Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 11, 1993 TAG: 9308130232
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ben Beagle
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I don't have the material to do this very often. I think the last time was in 1975.
This year has been amazing, however.
In the spring, we worked lime into the soil before we planted the tomatoes, and there has been none of that loathsome rot we used to find.
Of course, as those of us who study our purposes in this universe know, there are forces that work counter to each other - that somehow balance our fortunes.
Which means we escaped the rot only to encounter some force that inhibited the growth of some our tomatoes. That is, our beefsteaks are the size of tennis balls.
But the cucumbers have performed magnificently - although I know full well my cat Judy could grow cucumbers successfully.
The beans were good and would have been better if I had been able to persuade the cook to throw some fatback in there.
I also can count great progress in my continuing battle with modern technology.
Two weeks ago, I was able to put a new ribbon cartridge into my dot matrix printer all by myself.
And when I tried the printer out, it did exactly what it was supposed to do and didn't print sideways or in those tiny little letters nobody can read.
I was alone at the computer keyboard at the time, and I don't mind telling you that emotion overcame me.
For a moment, I thought of getting right in there and trying to figure out the checkbook-balancing program in the computer, but a voice told me not to do that.
At some time in the future, I hope to be able to report to you that I can insert the paper into the printer - making sure all of those little holes in the sides of the paper are matching those little teeth on the roller.
The greatest station wagon driver of them has been doing this for me, although she is as fearful of technology as I am. Fear aside, she is alone at the top when it comes to putting the paper in the printer.
You may recall that I ran the Cherokee over my string trimmer earlier this summer. The handle on it broke, and I ordered a new one and put it on myself - although the people at the store expressed doubt that I'd be able to do that.
That's about all the good things I can report at this time.
I could stretch it out a little by mentioning that I stopped a slow leak in the bathroom all by myself, but that would be petty.
Besides, the way things are going I may have enough good things to write another report at the turn of the century.
by CNB