The Thirty-Second Of December - Suspense Old Time Radio Episode

So as we quickly move to the end of 2013, there is a great episode of Suspense that I would like to share.  Suspense is one of the most famous radio series that ran from 1942 to 1962.  It was one of the last regular series that was being broadcast in the early 1960s.  The home for much of that run was the above building, Columbia Square in Hollywood.  Seeing it in October was very cool for a radio geek like me.

The episode I want to share is  "The Thirty-Second Of December."  This was broadcast on Sunday December 28, 1958.  Interestingly, that was the same day that the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts played The 1958 National Football League Championship Game at Yankee Stadium.  It is long considered the "Greatest Game Ever Played" as Baltimore defeated New York in overtime, 23-17.  But we are not talking about football today.

Anyway, "The Thirty-Second Of December" is a great episode from Suspense, featuring Frank Lovejoy, Norman Alden, Joan Banks, Barney Phillips, with Morris Lee Green & William Walker (writers) and William N. Robson (producer, director).  Frank Lovejoy has been in a large number of episodes, including Suspense, Escape, many Norman Corwin productions, and his own series, Nightbeat.

Frank Lovejoy plays Joe, a man in a tough situation with one day left to pay off a $1000 gambling debt to the mob. (According to the Inflation Calculator, What cost $1000 in 1958 would cost $7830.90 in 2012).  But anyway...Joe takes his wife's ring to a pawn shop.  While getting money for it, he was distracted by a special watch.  This watch had special powers, the ability to bend time.  If you controlled time, then all of your problems would go away.  Or will they?  This is the lesson that Joe learns about the hard way.

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2014 - unless we hit the 32nd of December.

Here are the links to episodes:

• Thirty-Second of December (originally aired December 28, 1958)
• Episode information from Escape and Suspense
• All episodes of Suspense (from the Internet Archive)
• Suspense entry in the Wikipedia
• Plot summaries for Suspense (from Plot Spot)
• Nightbeat (radio series staring Frank Lovejoy - from the Internet Archive)

Recycled Blog Posts - All my Haikus

Recycled Blog Posts - All my Haikus

These are really not great - but I wanted to save these from my old blog that is closing down.  Here are all my old haikus...probably nothing great - but hey - I wrote them.  So why not save them.  They were written primarily between May and July 2008 when I was trying to write a haiku a day.  I got thirty - so if you do the math, you will see...well, please do not do the math.  In retrospect - some of these are not bad...emphasis on "not bad."

Now that I am more interested in fiction writing, I want to make sure that I save these.  You be the judge...enjoy!

Hummingbird - May 20, 2008 

Forty two degrees
A hummingbird sitting still
Wings tucked on her side

Harbour Lights - May 20, 2008
ebayed Harbour Lights
Suddenly within my reach
so very tempting

MeLCat - May 22, 2008
Colder than normal
When no students are about
Better use MeLCat

Art Van - May 28, 2009
Furniture on sale
Best ever prices this weekend
Has to be Art Van

Michigan Primary - May 29, 2008
Michigan primary
Measured only one aspect
Name recognition

Hoover's (A business database I do not like) - June 3, 2008
Hoover's Disappoints
For almost all my students
Reports cost extra

Advertising here?
We pay for this database
Looks like a free site

Red Wings - June 4, 2008
Noise in HockeyTown
Fans Celebrating loudly
All from lifting the cup

Book Reviews - June 8, 2008
Cut, tighter, tighter
One seventy five in reach
Still much left to say

Jedi Shopping - June 8, 2008
Were I a jedi
Purchases would be easy
one year same as cash

Last Day of School - June 10, 2008
All Saline children
Waiting impatiently for
The last day of school

Zohan - June 11, 2008
Adam Sandler in
You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Should leave the kids home

Baseball Today - June 11, 2008
The Mets and Tigers,
Great dreams and hopes this season
Lost in a rough spring

Chipmunk - June 12, 2008

Delicious Chipmunk
tartare style for a hawk
Fresh catch of the day

flickr - June 14, 2008
Project Three Six Five
Persistence will be needed
A Picture a Day

George Carlin - June 23, 2008
Seven Little Words
You Cannot Say on TV
Thank you George Carlin

Arbitron - June 24, 2008
Arbitron Ratings
Listen to the Radio
And write it all down

Ford - June 24, 2008
Employee Pricing
Now from Ford, Does that mean we
will all be laid off?

Miracle Spinach - June 24, 2008

Miracle veggie
Spinach shaped like Michigan
It was delicious

My Camera - June 24, 2008

My Camera is
Always close, you might just see
The Jonas Brothers

Detroit - July 8, 2008
Could hydroponics
be the golden ticket for
our beloved Detroit?

Bobby Murcer - July 13, 2008
Bobby Murcer just
followed Mantle as the star,
but only himself

Ann Arbor Roasts - July 18, 2008
Espresso Royale
My new favorite taste
Locally roasted

Seattle - July 18, 2008
The Pike Street Market
You find produce, fish flying
and the first Starbucks

Hall of Fame Weekend Travels (by Car) - July 2008

on a Thurgood Marshall postcard
The greatest justice
A unique view from the bench
was justice Marshall

on a Journey to the Center of the Earth postcard from Wendy's
See any movie
while I am away this week
Enjoy the summer

Marblehead, Ohio
Near here, you once said
the llama took our bucket
a glorious day

Black flies, damn black flies
you took a hot, humid day
and made it much worse

Erie, Pennsylvania
Almost an island
off Pennsylvania's small reach
into the Great Lakes

A beautiful view
towards the radiant sunset
on peaceful Erie

Lighthouses in Ohio
Seven Ohio
lighthouses today, but missed
Poor Ashtabula

Lucky Man - February 27, 2009
Broken camera,
root canal, but a good job
I'm a lucky man.

Flapjack - February 28, 2009
Flapjack wants to go
pacing, pacing, pacing more
OK, outside now

Blackbird - March 6, 2009
On a warm morning
red-wing blackbird's call beckons
arrival of spring

Excel - May 6, 2009
Damn pivot table.
Taunting me while hiding those
elusive results

Pi-kus - March 14, 2011
NOTE: For the Free Press - they asked for this  A Haiku that instead of being 3-5-3 in syllables, is 3-1-4 (for Pi Day - March 14th).  Here are two.

Seeded eighth
Blue
Who would have guessed!

M I T
Wait
is done today

Lights Out - A Christmas Story (Old Time Radio)

A Nativity Scene in my town of Saline, Michigan - Taken Monday December 23, 2013.

One of the great visionaries of old time radio was Arch Oboler. He had so many fantastic stories in his Lights Out series that remains one of the best loved and appreciated series on the radio. The series was created by another visionary, Wyllis Cooper, who handed the show over to Oboler in 1936.

One of the scripts that I love is A Christmas Story. It is also called "Uninhabited" or "Three Men". I need to dig a bit more and see if this is an Arch Oboler or a Wyllis Cooper script.  The recording I am sharing was originally broadcast on December 22, 1937 and told the story of three officers who shared a train car in the days following the end of World War I. It was Christmas Eve 1918 and the three officers were heading for a long needed rest. The three solders were very different, one from France, one from Australia and one from America. These three officers dozed off, and simultaneously dreamed about being the three Magi, looking for the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem nearly two thousand years earlier. I love the story because it is a beautiful telling of the three Magi.  It also has a nice message about race relations from the perspective of 1937.

Here are the links to follow:

• A Christmas Story (December 22, 1937)
• Lights Out (from Internet Archive)
• Lights Out (Wikipedia Article)
• The 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.

Four Different Christmas Carol's on Old Time Radio

Here are some more Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this week as he has gone 100% Christmas episodes. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web. One place to find these shows is the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive. This is a great resources for many of these wonderful radio shows!


Here is our cat Cosmo in the Christmas Tree back in 2008!

So when you are thinking about Christmas, it is very easy to think about Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (available here via Project Gutenberg).  Well this has been a very commonly used them in popular media since...well, a longtime.  Not only is it used on numerous television shows and movies, it was the theme on many old time radio programs - either in a faithful adaptation or a nice retelling to fit the theme of the show.  Here are four of my favorites.  Enjoy!

1. Orson Welles' A Christmas Carol on the Campbell Playhouse (December 24, 1939)
Orson Welles served as the narrator and Lionel Barrymore played Ebeneezer Scrooge in this hour long presentation.  Here are some additional Links:

• Different online files of this performance
• Other episodes of the Campbell Playhouse

2. Lionel Barrymore on Mayor of the Town (December 24, 1942)
Staying with Lionel Barrymore, this is a shorter presentation on his show Mayor of the Town.  This is a great series that is something I discovered not that long ago.  Here are some additional Links:

• Other episodes of Mayor of the Town (batch 1 - 1942)
• Other episodes of Mayor of the Town (batch 2 - 1943)
• Other episodes of Mayor of the Town (batch 3)
• Episode from January 21, 1948 - The Burning Christmas Tree (it is great catch it)

3. A Christmas Carol from Richard Diamond, Private Detective (December 24, 1949)

This is definitely a fun one.  Richard Diamond is a great series staring Richard Powell.  Powell's Richard Diamond was smart, funny and could sing a great tune as he solved crimes in New York City.  The wonderful element of A Christmas Carol from Richard Diamond was how he used his normal supporting cast as the characters in the story.  This story was written by Blake Edwards, who was a regular writer for Richard Diamond before gaining fame in the movies. Visit this link to hear more Richard Diamond.

4. Britt Ponsett's Christmas Carol from The Six-Shooter (December 20, 1953)

This is another great one staring Jimmy Stewart, who played Britt Ponsett in the NBC Series The Six-Shooter.  Jimmy Stewart was a frequent star on old time radio programs and this is a real treat.  The story is set in the old west and was produced and directed by Jack Johnstone.  Besides a great story, there is a fantastic advertisement prior to the show encouraging men to get their wives a radio for Christmas, so they can listen to the great programs on NBC while they are in the kitchen.  Visit this link to hear other episodes of The Six-Shooter.

There are many, many more - and you may find them on the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.  Let us remember the words that Charles Dickens gave to Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!"

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas in Connecticut (Old Time Radio) with Ronald Reagan

As we are getting close to Christmas, I am going to try to showcase some of the Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this week. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web. One place to find these shows is the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive. This is a great resources for many of these wonderful radio shows!


Here is a old Westinghouse Radio that I saw on display at the John Wayne Airport (Orange County, California) in 2012. Thought it was appropriate.

This is a really cool item that I found on Old Time Radio. Is is the Screen Guild Theater production of Christmas in Connecticut, The recording is from August 5, 1946 - so it is not in the middle of the holiday season - but it does the trick. The recording features the married couple of Ronald Reagan (yes, the President of the United States) and his wife at the time, Jane Wyman. Besides being interesting with the former president serving as the star of the recording, it is very cool to learn about one of Radio's charity programs. From the Digital Deli: "Why charity? From the outset, the various Screen Guild programs were conceived, produced and broadcast for the express purpose of raising money for the Motion Picture Relief Fund. Over the years, the Motion Picture Relief Fund appeal extended to raising funds for a Country Home and Hospital for retired, ill, indigent, or destitute Motion Picture Industry artists."

Here are some links to programs relating to Christmas in Connecticut:

• Christmas in Connecticut (from August 5, 1946)
• Screen Guild Theater episodes via the Internet Archive
• IMDB entry for Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
• Also visit 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.

Dragnet's Big Little Jesus & Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas (old time radio)

An old radio on display at John Wayne Airport (Orange County, California) in 2012.

As we move closer to Christmas, I am going to start wrapping up some of my favorite Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this week. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web. One place to find these shows is the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive. This is a great resources for many of these wonderful radio shows!

I have not been a huge fan of Dragnet, maybe one of the most famous radio and early television programs out there. I recently showcased the sad Dragnet episode Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas from 1949. Now I would like to showcase a much nicer episode. This story, called Big Little Jesus, shows how a much nicer side of Christmas. Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith receive a called about a missing religious statue of the baby Jesus from the Mission church in Los Angeles. While it is not a huge crime, they move forward looking at every lead and pawn shop to find this item before Christmas. Eventually, it turns up in the sweetest way possible.

It can be kinda corny, but is one of those radio episodes that really hits home with the true meaning of Christmas. I invite everyone to take 30 minutes, go back in time, and recapture the meaning of the holidays.


Here is a link to two versions of Big Little Jesus:

• Dragnet's Big Little Jesus (Deccember 22, 1953)
• Dragnet's Big Little Jesus (Deccember 21, 1954)

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there is this one, also from Dragnet. I have listened to a large number of Christmas radio shows with very happy and cherry endings. It is the holidays after all. But this story does not have a happy ending. Maybe that is one of the reasons why Dragnet was one of the most popular series on both radio and television. From its start in the summer of 1949, it was the brainchild of its star Jack Webb (who played in a large number of radio programs including Pat Novack for Hire and Jeff Regan among others). Dragnet was known for its realism and attention to detail. In the show they broadcast for their first Christmas, Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas, they tell the story of a child who could not wait until the 25th for his present, and the horrible consequences of that action. In the light of the horrible events at Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday December 14, 2012, it is clear that guns are not a new problem. This episode is one of the most chilling that I can recall, where a child not only was the victim, but also the perpetrator. Here is a link right to Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas:

• Dragnet's Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas (December 22, 1949)

Here are some links to programs relating to Dragnet:

• Dragnet Radio program episodes via the Internet Archive
• Dragnet, “The Christmas Story” (a.k.a. “The Big Little Jesus”)
• Big Little Jesus Script (December 22, 1953) from the Generic Radio Workshop Script Library
• Old Time Dragnet Show with Adam Graham (fan blog with links to radio and television episodes)
• Dragnet scripts from the Generic Radio Workshop
• Badge 714 - the Dragnet Webb site
• See also 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.

Corey's Favorite Christmas Movies

I came out with this list a few years ago - now I am moving everything over to the new blog - so here it is again.  I do not think I have any others to add here.  Corey's Favorite Christmas Movies - in no particular order...

• Scrooged (1988) - Despite its comic theme - I think this is one of the best adaptations of a Christmas Carol. I saw it just recently and forgot how much I enjoyed it!
  
• It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - One of the greatest movies of all time - a truly inspirational film. Truth be told - I never saw it until college. If you do not cry at the end, you, my friend, are already dead...
  
• Love Actually (2003) - Along with Elf, this is a movie that you can watch any time of the year and enjoy it. I think this has a tremendous cast and holds together very well...an excellent movie indeed. Christmas is all around us...OK, you won't be singing it, but it is perfect!
  
• Elf (2003) - So many Will Ferrell movies work better in coming attractions than they do in reality. This is definitely not one of them. This movie is simply fantastic and funny for all ages. Oh the best coffee in the world! Sometimes you need the enthusiasm of Buddy the Elf.
  
• Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - A classic that deserves a spot here...having worked retail at Christmas - I have a soft spot for films that take place in department stores - like Elf.
  
• MST 3K's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1991) - Maybe this does not fit - but MST3K is brilliant and this episode is hilarious...lentils...you will get it once you see it!
  

Honorable Mentions:

• The Santa Clause (1994) - At first, I wanted NOTHING to do with this movie - but seeing it a year or two later, I found real charm in the movie. Bernard the Elf is my favorite.... Some Disney touches are over the top - but the movies succeed more than it fails.
  
• White Christmas (1954) - Another classic - and who does not love Danny Kaye?

What I missed...I really do not like A Christmas Story, sue me!

Mosaic Feline Refuge Holiday Adoption Event (Saturday December 21st)

Mosaic Feline Refuge Holiday Adoption Event (Saturday December 21st)


Come on - You KNOW you want a cat!

Here are all the pictures from this week at Mosaic.

I am very fortunate to volunteer at Mosaic Feline Refuge in Ann Arbor.  It is a great no-kill cat shelter and our two cats (Cosmo and Wanda) came from there.  This Saturday, they are hosting a Holiday Adoption Event - and open house from noon to 5pm.  It is a great time to meet the cats and find that perfect addition to your family.

Here is the information on the event:

Mosaic Feline Refuge Holiday Adoption Event (Saturday December 21)
Cats and Kittens of all ages - Loving homes needed in time for the holidays
Saturday December 14th from 12pm to 5pm

2394 Winewood Avenue (at the corner of Winewood and Maple) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.


View Larger Map

Parking Lot location on Maple Road (Kitty Corner from Kroger - no pun intended)

For more information - call 734-332-1621

Adoption Costs (includes and covers Spay/Neuter; FIV Test; Shots & Micro-chipping):
Kittens $50
Juvenile Cats (6-12 months) $30
Adults $20

Adoptions on site with application and interview

Any other day - please call 734-332-1621 to make an appointment

Here are some links for more information:

• Mosaic Cats on Petfinder
• All my pictures from Mosaic from the last few years.

Bring a cat into your home and have a great holiday!

Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure (old time radio program)

As we are getting close to Christmas, I am going to try to showcase some of the Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this week. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web. One place to find these shows is the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive. This is a great resources for many of these wonderful radio shows!


Here is a old Westinghouse Radio that I saw on display at the John Wayne Airport (Orange County, California) in 2012. Thought it was appropriate.

I cannot remember when it was, but I heard recently a commercial in a show talking about how a radio would be a perfect gift for anyone this Christmas who spends so much time in the kitchen. Ironically, I listen to a lot of old time radio when I am baking in the kitchen - but with a bit more high-tech MP3s through my clock radio. So not quite like the housewives of old - but I guess the best I can do these days! So I will be listening to many of these programs while I am baking and preparing holiday meals. (More about this ad later this season)

One of the shows I really like is Nick Carter, Master Detective. He is...well, a master detective (bet you did not see that coming). On Christmas Day, 1943, Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure was broadcast. There are so many different programs that borrow from Dicken's A Christmas Carol, and this sorta does one better. Nick Carter starts out collecting money for his Settlement House Christmas Party and runs into a gentleman named Ben Rasper, who had many of the characteristics of Ebeneezer Scrooge. After turning down the opportunity to contribute to the party. Nick went out and figured out why we was so bitter this time of year. In the end, it is not ghosts from his past who change his views of Christmas, but some good detective work to find people from Ben Rasper's past to show him the true meaning of the holidays. So while it is not really at all like A Christmas Carol, it has so many of the elements without any of the spirits of Christmas present, past or yet to come!

Here is a link right to the Nick Carter Christmas show: Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure (December 25, 1943)

Here are some links to programs relating to Nick Carter:

• Nick Carter episodes via the Internet Archive
• Nick Carter on Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs
• Nick Carter on the Thrilling Detective Web Site
• Also visit 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.

Christmas on Old Time Radio - The Elgin Watch Specials

Columbia Square - home of CBS Radio Operations in Hollywood during the golden years (1940s & 1950s). Picture taken this year.

On this first day of December, I am going to try to showcase some of the Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this month. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web.

One of the really cool shows I recently discovered were the Elgin Seasonal Specials for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the 1940s. The shows were sponsored by the Elgin Watch Company of Elgin, Illinois. Starting in 1942 for the soldiers overseas, the Elgin Holiday Specials were two hour programs that featured the brightest stars in radio and the movies. Heard on these programs is Bing Crosby, Mario Landa, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope and were all hosted by Don Ameche. The Internet Archives has five total shows (see the link below). One of the real treats takes place one hour into the show from 1945. Jack Benny gave a twisted performance of Sorry Wrong Number, one of the most iconic episodes of Suspense. Also, given that the program runs 2 hours, these are not commonly played on current radio programs like XM 82.

Here are links right to the Elgin's Christmas Shows (or use the links that should be on top of the screen):

• Elgin's 3rd Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1944)
• Elgin's 4th Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1945)
• Elgin's 7th Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1948)

Here are all the episodes that are on the Internet Archive: Thanksgiving and Christmas specials sponsored by the Elgin Watch Company via the Internet Archive. See also 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.

Elgin Watch Company's Thanksgiving Specials (Old Time Radio)

Elgin Watch Company's Thanksgiving Specials (Old Time Radio)

On this week before Thanksgiving, I wanted to share a wonderful item that you can listen to as you are preparing your meal at home.  I will be doing the same. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great Thanksgiving-themed programs available this week. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web.



One of the really cool shows I recently discovered are the Elgin Seasonal Specials for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the 1940s. The shows were sponsored by the Elgin Watch Company of Elgin, Illinois. Starting in 1942 for the soldiers overseas, the Elgin Holiday Specials were two hour programs that featured the brightest stars in radio and the movies. Heard on these programs is Bing Crosby, Mario Landa, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope and were all hosted by Don Ameche. These shows are a combination of songs, skits and other performances that capture the best of radio.  The Internet Archives has five total shows (see the link below). Also, given that the program runs 2 hours, these are not commonly played on current radio programs like XM 82.

 Here is a link right to the two Elgin Thanksgiving Holiday Shows on the Internet Archive:

• Elgin's 6th Annual Thanksgiving Show (November 27, 1947) 
• Elgin's 7th Annual Thanksgiving Show (November 25, 1948)
• Elgin's Thanksgiving Shows (article by Jim Ramsburg)

Here are additional Thanksgiving themed shows available on the Internet Archive:

• Thanksgiving and Christmas specials sponsored by the Elgin Watch Company via the Internet Archive. 
• 100 OTR Thanksgiving Holiday Shows from the Internet Archive

Romance of the Ranchos (Southern California History on the Radio)

Romance of the Ranchos (Southern California History on the Radio)

Having spent the last few days in the Los Angeles area, I enjoyed listening to the Romance of the Ranchos from old time radio fame.  I will write more about this later - but I wanted to move this entry (first written for Valentines Day) over to the new blog.  When you are driving around here - all of these places come to lives through this great old series.  And Frank Graham (the wandering vaquero) was born in Detroit - so what is not to like.

Original Post:

There are so many ways to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, but this is probably not the one that comes to mind. I have wanted to share some links to the historical drama, Romance of the Ranchos for some time.

This seems to be a favorite of Greg Bell and I have heard it a great deal on Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82) on Sirius/XM or via the Internet Archive.

Romance of the Ranchos is not about romance (per se), but about the early settlers of California. The programs (recorded in 1941 and 1942) bring to life the true life records of the Title Insurance and Trust Company of Los Angeles and featured Frank Graham, the "wandering vaquero of "Romance of Ranchos." These accounts of the early settlers in California are pretty good, and are one of my favorite historical series that I can listen to via Old Time Radio. For more information, see this great article from the Digital Deli. So maybe not the romance that you are looking for on Valentine's Day, but some pretty cool historical depictions of life in early California.

The Sealed Book (Old Time Radio)

Since I am getting all my old posts moved over to my new blog - I thought it would be useful to pickup some season-appropriate topics...hmm....old time radio....Halloween is around the corner....so maybe, THE SEALED BOOK!

I have enjoyed listening to Old Time Radio shows lately, either from the Internet Archive or via Sirius/XM Radio Channel 82.

The Sealed Book series is one of my absolute favorites - having been hooked by Greg Bell's XM channel 82. The Internet Archive sums up this radio mystery/thriller series with the lines that were read every week by host Philip Clarke to start the show (after the great gong): "keeper of the book has opened the ponderous door to the secret vault wherein is kept the great sealed book, in which is recorded all the secrets and mysteries of mankind through the ages, Here are tales of every kind, tales of murder, of madness, of dark deeds strange and terrible beyond all belief." What was very cool is how it changed in just the few episodes it ran in 1945. At first, the keeper of the sealed book spoke. But after a few episodes, the keeper of the sealed book became silent - making him far more eerie!

Here are two of my favorite episodes:

• Welcome Home (the story about the return of the Prodigal son and the deadly consequences for he and his girl).
• To Have and To Hold (the story about unrequited love and why that crazy aunt....well, you should never visit her).

This program was broadcast on Sunday evening from 10:30 to 11:00pm. It must have been quite spooky on an stormy night in 1945.  Sit back and enjoy these spooky tales...from THE SEALED BOOK!

Three Skeleton Key (A Great Lighthouse Tale for Halloween)

So what could be better this Halloween week than Vincent Price, Old Time Radio and the story of a Lighthouse! George Toudouze's brilliant story about a lighthouse off the coast of Afica was written in 1937. It first appeared in English in the January 1937 issue of Esquire. I would tall you more about the story - but spend a half and hour and enjoy the show. Three Skeleton Key was performed numerous times on Escape and Suspense - the great long-running shows on radio. But the most famous and memorable performance appeared on March 17, 1950 on Escape. The recording featured Vincent Price in the lead role of Jean, one of the three member of the crew on that cursed light. I have heard some of the other performers as Jean....no one can do it like Vincent Price! Here is the audio...enjoy: Here are some other links that you will want to see.

• Script (RTF format - opens in MS Word)
• Script (web page)
• Blog entry about Three Skeleton Key from the OTR blog Escape and Suspense
• Episodes of Escape from the Internet Archive
• Episodes of Escape from 1949-1950 from the Internet Archives

Corey's Project 365 - Year One

I wanted to start sharing more of my favorite photos and do some writing about photography. Not that I have all that much to say, but it has been a very fun part of my life over these past four years. Here are the ones from my first year of Project 365 - From June 12, 2008 to June 11, 2009. You can follow this link: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjteravu Or view them here: Here are all of my Project365 sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cseeman/collections/72157625580382719/

Corey's Project 365 - Year Two

Here are the flickr entries from my Project 365 during my second year participating - From June 12, 2009 to June 11, 2010. You can follow this link: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjtercdj Or view them here: Here are all of my Project365 sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cseeman/collections/72157625580382719/

Corey's Project 365 - Year Three

Here are the flickr entries from my Project 365 during my second year participating - From June 12, 2010 to June 11, 2011. The first photo is one of my favorites - little girls at a dance recital getting a peak at the audience. You can follow this link: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjt3mqYr Or view them here: Here are all of my Project365 sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cseeman/collections/72157625580382719/

Flapjack and Project 365

Out of curiosity - I wanted to see how many times Flapjack was the subject of Project365 (the flickr group where you take a photo every day). The answer: 158 (to date) (but I am sure it is more now)!
 Here are my Project365 Photos for the first three years!
  All Photos
  Year One (June 12, 2008-June 11, 2009)
  Year Two (June 12, 2009-June 11, 2010)
  Year Three (June 12, 2010-)

Flapjack - Man's Best Friend - and a Great flickr subject

I have been happily participating in flickr's Project365 since June 12, 2008. The premise is quite simple. Take at least one photo a day and post them to flickr. You do not have to do it every day - but get them online and posted before too long. I often batch load them for 5 days at a time. I was inspired to do this by a wonderful friend Elizabeth Thomsen(who is also a librarian). Not sure what got me to start on June 12, 2008, but it soon became part of my daily routine. What is interesting is how the family changed their opinion of this activity. At first, we could have powered a small town from the energy in rolling of the eyes. When I moved past one year into year two - there was some questioning, but they let it go. The beautiful element of digital photography is that besides the capital investment into a camera, the ongoing costs are so very cheap. As a kid, I would have taken millions of photographs, but the cost of developing the film kept me from fully expressing myself. That and my mom would kill me for spending all our money at the camera shop! Now, we (as a family) are somewhat enthusiastic about Project365. Maybe that is my Polyanna POV, but in recent weeks, we would see something and my wife or my son would say "Picture of the Day?" This is what happened when we saw them work on the new scoreboard at Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor) or today when we saw Turkey Vultures collecting on the roof of a vacant house or eating at Blimpy Burger - an Ann Arbor Institution While you often have a good idea in your travels for a Picture of the Day, many, many days you do not. That is where it is helpful to have pets. Our wonderful Beagle Flapjack has been my Project365 subject 179 times in the 1000+ days since June 2008. So these are not brilliant, but they document my life. When I forget everything else, I will have these to look through. Here are all the Project365 photos of our wonderful dog! Slideshow of Flapjack's Project365 Photos: Here are links to the sets that comprise my participation in Project365.

Year in a Life: Corey's Project 365 for 2011

Originally from 2011 - In two days, I will hit 1300 consecutive days of flickr's Project365. I just love it and as far as hobbies go - it is pretty cool. And with the low ongoing cost associated with digital photography - it is even good for the budget. Best of all, it is a neat way to remember where I was over the course of the year. At my age, it is not always easy to remember. Here are my shots for 2011: Here are my photos from 2010: Happy New Year everyone!

Pictures from the The Man Who Came to Dinner (Saline High School)

Pictures from Saline High School's Drama Club's production of Kaufman and Hart's The Man Who Came to Dinner in November 2012. Friday Night - November 16, 2012
Friday Night - Just the pictures

Saturday Night - November 17, 2012
Saturday Night - Just the pictures

Sunday Afternoon - November 18, 2012:
Sunday Afternoon - Just the pictures

Looking way way back to elementary school (Village School - Holmdel, NJ)

Over the Christmas break, I spent some time scanning photos that my mother had given me a while back. They, like all other photos, are heading over to flickr. I hope that my former classmates from Village School in Holmdel, New Jersey (the home of Bruce Springsteen....really) can find these images on the web. So it is funny when I have a hard time thinking about what the boys did in Kindergarten and grades 1, 2, and 3. But when I think about these times for me....man, I have nothing. So here I am, as a really young New Jersey kid.... Kindergarten (I am the middle of the bottom row). 1st Grade (I am the only one on the right of the second row). 2nd Grade (the 3rd from the left on the back row next to the teacher - who's name I cannot remember for love or money). 3rd Grade (ditto on the teacher - I am sporting the great jacket - 2nd from the left on the 3rd row). These pictures are wonderful. I hope that other people who are from Holmdel finds them - maybe they will find themselves. And the Internet should be not about SPAM, viruses, or phishing - but random acts of kindness and sharing that helps make the world a better place. Think if we all did a little bit each day - what a library that would make.

Corey's Project 365 - Year Four

I have very much enjoyed participating in flickr's Project 365 since starting almost six years ago. I started On June 12, 2008 when I noticed a hawk eating lunch next to the Kresge Library at the University of Michigan. Since then, I have been pretty much taking at least one picture a day and adding it to Project365. There have been a few occasions when I took a screen shot instead - OK, I can live with myself...really! Here are the flickr entries from my Project 365 during my fourth year participating - From June 12, 2011 to June 11, 2012. I am just wrapping up my fifth year and will be starting year six on Wednesday June 12th. What is great is to look back at all these pictures to see what I was doing that year. Here are some of my favorites from that year: Squirrel on a very hot day in Ann Arbor (University of Michigan) - July 19, 2011 (July 25, 2011) – Flapjack and Wanda Pier 39 and Fishermans Wharf (San Francisco, California) People Waiting in Line for tickets for President Obama's Speech at the University of Michigan (January 26, 2012) Ann Arbor Dance Classics 2012 Benefit Show (Saline High School, Michigan Visiting Dad and Bev (April 21, 2012) You can follow this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cseeman/sets/72157626832137455 Or view them here: Here are all of my Project365 sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cseeman/collections/72157625580382719/ Fun to think of where the future will take me. As long as I have a camera - I guess I will be OK.

Bob Bailey - An Appreciation on the Centennial of his Birth

So let's set the scene...it is 1955 and we live, well, just about anywhere. We may or may not have a television. According to the Statistical Abstract of the United States (1999), in 1955, approximately 94% of households had a radio and only 63% had televisions. In fact, only 73% had phone service!

Why do I bring this up? Well, I have gotten very interested in Old Time Radio programs thanks to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel on SiriusXM #82. I have also discovered that many of these are freely available thanks to The Old Time Radio section on the Internet Archive.

So in your living room - or your kitchen if you are lucky - you had a radio and your entertainment may have come courtesy of actors and actresses like Don Ameche, Jack Webb, Lucille Ball, William Conrad, John Dehner, Virginia Gregg, Marsha Hunt, Eve Arden...and many, many others. These are some of the biggest names of the Golden Age of Radio....just to name a few. But one name really has me excited - that of Bob Bailey. He would have turned 100 today.

Bob Bailey was one of the most accomplished radio actors of his day. Born in Toledo, Ohio on June 13, 1913, he would gain fame in California as a regular on two huge radio programs, Let George Do it (a mystery series) and Your Truly, Johnny Dollar (one of the most popular programs of all time. In fact, the first time I heard about Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, I thought it was hilarious. Johnny Dollar was a...wait for it...an insurance investigator with an "action-packed" expense account. And while they made a big deal about him padding his expenses for a case, it actually was a nice frame for the story. Each episode had him reading off the expenses as he retells the story of the particular "Matter" that he solved. And while a number of people played him - Bob Bailey was the best.

Stewart Wright wrote: "Bob Bailey, generally thought of as the most popular of the Johnny Dollars, brought a new interpretation to the character – tough, but not hard-boiled; streetwise, but not overly cynical, Bailey's Dollar was smart and gritty when he had to be. But Bailey's Johnny Dollar was also human. His character would get emotionally involved in a number of his cases. He had a streak of impatience, and would occasionally not fully listen to a witness and rush off on a tangent before realizing his mistake."

And from Radio Spirits's CD set featuring Johnny Dollar marathons staring Bob Bailey: "America's Fabulous Freelance Insurance Investigator had little patience for liars, and liked nothing better than females, fishing, and a free hand with an expense account. Bob Bailey's Johnny Dollar was skeptical without being cynical, sympathetic without being a sucker, and had a way of delivering a sarcastic remark with more sincerity than most detectives delivered straight talk." NOTE: I still cannot figure out what is wrong with this sentence...but it has some good bits.

Anyway, I have been a big fan of Bob Bailey for a few years as I have been listening to Old Time Radio. Sadly, his career was cut short when he did not travel with the show to New York. Troubles with alcohol cut short his career and he acted very sparingly after leaving Johnny Dollar in November 1960. I always felt that maybe someone was sending him a message in one of the five part serials that aired first from January 16th to 20th, 1956 (and recorded on January 8th). It was the Ricardo Amerigo Matter and it featured Johnny trying to recover a missing insured master violin and see its owner who was missing. They talked about what a masterful violinist Amerigo was and how his career was ruined by booze. I always wondered if this was a message to Bob Bailey...

Here are the five parts of the Ricardo Amerigo Matter (from the Internet Archive):

• The Ricardo Amerigo Matter Episode 1
• The Ricardo Amerigo Matter Episode 2
• The Ricardo Amerigo Matter Episode 3
• The Ricardo Amerigo Matter Episode 4
• The Ricardo Amerigo Matter Episode 5

Links worth following:

• Radio Gold Index listing of episodes featuring Bob Bailey
• Internet Archive episodes of Let George Do It
• Internet Archive episodes of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - (Bob Bailey played Johnny Dollar from October 1955 - November 1960)
• Nice biography of Bob Bailey from Old Radio Shows.org
• Great piece on Bob Bailey by Mike Ray

And while he had a brief career outside of radio, here is him on screen with Laurel and Hardy in their 1943 Film Jitterbugs.

I am sure that Bob Bailey did not have any idea what joy he has provided....but I hope he did. Happy Birthday Johnny Dollar.

150th Anniversary of Gettysburg - Old Time Radio

(NOTE: originally published earlier in the summer of 2013)
Today marks the 150th anniversary of the close of the Battle of Gettysburg - one of the most important battles in the United States Civil War. Despite so many critical fights over the course of the three days in early July 1863, one of the most famous occurred 150 years ago today as Major General George Pickett and others led Confederate troops against the Union positions on Cemetery Ridge. To be known as Pickett's charge, it was a decisive victory from the Union and it forced the Confederate troops to retreat out of Pennsylvania. With so many of the great stories of American history, we find that they were recreated on the Radio in the 1940s and 1950s.

As you may know, I have gotten very interested in Old Time Radio programs thanks to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel on SiriusXM #82. I have also discovered that many of these are freely available thanks to The Old Time Radio section on the Internet Archive. As we recognize the 150th anniversary of this great battle, I want to share some of the old time radio programs that talk about Gettysburg.

The Battle of Gettysburg (from You Are There) - Broadcast February 22, 1948. From You Are There, a CBS radio program that ran from 1947 to 1950. The program envisions what would have happened had the CBS news been in place and reporting from the event. Among the many programs that were in this series were the Alamo, Assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and Julius Caesar, the signing of the Magna Carta, and many others. This is very well done - and they can be a bit campy - but all in all - an interesting and creative way to recreate great moments in history. This episode as it relates to Gettysburg focuses on the last day of the battle when Pickett's Charge ended the Confederate hopes for victory in that battle.

Gettysburg (from Cavalcade of America) - Broadcast September 13, 1948. From DuPont's Cavalcade of America, one of the longest running programs in radio history. Presented by DuPont Company ("Maker of better things for better living through chemistry"), this program portrayed many aspects of American history. These featured not only political and military events, but also covered an amazingly diverse group of portraits that counted lighthouse keepers and baseball players among the stories presented. They also featured great star talent, and on September 13, 1948, they were able to have actor Dick Powell (most famously of Richard Diamond and Rogues Gallery fame).

The Battle of Gettysburg (from the CBS Radio Workshop) - Broadcast June 30, 1957. From the CBS Radio Workshop, a great program in the long tradition that the network had to exploring the boundaries for Radio. This followed the Columbia Workshop as one of the places where truly amazing stories could be told. The CBS Radio Workshop ran from 1956 to 1957 and told a variety of stories in this experimental anthology series. This episode on Gettysburg covers the full battle and (like everyone else in this program) simply fantastic. Featured in the acting crew is John Dehner (as narrator), Raymond Burr, and Davis Butler (among others). Additional links worth following to learn more about Gettysburg:

• Battle of Gettysburg (from the United States Army)
• History & Culture (from the Gettysburg National Miltary Park)
• Gettysburg (from the History Channel)
• Gettysburg Foundation Website
• LibriVox audio book of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg by Abner Doubleday (1882)

Biographical Statement (who I was in 2007)

Had to come up with this a few years ago....so here I am.

 Corey Seeman is the Director of the Kresge Business Administration Library of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Corey started at Michigan in November 2005 as the Associate Director, assumed the role of Interim Director in May 2006 and became the Permanent Director in October 2006. Prior to this position, Corey's jobs included: Associate Dean for Resource and Systems Management at the University of Toledo (Ohio) (May 2001 to November 2005); Library Training Consultant, Innovative Interfaces, Inc. (January 1999 to April 2001); and Manager of Technical Services, National Baseball Library at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. in Cooperstown (November 1996 to November 1998). He started his career as an archivist at the Chicago Historical Society and Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, but with every successive position, moved more into library systems and technical services. He has a M.A.L.S. (1992) from Dominican University (with an emphasis in Cataloging and Archival Management) and a A.B. (Bachelor Degree, 1986) from the University of Chicago (with a major in European History). He has written articles primarily in the areas such as library systems, cataloging (especially in the context of special library collections) and on collection development issues associated with autism. He also serves as one of the autism book reviewers for Library Journal. Now as a director, he will be focusing his writing on change management in the library and special collection needs management in an academic library. He has been very active in the Innovative Users Group (IUG) and is the Chair for the organization this year (through their annual meeting in San Jose, May 14-17, 2007). For a full vita, please visit: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~cseeman/Files/cv_seeman.html or http://www-personal.umich.edu/~cseeman/

 About the Library: The Kresge Business Administration Library (http://www.bus.umich.edu/kresgelibrary/) is an independent library at the University of Michigan and we report to the administration of the Ross School of Business. While it is not part of the University Library system, Kresge works closely with the main library to collaborate on the purchases of electronic resources for the whole U of M system. We have an library materials budget of just over $1 million a year and the bulk of that goes to electronic resources.

Michigan Library Association 2013 Presentations

Getting ready to head up to Lansing for the 2013 Michigan Library Association Annual Convention. I am fortunate to present twice. One during the regular session and one during the Ignite MLA Session on Thursday October 17th. I will be the first of seven librarians presenting in this format: "Get ready for a rapid fire session of ideas that will inspire, challenge and motivate you. Ignite MLA will feature speakers who each have just five minutes and 20 slide to share an idea, story or solution that ingnites their passion for the library community." Here are my session information and the presentation slides & handouts available via Deep Blue. Please write me at cseeman@umich.edu with any questions, thoughts or comments.

Program Title: Where is the Hospitality in Your Library?
Date: Wednesday October 16 at 4:15-5:15pm (Room 101-102 - Lansing Center)
Abstract: In the library and information fields, we spend countless hours focusing on making our world a more self-service environment. While many patrons much prefer to work independently and easily find resources on their own, we have placed our emphasis on creating a self-service environment that removes the “middle man” from the information equation. And with the move that many have made away from conventional reference desks and reference service, we can (at times) look more like self-check express lanes at the grocery stores than like the libraries that we used to be. And while our patrons most certainly enjoy accessing resources in an unmediated fashion, there are many instances (especially with more difficult research projects) where they do need assistance with finding print and electronic resources. This presentation takes a look at how we have used methods from the hospitality and service industries at the Kresge Business Administration Library (University of Michigan) to ensure that we are not only meeting the information needs of our patrons, but also being available to assist them when it is needed. In this presentation, we will discuss the role of public service in the library and how the lessons on the hospitality industry can improve our interaction with the patrons. NOTE: This is a program I have been giving for a few years, but it is continually evolving and growing. I am hoping to write this up more definitively in the coming year.

---

Program Title: Bitter Coffee & Watered-down Bourbon: Lessons for Libraries from Chase & Sanborn Coffee and Maker’s Mark
Date: Thursday October 17 at 3pm (Ignite MLA session runs from 3pm to 4pm (Banquet Rooms 1-4 - Lansing Center)
Abstract: The story of Chase & Sanborn Coffee provides all organizations a great morality tale for all organizations, including libraries, about how small changes may lead to larger problems down the road. Chase & Sanborn ranked with Maxwell House as one of the leading coffee brands in the early 20th century. They were known not only for their fresh sealed coffee, but also for the Chase & Sanborn Hour variety show that featured many stars including Don Ameche, Nelson Eddy, and Edgar Bergen with his wooden dummy Charlie McCarthy. In the years after World War II, there was a belief at the company that they could make small changes to the process to reduce costs, without changing the quality that much. A similar decision was made earlier this year by Maker’s Mark to reduce their alcohol for their Kentucky Burbon as a cost reduction plan to help boost profits. Using these two examples from the business world, the presentation will explore how small decisions can, over time, fundamentally change the very nature of any organization. For the library, the presentation will show how modest and sometimes seemingly consequence free decisions about resources and services that a library provides can snowball into a complete change in the overall perception of the library. So changes that seems minor at the time, when considered together, transform and (more importantly) potentially undermine what the library is attempting to provide for their community. In the light of continued encroachment on a libraries space and budget, this type conundrum might be easier to fall into than we might think or like. NOTE: This is a program that I am very excited about. I am very interested in the use of library services by our communities and what I see as erosion of the 'library brand'. While this is starting off as a small presentation (like the hospitality one), I am hoping that it grows into a more full exploration of library identity and services in the era of declining resources.

Social Media Links (LEAD Presentation 7/23/13)

Links for the presentation on Social Media and Information for the Ross School of Business LEAD program on 7/23/13 by Corey Seeman. Squirrel Pancake on campus at The University of Michigan.

Social Media Resources:

Kresge Library Guide to Social Media

Overview of Social Media:

Use Kresge Resources from links above Pew - The Demographics of Social Media Users — 2012 Pew - Coming and Going on Facebook (2013) Why people leave facebook - Huge amount of abandonment in Social Media.

Findability - a flickr story:

Corey's Photostream Their use in the world.... Alumni Association of the University of Michigan (facebook page) - here is the Original Picture Scientific Method / Science & Exploration - Weird Science keeps careful track of its medicinal brownies (Ars Technica article) National Youth Orchestra of the USA World's Most Delayed Airports (#8 - DFW) NOTE: An illustrated list compiled by some organization which uses pictures you found...NOT NEWS... How to get out there? It is all about tagging. Making things findable

Building Communities

Mosaic Feline Refuge

• Connect diverse communities
• Share news
• Solicit help
• Report new kittens or adoptions
• Report sad news
• Share pictures

Previously, this could be done with a newsletter. Vastly improve the ability to share news more quickly. Kresge Library facebook page Why join twitter - Dalai Lama ‏@DalaiLama 8 Jul When you concern yourself with others, you naturally develop a sense of self-confidence. To help others takes courage and inner strength.

Scream LOUDER

Twitter Statistics: Overall Twitter Stats My twitter stats See also eMarketer

News and Social Media

Trending stories on twitter - one way I find out about news as it is breaking. I balance the speed with the decreased reliability and accuracy. Yesterday's big stories:

• Dennis Farina Died - Around 1:20pm via twitter
• OSU football RB Carol Hyde dismissed
• #RoyalBaby
• Ryan Braun

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashing on landing at SFO (July 6, 2013). Twitter was way ahead of convention media Tweet by author Neil Gaiman: “Neil Gaiman ‏@neilhimself 6 Jul They still haven't officially told us on this plane why we aren't flying to sfo. But we have told each other. Thank you twitter.” Not all is good... One Comeback They Could Skip (Celebrity deaths announced via twitter)

Potentially More Harm Than Help

Think of a young Justin Beiber... Johnny Manziel and his twitter quote Manziel Tweeted, "(Expletive) like tonight is a reason why I can't wait to leave College Station.... Whenever it may be" Rachel Ryan - “Employers will check facebook before offering you a job” Mashable - 10 People Who Lost Jobs Over Social Media Chrysler tweet Knee-jerk response: -"Someone hacked my account" -"Delete the tweet" (almost always draws more reaction and attention)

How to Thrive on Social Media as an Individual or Organization

Daily Show - Hillary Clinton Joins Twitter Five Rules: 1. Don’t Tweet Your Junk 2. Don’t Be Boring 3. Seriously, Don’t Tweet Your Junk 4. Don’t Be Weird 5. Highlight Your Superpowers (but set limitations) Social Media Best Practices For Organizations Squirrel Pancake last week during Art Fair

Little Field Mouse (reunited with the field...Saline, Michigan)

There was an annoying ad a number of years back for a Real Estate company where the Realtor rattled off four of five things she did - prompting her companion to say "busy day". The Realtor replied "Busy Morning". That is how my day started.

The Hero of the Day (sorta)

This morning (Saturday July 20, 2013), Cosmo the cat was darting back and forth and making a noise that usually comes with trying to get something...I thought he was crazy as usual, until I saw a tiny mouse dart out from under the couch in the beach room and then back under. For around five minutes, they played...well, cat and mouse. I blocked the door to the rest of the house and was hoping I would have a chance to get the mouse. Finally, the mouse made a run for the door to the garage. I quickly opened the door and the mouse ran out - story over...right? Have you ever seen a movie where the clear bad guy gets caught half way through - and you are thinking...well, there is no way that this is the end. Think Star Trek Into Darkness and a million other movies...so was my story over, well not really. The hero of the day - one cat named Cosmo - ran into the garage, grabbed the mouse and brought him back INTO the house. He jumped over the door block and ran into the living room. Really...this was an inside job!!!!!!!!!! After some hiding, and a few more minutes, I was able to get the mouse trapped under a side table next to the stairs. Using the box from our new cell Samsung Galaxy III phones (which are now - two days in - already twice as useful as our old phones), I was able to trap said mouse and bring him back to the field. Since the picture of the day rarely presents itself before 7am...felt it was important to capture. So Cosmo was not doing this for anything but play...well, cat and mouse. Note to self - Cosmo needs better cat toys.

The mouse in the box outside

The mouse in the box outside

A very useful cell phone box!