Three Questions

Today when I was bored nearly to death, I turned on ABC and saw Rachel Ray ask three questions to the star of Buffy the Vampire slayer.  Here is my version:

Three Questions

1.  What does your spouse do that annoys you?

2.  If you had a clone, what would you want them to do?

3.  If you could not do your life's work, what would you think you would have wanted to do?

Answers:

1.  My wife often forgets to agree with me.  Even if (Seldom) I am right.  One of the reasons I was attracted to Barb was that when we met I was on orders to go to Vietnam.  Her strong personality made me confident that she could take care of herself.  I can't remember a time when she was not able to do everything she wanted to do.  Well, there was this one time when she moved to Topeka and I was at Summer Camp and the AC in the new house didn't work. I am pretty sure that a five year old and a new house didn't make things any easier.  She called a repairman and it all worked out.  It was the hottest summer on record, for the record. 

2.  I would love to have a clone clean out the garage and do some of the scud work.  I have a lot of tools and not enough desire to get everything done.

3.  I turned down flight school in the Army.  Probably would have gotten myself killed flying a stupid helicopter but hey, it sounds like fun now.  I am sure that I would not have met Barb had I gone to flight school and it would have led to a career path entirely different one that was successful.There are times that I want to wish my life full of travel and then about 10 days away from home I miss the things at home. 

MUD

Lack of Blogging Motivation

I guess when it is too warm to be outside or too cold to be outside, I can find the motivation to write more.  In the spring and fall, I just seem to find more things to do that are more fulfilling than writing on this blog.   One thing we did this last week that burned a whole in as couple of days was go to Clinton, MO and to ride the KATY trail out 10 miles and back.  We have been trying to get my Niece Jenn to ride with us as she talked about the trail ride so much we got excited.  Seems like her schedule got full and she couldn't work it in.   We are excited that she is taking the Captain's exam on Monday and we fully understand that getting ready for a promotion is a lot more important than a trail ride.  

Speaking of promotion,  I always wondered what it was that made me want to be the boss so much.  I worked for some good people and I worked for some pretty poor bosses at times.  I learned a lot in both cases.  There were some that were so bad that I saw what stupid moves could cause and how good communication could make a job better.  The one thing I found the hard way was that it is never easier to move up.  There is a break over point where helping your employees and writing evaluations takes away from the satisfaction of doing a good job on minor projects.  One thing I found out the hard way was that getting up from your desk was a whole lot easier than sitting in your office trying to find out what your people are doing.  I tried several ways to get information from the staff but most of the time it was just best to get up off the desk and go see. 


The one thing that the Military did fairly well was to highlight the steps for promotion.  There was mandatory education that came at almost every step.  Some of it was not needed but in a lot of ways it just made me think about some of the alternatives.  After I completed Command and General Staff College, I decided that because I couldn't make general with my job, I would focus on my personal education.  I tried to read a different management book about one a month.  I think I came up with a lot of good ideas and some that just didn't do anything.  I read the "One Minute Manager" to find out what COL Fox was trying to do.  He had the steps down but he kept leaving gout the kiss 'em in the the kick 'e, kiss 'em, kick 'em sequence  In fact I had to get the book on how to counter the "One Minute Manager" to get him from using it.  I saw the book in his trash one day after I shot his process full of holes.  I am sure that he thought he was doing a pretty good job of rewarding me until I pointed out that he hadn't done squat for me in three years.  

Riding on the KATY Trail

Oh well, moving on and doing things.


MUD

This may Turn Political - Warning! Warning! Warning!

Every once in a while, I just can't turn it off long enough to relax without a good rant on the blog.  Today's is along the lines of Leadership 101.  Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way:

• It seems pretty clear to me that our congress is headed for a major turn over soon if they don't get things sorted out.  They would be well served to make a list of ways to fix what's wrong and prioritize it.  I am pretty sure they don't have a clue how to solve problems and they think that throwing money away is their job.  A party that communicates to us a list of what they will do could blow the others out of the water.
• Businesses have a model to follow.  Make a profit, change your business processes to help make a profit or close the doors.  Our post office is headed for collapse or a major bail out.  Their cheese has moved and they can smell out a better way to find it.  Drop Saturday mail delivery first. 
• Our Education system claims they are failing because of a lack of money.  The smartest people we have seem incapable of finding out ways to make education relevant and also find ways to not rely on the old brick and mortar establishment.  We are paying about $5,000 per student per year right now.  Put up high speed nets in our communities and connect kids in new ways.  If we are all going to make a living on computers soon, why are we using the old pencil and paper method in our schools.  Why do we have to stop educating to test the kids.  Build it into the curriculum and find out the base as we go.  Isn't there a model that tells us to teach, review and test.  reteach the things that we didn't do well in and then retest.  Every once in a while go back and review the important stuff and keep the ball rolling downhill to the goal.  Good ideas don't include the need for a Doctorate.
• I am fortunate to be married to a darn smart woman.  She is thrifty, clean and can be tough as hell when it is needed.  She said that in her opinion, it isn't all bad for the Government to play Robin Hood and take from the rich to give to the poor.  I keep worrying that we might look like that target but she says unless I start missing meals to shut up and go along for the ride.  Right now, we pay almost a dime on the dollar in taxes as sales tax.  What is the top limit?   Is this a way for all to pay a share?
• We have four cars that run and one or two parts and a-part cars in our yard.   The newest is seven years old and you wouldn't believe what we pay in property taxes on them.  Seems like we should have to only pay taxes on one and then get to move the tags to the car we want to drive.  Flat fee for a tag projected on a flat screen where the tag should be and no more standing in line.
• Yesterday we went for a ride on the new part of the Shunga trail.  I am convinced that from now on, every new street needs to have a bike lane built in.  With a few dollars and a little imagination the old railroad trails can be upgraded for bike travel too.  We are going to ride the KATY train system starting in Clinton Missouri soon.  

Enough good idea, time to retire the good idea fairy for a while.


MUD

Old friends

The other day I was just perusing through my Facebook account and ran across a name from the past.  Marsha Zimmerman (Wollner) was a girl I went to school with for what seemed like forever.  You all had friends like that in Elementary school.  A really nice girl that for many reasons you knew but never dated.  Probably more because I had eyes for my childhood sweetheart who turned out to be more of a Tart than I could have imagined.

My 57 in better days

I contacted Marsha and found out that we have a lot in common, including  long marriages.  Marsha was a Special education teacher later on in her life and Barbara was one most of her adult life.  Marsha and her husband collect and love old cars like I do.  We have an unrestored 50 ford, a 53 Chevy three window round nose pick-up and a 57 Chevy Blaire.  Barb and I don't show the 57 much anymore and she doesn't go to as many car shows as I do.  I love to see the old iron driven and used.  The 53 truck is not a daily driver but it does haul our bikes to the local trails as much as we can go.  


When I think about my old friends from the old neighborhood, or Dog Patch as it was known, I am haunted by the fact that a lot of my old friends are no longer alive.  I am not talking about the older adults from generations older than I am, but Baby Boomer friends that have died over the years.  In spite of two of us going to Vietnam, we both came back alive and relatively normal (or what ever that is)  The first person we lost was Whitney Phipps.  After three tours to Vietnam as a Marine Infantryman, he was killed in a car accident in Southern California.  I am not sure who died next but Whitney's older brother John Phipps died a few years later from an illness that he should have survived if he had had someone near to take him to the hospital.  My buddy Wayne Reed died of a perforated bowel and died only because he too refused to go to the hospital in time.  The last guy on the list was Denny Lawrence who died last year of lung cancer.  After years of smoking, it finally got him.  That leaves the three Musketeers, Denny Petty, Ronny Sawyer and Harvey Blinn.  I am pretty sure it would surprise our parents to see how well the Dog Patch boys have done in life.  The bad part of that is that none of our parents them are alive to see our success.

Does this mean that I would haul it all back and change my life?  No, I am pretty sure that I have had a great time and plan on spending more time  doing the fun stuff.  I have no intention to encourage anyone to mourn my death when it happens. I have every intention to slide into my grave all beat up, worn out and broke.  Barb will have all the money and everything else.  truthfully I am not sure I even want a grave.  A simple cremation and a headstone in the Cemetery in Leavenworth is more than enough.


MUD

Falling Down

The other day, I was listening to TV and they said that after the age of 65, 2 out of 3 people will fall down at least once each year.   I am pretty sure that I am going to best that record as I fall down all the time on my bike.  The good news is that my recumbent is built with the seat near the ground and I never have far to fall.  In fact, twice this week I have taken a tumble and the worst is a small scrape on my right knee.  Yesterday I fell down and I landed on my back and rolled.  No major bruises or skin scrapes.   I do have a slight balance problem caused by my ears but I try to keep "Nose over Toes" like they told my mother for years.
  

Life is pretty good when your view point is the top of the pole

Yesterday the weather went from 60 to 85 way too fast.  We ate lunch and waited an hour to go riding.  I was dressed for a ride about 11 AM and by 1 PM I was way too warm.  We did about 10 miles and it felt pretty good.  

544 Byrd, Wichita, KS 1968

Oh well, if your biggest decision is what picture you want to use on your profile on Facebook, life is pretty good.


MUD 

Rain

The Monarchs are en route to Mexico

Over the weekend, we had a couple periods of nice rain and while we are still behind for the year, it is a nice start.  I know Barb likes to put her plants to bed with their feet wet.  Perhaps the trees will now stop dropping their leaves early and wait for the first frost.  I was in the 50's this morning so that won't be that far away.

It is time to begin my annual rodent eradication program.  I set several mouse traps by the door and I call it my defense in depth.  The mice spend their time in the summer outside and start to look for a winter home about this time each year.  The good news is that they are suckers for peanut butter.  If it was only that easy to get rid of the squirrels I would have it made.  


Here in the heartland, we have a Food Store Chain called "HyVee."   They are based out of Iowa and provide the best meat I can find in the area.  It isn't cheap but man is it good.  They have a rib eye that you can cut with a fork.  I marinade the meat and cook it slow over a hickory smoke fire.  It doesn't get much better than that.  I generally gook enough that we have planned overs as the base for other meals.  I make what my mother called a hash with precooked steak and potatoes that is excellent.  Throw in a side of the couscous salad I made and it is a meal fit for a king. 

At what time in your life have you had problems with your teeth?  As a kid I was a lot less than diligent about brushing and have a mouth full of teeth filled with fillings.  A lot of those have been covered with a crown and I went about five years without a cavity.  The last two times I went to the Dentist I have had to have a tooth or tho filled and the dentist has his eye on a tooth for a crown.  he tells me that it is broken and probably will fall apart some day in the near future.  Oh well, I have enough to smile.


Have a great day out there.

MUD

Ponzi Scheme

Our paper this morning had a cartoon on the opinion page and it showed Social Security and the Trickle Down theory with Uncle Sam asking what a Ponzi Scheme was.  I don't remember when it happened, but a guy named Ponzi invented a swindle scheme where he promised investors a large rate of return on an investment.  He paid the early investors out of the income from the later investors (Keeping a large share for himself) until the whole thing fell apart.   I'm pretty sure the name Ponzi and the saying, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is" were both named after him.  I am not sure what I paid into over my lifetime, but I am pretty sure that I am one of the few that will not get my money back.  Even though I have paid my 40 quarters into the system, they have greatly reduced my payments because of my Military retirement.  Oh well, So far so good on everything else. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Barb and I planted a bunch of wildflower seeds in our prairie yesterday and right on time Mother nature is watering them.  It is nice to watch the  grass pasture turn into a wildflower garden.  The only thing I hate is the ragweed growing there.  I guess I need to spend a little time next spring doing my best to eradicate it.  There are a couple of places that it has a good head start and we all are allergic to it. 

I enjoyed the first half of the KU football game yesterday against Georgia Tech.  The Yellow jacket coach said at halftime that he hopes his team can continue to perform and his defense needs to step up.  That's what happened and the second half was not fun to watch. 

Sleeping on the ground

For almost a year, I spent the majority of the nights sleeping where we stopped for the day. In 1968, I was in Vietnam. I spent almost all fo my time either as a Forward Observer with an infantry Company or with the gun battery forward deployed on a mountain top. That meant that comfort was something that was pretty darned important.  I can't tell you the value of a darned good air mattress.  The ones made for the Military were basically rubber tubes that you inflated by blowing them up.  Depending on how many punctures they had, they stayed inflated for a short period of time.  If you were lucky they would stay inflated for a couple of hours.  It was fairly easy to fall asleep  and stay that way unless the ground was rocky.  Most of the time the ground was soft and muddy  and you put your poncho under the mattress.  If you really couldn't sleep, you would blow it up again and go back to sleep.

I can't tell you the number of times I would swing by a supply room and trade a really bad air mattress for one that was"Good."  On one trip to the supply room I made a decision that I would demand a new bag still in the plastic bag.  (That and a fifth of good whiskey would get you one)  The first night that damned mattress just went whoosh and whole end just blew out the seam.  Back the next morning to the supply room and I got a replacement.  I took it and went back to the field.  That mattress was solid gold.  It never leaked even a puff of air.  I was in hog heaven for a short time.

I finally came up on a time for an R&R and as i was leaving, "Twiggy" asked me if he could use that great mattress while I was on leave.  I made him swear to take care of it and left thinking good things about my meeting with the wife. 

LT Petty and Barb in Vegas

While I was on R&R, the unit moved from just outside Kontum to way the hell out to the west on the top of a mountain.  It seems that we also got a new Battery Commander that for obvious reasons everyone called Fat Albert.  This guy was big and fat all over.  I arrived back and went over to the FDC to get my air mattress back.  Twiggy was almost in tears when he saw me. He asked me to come outside (To keep the blood off the chart tables if I did rip off his head.   He stopped hy the small sand bag hooch he slept in and brought out the mattress.  It was flat and right in the middle was a size 12 boot print.

Twiggy said that he was taking the air mattress outside to give it some sum after a rain and a mortar round fell somewhere on the fire base.  Fat Albert was about 25 feet from the FDC bunker door just as Twiggy was coming out.  Fat Albert knocked Twiggy down and stepped right in the middle of him and my mattress. The mattress exploded and Albert fell down thinking that another mortar round had hit there by the door.

I think the story softened the blow of losing a good mattress.  As it turned out, I spent the rest of my time in Vietnam in a location I could sleep on a cot so the flat mattress was not as big a deal.  I never did hear what happened to the unit after I left.  When I left Vietnam, the supply had lost my footlocker so the only thing I had was a small suitcase I brought back from hawaii and the uniform I was wearing.  I had to borrow some kacki's to go home in.

MUD

Middle of the Week

Mother Nature is playing games with the heartland.  Normally there is a rain associated with the passage of a cool front.  Seems like we are getting cooler each week and we are still 4 inches behind for the year.  The corn crops are almost not worth the effort to harvest and I am not sure what the soybeans are doing.  The beans look good as you drive by but is there any pods as they near harvest?  


My father's first cousin in Dr Mark "Tiger" Edmonds and he sent me a release about his new book. "The Lonesome Lowdown Long-gone Outbound Scootertrash Blues".   Go to drmarktigeredmonds@yahoo.com to find the information about purchasing a copy.  I have read several of his books and I loved them.  Tiger is an author that recounts his adventures on a motorcycle in some of the most beautiful language you you would ever want to read.  On his web site, listen to his recordings and you will be transported to places far away.  His images are from the roads less traveled and sights most of us haven't seen.  For the record, he doesn't ride a Harley and get into fights. 


We finally have hung out a suet block and it is the start of the bird feeding season.  We get to watch the birds as they jockey for a space on the suet block or at the seed feeder.  Last winter I bought a bag of mixed seeds for the ground feeders so they can have something when the snow was on the ground.  I put it in the sunflower seed feeder and the birds have managed to spill almost all of the white Milo out on the ground.  Oh well, can't have everything.


Better run and go get something done even if I don't know what it is.


MUD

Beans

What is better than Red Beans and rice on Sunday?  Left over Red Beans and rice on Monday.   I guess I am my Daddy's son as he too loved a pot of beans.  Mom's version was navy Beans and ham and I prefer either Pinto beans or Red Beans.  I need to get some shredded cheese and some jalapenos to spice up the corn bread.  Now if I could just figure out how to power my recumbent on methane gas, I'll bet I could really power myself around the lake. 

Friday morning last week, I hauled out the trash and forgot that because of Labor Day the trash service would come on Saturday.  Late Friday night a wind storm blew through and scattered trash all over the place.  Barb took pity on my and she went out and picked up the trash and carried in the cans. 

This morning Barb fixed me some home made bread with some pear butter on it.  Mighty tasty.  The Asian Pears didn't do well this year due to the dry and heat but the yellow pears have done fine.  With a lack of apples or Asian pears, she has been playing with the regular pears.  The house sure smelled great yesterday with the crock pot full of pears and cinnamon.  

Better run and get ready for a bike ride.

MUD 

Stupid

I cut down two trees in two days and on the third day trimmed up the evergreens in the front yard.  I must have worked the muscles hard enough that they let me aggravate my sciatic nerve.  Now that I have spent a couple days in a prone position, I am slightly better.  The real problem is when I spend to much time on my feet or sit here at the computer and pontificate.  


About noon I am going to take Barb and the bikes over to the ball diamonds at the lake and see if I can even sit upright enough to ride a ways there.  I will stay on the parking lot where the slope is only a couple of degrees and probably Barb will ride out on the bike path. We'll see what we see.

As you can see, there is no shortage of trees at Rabbit Run

Barb and I discussed a route to the east coast this morning.  I think I would like to go up through Flint Michigan to see where my Dad's family came from.  I doubt that there are any relatives there that I know.  The last I knew was Aunt Mary who went to Florida the last I heard.  


Better run and rest up from resting up.


MUD

65 Degrees out there

Now this is what I'm talking about.  Unless you are at the lake and swimming, the weather outside right now is what I expect for Labor day.  We missed the rain they predicted but at least the hot air is on the way somewhere else.  


Yesterday we had the bikes in the truck and were just walking out the door when the phone rang.  It was the kids and they were headed over to the farmer's market.  Did we want to go?  Sure, why not.  The also were going to pick up Austen and Kyler so that always makes it more fun.  Even more fun was the fact that Rikku and her daddy walked with us as we explored the booths.  I think we bought a watermelon, a bag of coffee  and some squash.  By the time we finished our trek around the place, it was just too warm to ride.  I unloaded the bikes and we spent the day inside. 

Geek Squad Guy, Dave

Early in the day yesterday, I put a pork loin in the crock pot.  I am on the verge of changing my favorite meal from pot roast to pork loin in the pulled pork version.  Cook it long and slow in the crock pot and then pull the meat apart with a serving fork.  I put just enough of the cooking liquid in to keep it moist and tender.  I also added just a little BBQ sauce and some additional marinade that has a Soy Sauce taste.  Put that on buns and it is great.  The kids love cinnamon rolls and Barb whipped up a batch that  had a kind of caramel on top.  The kids left me one but Barb ate it while I fooled around.  Oh well.  "You Snooze, you lose."  

Football player sidelined with a busted wing

Sometimes you want to choke them or hug them your choice

The cartoon pages had several themes this morning but the most consistent is that kids start school in the fall.  Here in the heartland they have been in school a couple of weeks.  All we needed when I was a kid was from Labor Day to Memorial Day.  I guess there is so much more to learn today.  Pretty much when we left school, we got to play, not go home and check our Facebook and E-mail.  Throw in an early afternoon western with Deputy Dusty Rhoads and we were set.  I'm not sure that I would know how to set up any more electronic devices to my TV.  Heck, when I watch a movie on Blue Ray it changes the settings and I have to stop and think my way back to the Satellite dish.  Instead of the time on the VHS blinking 12, 12, 12... I have a DVR that contains nothing.  I am so seldom gone when something important is on that I have not found much to record.  I am not sure how to watch things I record so I don't really worry.  I also know there is a setting that will allow me to pause live TV but I am afraid I might cause a warp in the time space continuum.   (Like I could cause that, I just told you I don't record anything) 


Last week I mentioned Barb's cashew-blueberry waffles and here's the proof

See Y'a on Monday.


MUD

Saturday

It is strange that the Saturday to the Labor Day Weekend feels a lot like any other day when you are retired.  I can remember being so excited to have a three day weekend followed by an 11 day week.  Yes, I drilled in the guard for over 20 years and the first weekend after Labor day was drill so we would have a three day weekend followed by an 11 day week.  By the next weekend, we would be so worn out that Saturday would be a Mental Health day and most of it would be just a day to charge the batteries.  I would try to keep projects that required little thought for that day.  Mowing comes to mind as one of the major projects.  Turn the mower on, plug in the radio and make crop circles in the yard.  If I was lucky it was the last time all year that I would need to mow. 


Thinking about mowing brings to mind some of the best things I have spent money on over the years. 

• When we bought the rental houses in 1990, the owner had a mower that he used.  I made him an offer and he sold it to me.  It was a Case riding mower  and I ride it even today.  I have had to modify it some and replace the motor but it has dollar for dollar been one of the best things I ever bought.  During that time, I have worn out at least 10 push mowers and more weed whackers than I can even remember.
• Dollar per mile the Volvo Wagon was a pretty good buy.  Dad drove it well over 150,000 miles and I replaced the drive train and drove it almost that much more.  I found a Volvo that had never been delivered to the dealer and was torn up in a train wreck and put the entire running gear in the Wagon.  It went lots of miles well and was fun to drive.
• My wife said that her father repaired TV's from almost the beginning of TV.  His brand of choice was a Zenith.  When i came home from Vietnam we bought a black and white Zenith in Colorado Springs in 1969. That damned TV lasted and lasted and lasted and finally I bought a color Zenith in Ottawa. I gave that old black and white TV to the NCO club in Ottawa and when I went back to command that unit in 1987, it was still working.  To the best of my knowledge, it never had been worked on and the picture was just fine for an old black and white TV.  
• As a kid, I can remember only one new bike. Like most of you, I inherited most of my bikes from older kids.  Most of the time it was one of those humongous fat tired girls bikes that I had to stand up and pedal cause my butt didn't reach the seat.  As man times as I slipped off the pedals, it was probably good that it was a girls bike of I'm sure that I would have busted my family jewels. My only new bike was a Race Bike from sears and I for the life of me don't remember what brand.  It lasted about two years and it was stolen by one of the neighborhood hoods.  I found it about a week later painted with house paint and ridden while the paint was still tacky.  It had sand stuck in the paint on the lower frame and I managed to get it back with the threat of calling the police.  That bike probably cost my father about a weeks wages and it didn't last two years.  The reason I say that, is my brother-in-law found Barb an EZ-1 at a garage sale and it has been the best little bike, dollar per mile.    He made my bike and it has been one of the best dollar per smile.  I hope to ride it many more over the next years.
• For most of my life I was a General Motors fan.  55, 56 and 57 Chevy's, a 69 Malibu, a 71 Vega, a 78 Malibu, a 94 Buick, a 97 Olds and a 53 Chevy Pickup.  Barb was looking for a newer car for me and ran across a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria with 18,000 miles.  We went to look at it and other than a kind of dirty driver's seat the car was in great shape.  It wasn't until we took our first road trip that I realized the value of the car.  In addition to just driving like a dream, it gets 25 MPG on the road.  You can arrive places feeling you you have been home sitting on the couch or your recliner.  It is a little bigger than Barb likes to drive but it is one that her back and mine can stand miles after miles.  Yes, I imagine my carbon footprint is pretty large, but comfort miles per dollar are pretty high. 

Bikes on the round nose with round belly

Y'all have a good time out there and be safe.


MUD

Better Days

The weatherman said that yesterday was hopefully the last day over 100 for the year.  There is a cool front going to pass here tonight and it will be in the mid 80's for the rest of the Labor day weekend.  This morning it was about 80 with a good 10 MPH breeze from the south.  Great riding weather.  Barb and I ride the same route and she stops to take pictures.  I ride another couple of miles and today got in 10.5 miles in about 50 minutes.  I'm sure that the camera and the telephoto lens Barb carries is at least the equivalent of another couple of miles. 

Whenever Barb gets out the waffle iron, she always makes a few extra waffles.  Throw those extra in the freezer and use the toaster to heat them up for a quick breakfast.  Barb likes to put a few blueberries in a cup with a little water and we top the waffles with them.  Throw in a few cashews and a little syrup and it is "good eats."  For the longest time I thought I didn't like waffles.  I could get to love them.


I see that the southern states are due to get a bunch of rain.  My pal Andy in Louisiana said he mowed his yard short and put his mower in storage for the year.  Sounds like he may have to get a shovel and scrape the mud off the lawn soon.  


There are a few things that make me wonder.  How come you have the right to tell people to not display a cross?  I thought we had freedom of religion not freedom from religion.  To me, that means that you can mind your own business and as long as I don't hit you with a cross it is not your right to even notice.  How come we have the right to bear arms and yet people think I have to register my guns?  That is especially true if I want to carry concealed.  Bite me.  That smile on my face might be just the strain of carrying my gun in my pants.  


Oh well, Better run.

MUD

September

Just yesterday I sat under a giant walnut tree by Clinton lake and thought what a wonderful place.  You couldn't hear any man made sounds, only the sounds of the cicadas and a family of noisy crows just over the hill.  The weather was perfect and I realized just how lucky I am.

I am saving this design for when I'm too old to ride the trails

A lot of that great feeling is because of the idea my brother-in-law, Ken planted a few years back.  He came for a visit and brought his recumbent bike.  I loved the idea of being able to sit down on a large seat and enjoy pedaling down bike paths.   With his guidance and bike building abilities, we now get to spend hours and at least 200 miles a year seeing places that a lot of people don't go.  While we were looking for parts and pieces, Ken found a recumbent, an EZ-1, in a sale ad.  We bought it and considered using it for parts until Barb rode it for the first time.  She smiled and it became her bike.  We found other parts for my bike and now we smile together as we ride.   Ken also helped me rebuild the 53 Pick-up truck and we throw the bikes in the back and ride from trail to trail. 

A lot of the feeling also comes from the fact that a few years back, Barb started managing our money and played Dave Ramsey better than he does.  She didn't have to preach all that pay your bills crap, she just did it.  When we retired, we did so with a stash of cash and the bills paid off.  So far we have been able to live off the retirement checks and she is holding on to the investments.  When we started to invest, we decided that the return of our money is more important than the return on our money and so far the volatility of the stock market hasn't dented her future plans.  Of all the 401 (k)s, 503 (b)s and whatever, only a very small went into a mutual stock program.  It has bounced up and down like a pogo stick and I am glad we don't have to depend on it to make ends meet.  Besides, all I have to do is to ask our account manager how the account is doing and he doesn't try to get us to invest more.

The third best thing we did was to purchase the 18 acres here on Tecumseh creek.  Any time I want to go out and wonder around in the forest, there are things to do that can take all the time I want to spend.  I could fuel a fireplace for years off the wood I have down right now.  Not that I want to fuel a wood stove to keep me busy. 

I guess the last thing that makes life wonderful is that I can manage to kill more time than anyone I know and Barb doesn't seem to mind.  Take her riding now and then and to the library and she is as content as a cat in the window.  Like that cat, I'm not sure what she does but as long as she enjoys herself, why would I bother her?  

MUD

Is August Over - Already?

Seems like my birthday was just yesterday and now it is the 30th.  I guess time flies when you are having fun.  Let's see if I can remember a few more of my Dad's sayings to start the day...

• ALL Hands on Deck.  I'm sure that this was something he got in the Navy.  He never served on a ship so to him it meant that everyone had to drag their tired butts out of bed.
• Pack Your Bags.   If my dad decided that a quick trip to Arkansas was needed over the weekend, he would reach under the sink and pass out grocery sacks.  In 10 minutes, he would be in the car and what you had with you was what you wore for the weekend.  Most of the time, Mom nor Dad checked to see what you brought.  
• Virginia, can you put some ice in my tea, or Can you put some tea in my ice?  dad's meds made his mouth dry and he tried to keep a glass of tea nearby.  Mom was from the generation that would keep him in style. 

Barb just asked if we need to go riding.  Weather report is light rain.  Not so much right here but soon.
MUD

Memories

To me, it is funny what memories pop into my head when I have thoughts of family members.  Do you think I would remember that my mother was at one time a very good cook?  No, I remember that she would put a roast in the oven and go off to church and we ate what was not cremated beyond description when she got home.  One of her favorite sayings was. "I cooked it, I don't have to name it."  She was famous for her cooking an entire dinner in one pan and often the results were amazing.  Barb is fond of saying, "Your mother would be proud." when I put together a meal in the same manner.  Pork chops in Spanish rice with green beans is an example of a one-dish meal I love.  Yes, the obvious ham and beans dinner with a side of cornbread is another.  Mom always used white navy Beans and I would much rather have pinto beans.  My dad would often look at one of the conglomerations and say, "Looks like the dog got sick."  

Mom and dad at Carol's house.

I read this morning that one of my friends lost his mother over the weekend and I was flooded with thoughts of Mom.  I often say that I was blessed that both my wife and mother loved me and they liked each other.  For a good part of her last years, Mom lived near us and I would go over and see her regularly.  I did all her shopping and ran errands for her.  My brother got to share the last couple of years with Mom and I'm pretty sure that he enjoyed her as I did.  There is a little oil royalty money coming in and every time a check is spent I think about how Mom would want me to spend it on other people.  


The days are getting a little shorter and the morning temps here in the Heartland are getting cooler.  Not long back we would ride early to avoid the heat and soon we will wait until later on in the day so it will be warmer.  It is never perfect, well... A couple of times each year it is but what's a little sweat when you are having fun.  Much rather drip a little sweat than have to wear a coat and try to keep the body the right temp.

You don't see the turtle I was looking at

Better Run - Pears to pick and perhaps circles with pedals to make.


MUD

Things to do in Topeka

This is not an inspirational or motivational blog.  It is just a few of the things we have done here and nearby lately. When our Zoo isn't trying to par-boil a hippo they really have worked hard to make the zoo a great place to visit.  The other night they had a grand opening of the wild dog exhibit and to get in you had to have a Fiends of the Zoo membership.  The good news is that they had the $50.00 membership discounted to $30.00.  Nice evening and it is always fun to see the new stuff. 

Barb and I ride our bikes a lot.  We rode to the east end of the Shunga Trail that is newly completed.  That will make the Shunga Trail about 7 miles long and if you park at one end and ride to the other it is a nice workout.  We have ridden mostly on cement trails and because we are working on getting ready to ride the KATY trail in Missouri (Not all of it, just the first 10 miles out and back) we rode the Landon trail.  It is an old rail bed trail and typical of what we expect on the KATY.   We went out about 9 miles on that trail and it was pretty neat.  It needs some minor work after the wind storm last week.  


From Brown vs Board of Education bldg here in Topeka, you will by the end of next year ride about half of the way on concrete and the rest on gravel from downtown Topeka to Berryton.  That is about 10 miles.  Can't wait for that to all be completed.   


The Brown Vs Board of Education Museum & Park is an interesting look see into the integration of the United States.  The short issue for Topeka to be proud of is Topeka was selected by the NAACP for the court case to integrate the schools because if the fact that a lot of kids lived in integrated neighborhoods and had to go out of their way to go to a segregated school.  Topeka was a lot more relaxed about the issue of integration and being a State Capitol they could probably get pretty good news coverage of the trial.  Separate but equal just didn't make sense here and it fairly easily won the Federal Court case here. 


I don't know what you do for fun but family dinners come to mind as one of our favorite things.

Austen with my camera

Kyler with Barb's Camera

Barb with her camera

 I get to sit on the couch and watch all the clicking.

MUD & Barb Jr.

MUD

Poison Ivy

When I cut down the trees behind the house, there were a lot of vines on the tree.  I guess one must have been poison ivy and I got it on my arms.  The good news is that so far it hasn't caused me a lot of skin damage but the itch drives me crazy.  I really clip my fingernails short so I don't scratch the skin deep but I do find myself rubbing the red skin and I'm pretty sure that it keeps the skin irritated.   yes, I know - DON"T DO THAT!

African Wild dog

Last night, Barb and I went to the zoo to see the new African wild dogs that are new to the zoo.  It was a beautiful evening and we loved the wild animals and all the little kids.   We are now "Friends of the zoo" and hopefully it will let us in some of the zoo's in our travels.  Because it is near the end of the year, the FOTZ card is discounted but nothing was said if it is an annual fee or lifetime.  We have a National Park pass that was a one time fee and well worth the senior citizen discount.  

Old Momma Lion watching the new dogs

Every year, I watch my horoscope work its way up to the top spot on the page.  I read it but I don't place a lot of stock in what it says.  As the summer ends, my horoscope falls to last place and that is my notice that fall is near.  I also notice that the spiders outside are getting real aggressive about putting up large webs to trap insects for their egg nests.  I don't mind the spiders but I hate driving my tractor and hitting one of those webs that coat you face with sticky strands.  This time of year we walk the paths here with a wand to wave at the webs to make the webs disappear.  


Yesterday on the radio I heard a cute story about hurricane season.  A policeman drove through a neighborhood about to be hit by a hurricane.  He told everyone to evacuate.  One old man said "God will Save Me."  A little later on after a levee broke they sent a boat to check on the old man.  He was sitting on his porch up to his waist in water and he again said "God will save me."  After the other levee broke they sent a helicopter to lower a rope and the man who was on his roof again said, "God will save me."  The old man drowned and went to the pearly gates.  He said to Saint Peter, "God didn't save me!"   Saint peter just shook his head and said, "God sent you a policeman, a boat and a helicopter, some times you just have to listen and help yourself."   

MUD 
 

'Splain it to me!

Yesterday I went to WalMart to seek out some lotion for the itch I have on my arms.  There was a combination anti itch medication that was a combination of Calamine lotion and an anti itch.  It was over $5.00.  A simple bottle of calamine lotion was $1.27 and the anti itch stuff was $2.39.  Why on gods green earth would you pay a $2.00 penalty to have them mix it one bottle?  You also only got about half as much that way.  I guess we are spoiled that way.  Have you also noticed that products that have "No Sugar added" are also more?  I guess I am just not the one to make sense of such things.

Yesterday barb and I went out on the bike path and found a whole new section down by the Shunga creek.  The city has expanded the path on east of the old part and the couple I met said they will soon have the path around the city.    We were getting a little tired of the west side of the lake Shawnee bike path.  I am really tired of the nuts hulls the squirrels are putting all over the path.

When was the last time you had a taco pizza?  We had one last night and I found it interesting but not as good as the one by Godfather's.  I would rather have a meat pizza or the supreme with the meat and some onions, peppers and olives. 

The cool weather is here again this morning and I really should get out and cut up that downed tree behind the house.  I thought it was cool that I got it to drop right where I wanted but somehow it just hasn't cut its self up yet. 

Better get cracking.

MUD