Chuck's Chat-Welcome to August!

This is traditionally the hottest month of the year. I thought July had plenty of excessively warm days. Not really looking forward to more of the same. Or perhaps worse. I haven’t seen much improvement after that quarter of an inch of rain we received here along the Northern Sycamore Urban Boundary last weekend. Nonetheless, I am thankful for the couple days of cooler temperatures.

I heard a news report that said SPAM is now being locked up in clear plastic cases in New York City as a way to try to prevent theft. Really? Our society has sunk so low that now even cans of SPAM, that who knows how long have been on the shelves, are not out of the realm of thievery possibilities. The most commonly stolen items at US stores include cigarettes, health and beauty products, over-the-counter medications, contraceptives, liquor, teeth-whitening strips and other products. In addition, San Francisco has a law that loosely states shoplifting offenses involving property valued at less than $950 are prosecuted as misdemeanors, not felonies. Many lawyers will not take these crimes to trial because they know the current judges won’t prosecute. One of their recent most often shoplifted items is Tide detergent. At least the criminals have clean clothes.

Thank you to all who recently participated in the Montgomery County Farm Bureau annual kiddie tractor pull held at the Montgomery County 4-H Fair. We hope to see many more participants at the Interstate Fair and Rodeo annual kiddie tractor pull which will be held on August 10 in Coffeyville.

August is National Get Ready for Kindergarten Month. My youngest granddaughter will be attending kindergarten this year. I think she’s been getting ready ever since her older siblings started school. I must say, it is amazing to see the changes in these aged kids throughout the year.

In 1952, the Wheat Flour Institute established August as National Sandwich Month. Newspapers across the country filled their pages with recipes fit for the Earl of Sandwich and picnics alike. The annual observance continues today. bbAccording to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a sandwich must have at least 35% cooked meat and be no more than 50% bread. OK, I have a real problem with this. I’ve eaten many a sandwich with no meat at all, let alone 1/3 cooked meat. I’m guessing they have another name for the good ol’ “PB + J”. I even eat BLT’s when we run out of “B”. By the way, it’s hard to beat a BLT with home grown maters for supper after a day of toiling in the hot summer sun.

August 11 is designated as National Presidential Joke Day. I think we’ve already observed at least 557 days up to this past August 1st. Aaaand there go all my political aspirations…

Until next time,

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God Bless America