Bananas and Ice Cream

The morning would be ripe with the air of youthful joy as the clock would finally sing the tune of revelry, and the sun would be coming over the top of the fields to the east. Christmas? No, it was early in the morning of July 4th, In those days, the 4Th of July was almost as bigger than Christmas in the house that my dad grew up in. .

I imagine that the 4th of July was a big deal because my dad's family had celebrated that day more than Christmas. My dad would tell how my grandfather would make home made ice cream one day a year, and that was of course, the 4th of July. He would have saved all year, and he would then give each of his eight kids fifty cents. Now days most kids probably don't even know what such a small amount looks like, but when my dad was growing up in the depressed economy of SW Missouri, .50 was a lot of money. My dad would sometimes then go into town, go to the "picture show" as he called it, and then buy bananas.Yes, bananas, for my dad loved bananas, and the only time that he go them was when he bought them for the 4th What a day for him! Ice cream and bananas. His face would still glow when he would tell me about that special day many. many years later.

Now, here is it on the verge of another 4th of July, and I am remembering my own 4th of July treasured times.  More later.

Burke-1949

Burke in 1949-my parents were living there then, but I did not arrive for a few more years. 

Look how narrow the street was, When the train came through, there was hardly any room to park. Hard to believe that Burke is all but gone now. 

Burke Versus The Bronx -from a previous post-updated with a picture

The first thing that you so when you move to NYC is to get the subway or train schedule.This is your Bible, and you must learn how to read it and memorize it. If you do not take this lesson to heart, you are in very deep do-do.Why? you ask. Because if you don't, you might just take the wrong train and end up in the Bedford-Styvesant section of Brooklyn. Believe me, you do not want to end up there as I did one night.This is the mean section whose streets produced such people as Mike Tyson.

In the South Bronx, you want to know the "D" train, for it is the one in front of Yankee Stadium that gets you from the Bronx to mid-town Manhattan.Riding the D train can be a great adventure, and it is not for the weak of heart.Just waiting for it in the station is not for those who scare easily.Many commuters have been the victims of a fun game they play there. It is called"push the innocents down to the tracks in front of an incoming train"Great fun,isn't it?
I will write more later about riding the trains in the Bronx,but for now I will return to something more familiar to you, Burke.

Yes, Burke, where trains were once as important there as they are in the Bronx today.Bronx has a history of violence on their trains, and so does Burke, but Burke had something that the Bronx does not have, and that was a train that ran right though the lobby of a hotel.Yes, the famous Tiger Hotel,comes complete with dining,rooms,a bakery, and its own train.And New York thinks it is sophisticated!New York has the Waldorf, but Burke had the Tiger, or as it was fondly called by the locals"The Beanery"

Imagine this, if you can,and is hard for those of us who never saw it, a three story hotel with 150 sleeping rooms in Burke,Idaho. I have spent most of my adult working years managing or working in all capacities in hotels from Seattle to LasVegas. I have seen many room patterns, numerous lobbies geared for the soothing of the guest's weary bones and spirits, by I never worked a property that had these wonderful amenities. For through the lobby of the Tiger Hotel flowed a creek, a road, and a railroad track for the Northern Pacific Railroad!My, how I would loved to have written the brochure for that hotel!

So, you see, the Bronx and Burke not that all different.The trains of Burke were the sites of some of the most violent days in Western lore, and the trains in the Bronx were the scenes of some of the most disgusting murders.NYC has some of the most renowned hotels in the world, but none can match the history of the Tiger Hotel in Burke.My father stayed there as a young man in Burke, and paid a whopping $30.00 a month, and that included delicious meals.




 Here is a picture of the Tiger in 1954, after it was already shuttered and ready for demolition.

Next-the people who rode the trains in Burke versus the people on the D train in the Bronx.

Iron Man Revisted

Well, here is is again. Time for the CDA Iron Man, I read this morning that CDA just signed a new 5 year deal to host it.. With that in mind, I repeat my blog about Iron Man CDA from last year.


Well, it is finally here. Time for the annual Ford Iron Man Coeur D Alene. I hated it when I was in the hotel business, and I hate it now. Why? Well, because, that is why. (that worked for my parents.) Anyway,I live on the bike path, so I cannot go anywhere for the next several hours. However, I am not writing this to dis the unfairness of the select few who bring this monstrosity to the city every year, but rather, I am doing a fair, impartial, review of the thee events which the participants must master to receive the coronation and the title of "iron man". I mean, is it really all that hard?

1.  2,4 mile swim-
2. 112 mile bike ride
3.  26 mile run.

Come on, anyone can do that. Now, let me tell you about what a real iron man is.

I was  sitting on a bar stool in the old ' Metals Bar" in Wallace, when I spotted my older cousin, actually my Dad's first cousin, Cletus, who was famous for his drinking and mining skills. Now, Cletus was excited to see his younger relative(I was only 29 at the time), so he wanted to know if I had the family drinking skills that so many of my relatives possessed. (Strangely, my own father never drank). I, not wanting to wimp out, assured Cletus that I was a _________through and through.

He smiled and ordered me a shot. I manned up, and downed that shot like a pro. Cletus smiled, and gave me the family blessing," Yep, you drink like a --------all right. I was so proud to keep the tradition alive. Before I knew it, there were more shots in front of me, and then more and more and more. I passed each test with ease. Soon, it was last call, and I figured that the night was over. I was ready for bed.

I was wrong. Cletus wanted breakfast at Denny's in CDA. OK, now even with all of those shots in me, I knew that going to CDA at 2 AM, was possibly not the right choice. But, I was still needing to prove my manhood, so I said sure , I would go. Off we went. I don't remember much about the trip because Cletus kept a bottle in his car for emergencies(I guess that he figured this must be one). We finished off that bottle well before we got to CDA. We ate a great, OK, a not so great breakfast, but the coffee sure hit the spot, got in his car, and headed back home. The light was not starting to break through , and the birds were doing their morning song. Surely, the night was over. Whoops, there was one more course before this triathlon  was over.As we neared the Smelterville exit,Cletus, or whatever his name was by now, asked if I could handle one more. Of course, I could. after all, I was a ---------.
Well, needless to say we were the first patrons of the day, and after two more drinks, we finally headed for home. When I got out of the car, or fell out, whichever it was, I was once again blessed with the respect of my cousin. I was indeed worthy to have the name.

So, talk about this sissy CDA event all that you want to. But, I already did the course many years ago, and a lot tougher course it was. Wallace to CDA to Smelterville, to Wallace. My cousin, may he RIP was truly an iron man every weekend, and I, I, too, for one glorious night earned the the title, too. I was an IRON MAN.

Does A Representative Represent?

In our form of democracy by representation, here is a very important question that needs to be answered. If someone has the title of "Representative", then should they not be presenting and advocating the desires of the public that they "represent"? Do we elect someone to advocate the ideas of the people who elect him or her, or does the vote of the people present the elected person a gold card with the right to decide that is "best" for the people who elected him?

Silence Of The Lambs

Wow, how did I know that many of the signatures on the recall petition would be thrown out? Once again the powers that be will win, and the voice of the people will be silenced.I miss the real Coeur D'Alene, the one with smoke stacks, lumber yards, Potlatch Forest, Playland Pier, and where the average person could afford to shop downtown. I miss Templin's,and The Brunswick, and all of the hamburger stands on Sherman. Condos blocking the view of the Lake? Progress? I think not.

When Pigs Can Fly

Recent news in the fine dining front heralded the long awaited arrival, drum roll please---------
of the "Bacon Sundae". OK, now, I a no Galloping Gourmet, but come on, please!. A bacon sundae????
I say why stop there. I am introducing next week an item that will get the taste buds budding. Another drum roll please---------A Chocolate Cake Sandwich.. Yes, you heard it first here. My new delicacy calls for a slab of chocolate cake between two pieces of old fashioned Wonder Bread, and slathered in mustard and ketchup. Yep, that is the ticket. Now, there is fine dining.

Blame It On Those 20 Ounce Sodas

[quote]After taking on smoking, trans-fats and restaurant calorie counts, Hizzoner has yet another health hazard in his crosshairs: oversized sugary drinks.

The city is working on a plan to ban large soft drinks and other sweet beverages in eateries, theaters and most other venues, City Hall announced Wednesday.

The new rules, which could take effect next March, would prohibit cups larger than 16 ounces of any liquid that contains more than 25 calories per 8 ounces. That targets sodas, sweetened ice tea and energy drinks. Diet sodas and milk-based beverages — even calorie laden milkshakes — will remain lawful.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/big-soda-ban-bloomberg-administration-proposes-ban-sugary-drinks-larger-16-ounces-article-1.1087241#ixzz1x1X6SRJ3[/quote]

I mean what is murder, rape, disease, poverty, unemployment, horrible schools, and gangs compared to the problem of a 20oz soda. Mr, Mayor, is this how you want your administration defined? Really?

The Bronx Verus Burke

For those who remember my posts about Burke versus The Bronx, here are two pictures. Kind of look the same, don't they?