Tch Tch Tch, a clicking sound, often read as tɪskˌtɪsk tisk. Britannica Dictionary definition of TCH TCH. — used to show disapproval. Usually pronounced as three clicks, Tch is closely related to the interjection tut, which is also used to express contempt or disdain and can mean “for shame.” Tch and tut are often used interchangeably.

My Aunt Edda (pronounced with a long E sound) used Tch Tch Tch all the time. “Hey Aunt Edda,” I’d say, “did you hear the O’Ryan’s dog got hit twice by a car in the same day?” “Tch Tch Tch,” she’d say, “That’s a dog what needs a lease”. She meant to say leash but no one ever corrected her. Aunt Edda was proud that she completed 8^th grade. Her sister, my grandmother (Nana), only completed 6^th grade.

I was visiting Aunt Edda when Ronald Reagan was running for president in 1980. I asked if she was going to vote for him. She replied: “He is MY age. Somedays I wake up and I don’t remember my name! I’m voting for the young guy(Mondale).” Aunt Edda would be Tch Tch Tching over old man Joe Biden thinking he can be President at 86. WTF is maybe the modern day equivalent to Tch Tch Tch. I miss Aunt Edda.

In the last six months:

My McAfee anti-virus subscription has expired 235 times.

I have 87 packages awaiting my confirming receipt.

I’ve won 65 Milwaukee Drills.

I’ve missed 122 opportunities to unclog my bowels.

I’ve passed on 49 free MacBook Pro offers.

I’ve passed up 181 opportunities to get my “erection muscle” working like a teenager.

I could have cut my electric bill by 70% 87 times.

I do my best to make life hell for any phone caller who attempts to take advantage of my diminished mental capacity. A few, I have driven into fits of apoplectic rage. One unfortunately was my wife who actually started to feel sorry for the Mumbai guy who just wanted my credit card number. For the rest, I rely on my Spam filter. Otherwise, I like my Spam fried with a sunny-side up egg.

“What’s Up, Doc”

Watched “What’s Up, Doc” last night. Peter Bogdanovich’s homage to screwball comedies. I haven’t laughed that hard since LS was over for dinner. It wasn’t till after the film that I realized the outdoor San Francisco scenes had no homeless tents. The movie was made in 1971. Let me repeat that thought: In 1971, San Francisco had no homeless tents. I always thought that society should IMPROVE over time. What exactly happened?

Tonight Svengoolie’s movie is This Island Earth. Classic Science Fiction, one of the first of the “Hey maybe there are Good Guys too out there amongst the Evil Monsters” genre. Big shout-out to Exeter. Svengoolie will have a ton of trivia to go over. That will be the best part for me. I’ve introduced this film to countless friends over the years and frankly the effects, color and scenery are far superior to the dialogue and characters. So much so that should I watch this alone I will keep the sound off. It’s STILL a good movie.

“The past tempts us, the present confuses us, and the future frightens us. And our lives slip away, moment by moment, lost in that vast terrible in-between”.  Centauri Emperor Turhan (with a grinning nod to J. Michael Straczynski – my hero)

In 1968, I attended a Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) meeting. The meeting was ruled my 2 girls who had that look that said, “I’m in charge here, GoDDamnit!”.  I left and always wondered if my attendance would someday come back to haunt me. So far, so good!

I used to think I was a woke person 16 hours a day and asleep the other 8. Then my son explained what WOKE means. I recognized woke people right away – we used to call them “Buttinskis”. Except for Aunt Betty – she calls them assholes.  I love Aunt Betty. 

Tee Shirt Seen in Beijing: “George Costanza started Covid”.

I’m living an Alan Drury novel !

Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm: 

When my brother’s body was sent home in Summer 1966, he was accompanied by PFC Tim from the US Marine Corps. Tim’s job was to stand at attention next to my brother’s closed casket during the wake and funeral procession. The wake was 3 days and Tim duly stood stoic. I ignored him, my brother D played cards with him, my mother adopted him immediately and fed him and made him feel at home as best she could. My father was quiet. 

Mom kept up a correspondence with Tim. His last letter was dated August 1967 from Vietnam. He wrote: “Guess what I found out today! There is a guy in my platoon from your town. His name is JB. He is one of our machine gunners. He says he knows your family. He said something about K dating his sister.” 

Three weeks later, Tim and JB were killed in the same firefight. For you number people, this happened one year one month and one day after my brother’s death. JB’s sister S became my first lovely wife. While we are no longer married, we are forever Gold Start Siblings. God Bless America.

Easter Thoughts 2023:

When my son was small at Easter we’d not only hide eggs but I’d make a crude map showing approximate locations. Kind of a way to add a level of Orienteering to an otherwise Hide and Seek game. It worked! He’s never gotten lost (and I mean that on several levels).

I have watched Andrea Bocelli sing on YouTube many times. I’ve seen him give interviews; I NEVER knew he was blind. I hope he schedules a concert at the NYC Met. I’d love to see and hear him in that venue. I’ll start saving now.

Random Thoughts 1: 

I met a Scottish lass on the motor vehicle line who claims to have stolen hundreds of dollars of cheese from Calfasso’s Fairway Market in Fort Lee but because of the store’s legendary retailer chicanery and skullduggery has only broken even! I gave her three dollars. I loved her accent!

Dennis Miller is incorrect: Trey Gowdy is not TinTin. He’s TinTin’s younger funnier brother Finn Tin

Walter Mitty, Ralph Phillips, George Santos, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, liars all, certainly; but eighth circle or ninth circle? That’s the only question.

A Bit-a Politics 1: 

A New York Appellate Judge denied a defamation suit brought by Trump lawyers against MSNBC for fake and slanderous reporting of his high-profile Stormy Daniels affair.  The Judge ruled that since there is no evidence the public is watching MSNBC there are no grounds for a defamation suit. MSNBC’s lawyer plans to appeal.

Former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot is reportedly in the running to be the summer replacement of Svengoolie. Toony was seen to be ill with anticipation.