WAITING FOR THE SUNSET

At the top of the Citadel at Machu Picchu sits a lookout. It's an Incan construction still standing from 1450 or so. Only a thatched roof has been re-added since then. It's at that point that picture of the famed mountain and civilization remains was taken.

Only about 1/5 of the number who visited Machu Picchu with us made the climb all the way to the top. We were all glad we did. A few others were there, too, taking pictures, taking it all in. A few llamas were eating the choicest of grasses. They probably knew the sunset was coming, but that's where they live, so it was nothing special.

Some of the tourists were even napping awaiting. It was a good hour or two away, but I got the idea that those who had come for the sunset had no hurry, no worries. And if they had thoughts of how darkness would come quickly and make their way down more adventurous, they didn't show concern. Rather like climbing that tall tree and not thinking at the time that the descent would have to be made at some point.

It's the Incan Citadel that makes this beautiful spot one of the Seven Wonders of the World. When the Spaniards conquered Peru, they burned cities. But they never found Machu Picchu. The Incans simply left.

Fifty per cent of the Citadel remains. Thirty per cent has been restored. While 20% of the original buildings is still underground. What a culture, what a sight! Never pass on the chance to visit there. It's worth the planes, boat, train, and bus to get there. And with luck,maybe you can stay long enough to see that sunset.

I SEE--ICY

I've supported ARF, an animal protection group sponsored by Cardinal manager Tony LaRussa. In fact if I turn my head to the right I can see a stuff dog with a bandanna autographed by TLR sitting on my fireplace hearth along with a Cardinals 2006 World Series Champions pennant and a basketball, 3/4 size with the St. Louis Hawks words and emblem on it.

I've always loved animals though currently we only have grand pets. But rather than be incited, I'm just icy today about PETA.

I'm sure by now, faithful reader(s) know about the meanness of our Commander in Chief who killed an annoying fly. He was captured on tv and received a diatribe from PETA for his action. Along with a trap and release contraption.

I've long thought our country was going to the dogs. I mean we care a whole lot more about animals than we do humans. I just wonder how many PETA members are also Pro-Choice or as I prefer to call it Pro-Abortion or Pro-Murder of the Unborn.

Enough said. But I pity the PETA member who contacts me about any donation.

Sorry for the wrath--I guess I was feeling more than icy once I started writing.

JUST A FEW TEDBITS

So what is a Tedbit? Little ponderances of me, Ted. Just bits for the most part. If you don't like, that's ok; I don't see them as a regular feature of On The QT.

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A high school friend of mine recently reminded me of a practice we performed in the 60's. When riding in a car and going over railroad tracks, we passengers would lift our feet. Why, he asked? I can't remember. But we did it.

When I asked my wife if she had done that, she said no, and she had never heard of anyone else doing that. When I pushed and asked why we did it, she had a one word response that probably sums it up--"Nerds".

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I not only saw, but I also killed my first scorpion in AZ this week. The only other one I had seen was in South Africa. But groggily I lifted up a rubber raft that I leave lying by the hot tub. As is my routine after a hard morning of work or walk or golf, I throw it across the hot tub, partially submerging myself and take a nap lasting from 15-45 minutes. Usually closer to the former than the latter.

Out came this little guy. I thought that's one of those little lizards with his tail up in the air acting like a scorpion. On second glance I surmised, that's a scorpion acting like a scorpion. He fell into the tub as I observed. He crawled out and I smashed him with my Nike sandal. I called Truly Nolen, our pest contract people, and they sent my man Ray out to spray. He identified it, or the remains of it, as a bark scorpion, one of the nasty kinds.

I'm still waiting for my first rattler. I hope it's a long wait.

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On the first tee, a golfer whiffs his tee shot. He says nothing. He also whiffs his second tee shot. He turns to the other three in his foursome and says, "This sure is a tough course."

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That's all the Tedbits. Hope you enjoyed.

SO WHAT'S FUNNY?

Paul's daughter giving him bunny ears? I don't know; I just never got that humor.

How about Letterman's joke about Gov. Palin and her daughter? Certainly not funny to me. But I will give him credit for the apology--one of the the best I've seen recently. Most anymore are so generic and accompanied by the word if. How about his Top 10 List? Sometimes that's humorous and I like the idea.

What's funny to me is this joke. A driver rear ends the car in front of him. It angers the driver of the car struck by him. Out of the car comes a midget. He walks over to the driver and says, "I want you to know, I'm not happy."

The driver responds, "Then which one are you?"

Now that has all the requirements of a funny joke to me. I know, I know; it's not PC because of the dwarf, little person reference. Besides that. It's short (no pun), it's to the point, and it is a play on words.

What is just the polar opposite to me is rank humor using innuendo and/or profanity. The unfunny comic from Howard Stern, another anti-funny guy, that ruined Joe Buck Live on HBO this week is a classic example. Not a big Joe Buck fan, I had started to warm to him. Until he got into a verbal and somewhat obscene battle with the other guy who was grossly obscene.

Just to see that made me think of Jack Buck, Joe's dad who would not have approved anymore than I. It was like Jerry Mathers said in a Leave It to Beaver show one time: it was like finding out that Lassie was a boy.

Now that's funny.

MY SWEET TOOTH IS ACTIVE

But not as much as a former co-worker of mine. When she was a little girl, she would take spoonfuls or spoonsful (I don't know which is correct, like brothers-in-law or brother-in-laws) of sugar straight from the sugar bowl. Now, that's a serious sweet tooth.

One of my favorites is grain. Now, let me explain. Chile is very strict on incoming food (or is it foods, and when does money become monies?). When we went through customs recently, one of the officials wanted to look into my bag. He asked if I had any grain. I said no. He looked. Sure enough, no grain.

What had happened was that he had mixed up my bag with my wife's who was carrying grain. At least she had some Rice Krispy Treats, a staple to my diet. Seven sugars and still 90 calories. So, naturally, we now refer to them as grain.

I think it was Britney Spears who took off a lot of weight when she avoided sugar completely. Maybe if I were younger. Naw. I'm fortunate I never heard about my co-worker's obsession until I was an adult. We lived pretty close to each other back then. I knew her brother pretty well. Had I known then what I know now, she might have had another spoon in her sugar bowl.

WHEN TV WENT DIGITAL

last week, I was reminded of a few things. And as usual, a question.

First, I remember well when tv shows were only in black and white. Then I remember when a few were shown in color. It made me want all the shows to be in color. Of course, later they were. It used to make our oldest grandson angry to see a show in black and white on one of the old movie channels or re-reruns. Like his G-Dad, he loved Leave It to Beaver, but hated the lack of color.

Second, I remember a college prof of mine who said he wouldn't mind death as much if he could tune in and see what his loved ones were doing. At the Heavenly control, he could just dial up a loved one or family friend and watch as they went through their day. When the activity became boring or disagreeable to him, he would just click his remote to another.

Third, what was the reason for the change? My tv reception looks the same. If it doesn't improve the picture, then why do it? Why knock out all those tvs being used by people that perhaps can't afford another one? I may very well be missing something here, but why the carnage?

The only thing I can think of is that they're getting ready for that Heavenly hook up. But somehow I think there just might be other things for us to do there.

MAYBE IT'S GOOD WE CAN'T

Start over, that is. Do-overs are allowed sometimes, but not always, and there's a reason for that.

My brother asked me the other day if I thought I would be a teacher again if I could start all over. I told him no. I think I still harbored a desire to do something in athletics. Yet my lack of commitment wouldn't even let me take part in high school athletics or coaching.

Last night I dreamed in Spanish. I used to do that regularly when I was taking second year Spanish in college, but it had been awhile since I'd dreamed in Spanish. It was a short dream, because my memory bank for my second language has had too many withdrawals. Again, my lack of commitment to learning, I mean really learning another language waned and died out after that second year.

While I'm writing about do-overs, I guess I need to include a do-never. I wish I could play a musical instrument. I like music and always have. Mr. Beckmeyer tried hard to recruit me for boys' chorus in high school, but again a lack of commitment reared its ugly head and I declined, even though I knew it would cost me an A in his class, Music Appreciation. I took my B+ and apathy as usual.

So what does it all mean? It means that if I had it to do over, I, like most I suspect, would probably do about the same thing. It didn't take a lot of effort to become a teacher, so I'd probably go that same route. I'd probably show no more dedication to organized sports or music. I would have, but you see, commitment stood in the way.