Who, What, When, Where & Wiandt

A couple weeks ago Debbie and I were visiting her parents in Alliance. It was dark when we were leaving. Walking to the car I noticed something in the driveway with a glistening trail behind it. I looked closer and realized it was the biggest slug I’d ever seen. It was probably 6 inches long. Then I looked around and there were 20 more, all 3 to 6 inches in length. Debbie’s dad ran inside and got a salt shaker and flashlight, and for the next 15 minutes we went to work.

Another gross thing I’ve had crop up lately is mushrooms in my yard. Twice I’ve had clumps of brown mushrooms appear out of tree roots just below the surface of the grass. These were no ordinary mushrooms, either. These were smelly. When I say smelly, I mean they reeked! They smelled like a dead animal, or as I told my wife “rotting flesh.” And guess what else … some of these clumps had maggots crawling in them! YUCK!!

Does anyone have any comment on slugs or mushrooms?

Good morning! I’m drinking Chock full o’ Nuts coffee in my Ghoulardi mug. The heavenly coffee meets a devil from Cleveland TV’s past.

I recently took a road trip with Dad and Duke. Dad is David J. Wiandt, my father. Duke is Ken Lahmers, editor of the Aurora Advocate. Lately, Duke’s been writing about Sunday drivers, eating in diners, and trains. Our trip, navigated by Duke, driven by yours, was to see the boyhood home of Clark Gable in Hopedale and the site of of his birth home in Cadiz. We had a good time. Duke more than adequately described the trip in his column, Kaleidoscope. Go here. While in Cadiz, we toured a collection of coal mining equipment. Above is Duke and Dad in front of a big dragline bucket. (Our trip started in Kent and ended in Cadiz.)

Look at these two pictures. They’re taken from “Old Soak’s At Home,” an Archie comic in which Archie accidently sprays his dad with the hose while washing the family car, and when Pop tries to get even, he soaks Mom, starting a water war. But the reason I’m posting these pictures is they show Archie’s mom with two different colors of hair. The first panel is scanned from Archie Annual Digest No. 31, a collection of past Archie comics printed in 1977. The second panel was taken from the same story as it was printed in Archie’s Double Digest No. 190 which is new. I just bought it last week. When I saw Archie’s mom with red hair, I knew that wasn’t right, and I knew I had just recently read the story in one of the books my buddy Sean sent me. You can view a full page from Digest No. 31 and No. 190. Click and enjoy!

Remember Boston Baked Beans candy? I recently paid my first visit to a B&K Root Beer Drive-In Cuyahoga Falls. This was the one on Munroe Falls Avenue. The other is on State Road. I was in a hurry, so I only got a root beer, which was very good. I also picked up a box of Boston Baked Beans for 25 cents. The young man, probably 19 or 20, working inside the root beer stand said he had never tried them. I told him my dad used to bring them home from work (in his lunchbox) when I was a kid. The young woman, 21 or 22, who was car-hopping that evening, said she she also liked Boston Baked Beans, but neither one of us could describe the taste of the candy coating on the peanuts. So, I poured a couple into the young guy’s hand to taste. He liked them.

I just learned that “Nancy With the Lauging Face” was written by James Van Heusen and PHIL SILVERS! Frank Sinatra performs the song. I don’t know if it was written specifically for him to sing to his daughter, Nancy. Could be. I used to work with a Nancy. So let’s dedicate this song to her. Click and listen.

19-nancy-with-the-laughing-face

All is fine after my tests and last doctor’s visit on Monday. My lower bowel series, a series of pictures taken of my bowels after I drank barium, showed no problems, Dr. Gusz told me in my follow-up visit. Originally scheduled to talk about the results of my colonoscopy, which were also negative, the Monday appointment played a dual role after Gusz had me be have the small bowel series done within the week following my colonoscopy. The doc told me Monday that he would not have to see me again for eight years when I will receive a post card calling for a second colonoscopy. And that, he said, would only be needed because I will be turning 50. I have to say: God is good. Whatever problem I had before, an ulcer or whatever, was healed by good doctors, Prevacid and prayer (not in that order).

Had a great colonoscopy today! (How often do you hear that?) Seriously, the test went fine. No polyps or any other problems were found, thank God. I was awake through the whole thing — eyes glued to the monitor like I was watching a lost director’s cut of “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” I can just hear Jonathon Winters: “The treasure’s buried under a big colon!” A couple times while watching, my stomach gurgled and it shook the camera. One time it looked like a combination of lightning and a tidal wave in there. Although I was awake the whole time, I don’t remember the doctor’s scope going in or coming out. Again, thank God!

Still not satisfied, Dr. Gusz wants me to have X-rays taken, a “small bowel series,” of an area in between the stomach and colon he hasn’t tested yet. Doctor’s orders; I won’t argue. On a slightly freakish note, Dr. Gusz said I have an abnormally long colon. Maybe that means I should eat yet even more raw fruits and vegetables. “Waitress, can you triple my order of broccoli and bran muffins? I’ve got a mammoth colon that needs cleaned.”

Along with Archie comics, I had a chance to finish reading “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. Good book. A novel for all ages, and winner of the Newberry Award, “Wrinkle” is an imaginative story of courage and love, and good vs. evil. The book combines elements of suspense, horror, fantasy and science fiction. Teens and preteens may find the 1962 book tame by today’s standards, but the story of Meg Murry and her brother Charles Wallace’s quest through time and space to find their father is inspirational (the book has several scripture references). My copy of “Wrinkle” was printed in the mid to late 1980s. I don’t know who painted the stunning cover art.

Today I’m getting ready for my colonoscopy tomorrow. Tests were run several weeks ago to find a possible ulcer. Nothing serious was found. My doctor wanted to check down below to be sure everything is O.K. there too, so I have to be at Robinson Professional Building at 8:20 a.m. to get my colon scoped.

I’ve been fasting since midnight last night. Today I had to take two little pills, and drink about 80 ounces of solution. The pills, solution, jug and flavoring powders (cherry, orange and lemon-lime) were all part of the ”Bowel Prep Kit.” I’ve been through all that and made several trips to the bathroom. It hasn’t been as bad as I was told it would be. The stuff I had to drink wasn’t that bad. I chose orange for my flavor additive. It tasted like Tang — Tang with salt in it, but Tang just the same. And I like Tang. (Do they still make it?)

One thing that has gotten me through this boring and draining process is the fact that my friend Sean from Cabot, Pa., sent me 18 Archie comics digests. I’ve been the books all day, as I have been since I got them in the mail on Wednesday. I like to read the Archie Gag Bag comics because they’re colorized reprints of newspaper strips; one on a page. I’ve also learned about LIttle Archie comics through my reading and through e-mails from Chris Schillig who blogged about two new LA collections (here and here).

The only drawback is seeing Archie and Jughead eating hamburgers and sundaes at Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe. I’m starving!