As I let the box called next Blog select where I am going, I wonder why Blogger doesn't have an expiration button built in. I think that if you don't add a blog within a given period of time, your blog should go off into a place where you have to take steps to return it to active. There are a lot of blogs that go back to 2012 and earlier without an update. Where there are notices that a blog is unavailable there should be one of those next blog buttons so you don't have to go back to find one. Just Say'n.
MUD
1/12/2015
Nearing the Finish Line
Dave's house is almost complete and there are a couple of things I need to do to get it ready. Dave's wife, Barb Jr. wanted the shower big and when they moved the wall, it covered the floor vent in the bathroom. I have it relocated but I don't have it connected to the duct work. I also need to connect the dryer vent to the outside. Small jobs but not one sick people feel like doing on really cold days. After I get through with my semi annual teeth cleaning this afternoon perhaps I will feel better and it will be warmer. OH well.
I'll get to see KU play this Wednesday night but will have to miss the game on Monday when Oklahoma comes to visit. They will have blood in their eye after getting beat by K-State over the weekend. It all depends on which team shows up for KU. They have one team that loves to run, jump and dunk the ball. They will beat a lot of teams back down the court and help them make mistakes only to run the ball back to the other end and dunk it again. Then they have a team that forgets how they have been coached to play. They look like a lot of first year Freshmen and just look awful. There is more life in a Frat House after a keg party.
Yesterday the Board of the Capitol City Barbershop Chorus had a board meeting and I was so sick that I decided to stay home. They connected me by telephone and we got a lot done. I really like our new president and the rest of the board. We have a lot of big plans for the year and only time will tell if we can make this a great year or not. Our sound has been a lot better and it seems the guys are listening to the CD and reading the music more. Our Director was selected as Barbershopper of the year this year. I didn't know he was eligible when we voted or he would have gotten mine. Oh well..
The other night, the smell of an electrical fire filled the basement. Not a lot of smoke but a lot of smell. We unplugged the stuff around Barb's computer and found the smell went away. One of the external back up drives is the culprit and later on I'll plug them in one at a time ad see which one it is. For now there is a pile of stuff just waiting for my attention.
Today is the first day for the Legislature in Arkansas to start. My Niece, Rebecca Petty, will be sworn in for her first session as a member of the house. She has been working all around the outside of the Process supporting crime victims and advocating for laws that help crime victims and children. I am excited to see what she thinks of the process from the inside. She finished her degree this last year and is working on her Masters. Perhaps with her education she can write her own bills and not wait for a Lobbyist to do it for her like they do here in Kansas. She also represents the District that Wal*Mart Headquarters is near. I wonder what she feels about them. I go to Wal*Mart a lot and find them to have almost everything I need at a price I can afford.
Better move on and see what is going on in the real world.
MUD
I'll get to see KU play this Wednesday night but will have to miss the game on Monday when Oklahoma comes to visit. They will have blood in their eye after getting beat by K-State over the weekend. It all depends on which team shows up for KU. They have one team that loves to run, jump and dunk the ball. They will beat a lot of teams back down the court and help them make mistakes only to run the ball back to the other end and dunk it again. Then they have a team that forgets how they have been coached to play. They look like a lot of first year Freshmen and just look awful. There is more life in a Frat House after a keg party.
Yesterday the Board of the Capitol City Barbershop Chorus had a board meeting and I was so sick that I decided to stay home. They connected me by telephone and we got a lot done. I really like our new president and the rest of the board. We have a lot of big plans for the year and only time will tell if we can make this a great year or not. Our sound has been a lot better and it seems the guys are listening to the CD and reading the music more. Our Director was selected as Barbershopper of the year this year. I didn't know he was eligible when we voted or he would have gotten mine. Oh well..
The other night, the smell of an electrical fire filled the basement. Not a lot of smoke but a lot of smell. We unplugged the stuff around Barb's computer and found the smell went away. One of the external back up drives is the culprit and later on I'll plug them in one at a time ad see which one it is. For now there is a pile of stuff just waiting for my attention.
Today is the first day for the Legislature in Arkansas to start. My Niece, Rebecca Petty, will be sworn in for her first session as a member of the house. She has been working all around the outside of the Process supporting crime victims and advocating for laws that help crime victims and children. I am excited to see what she thinks of the process from the inside. She finished her degree this last year and is working on her Masters. Perhaps with her education she can write her own bills and not wait for a Lobbyist to do it for her like they do here in Kansas. She also represents the District that Wal*Mart Headquarters is near. I wonder what she feels about them. I go to Wal*Mart a lot and find them to have almost everything I need at a price I can afford.
Better move on and see what is going on in the real world.
MUD
1/11/2015
Living Life
In today"s Parade Magazine there was a story about a 75 year old man that started to ride his motorcycle when his wife passed. There is a 70 person Motorcycle group there that rides their bikes to distant eating establishments. On one such trip one member veered off the road and was dead. The local Coroner said likely he was dead just prior to the accident. No slick, he was as alive as he could be doing something that he loved right to the end. You don't live just spending time until you die. The best way is to die doing something you love. Duh!
There is an old saying that the way to do it is to pass on shouting Yahoo and slide into your grave at least an hour before the Devil knows you are gone. Being a little bit of person that plans, I don't intend to spend my last dollar on my last day but I will do my best to put it to good use. It will be OK if I leave enough to our heirs to have me cremated and sprinkled in the impact area at some Military base. Option 2 is the National Cemetery in Leavenworth where they have a small area for Cremains.
Why all this talk about death and dying? Well, I have the creeping acumskuzzy and because of my blood pressure I can't take the normal Decongestants. I just have to gut it out and I hate every minute of coughing and wiping my nose. Yes, I did have the flu shot and in fact was told it was the enhanced version. No, I don't feel like it helped one bit.
We went to the KU game yesterday and it was very fun to see the team on a run. Texas tech was just not that good a team and KU played everyone on their bench. In fact most of the starters didn't play much more that 20 minutes. It was one action packed dunk fest and the players and the fans enjoyed every minute of it.
Last night we had the installation of the officers of the Barbershop Chorus and had a great meal. I hated to put salt on such a delightful meal but without the great sense of smell, Salty was the only thing I could taste. Needless to say, Barb and I left right after the singing stopped. I just hope I didn't give this crud to anyone else. Even if it is likely that I got it from one of the chorus members.
OH well, Get out there and live life like you cared. I will...
MUD
There is an old saying that the way to do it is to pass on shouting Yahoo and slide into your grave at least an hour before the Devil knows you are gone. Being a little bit of person that plans, I don't intend to spend my last dollar on my last day but I will do my best to put it to good use. It will be OK if I leave enough to our heirs to have me cremated and sprinkled in the impact area at some Military base. Option 2 is the National Cemetery in Leavenworth where they have a small area for Cremains.
Why all this talk about death and dying? Well, I have the creeping acumskuzzy and because of my blood pressure I can't take the normal Decongestants. I just have to gut it out and I hate every minute of coughing and wiping my nose. Yes, I did have the flu shot and in fact was told it was the enhanced version. No, I don't feel like it helped one bit.
We went to the KU game yesterday and it was very fun to see the team on a run. Texas tech was just not that good a team and KU played everyone on their bench. In fact most of the starters didn't play much more that 20 minutes. It was one action packed dunk fest and the players and the fans enjoyed every minute of it.
Last night we had the installation of the officers of the Barbershop Chorus and had a great meal. I hated to put salt on such a delightful meal but without the great sense of smell, Salty was the only thing I could taste. Needless to say, Barb and I left right after the singing stopped. I just hope I didn't give this crud to anyone else. Even if it is likely that I got it from one of the chorus members.
OH well, Get out there and live life like you cared. I will...
MUD
1/07/2015
Polar Vortex - Nah, Just Winter with a little Wind
In Salina at the Kansas Military Academy, they had a weather rock. It was a rock on a rope and it had instructions on a piece of old paneling. If the rock is moving, it is windy. If it is wet, it is raining. If it is covered with snow or ice, it is cold. I am not sure who's great idea this was but I'm sure that based on our wind chime on the deck, the wind is rocking and rolling out there. This was confirmed by a trip out to get the paper. Even with more than one layer of coats it was cold. I think if there is any temperature on the thermometer outside it was cancelled by the wind.
For my non basketball friends out there, KU starts the new BIG XII season tonight in Waco, TX where they meet the Baylor basketball team. From what I have seen, there are five teams that could win the Championship but they all have to go through Lawrence. The current KU team is young and have had periods of non scoring but they have some great kids that are kind of hurt. I'm sure that by the end of the season they will either all be hurt or win a few games along the way. They had the second highest RPI (Strength of their opponents schedule) in the nation and finished 11-2 entering the preseason. Coach Self didn't get to be one of the winningest coaches by letting things get out of hand.
How do you know when you are starting to get a cold? Because I can't take decongestants, it is for me sinus pressure. I have a very low voice and have a headache. The depth is caused by a sore throat and post nasal drip. Oh well, another winter cold.
This morning when I went to go out to get the paper, I saw the local school bus stopped up on the court. I am sure that with a negative wind chill the bus doesn't find kids outside just waiting to get on the bus. I never rode the bus when I was in school and had to hoof it there most days. The only time I got to ride was in the 9th grade I broke by foot and rode with Mrs. Longhoffer our next door neighbor who was a teacher. I think it was only the last 6 weeks of that year.
For some reason, the foot I broke in the 9th grade is hurting lately. It is that bony part that sticks out of the outside of my foot. I stepped on a sidewalk as I ran to catch a fly ball and only the side of my foot was supported. I really noticed it when I was in the cold garage and climbed up a ladder with a narrow step. I don't remember hurting it but I did almost fall down the other day on rough ground as I came out of a ball game in Lawrence. Who Knows what causes things like that?
Our Barbershop Chorus had a great practice the other night. We had not practiced for a couple of weeks and I am sure that the guys did their homework. We now have our music on CD's and on a Dropbox site. It is easy to hear our music any time. This has helped.
I guess I need to get on down the road. Stay Warm out there.
MUD
For my non basketball friends out there, KU starts the new BIG XII season tonight in Waco, TX where they meet the Baylor basketball team. From what I have seen, there are five teams that could win the Championship but they all have to go through Lawrence. The current KU team is young and have had periods of non scoring but they have some great kids that are kind of hurt. I'm sure that by the end of the season they will either all be hurt or win a few games along the way. They had the second highest RPI (Strength of their opponents schedule) in the nation and finished 11-2 entering the preseason. Coach Self didn't get to be one of the winningest coaches by letting things get out of hand.
How do you know when you are starting to get a cold? Because I can't take decongestants, it is for me sinus pressure. I have a very low voice and have a headache. The depth is caused by a sore throat and post nasal drip. Oh well, another winter cold.
This morning when I went to go out to get the paper, I saw the local school bus stopped up on the court. I am sure that with a negative wind chill the bus doesn't find kids outside just waiting to get on the bus. I never rode the bus when I was in school and had to hoof it there most days. The only time I got to ride was in the 9th grade I broke by foot and rode with Mrs. Longhoffer our next door neighbor who was a teacher. I think it was only the last 6 weeks of that year.
For some reason, the foot I broke in the 9th grade is hurting lately. It is that bony part that sticks out of the outside of my foot. I stepped on a sidewalk as I ran to catch a fly ball and only the side of my foot was supported. I really noticed it when I was in the cold garage and climbed up a ladder with a narrow step. I don't remember hurting it but I did almost fall down the other day on rough ground as I came out of a ball game in Lawrence. Who Knows what causes things like that?
Our Barbershop Chorus had a great practice the other night. We had not practiced for a couple of weeks and I am sure that the guys did their homework. We now have our music on CD's and on a Dropbox site. It is easy to hear our music any time. This has helped.
I guess I need to get on down the road. Stay Warm out there.
MUD
1/06/2015
Getn' Old(er)
I know that I have said that many times I have said I hate getting old(er) but yesterday it came back in spades. After repairing the garage door that exploded the other night and standing on the risers during Chorus practice, my legs are a wreck today. I know that Barb would say I either need to do more or less of that. It was amazing that while I was on a trip to the Hardware store, the wind shifted to the SSE and I could almost stand to be in the garage with one of the doors open. There is just no way to get around that if you are inserting bolts through the door frame. Today, the wind has shifted back around to the North and I am glad to have that job done.
After 25 years of opening and closing, the Garage door had flexed enough that the screws in the middle panel just ripped out of the door. I also found that the top of the door had cracked and needed reinforced. I will try to replace it next spring but it will have to do until it gets a lot warmer. It works fine in the interim but how long that will last is questionable.
As it is a new year, the Master gardener is off to a meeting to help get in her minimums. They have an hours Nazi that really enforces the rules. Everyone is required to attend a certain number of meetings and put in 40 hours of volunteer time each year. Good rule and great that they have someone that cares.
Last night we had a meeting to talk about our annual show in April. There is a core group that has done a lot of the work for the Chorus and the new president is working on sharing the wealth. I applaud his efforts and am really excited to see where the chorus is going. Our practice last night produced some of the best sounds we have done in a long while. We took a couple of weeks off and I think it helped. I even saw a lot of showmanship on the risers. Normally the guys sing well but are kind of flat in their actions. I hope we can continue to get better and by April blow the doors off.
The kids are getting close to being back in their house and the tile guy has been kinda slow getting the bathroom done. The bathroom cabinets were due in today and it will be fun to see if they arrive.
Oh well, better get moving so I don't stay glued to this chair. Would hate to have the same complaint nest week because of inactivity.
MUD
After 25 years of opening and closing, the Garage door had flexed enough that the screws in the middle panel just ripped out of the door. I also found that the top of the door had cracked and needed reinforced. I will try to replace it next spring but it will have to do until it gets a lot warmer. It works fine in the interim but how long that will last is questionable.
As it is a new year, the Master gardener is off to a meeting to help get in her minimums. They have an hours Nazi that really enforces the rules. Everyone is required to attend a certain number of meetings and put in 40 hours of volunteer time each year. Good rule and great that they have someone that cares.
Last night we had a meeting to talk about our annual show in April. There is a core group that has done a lot of the work for the Chorus and the new president is working on sharing the wealth. I applaud his efforts and am really excited to see where the chorus is going. Our practice last night produced some of the best sounds we have done in a long while. We took a couple of weeks off and I think it helped. I even saw a lot of showmanship on the risers. Normally the guys sing well but are kind of flat in their actions. I hope we can continue to get better and by April blow the doors off.
The kids are getting close to being back in their house and the tile guy has been kinda slow getting the bathroom done. The bathroom cabinets were due in today and it will be fun to see if they arrive.
Oh well, better get moving so I don't stay glued to this chair. Would hate to have the same complaint nest week because of inactivity.
MUD
1/04/2015
J'es Singing
Last night the Capitol City Chorus sang at the Men's and Women's Basketball game for Washburn University. It was fun to watch a little of both games but I didn't watch the entire game. Between games we slipped out and went to a local restaurant for dinner. It was a fun time had by all. I think our rendition of the national Anthem was very good. One of the tenors had been sick all week and he had to sing Bass to keep from squeaking. Other than that, it went well. Our newest assistant director Chris is really getting the hang of it.
Barb and I will be slipping out in a little while to go see the hawks play in Allen Field House. It is an extreme pleasure to get to see a game there. The things that go on before, during and after the game that is not on TV is fun. I know that a lot of people don't want to stand up and sing the Alma Matter but some of us do.
There are days that the cats wake up with a wild streak. The Female cat got in a box and the kitten just went nuts trying to get her out. Then they did their version of the MMA where they wrestle and the Jujitsu moves just make me laugh. It goes on until the big cat get a stray claw and she slaps the crap out of the kitten. It is a hoot.
Today there is a retrospective of NYPD Blue and it cracks me up that everyone in NY takes their coffee with cream and two sugars. I have always had mine black. I don't drink it for the taste, I drink it for the caffeine.
Better get my act together.
MUD
Barb and I will be slipping out in a little while to go see the hawks play in Allen Field House. It is an extreme pleasure to get to see a game there. The things that go on before, during and after the game that is not on TV is fun. I know that a lot of people don't want to stand up and sing the Alma Matter but some of us do.
There are days that the cats wake up with a wild streak. The Female cat got in a box and the kitten just went nuts trying to get her out. Then they did their version of the MMA where they wrestle and the Jujitsu moves just make me laugh. It goes on until the big cat get a stray claw and she slaps the crap out of the kitten. It is a hoot.
Today there is a retrospective of NYPD Blue and it cracks me up that everyone in NY takes their coffee with cream and two sugars. I have always had mine black. I don't drink it for the taste, I drink it for the caffeine.
Better get my act together.
MUD
1/03/2015
What Do You Want?
As I write my blog, I am constantly wondering what the heck you as the readers want. I have written long posts, short posts, and varied the content. If you could read the summary page of my posts, you could see that while my readership is fairly constant, there is no feedback or comments. I am glad to say that there is not a lot of spam posted to my blog for the new posts. There are a few of the older one's that have the "I like your blog, read mine." comments. Most of them are selling some product or advertising Porta Potties.
As I said from the first, I write these mostly for me but I am curious what you would like to see.
MUD
As I said from the first, I write these mostly for me but I am curious what you would like to see.
MUD
'Splain it to Me?
Living here in the USA, has made most of us very protective of our individual rights. Most of our ancestors came here to escape tyranny or to avail themselves of the freedoms and opportunities to be found in America. We have grown to expect and demand that our rights be protected by our Government. In that vein, there are things that just fly in the face of the face of the Muslim world. I know that there are some that feel that our celebration of the female body is just great. To the Muslim world, it is totally against what they believe. We are seen not as a free society but a godless one.
I will defend your right to live your life the way you desire. In fact, I gave 30+ years to defending our Country and State from losing our freedom. I have to struggle to understand how anyone can give up their freedom to do what they want to a tyrannical religion driven society. I think that is the biggest problem we have in living in the world as we now have it. Especially in one that few of us can answer life's questions. We don't even understand what questions to ask let alone answer.
My biggest concern is that somehow our moral superiority has grown into an arrogance that the rest of the world has grown to hate. I thought that the election of Barack Obama was going to help us get past a lot of that hate and we could be friends with the rest (or a majority) of the world. As it has shown, that is not the truth. We have continued to be the people most hated and our Government is not the great symbol of freedom but the world's cops in a world filled with Ferguson, Missouri's.
A part of me wants to just say screw it, bring our Soldier's home and let the Arab world just be over run with the Muslim religion. If they want to live like that, let them. The problem with that is that as was shown with Hitler's Germany, they will never just be happy with what they have, they will always want more. With the proliferation of Nuclear weapons, can we ever be safe?
This morning, the newspaper said that more people are moving out of Kansas than are moving in. I told the Master Gardener that is a lot here like in the USA. I love my State but fear my Government. There are a lot of things that work when the economy is expanding but not in one that is stagnant or shrinking. The solution to me is to tighten our belts and fund the things that are important. To me, schools is pretty much at or near the top of that list. How can we have a future if we don't do our best to make our children as smart as they can be?
I am reminded that when we visited Morocco, we were warned to not say anything bad about the King. I told our host that anyone that can hold his world together in the midst of a movement to go back to the fundamental religion is to be praised. But, I am glad that I don't have to live there.
MUD
I will defend your right to live your life the way you desire. In fact, I gave 30+ years to defending our Country and State from losing our freedom. I have to struggle to understand how anyone can give up their freedom to do what they want to a tyrannical religion driven society. I think that is the biggest problem we have in living in the world as we now have it. Especially in one that few of us can answer life's questions. We don't even understand what questions to ask let alone answer.
My biggest concern is that somehow our moral superiority has grown into an arrogance that the rest of the world has grown to hate. I thought that the election of Barack Obama was going to help us get past a lot of that hate and we could be friends with the rest (or a majority) of the world. As it has shown, that is not the truth. We have continued to be the people most hated and our Government is not the great symbol of freedom but the world's cops in a world filled with Ferguson, Missouri's.
A part of me wants to just say screw it, bring our Soldier's home and let the Arab world just be over run with the Muslim religion. If they want to live like that, let them. The problem with that is that as was shown with Hitler's Germany, they will never just be happy with what they have, they will always want more. With the proliferation of Nuclear weapons, can we ever be safe?
This morning, the newspaper said that more people are moving out of Kansas than are moving in. I told the Master Gardener that is a lot here like in the USA. I love my State but fear my Government. There are a lot of things that work when the economy is expanding but not in one that is stagnant or shrinking. The solution to me is to tighten our belts and fund the things that are important. To me, schools is pretty much at or near the top of that list. How can we have a future if we don't do our best to make our children as smart as they can be?
I am reminded that when we visited Morocco, we were warned to not say anything bad about the King. I told our host that anyone that can hold his world together in the midst of a movement to go back to the fundamental religion is to be praised. But, I am glad that I don't have to live there.
MUD
1/02/2015
Short Story
Many Moons ago, I commanded a 105mm Howitzer battery in Horton, Kansas. We went to Camp Ripley, Minnesota for camp in 1975. It was a fun camp for me as it was the last Camp in Command of Battery B. Most of the cannoneers joined the unit the year the unit returned from Active Duty and at the end of their 6 year enlistments they were ready to have a good time and it showed. I think we laughed our way through that camp and there were so many short timer sticks being carried that there was no brush or trees left anywhere near our battery positions.
To make a short story long, we were notified that in the middle of the first week, the FORSCOM Commander, General Bernard Rogers would visit one of the units and the Battalion Commander picked my Battery to get us ready. We worked hard for a day or two getting the place all picked up and squared away. Each section had their equipment all laid out and it looked like the diagrams in the Field Manuals from Fort Sill. I did have to dig out the shoe polish because several of the soldiers said they were going to not polish their boots ever again. If you looked hard, the hair length was a little long too but they would be wearing their helmets so I wasn't worried.
The appointed day arrived and the Battalion Commander came to my battery to meet General Rogers and the 69th Brigade Commander when they arrived by Helicopter. We were ready and I was really proud when they arrived. When we saluted, General Rogers stopped and returned our salute. I swear, there were more stars showing on his uniform than I had ever seen in any one place. 4 on his hat, 4 on each collar and 4 on each shoulder of his field Jacket. I think that was 20 starts twinkling there in the sun.
Just as I started to invite the General to look at my unit, I noticed a flash of white out of the corner of my eye. It was one of my cooks slipping up to talk to the General. Oh crap, what do I do now? Then a flash of the Obvious hit me and I realized the Cook's name was Rogers. When he got there and gave the General a hug, (no salute) and asked how the General's wife was. There was an exchange of information between them that ended with the General asking the soldier how we were treating him. He said "Great" and that he had never been in a better unit at a better time.
I can't say that I ever wanted to kiss a soldier, but that was one time that I was about as proud as I could have been. The General said, "Well we are running behind so we had better get going." No visit to the unit, no good byes, just the whopping of the rotor blades as they left. The Battalion Commander said that he knew that the general wanted to see his Nephew and got in his jeep and left.
We had a great camp that year and the guys threw a super party at the end. I moved on to a new unit that fall and will always remember the day that General Rogers came to visit.
MUD, COL (Ret)
To make a short story long, we were notified that in the middle of the first week, the FORSCOM Commander, General Bernard Rogers would visit one of the units and the Battalion Commander picked my Battery to get us ready. We worked hard for a day or two getting the place all picked up and squared away. Each section had their equipment all laid out and it looked like the diagrams in the Field Manuals from Fort Sill. I did have to dig out the shoe polish because several of the soldiers said they were going to not polish their boots ever again. If you looked hard, the hair length was a little long too but they would be wearing their helmets so I wasn't worried.
The appointed day arrived and the Battalion Commander came to my battery to meet General Rogers and the 69th Brigade Commander when they arrived by Helicopter. We were ready and I was really proud when they arrived. When we saluted, General Rogers stopped and returned our salute. I swear, there were more stars showing on his uniform than I had ever seen in any one place. 4 on his hat, 4 on each collar and 4 on each shoulder of his field Jacket. I think that was 20 starts twinkling there in the sun.
Just as I started to invite the General to look at my unit, I noticed a flash of white out of the corner of my eye. It was one of my cooks slipping up to talk to the General. Oh crap, what do I do now? Then a flash of the Obvious hit me and I realized the Cook's name was Rogers. When he got there and gave the General a hug, (no salute) and asked how the General's wife was. There was an exchange of information between them that ended with the General asking the soldier how we were treating him. He said "Great" and that he had never been in a better unit at a better time.
I can't say that I ever wanted to kiss a soldier, but that was one time that I was about as proud as I could have been. The General said, "Well we are running behind so we had better get going." No visit to the unit, no good byes, just the whopping of the rotor blades as they left. The Battalion Commander said that he knew that the general wanted to see his Nephew and got in his jeep and left.
We had a great camp that year and the guys threw a super party at the end. I moved on to a new unit that fall and will always remember the day that General Rogers came to visit.
MUD, COL (Ret)
1/01/2015
But Baby, It's Cold Outside!
For Christmas we got 50+ degree weather instead of snow. This week we have cold and no snow. I am not sure that Mother Nature has a good handle on what we need, but we are getting something. I saw a picture of a family in Thailand and they were all wearing T-Shirts and shorts. I wonder if they miss having a little snow here and there. In SE Asia, I missed some of the good old American food. I saw that in one picture they were at McDonald's. Do you ever wonder what they serve there? At least in Germany they served wine with the burgers.
Speaking of food, last night was out with the old and in with the new. We had an eclectic meal of Enchiladas and lasagna. Throw in some microwave vegies and it was pretty darned good. I think today is a good day to put a pork roast in the Crock Pot. It will make a pretty good dinner today and I'm sure that the pulled pork sandwiches later on in the week will be good. I have some Hickory flavored KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce and it would taste good if it was put on newspaper in a bun.
Dave and his wife Barb are nearing the end of their journey to rebuild their house after the fire. I am not sure of the exact date they will be able to return everything and everybody to their old routine but it is getting nearer. At least Service Master has returned the contents of their house. Now to go through the over 100 boxes of stuff. I have a few things I need to finish there and will go over in a little while. The only part I will hate it getting under the house to hook up the furnace duct and the dryer vent. Oh well...
Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? I needed some underwear and socks and Santa (aka Barb) came through for me. I got one of those head lights that you wear on your forehead so you can see in dark places. In fact I got two so I should be set.
I was reminded today that everyone needs to see their doctor at least once a year to make sure there is nothing sneaking up on you health wise. With the new health programs, there should be little excuse not to see your doctor.
Oh well, things to do and places to go. Have a great year out there.
MUD
Speaking of food, last night was out with the old and in with the new. We had an eclectic meal of Enchiladas and lasagna. Throw in some microwave vegies and it was pretty darned good. I think today is a good day to put a pork roast in the Crock Pot. It will make a pretty good dinner today and I'm sure that the pulled pork sandwiches later on in the week will be good. I have some Hickory flavored KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce and it would taste good if it was put on newspaper in a bun.
Dave and his wife Barb are nearing the end of their journey to rebuild their house after the fire. I am not sure of the exact date they will be able to return everything and everybody to their old routine but it is getting nearer. At least Service Master has returned the contents of their house. Now to go through the over 100 boxes of stuff. I have a few things I need to finish there and will go over in a little while. The only part I will hate it getting under the house to hook up the furnace duct and the dryer vent. Oh well...
Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? I needed some underwear and socks and Santa (aka Barb) came through for me. I got one of those head lights that you wear on your forehead so you can see in dark places. In fact I got two so I should be set.
I was reminded today that everyone needs to see their doctor at least once a year to make sure there is nothing sneaking up on you health wise. With the new health programs, there should be little excuse not to see your doctor.
Oh well, things to do and places to go. Have a great year out there.
MUD
12/29/2014
I Love America
I am not sure that I have made it clear that as much as I disagree with the way our Government has been running things, I Love America. Where else in the world could we have a Government system that gets away with ignoring the reality of life and still allow the freedom for us to criticize it? We have a system of taxes that allow our economy to called free enterprise and yet have a taxation system that continues to take a greater share of what we make. It is not fair, but who the heck said life was fair?
One of the biggest errors we have continued to make for 50 years is our treatment of Cuba. You remember Cuba don't you? That was the Island paradise 90 miles off our shores that because we didn't like their form of Government we fenced them off from our riches. Perhaps it did aid in the fall of Russia, but not overnight and no without costs to us. Do you wonder why we allow people to travel to Russia, Vietnam and China and not Cuba? Moving on...
Because of the excellent camera's we have, we love to travel to the National Parks here in America. If you haven't put Yellowstone on your places to go, I highly recommend it. It is like no other place in America for the divergence there. The Geyser Basin is a trip all by itself and worth the time and energy to see it. Old Faithful get a lot of press but there are other geysers there that are as spectacular. It is reported that there are Bears there but we didn't see any. Just as well.
As much as I loved the Blueberry pie in Maine, I wasn't impressed with the lobster. I liked Desert Island but Bar harbor not so much. I think I liked the west coast as much or more. Watching the sunrise there was worth the trip to me. Get a big cuppa coffee and sit there in the sand. I prefer sunrise to sunset. Jes' say'n.
For the record, I want you to know that as much as I love my Country, I fear my Government.
MUD
One of the biggest errors we have continued to make for 50 years is our treatment of Cuba. You remember Cuba don't you? That was the Island paradise 90 miles off our shores that because we didn't like their form of Government we fenced them off from our riches. Perhaps it did aid in the fall of Russia, but not overnight and no without costs to us. Do you wonder why we allow people to travel to Russia, Vietnam and China and not Cuba? Moving on...
Because of the excellent camera's we have, we love to travel to the National Parks here in America. If you haven't put Yellowstone on your places to go, I highly recommend it. It is like no other place in America for the divergence there. The Geyser Basin is a trip all by itself and worth the time and energy to see it. Old Faithful get a lot of press but there are other geysers there that are as spectacular. It is reported that there are Bears there but we didn't see any. Just as well.
As much as I loved the Blueberry pie in Maine, I wasn't impressed with the lobster. I liked Desert Island but Bar harbor not so much. I think I liked the west coast as much or more. Watching the sunrise there was worth the trip to me. Get a big cuppa coffee and sit there in the sand. I prefer sunrise to sunset. Jes' say'n.
For the record, I want you to know that as much as I love my Country, I fear my Government.
MUD
12/28/2014
2015
I won't do anything as mundane as to try to write what my New Year Resolutions will be in about a week. I will try to share a few things that are important to me and see if it sparks anything in your life:
- I hope you all are in good health and see your Doctor on at least an annual basis. My Medical plan now also gives me a "Medical Review" with a professional to talk about my health issues. This last year it was with a Nurse Practitioner (PA?) and she discussed my lab test scores and looked at all my Meds for any possible interaction. It was a nice visit with a pretty, intelligent, young Lady. Not the worse way to spend an hour of my time. I also will see my regular Doctor and at least once go to the VA to see the Green team there.
- For all the old guys out there, a good friend of mine just posted that he is undergoing Chemo because he had not been watching his PSA score and has developed Prostate Cancer. According to my family doctor, most men will die with Prostate Cancer but it is such a slow growing cancer that it won't be the cause of death in most cases. I did just have a good friend die of it last year so it is a cause of death. When you have your annual physical and your PSA is above 4 talk to your Doctor.
I am scared to death that things financially won't be as good in the out years. It is hard to make any money on my investments without a lot of risk. I have people giving me a lot of good advice but so far I haven't changed the old straw that "The return of my money is more important than the return on my money." Most years I can turn a profit on my rental houses but the new roof on the big house has cut that this year. The falling oil prices has cut the revenue on that too.
Where did my name get out so everyone can tell where we live? This week even the Jehovah's Witnesses found us and paid a visit. I guess I need to get in the Witness Protection Program. (Or the Witless Protection program that keeps you all from laughing at my tired jokes.) I did get a new Cell Phone and that added a few new call for a while. My Internet Address hasn't changed and it seems that a lot of businesses have added me to their regular mailing. Every time I get a new message I look for the unsubscribe link and am doing my best to kill them. I wonder if the Politicians sold my name when I showed up on their DNP (Did not Pay) list to their 2014 campaigns.
Every year I start out with a lot of ideas to make our life better here at Rabbit Run. Seems like I am a plethora of ideas but not so much on the "Get'r-Done" side. It seems a lot like there is more to maintain each year and less energy to do it. I do have a Brother-in-Law that thinks I need to ditch my rentals and that would help. But, what would it do to my income for a year to report all that gain? Where would I invest the money to make it all worth while?
One thing I think will need to be done this year is to look at the transportation here at Rabbit Run. Both our cars have a lot of miles on them and I am less and less sure that I would strike out in either one for a trip more than a couple of hundred miles. I will admit that there are fewer and fewer things I need to go see each year as mu bucket list gets more and more complete. I loved Zion National Park but just how many times do you need to see it?
The more crazy the rest of the world gets, the less likely that I will go to other countries. The Religion of peace has killed more people this year than was necessary. I would think that converting people in the world rather than killing them would be a better idea. That approach seems to work for the Mormons.
I guess I will just keep singing and doing my best to make Barbershop sounds to as many people that want to hear us.
MUD
- I hope you all are in good health and see your Doctor on at least an annual basis. My Medical plan now also gives me a "Medical Review" with a professional to talk about my health issues. This last year it was with a Nurse Practitioner (PA?) and she discussed my lab test scores and looked at all my Meds for any possible interaction. It was a nice visit with a pretty, intelligent, young Lady. Not the worse way to spend an hour of my time. I also will see my regular Doctor and at least once go to the VA to see the Green team there.
- For all the old guys out there, a good friend of mine just posted that he is undergoing Chemo because he had not been watching his PSA score and has developed Prostate Cancer. According to my family doctor, most men will die with Prostate Cancer but it is such a slow growing cancer that it won't be the cause of death in most cases. I did just have a good friend die of it last year so it is a cause of death. When you have your annual physical and your PSA is above 4 talk to your Doctor.
I am scared to death that things financially won't be as good in the out years. It is hard to make any money on my investments without a lot of risk. I have people giving me a lot of good advice but so far I haven't changed the old straw that "The return of my money is more important than the return on my money." Most years I can turn a profit on my rental houses but the new roof on the big house has cut that this year. The falling oil prices has cut the revenue on that too.
Where did my name get out so everyone can tell where we live? This week even the Jehovah's Witnesses found us and paid a visit. I guess I need to get in the Witness Protection Program. (Or the Witless Protection program that keeps you all from laughing at my tired jokes.) I did get a new Cell Phone and that added a few new call for a while. My Internet Address hasn't changed and it seems that a lot of businesses have added me to their regular mailing. Every time I get a new message I look for the unsubscribe link and am doing my best to kill them. I wonder if the Politicians sold my name when I showed up on their DNP (Did not Pay) list to their 2014 campaigns.
Every year I start out with a lot of ideas to make our life better here at Rabbit Run. Seems like I am a plethora of ideas but not so much on the "Get'r-Done" side. It seems a lot like there is more to maintain each year and less energy to do it. I do have a Brother-in-Law that thinks I need to ditch my rentals and that would help. But, what would it do to my income for a year to report all that gain? Where would I invest the money to make it all worth while?
One thing I think will need to be done this year is to look at the transportation here at Rabbit Run. Both our cars have a lot of miles on them and I am less and less sure that I would strike out in either one for a trip more than a couple of hundred miles. I will admit that there are fewer and fewer things I need to go see each year as mu bucket list gets more and more complete. I loved Zion National Park but just how many times do you need to see it?
The more crazy the rest of the world gets, the less likely that I will go to other countries. The Religion of peace has killed more people this year than was necessary. I would think that converting people in the world rather than killing them would be a better idea. That approach seems to work for the Mormons.
I guess I will just keep singing and doing my best to make Barbershop sounds to as many people that want to hear us.
MUD
12/27/2014
Sorry
I was busy last week and didn't post much. The readership is down and I hope it is because you are all busy too. I think I just figured out why so many people are stopping by my site. People like to visit but they don't like to write. Many bloggers have stopped writing and people continue to read. They come here for a lack of something better to do. OK, I can live with that until people start commenting bad things to me. If the readership falls off to less than 100 a day I might stop writing. Nah, I write this for me not them. Their loss if they stop. I may not be crazy, but abnormality runs in my family.
MUD
MUD
Between Holidays
After Christmas and right into New Year's eve, there is s short period of time to kill. I have a few things to do but can truthfully claim I am resting up. Kind of like the time after you have spent all your budget allotment and there is no more to spend in the Government.
Today I got an interesting letter in the Mail. It is from the VA and tells me that I can get services from the VA if they can't give me an appointment within 30 days and/or I am more than 40 miles from a VA facility. With a VA right down the street, I don't foresee many times that it will do me any good. The person that it will help is my Father-in-Law out in Idaho. It takes them forever to get him into the facility in Boise and it is a way to drive. Sure hope it is good for him.
Speaking of Medical care and insurance, I have a Military retirement because of my 30+ years serving in the Military (Active, Reserve and Guard) and at age 65 it turned into Tri-Care for Life. That is a program that pays like a Medi gap insurance and it covers most of what Medicare doesn't. That's another part of the retirement that a lot of Guardsmen and Reservists don't hear much about. While active, the benefits after you retire are a long way off and you hear the annual briefing but you listen with only one ear.
It is nearing the time that I will soon have a few good books to read and I'll do just that. The kids will move home next week and the work load here at Rabbit Run will slow down. I will probably miss the Grand-Kitties but they will be home alone and will probably miss me too. There is generally one or two nearby wanting petted or just to be where people are. I resisted saying where the action is because there are a lot of times there is little action. I have been known to stretch out on the couch and take a well deserved nap.
This morning I took some of the left over mashed potatoes out of the fridge and made potato pancakes. About 2 cups of mashed pots, about a half cup of flour, an egg and some baking powder with a little milk to make them liquid enough and they make some great pancakes. I don't like them with syrup on them, just straight up like fried hoe cakes. Last night I made a gumbo with some left over turkey and sausage. I think I ate three bowls but I had skipped breakfast. I hit lunch light but not supper.
Today there are s few Tom Selleck cop movies on Sony Movie Channel. I forgot that he had a great career making cop movies as well as his TV career as Magnum PI. I guess if you throw in his role as a sharpshooter in Australia (Quigley Down Under - Had to look that one up) he has had a lot of good things in his career. Now he is the Police Commissioner in NY and another cop. In a way, he is a lot like John Wayne and he just plays himself in different roles. Not that it is bad, just making the comparison. I do like his portrayal of Jesse Stone the small town cop in Maine also.
We just had a visitor. Evidently the Jehovah's Witnesses have found us and wanted to drop off a copy of the Watchtower. I politely thanked them for stopping by and told them I was not interested. My mother would have invited them in and tried to convert them to Baptist. Not this time Mom. She almost always had a pot of coffee and a slice of fruit cake to share.
Oh well, have managed to waste a whole morning and am much better for it. Have a great weekend and rest up. I saw some of the Christmas pictures and know I need some beauty sleep. (Or sleep for the ugly with delusions of adequacy)
MUD
Today I got an interesting letter in the Mail. It is from the VA and tells me that I can get services from the VA if they can't give me an appointment within 30 days and/or I am more than 40 miles from a VA facility. With a VA right down the street, I don't foresee many times that it will do me any good. The person that it will help is my Father-in-Law out in Idaho. It takes them forever to get him into the facility in Boise and it is a way to drive. Sure hope it is good for him.
Speaking of Medical care and insurance, I have a Military retirement because of my 30+ years serving in the Military (Active, Reserve and Guard) and at age 65 it turned into Tri-Care for Life. That is a program that pays like a Medi gap insurance and it covers most of what Medicare doesn't. That's another part of the retirement that a lot of Guardsmen and Reservists don't hear much about. While active, the benefits after you retire are a long way off and you hear the annual briefing but you listen with only one ear.
It is nearing the time that I will soon have a few good books to read and I'll do just that. The kids will move home next week and the work load here at Rabbit Run will slow down. I will probably miss the Grand-Kitties but they will be home alone and will probably miss me too. There is generally one or two nearby wanting petted or just to be where people are. I resisted saying where the action is because there are a lot of times there is little action. I have been known to stretch out on the couch and take a well deserved nap.
This morning I took some of the left over mashed potatoes out of the fridge and made potato pancakes. About 2 cups of mashed pots, about a half cup of flour, an egg and some baking powder with a little milk to make them liquid enough and they make some great pancakes. I don't like them with syrup on them, just straight up like fried hoe cakes. Last night I made a gumbo with some left over turkey and sausage. I think I ate three bowls but I had skipped breakfast. I hit lunch light but not supper.
Today there are s few Tom Selleck cop movies on Sony Movie Channel. I forgot that he had a great career making cop movies as well as his TV career as Magnum PI. I guess if you throw in his role as a sharpshooter in Australia (Quigley Down Under - Had to look that one up) he has had a lot of good things in his career. Now he is the Police Commissioner in NY and another cop. In a way, he is a lot like John Wayne and he just plays himself in different roles. Not that it is bad, just making the comparison. I do like his portrayal of Jesse Stone the small town cop in Maine also.
We just had a visitor. Evidently the Jehovah's Witnesses have found us and wanted to drop off a copy of the Watchtower. I politely thanked them for stopping by and told them I was not interested. My mother would have invited them in and tried to convert them to Baptist. Not this time Mom. She almost always had a pot of coffee and a slice of fruit cake to share.
Oh well, have managed to waste a whole morning and am much better for it. Have a great weekend and rest up. I saw some of the Christmas pictures and know I need some beauty sleep. (Or sleep for the ugly with delusions of adequacy)
MUD
12/26/2014
What Are We Doing?
For those people in charge with our Government, I ask, "What are You Doing?" If we try to please everyone today and we can't afford it, are we just, "Borrowing trouble in the future?"
My Challenge to people in the USA that think they have it tough here, have you taken a good look at the rest of the world? A lot of the police forces in places I have traveled have armed carry of automatic weapons and I am sure they know how to use them. Most people in Mexico make a week about what they make in a day here. WHY ARE THEY HERE? duh!
I had my first full body scan in an airport in Germany at least 20 years ago. They put me up on a box and sad me spread my arms and legs. I know that they know what size I am and I don't mean shoe size. The person watching the German equivalent of a TSA Agent was armed with a sub machine gun. I am glad that all I have to take off is my shoes here.
In Oklahoma, the oil in the ground is valued at nothing until it is pumped out of the ground. Here in Kansas they estimate the amount and you have to pay property taxes on it. When Clark County valued the oil this year it was $100 per barrel or thereabouts. It has fallen to about $50. per and they charged the full price on the property taxes. That was almost twice what it was three years ago. Up a couple of Thousand from last year. What are we doing?
It seems that a lot of people want to have solar and wind energy but not in their back yard. They don't want the Government to help pay for it but if it doesn't the consumer's do. Yep you and me.
We are blessed with free speech for now but there are people that are willing to give parts and pieces of it up to silence the critics they don' like. Free speech isn't all that important until you have something to say and you can't.
Why does it take an act of congress for people to be able to do what they desire in their life. If you don't want a gay marriage, don't have one. If you don't like abortion, don't get one. If you don't like someone's religion, go get your own. Just leave me alone about it.
Jes' Say'n
MUD
My Challenge to people in the USA that think they have it tough here, have you taken a good look at the rest of the world? A lot of the police forces in places I have traveled have armed carry of automatic weapons and I am sure they know how to use them. Most people in Mexico make a week about what they make in a day here. WHY ARE THEY HERE? duh!
I had my first full body scan in an airport in Germany at least 20 years ago. They put me up on a box and sad me spread my arms and legs. I know that they know what size I am and I don't mean shoe size. The person watching the German equivalent of a TSA Agent was armed with a sub machine gun. I am glad that all I have to take off is my shoes here.
In Oklahoma, the oil in the ground is valued at nothing until it is pumped out of the ground. Here in Kansas they estimate the amount and you have to pay property taxes on it. When Clark County valued the oil this year it was $100 per barrel or thereabouts. It has fallen to about $50. per and they charged the full price on the property taxes. That was almost twice what it was three years ago. Up a couple of Thousand from last year. What are we doing?
It seems that a lot of people want to have solar and wind energy but not in their back yard. They don't want the Government to help pay for it but if it doesn't the consumer's do. Yep you and me.
We are blessed with free speech for now but there are people that are willing to give parts and pieces of it up to silence the critics they don' like. Free speech isn't all that important until you have something to say and you can't.
Why does it take an act of congress for people to be able to do what they desire in their life. If you don't want a gay marriage, don't have one. If you don't like abortion, don't get one. If you don't like someone's religion, go get your own. Just leave me alone about it.
Jes' Say'n
MUD
PPP
Yesterday Barb was baking the pies right before the turkey was ready to go in the oven. After she completed her baking, I put the turkey in the hot oven. What I didn't notice was that she turned off the oven and two hours later when I had less than two hours to put the turkey on the table, it was raw. When Plan A doesn't work, we put Plan B in motions. I put my best butcher act on and cut the turkey into pieces for a quick frying in a pan. When we had enough to eat, I put some mushroom gravy on it and put it in the oven. Our Son Dave said it was the best turkey he had ever had. Shows you what most of us know. He didn't say anything about the smoked Turkey enchiladas though.
After a nice lunch, we opened presents with Dave's In-Laws. We all got to open one present in order and many god things were given to everyone. My list started with Underwear and socks. Right at the top of my list. The only thing else I had asked for was a headlamp that gives you light right where you are looking. Barb bought one and promptly sent it to her Dad. Saved by the Bell, Larry gave me a box with two in it. Barb then surprised me with a coffee table book about Kansas. It has the top 8 things in several categories all about my State. Now the task is to make short trips to as many of them as we can. I have been to a lot of them. One of our trips we rented a car with a backup camera and Barb bought me one. I bought her a heated seat. I guess we need these if we are going to travel this winter.
We have Dave' three cats here with us for another week when they get to go home. I was watching a You tube video about cats and the youngest kitten came downstairs yowling because he was upstairs all alone. It is a hoot that he plays hard to pet but doesn't want to be alone. "Dogs have owners and Cats have Staff." If you don't believe it, just ask them.
Better get this finished as you never know when the girls might want to get out for some post Christmas shopping. I am sure there is some wrapping paper out there that needs bought. Barb likes to have a short supply of things to give to the kids on our lists and after Christmas they are on sale.
One of these days she might sort through the closet and make a good donation to the Salvation Army or the Marine's Toys for Tot's.
Have a great week out there.
MUD
After a nice lunch, we opened presents with Dave's In-Laws. We all got to open one present in order and many god things were given to everyone. My list started with Underwear and socks. Right at the top of my list. The only thing else I had asked for was a headlamp that gives you light right where you are looking. Barb bought one and promptly sent it to her Dad. Saved by the Bell, Larry gave me a box with two in it. Barb then surprised me with a coffee table book about Kansas. It has the top 8 things in several categories all about my State. Now the task is to make short trips to as many of them as we can. I have been to a lot of them. One of our trips we rented a car with a backup camera and Barb bought me one. I bought her a heated seat. I guess we need these if we are going to travel this winter.
We have Dave' three cats here with us for another week when they get to go home. I was watching a You tube video about cats and the youngest kitten came downstairs yowling because he was upstairs all alone. It is a hoot that he plays hard to pet but doesn't want to be alone. "Dogs have owners and Cats have Staff." If you don't believe it, just ask them.
Better get this finished as you never know when the girls might want to get out for some post Christmas shopping. I am sure there is some wrapping paper out there that needs bought. Barb likes to have a short supply of things to give to the kids on our lists and after Christmas they are on sale.
One of these days she might sort through the closet and make a good donation to the Salvation Army or the Marine's Toys for Tot's.
Have a great week out there.
MUD
12/25/2014
Calm Before the Storm
The first, and longest pole in the tent this morning was getting the turkey ready. I had it ready at least an hour before it needed to go into the oven. We are going to eat at 1 PM and it takes about three hours for the turkey to roast. Done.
Now the list goes on... The potatoes will be the next longest. I have everything but the potatoes ready. I will also do some green bean casserole next, Barb will do rolls and set up. It really is not a big deal when everyone pitches in. The sink is empty and I will probably run the dishwasher so we can put the post dinner dishes straight in the dishwasher. I will do my best to not fall immediately into a nap but no promises.
Yesterday Barb made me take the day off. I was going to put brakes on her car but she knew just how tired I was and that it would have just wore me down to the nubbins. My job list is getting shorter as they get done and the weather is getting colder. I have a couple of things to do at Dave's and the brake job left. Then it will be time to read a few books and catch up on rest. It is amazing how the things can slow down with a little cold and snow. Sometime about April things will pick up. I will do some trimming out on the rental house and some painting. Might even patch a few cracks here at Rabbit Run.
I am amazed that since 1928, the difference between the richest and the poorest is at the largest amount. With the Gates' giving millions to the poorest people, that should be closing. That does nothing to help with our hate and divisions in the USA. I thought that electing Barack was going to help us here at home and abroad. Seems like all it did was expose us to all the problems and there is no message that we are doing well or getting better. Pretty much it has done is put Jesse Jackson and AL Sharpton on the front page of the news paper every day and everything is the fault of the white guys. Seems like some of the old messages are not being visited. Teach a man to fish and he can feed himself. Give him a fish and he will want another tomorrow. The only black man that had a message to the poor that they need to work at things has been now accused as a rapist. Is it a "Vast Left Wing Conspiracy" to quote Hillary with a twist.
I am going to put on a bright face for the rest of the day and share with our family. I hope you can find it in your heart to find things to smile about and stay positive.
MUD
Now the list goes on... The potatoes will be the next longest. I have everything but the potatoes ready. I will also do some green bean casserole next, Barb will do rolls and set up. It really is not a big deal when everyone pitches in. The sink is empty and I will probably run the dishwasher so we can put the post dinner dishes straight in the dishwasher. I will do my best to not fall immediately into a nap but no promises.
Yesterday Barb made me take the day off. I was going to put brakes on her car but she knew just how tired I was and that it would have just wore me down to the nubbins. My job list is getting shorter as they get done and the weather is getting colder. I have a couple of things to do at Dave's and the brake job left. Then it will be time to read a few books and catch up on rest. It is amazing how the things can slow down with a little cold and snow. Sometime about April things will pick up. I will do some trimming out on the rental house and some painting. Might even patch a few cracks here at Rabbit Run.
I am amazed that since 1928, the difference between the richest and the poorest is at the largest amount. With the Gates' giving millions to the poorest people, that should be closing. That does nothing to help with our hate and divisions in the USA. I thought that electing Barack was going to help us here at home and abroad. Seems like all it did was expose us to all the problems and there is no message that we are doing well or getting better. Pretty much it has done is put Jesse Jackson and AL Sharpton on the front page of the news paper every day and everything is the fault of the white guys. Seems like some of the old messages are not being visited. Teach a man to fish and he can feed himself. Give him a fish and he will want another tomorrow. The only black man that had a message to the poor that they need to work at things has been now accused as a rapist. Is it a "Vast Left Wing Conspiracy" to quote Hillary with a twist.
I am going to put on a bright face for the rest of the day and share with our family. I hope you can find it in your heart to find things to smile about and stay positive.
MUD
12/24/2014
Merry Christmas
What are your memories of Christmas. I have had good ones and at least one that is not so. Probably the least favorite of them all was the Christmas in Vietnam (1968) Don't let those pictures of units eating in mess halls and dining on turkey fool you into thinking that all uniformed members of the Military are fed that well on Christmas. I was on a Mountain top in the middle of no where and we ate C-Rations for all three meals that day. Being away from home on the first Christmas of my marriage added to the blahs. The one thing that stood out as a winner was the bottle of 409 cleaner my sister sent me that was really a flask of scotch with a 409 cleaner label. During the Christmas cease fire I had a nice evening playing cards and drinking Scotch.
One of my favorites involved my family and all the trimmings. We met at my parent's house in Wichita and had a merry Christmas. Our family Christmas's were generally held the Saturday just prior to the actual day of Christmas so the family could go to the other families for Christmas. Barb and I were often known to jump in the car and drive to Barstow California and spend a day with her parents. Being home was a tradition we started after having our own son.
On our fast trip to Oklahoma, we stopped at a Wal*Mart and I found the Pentatonix, "Sounds Like Christmas to Me" CD. Great sounds and it really sounded like they had fun making the CD. I highly recommend it.
Yesterday our Daughter-in-law said that after next weekend they are going to be back in their home. They will have their goods returned to them on New Year's Eve and have the long weekend to get things back in the right place.
I hope you will have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.
MUD
One of my favorites involved my family and all the trimmings. We met at my parent's house in Wichita and had a merry Christmas. Our family Christmas's were generally held the Saturday just prior to the actual day of Christmas so the family could go to the other families for Christmas. Barb and I were often known to jump in the car and drive to Barstow California and spend a day with her parents. Being home was a tradition we started after having our own son.
On our fast trip to Oklahoma, we stopped at a Wal*Mart and I found the Pentatonix, "Sounds Like Christmas to Me" CD. Great sounds and it really sounded like they had fun making the CD. I highly recommend it.
Yesterday our Daughter-in-law said that after next weekend they are going to be back in their home. They will have their goods returned to them on New Year's Eve and have the long weekend to get things back in the right place.
I hope you will have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.
MUD
12/15/2014
Short Stories
In my Military career, several long BS sessions have gone under the bridge and some may have even been true. Take these or leave them, some may have happened like I am going to tell them but they have been filtered through a faulty memory and time passing.
One Guy from Paola, KS had a wife and a girl friend. He would supposedly go out drinking with his buddies but his wife never saw him at the local taverns. One night she followed him as he went out and saw that he went to a single lady's house that was well known in the community. Several hours later, the guy came home drunk and smelling of the woman he had been visiting. The wife took a tube of super glue and glues the offending member to his leg. When he woke up to go to the bathroom, he was very surprised. He got dressed and went in his car to a hospital in Olathe where he was sure that no one knew him. Low and behold the ER Nurse was one of his wife's best friends. Evidently the solvent that removes super glue is also so strong that it will really do a number on skin in sensitive places. Needless to say, he was met at the door of his home with a restraining order and the filed divorce papers as he limped up to the door.
One of my best friends in the Military was such a wise guy. We lived in a very small town and he decided to drive himself to the doctor the day he was going to have a vasectomy. When he got home, he came walking up the drive very slow and his wife came out and asked him if he was alright. In his highest Falsetto voice, he said "Oh, I'm fine."
One of my friends once also decided to have a vasectomy and did not heed his doctor's advice. Most Doctor's will tell you to go home, get a nice ice pack and watch a movie or two. My friend decided to go play golf with his friends. I am not sure what hole it was on, but when the swelling got very bad he finally went home and tried to get the swelling to go down. It took a trip to the local Emergency Room to drain off the bleeding that started on a backswing. Bummer.
The other day I was in a specialty store in Lawrence and saw the entire shelf of canned sea food. Smoked oysters and capers, sardines, clams and tons of other things I have never tried. I was immediately transported back to a day in Vietnam. We were out in the middle of nowhere and the unit commander wanted to send out a dismounted patrol and the recon Sergeant I had wanted to go with the Mortar FO and there was no need for me to go. As we sat there in the sun relaxing, one of the guys asked the guys if they would like to share some of his goodies he just got from home. It was an assortment of canned sea food and when we opened the cans, they were very salty so someone offered us a couple of cans of hot beer. Never was I ever so sick. I am sure it was the hot beer.
Once we were in the field at Fort Riley and on an overnight field problem. About the time most people would have had a pretty good start on a night's sleep, One of the guys rummaged through his pack and found a couple cans of sardines. They were nasty and stunk up the place. He ate and then just left the cans there by his bunk. I am not sure who, but someone during the short night woke up and put the cans of oily sardines in his boots. I am sure that he wondered who they bad guy was all the next day when every time he met one of us we would say, "Do you smell sardines?"
Speaking of silly things that happened when we were in uniform, we had a Field Grade Officer in our unit that could not stand the sight of needles. We would always take him into a class room and sit him down if shots were involved. One day we were getting updates on our shots and he was due the TB test. That's where they take little metal stick with a very small point and tap it on your arm to help the TB germs get in and if you had been exposed to TB, it would swell up. No swelling, no problem. No one even gave it a thought about the Major's aversion to needles. As soon as he saw one of the guys in the line get that slight poke, he fell down like a polled OX. The good news was that we were only a couple of blocks from the ER at the local Hospital.
One year we were at Fort Carson, Colorado and were given a base camp in a fairly desolate area. The Major in the pervious story had brought a small carpet to put by his bunk so he could put his boots on without getting his socks dirty. Back in those days, we had blousing rubbers which were just little green bands with a hook on each end that would hold our pants legs up on top of our boots. As he picked up one of the rubbers, the hook on the end got hooked up on a loop in the rug and when he pulled it, it came loose and he was just sure that he had been snake bitten. He was standing up on his cot afraid when someone noticed the blousing rubber there on the rug where he dropped it. Much laughter over that one...
At the end of one of our summer camps, we had a party at the Officer's Club. We had a tradition of mixing a helmet of Artillery punch and passing it around the room and the junior officer had the task of finishing it. That same camp, one of my friends, who was the cheapest guy I had ever met bought a fifth of whatever rotgut was the cheapest at the Class VI Store. He was supposed to send it to one of the guys on post who had done him a favor. When the guy opened the sack and saw that it was old rot gut, he instantly sent it back with a Thanks, but no Thanks card attached. Being the good guy I was, I helped my friend drink that whiskey as it was passed around. In about 15 minutes, I had to go get sick. I almost immediately went back to our BOQ where I promptly went to bed. The next morning, I woke up pretty sober and feeling like I could survive the long convoy home. The rest of the officers in the battalion were still in pretty bad shape and I had to sit at the convoy Start Point and dispatch the units out as most of the convoy officers were still so drunk and hung over they couldn't function.
Well, that's the long and the short of it. Have a great day.
MUD, teller of short tales.
One Guy from Paola, KS had a wife and a girl friend. He would supposedly go out drinking with his buddies but his wife never saw him at the local taverns. One night she followed him as he went out and saw that he went to a single lady's house that was well known in the community. Several hours later, the guy came home drunk and smelling of the woman he had been visiting. The wife took a tube of super glue and glues the offending member to his leg. When he woke up to go to the bathroom, he was very surprised. He got dressed and went in his car to a hospital in Olathe where he was sure that no one knew him. Low and behold the ER Nurse was one of his wife's best friends. Evidently the solvent that removes super glue is also so strong that it will really do a number on skin in sensitive places. Needless to say, he was met at the door of his home with a restraining order and the filed divorce papers as he limped up to the door.
One of my best friends in the Military was such a wise guy. We lived in a very small town and he decided to drive himself to the doctor the day he was going to have a vasectomy. When he got home, he came walking up the drive very slow and his wife came out and asked him if he was alright. In his highest Falsetto voice, he said "Oh, I'm fine."
One of my friends once also decided to have a vasectomy and did not heed his doctor's advice. Most Doctor's will tell you to go home, get a nice ice pack and watch a movie or two. My friend decided to go play golf with his friends. I am not sure what hole it was on, but when the swelling got very bad he finally went home and tried to get the swelling to go down. It took a trip to the local Emergency Room to drain off the bleeding that started on a backswing. Bummer.
The other day I was in a specialty store in Lawrence and saw the entire shelf of canned sea food. Smoked oysters and capers, sardines, clams and tons of other things I have never tried. I was immediately transported back to a day in Vietnam. We were out in the middle of nowhere and the unit commander wanted to send out a dismounted patrol and the recon Sergeant I had wanted to go with the Mortar FO and there was no need for me to go. As we sat there in the sun relaxing, one of the guys asked the guys if they would like to share some of his goodies he just got from home. It was an assortment of canned sea food and when we opened the cans, they were very salty so someone offered us a couple of cans of hot beer. Never was I ever so sick. I am sure it was the hot beer.
Once we were in the field at Fort Riley and on an overnight field problem. About the time most people would have had a pretty good start on a night's sleep, One of the guys rummaged through his pack and found a couple cans of sardines. They were nasty and stunk up the place. He ate and then just left the cans there by his bunk. I am not sure who, but someone during the short night woke up and put the cans of oily sardines in his boots. I am sure that he wondered who they bad guy was all the next day when every time he met one of us we would say, "Do you smell sardines?"
Speaking of silly things that happened when we were in uniform, we had a Field Grade Officer in our unit that could not stand the sight of needles. We would always take him into a class room and sit him down if shots were involved. One day we were getting updates on our shots and he was due the TB test. That's where they take little metal stick with a very small point and tap it on your arm to help the TB germs get in and if you had been exposed to TB, it would swell up. No swelling, no problem. No one even gave it a thought about the Major's aversion to needles. As soon as he saw one of the guys in the line get that slight poke, he fell down like a polled OX. The good news was that we were only a couple of blocks from the ER at the local Hospital.
One year we were at Fort Carson, Colorado and were given a base camp in a fairly desolate area. The Major in the pervious story had brought a small carpet to put by his bunk so he could put his boots on without getting his socks dirty. Back in those days, we had blousing rubbers which were just little green bands with a hook on each end that would hold our pants legs up on top of our boots. As he picked up one of the rubbers, the hook on the end got hooked up on a loop in the rug and when he pulled it, it came loose and he was just sure that he had been snake bitten. He was standing up on his cot afraid when someone noticed the blousing rubber there on the rug where he dropped it. Much laughter over that one...
At the end of one of our summer camps, we had a party at the Officer's Club. We had a tradition of mixing a helmet of Artillery punch and passing it around the room and the junior officer had the task of finishing it. That same camp, one of my friends, who was the cheapest guy I had ever met bought a fifth of whatever rotgut was the cheapest at the Class VI Store. He was supposed to send it to one of the guys on post who had done him a favor. When the guy opened the sack and saw that it was old rot gut, he instantly sent it back with a Thanks, but no Thanks card attached. Being the good guy I was, I helped my friend drink that whiskey as it was passed around. In about 15 minutes, I had to go get sick. I almost immediately went back to our BOQ where I promptly went to bed. The next morning, I woke up pretty sober and feeling like I could survive the long convoy home. The rest of the officers in the battalion were still in pretty bad shape and I had to sit at the convoy Start Point and dispatch the units out as most of the convoy officers were still so drunk and hung over they couldn't function.
Well, that's the long and the short of it. Have a great day.
MUD, teller of short tales.
12/13/2014
My First Hockey Game
Last Night, the Capitol City Barbershop Chorus sang the National Anthem for the Local Hockey Team. I stayed and watched the first period and we were all told of the saying, "I went to a fight and a Hockey Game broke out." For the most part, it was a lot of fast skating and not much fighting. Not being aware of the rules, it didn't make a lot of sense. Four or five times up and down the rink and they teams would switch skaters. That went on until a lucky bounce sent the puck into the net. That was followed by some of the sappiest time out skits I ever saw. It was neat to watch the Zamboni work out and then I went home. I'll stick to basketball as my favorite sport.
Given a free choice, I think watching old western's or War Movies could be a close second to the Basketball games. I am pretty sure that Barb loves basketball but not the old movies I watch. She loves to watch people try to buy houses in places where they are grossly inflated and the kind of show where they restore old homes. This spring it will be time to put some new touches on Rabbit Run. 25 years of good living here is beginning to show on the finish of our house.
Have I mentioned that Barb and I have a deal? I get to do the infrastructure and mechanical things and she does pretty. I tend to be way too influenced by natural colors (Brown, khaki and other muted colors) and she can do pretty, pretty well.
Well, time to go out and about...
MUD
Given a free choice, I think watching old western's or War Movies could be a close second to the Basketball games. I am pretty sure that Barb loves basketball but not the old movies I watch. She loves to watch people try to buy houses in places where they are grossly inflated and the kind of show where they restore old homes. This spring it will be time to put some new touches on Rabbit Run. 25 years of good living here is beginning to show on the finish of our house.
Have I mentioned that Barb and I have a deal? I get to do the infrastructure and mechanical things and she does pretty. I tend to be way too influenced by natural colors (Brown, khaki and other muted colors) and she can do pretty, pretty well.
Well, time to go out and about...
MUD
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