" as the Grand Old Party's theme song.

Spring has sprung in Charm City.  Two days of 90 degree weather last week caused an explosion among the cherry trees, dogwoods, tulips, etc. The 6.5 feet of snow that fell a couple of months ago has disappeared, leaving a fresh crop of monster potholes in its wake.

The oldest railroad station in the U.S., now a B. & O. museum in Ellicott City, a charming old mill town just a few miles up the Patapsco River from Baltimore.

Almost all the buildings in Ellicott City are made of thick granite so they have been almost impossible to tear down.  They are now occupied by a thriving collection of antique shops, restaurants and other tourist-friendly businesses. Some of these structures date back to the 18th century. Charming town.even though traffic on the main street is horrendous.

This passenger car dates back to the days when the B & O's trains were pulled by mules.  Many of the great Baltimore fortunes derive from the folks who owned stock in those days and hung on to it.