1/31/2015

Missouri Who?

Many years ago, Kansas stood out amongst the States wanting to come into the United States and that started what was called Bloody Kansas.  The Red legs from Missouri would make raids into Kansas and the Jayhawkers would raid slave farms in Missouri.  Quantrill and his merry band of raiders killed a lot of the men in  Lawrence and burned a pretty large part of the town.  As it worked out, Kansas and Nebraska was admitted to the Union as a Free States and that threw the balance of the Free States vs. Slave States out of whack and many people say that was the real start of the Civil War.  In spite of the years in between then and now, a lot of the Kansas people have never forgotten it and Missouri is not our favorite State.  Other than the butt whippings in football most of us think of Nebraska as Kansas North.

When you throw in the number of Championships in Basketball, there is no love loss between the Universities of Missouri and Kansas.  This led to Missouri University leaving the BIG XII and rushing to the SEC.  Now that Missouri has a new Athletic Director there is the potential of tapping the Kansas City market by bringing a Kansas/Missouri game back into the mix.  I think he would never say so but Bill Self is amongst the crowd that would say "Muck Fissouri" There is no love loss and we feel they left us at the Altar so good bye and good riddance.  When you can sell out Allen Field House and have the Fogg Advantage why would you care to schedule a game in KC?

Moving on to today, Kansas plays Kansas State and while there is a rivalry, it is not anything near hate.  Unless they are playing each other, a lot of us will root for the other team.  While I personally don't think I look good in Purple, I really don't have any bad feelings for them.  In fact, I am proud to say that the great play of Kansas, Kansas State and Wichita State makes me proud.  Now if we can just round the teams up to 12 again (Tulsa and Colorado State come to mind) things would be fine.  It really doesn't make much difference to KU but many of us feel the loss of Colorado and Nebraska didn't help.  Wichita doesn't have a football team so they really aren't in the running.

At lunch yesterday, we met a KU fan and had a short talk about the lack of energy KU played with at TCU the other night.  As subjects change, I mentioned that Conner Frankcamp leaving for Wichita State was one of those things that happened at a bad time.  Just when Devonte Graham hurt his big toe, we really could have use his play at Guard.  Our new friend said that his son who lives in Texas had told him weeks back that Conner had a drinking problem and that Bill Self didn't fight really hard to keep him. Some of that bore truth when Conner was arrested for DIU last weekend.  Oh well, I hope he can figure out what the problem is and grow up.  As a recovered drunk I won't throw basketballs at him.  Do you know the difference between an alcoholic and a drunk?   As a sober drunk, I don't have to go to meetings to stay that way. 

Better move on and get ready to watch the battle of the Purple and the Crimson and Blue.  Go Hawks.

MUD

1/30/2015

Stupid Things People Say

About anything you hear Presidential Candidates say getting ready for 2016 will fit in this category.  Someone said that Hillary is sequestered with her staff trying to clarify where she stands.  I'll bet she is spending time trying to figure out how to not get goaded into saying more stupid things.   Mitt Romney has said he now believes in Global Warming.  I believe in Climate Change but that we are responsible for all of it?  Nah...

At Least one of the Kansas State Legislators wants the Department of Vital Statistics to change their procedure without changing the law.  If a woman has a still born child, there is no Birth Certificate, only a Death Certificate.  I am not sure why, but this same group is wanting to really cut back on the kind and number of abortions.  Next thing there will be some mover to issue a Death Certificate for an abortion.  I will again state that I think Abortion is a horrible thing, but I sure as heck don't want the Government to be involved into the decision between a woman and her doctor. 

It was reported that a Nebraska Football Coach wanted to initiate more conversation with his team.  He asked what they thought was the most important invention.  One of the Linemen said, "Uh, Coach a thermos keeps hot things hot and cold things cold right?"  The coach said "Yes."  The player went on, "But Coach, How do it know?" 

One of the special guests brought on during the crash of the drone on the White house lawn said this was clearly a case of Drunk Droning.  What are the chances that a Federal Employee that was flying his drone in Washington D.C.  at 3 AM while drunk will be able to keep his job?  

I once had the husband of an employee call me and tell me that one of my male employees had made his wife cry.  He went on to say that if it happened again he would come down and tear the guy's arm off and beat him to death with it.    Needless to say this incident happened when I was out of the office because I probably would have threatened the same fate. 

The other day, I bought a stamp at the Customer Service Center at Dillon's.  I picked up the stamp and licked the back of it so it would stick on the letter.  The lady there said it would probably work better if I would peel off the paper covering the back of the adhesive on the stamp.   Duh Dennis...

Oh well, enough of this madness. 

MUD

1/28/2015

Reprint

Slogans of My Life.
First of all, Barb sometimes hurls my words right back at me so I should be more careful what I say. I suffer from an abnormality that lets things that cross the front of my brain to fall out of my mouth or through my fingertips (Or finger tip if you really know how I type) But, I often fail to look for unintended consequences so there are several things that I have been known to say.

This morning I asked Barb if there is anything we need to get before we leave on our trip. She reminded me that I often say, "I have everything I need, most of what I want and there are Wal*Marts along the way."

I once sat down in the grass without spraying myself for chiggers. Barb said I should be more careful and be prepared. My reply was, "Maybe I want Chiggers". If you lived in Kansas where we really have chiggers, you know this is an out and out lie. No one wants chiggers.

OK, this leads me to a funny story - I was in Wyoming for a National Guard Camp. We stopped
at one of the old forts and were watching re-inactors ride their horses in Cavalry formations. There was this young girl (probably 13, the kind of kid that looks like a colt - all legs) sitting in the grass there at the edge of the parade field. She was wearing shorts and I told her that she should be careful of the chiggers. She said, "You cheeky Americans are always making fun of us Brits". I was at a loss for words and said nothing in return. A while later I was in one of the barracks that had the old bathroom split into two sides, one for each sex and overheard from the girls side, "Mum, me bum itches". I had one last word to shout over the wall, "Chiggers".

This morning there was a newspaper columnist that reported that he had met a man with a Doctorate in Certainty. One of the other writers wasn't sure that he could qualify for such a lofty degree. He surmised that he could probably get an Associate of Arts in "Perhaps". I have a Masters in Making stuff UP.

One final word here is to all of those young people out there in the family that are still working to get to end of their plans. Plan your work and then work your plan. Keep track of your spending so you can make sure that in the long run income is greater than or equal to outgo. Don't be surprised when at least once in a while emergencies happen and you have to spend your emergency fund. That's what it is for.

OK, one additional word. One of the writers in the paper said he could almost understand the school's budget. My words to him are it is not the budget that's important but their expenditures. One local school board always said they didn't have enough money to give the teachers a cost of living raise as needed. When we got into their budget, each year they would purchase 6 or 7 buses at the years end with left over money. They had the best buses in town and the lowest paid teachers. Until Barb learned to read their expenditures.

New Stuff
Someone told me that I was a good webmaster in the comments of this post.  No, I am simply a blogger that writes a lot.  Someone told me that in Opera, my posts run too wide.  Quit using Opera, it isn't my fault. 

MUD

70 for a day in January?

It was a nice day yesterday but the weather mad says it will be even better during the day today.  We need to get ready because there will be a cold front coming tonight.  So long as it has a little moisture in it things will be OK.  Barb likes to believe that her plants do better when they get their feet wet now and then.

What a world we live in.  Kill a few hundred Christians or Jews in the name of your god and it hardly makes the news.  Crash a drone on the White House lawn at 2:30 AM and the news have two special commentators come on to discuss it.   The Special Service is conducting an investigation but it will probably go no where.  From what the news said, it was a drunk Government employee that was drunk droning. 

This reminds me of the Atlanta Olympics.  There was a bomb set off in the wee hours of the morning and everyone wanted to know if I was there.  I was safely in my bed an hour out of town.  If you find me out at that time of the day, kick my butt and send me home as I am either sick or drunk. 

Just this last week I found a new WEB Griffin book and bought it.  I am pretty sure that it would have been available from the Library in a month or so.  I put the book on my book shelf after finishing it and realized that I have darn near a collection of all his books.  Why do I keep them?  I guess a good question is why does anyone keep anything? 

Yesterday I ran into a guy with a 56 Chevy at the gas station.  He had a really nice car 4 door post car with a 6 cylinder motor.  He said he thought he could get $26,000 for it.  I asked him what would he do with the money?  There isn't an investment out there that would return much today.  At least the car might increase in value.  Notice I said might... He did say that at the age of 80 he didn't need the money.

Last night West Virginia played K-State and beat them in the Octagon of doom.  What it did make me wonder was how well could they have played if they worked on making great plays without fouling?  The game went at least 30 minutes long because of all the foul shots K-State didn't make.  By the time they got to the foul line they were too gassed to shoot a decent percentage.  One of the really good K-State players got hurt and that didn't help.  Still a lot of the BIG XII season to go.  I'll see K-State Saturday in Allen Field House and see.

There was an article about Devonte Graham from KU who is a Freshman Guard.  They said he is always smiling.  Who wouldn't smile a lot if you got to sit on the bench at all the KU games.  Not only that, he is really getting some playing time now and making a difference.  Having someone else to bring up the ball a good share of the time really helps Frank Mason not get so tired.  Again I say the season is heating up and it is fun to watch who can beat who on any given day.

Oh well, lots to do today.  Hope to see the kids tonight.

MUD

1/27/2015

Is it Spring Time in Kansas?

I know that the East Coast of the USA is getting covered with snow and cold air.  Here in Kansas it will be in the high 60's today.  It rarely dips below freezing at night.   We are way behind in the snow fall here in Kansas and most of us love it.  Oh well, there is still basketball to watch.   With Kansas, Kansas State and Wichita State all having winning records, there is a lot to watch and enjoy.  I hope you look good in Crimson and Blue or Gold and Black.  I don't find Purple to be my color.

Our Chorus is working on getting ready for our show in April and spending a lot of time on the risers to get ready.  At the end of last night's session my legs ached like no tomorrow.  I didn't take my pills early and it showed.  You can bet I didn't forget to take them before I crawled under the blankets.  Now if I could increase my bladder size so I could sleep all night.  (Yes, I know TMI)

If I can get my math right, Barb and I have been married a long time  (2015 - 1968 = 47 years?)  I am well aware that I always manage to be a little more flush when that date happens.  A lot of that is that we don't go in debt for Christmas.  Kind of like the Drill Sergeant would say "Smoke 'em if you got 'em."  We don't spend it if we don't have it. 

My Love with the Barbershop guys last year
I am not sure why, but I am almost without nerves when I sing with a group.  Be it a quarter of the Chorus, I just love to sing.   I think I have found my natural voice as a Bass and I love it.

For some reason, the Classic (55,56 & 57) Chevy Facebook posts have been coming into my Facebook page a lot.  I have a 57 in the storage building and am torn between getting it street worthy this year or sending it down the road to where it will be more appreciated.   A good part of that is the motor but if it is truly to be up to the standards it needs disk brakes and power steering.  It could also use an Air Conditioner.  2-70 is good for the truck (all the windows open and 70 MPH) but not if I really want to drive the 57 in July and August.  I guess I need to decide what I really want to do. 

I am listening to Pentatonix Christmas album and I just love their blend of voices.  For some reason this album included Tori Kelly as a vocalist.  I sure hope it doesn't mean that Kirstie is on her way out.  I hope they really study how much she blends into the group.  Not mention that her smile makes a lot of their fans smile back.  Their last album PTX III just didn't hit me quite where I live but I and II did.  I hope that one of these days they come to this area again.  I think the closest they came last year was Tulsa but by the time I saw that there were no tickets available. 

One of the guys in the chorus wanted to throw together a quartet to sing Valentines as a part of the fund raiser this year.  We are getting together and have about found the balance but need a little more practice.  One of the things we found out last night was that our Baritone had been a lead a couple of years back and he was slipping to the lead part in a couple of places.  The balance would go all to hell and it would take a couple of measures to get us back in tune.  (or for him to get back on his part) I hope we can make this work and sing to a few people.  Most of the time the whole office shows up and they love to see the effect we have on the woman (or Man) we sing to. 

I just put in our 2015 CD and am listening to Annie's Song by John Denver.  It is a beautiful song and you can feel the love he wrote into that song.  This version has some great Bass licks in it and is fun to sing.  That can be said about a lot of songs we have picked for our show this year.  Oh well, enough of this, I need to get on with some of the real work waiting for me.

MUD




1/25/2015

Silly Me

Yesterday I wrote a heading for my daily blog and then didn't write on word on that subject.   You want know why?  BIG XII Basketball almost all day.  I was watching the early game with K-State and Iowa State.  That went on most of the day with my favorite game between  Texas and KU.  It started out with Texas running amuck and their bigs eating up anything that got near the backboard.  It took a little while for KU to settle down and then their young players just ran the wheels off the Texas "Bigs"  Even last place Texas Tech won a game. The KU guards that turned over the ball 12 times on average didn't turn it over once in the second half.  The team that I don't understand is K-State.  They had a tough time pre-season and there they are tied with KU.  Next Saturday that will change as they meet in Allen Field House.  Someone will be behind when that game ends. 

The other day, one of the sports program mentioned that  Wichita State had the 2nd longest winning streak in the Missouri Valley.  Who was number one?   Yep the lowly Hawks back when they were in the Missouri Valley.   I think WSU will take that record away from them this season and set a tough new record. 

Now on to what do I want to be when I grow up?  My new goal for this year is to be more of a friend to everyone I know and meet.  There is just not enough time to overcome being a stupid shit to people I don't really know.   This is especially true when I take the time to really know people and find so much to admire in almost everyone.  The person I am going to focus the most on is the person that loves me in spite of all the things I have given her over the years to be unhappy about.  Yep, the Master gardener is going to get a full dose of my best for a while.  She deserves it.

For some reason the past couple of weeks I have been having good thoughts about my brother-in-law for reasons we know hereby referred to as Putt-Putt.  Every time I turn around I run into something he made on one of his visits to Rabbit Run.  From Art work to practical things for Barb he has made our place in life a great and pretty place to live.  I sure hope things work out for him this year as things change.

Better move on...

MUD

1/24/2015

What will you grow up to be?

This darned cold has hung in there for a couple of weeks now and I'm ready for it to move on.  It really crimps my singing style.  Anything that is supposed to be a smooth sound comes out with a croak at the end.  I also can't breathe through my nose nearly as well as I would like.  My mouth feels like a rocky path when I wake up.  Dang, I hate it when that happens.

Yesterday Barb made some lasagna and there was a little left over Italian sausage.  Made a fine breakfast with a few fried potatoes.  Throw in a couple cups of coffee and a little toast, it was mighty fine.  In a little while I am going back upstairs to finish loading the dish washer.  I skipped that step last night and I do need to share. 

I know it is silly but I do miss having Dave and Barb here with our Grand Kitties.  It is very peaceful to not have a track meet going on upstairs.  I wonder how the cats are dealing with the slick floors at their home.  We were planning on replacing our carpet this year anyway.  They really didn't do too much damage for all the griping they did on the carpet.  It was funny that Pixel would throw the older cat with what looked like Jujitsu moves.  She didn't seem to mind until he threw in a claw or two.  She would snarl and swat him on the head and he would back off until she stopped swishing her tail.

Our Chorus is singing some nice songs this year.  Only Happy Together is not coming easily to me.  I get through most of it and think I am on the right track by not listening just to the Bass track.  I am finding that the cues in the rest of the music is helping me to find the right Doot, bah doot. 

KU will have a pretty tough test at 1 PM today.  They are in Texas and last year they got whipped pretty bad there.   We'll see if the President's challenge  will help them.  He reminded them that they were his first choice a couple times to win the overall Championship not just the BIG XII.  I hate it when we agree but no one can be all wrong. 

Yesterday I finally broke down and put new brakes on Barb's Buick.  Even with no power tools it only took a couple of hours.  A lot of that was just remembering how to get the disk calipers off and then back on.  I did replace one of the rotors but it wasn't all that bad.  It was the right brake pads that were the worst but I replaced them all.  I probably wrecked another pair of jeans with a combination of brake dust and dirt.  Oh well...   This job only cost about $49.00 and would have been a couple of hundred at Midas. 

I think I have been playing solitaire on mu computer a little too much.  I think I am developing tendonitis in my right shoulder.  See you all tomorrow.

MUD

1/23/2015

Barack Chalk Kansas

In spite of all the publicity, I didn't get out to see the President as he made a visit to Kansas University.   He seems hell bent on passing a bunch of new initiatives that will continue to cost the tax payers and not get to the root of what ails us.  To me it looks like he has aimed the Government squarely at programs that may have a lot of good in their plans but cost us money right when we need to be increasing jobs and cutting spending.  If I continued to spend money this way I would have been in the poor house years ago. 

Speaking of Kansas, the Men's basketball team continues to be in a tie for first place in the BIG XII.  The bad news is that we won't get to see them at home for another week when they host K-State.  They will be on TV locally so that makes up for the lack of home games.  The game tomorrow is Texas.

This week we made a road trip to Atchison.  In addition to the Sante Fe Museum, we toured Amelia Earhart's birthplace museum.  There is an Italian Restaurant in downtown that was pretty darned good.  Their Tour of Italy had a meat sauce, a meatball and an Italian sausage.  It was darned good.  We also drove through the Benedictine College Campus and as many times I had been in Atchison had never been there. 

Last night we took some stuff over to Dave's house.  For me it was also a chance to visit the Grand Kitties.   Pixel was almost as friendly as I had seen him all the time he was here.  He jumped up on the couch and let me pet him.  I guess he missed people in the day time.  Speaking of Dave's house, his updated bathroom is beautiful.  They still have a lot of boxes to sort through.  That could go on for a month or two with them both working.

Early this past week something over by Barb's computer put out that smell like an electrical component was about to die.  I replaced the power strip and the modem and things seem to be normal now.  I was kind of amazed that the power strip cost as much as the wireless modem.  The modem got quite a workout with four computers hooked up with the kids here.  Oh well, things cost money and at least for now we have it. 

The other day I went to Wal*Mart and pick up a few groceries.  Is it just me or has the price of cheese jumped way up?  Gasoline is way down but many of the staples have gone up.  Oh well...

I hope your days are as nice as they are here in Kansas.  Our daytime high's are nearing 50 all week.  I remember 1978 when it was lower than 13 degrees the entire month of January. 

MUD 

1/19/2015

Just a Note

One of the blogs I visited today reminded that every sinner has a future and every pious person has a past.  I will do my best to not throw rocks at anyone.

MUD

8 Wonders of Kansas

Barb bought us a book called the "8 Wonders of Kansas" by Marci Penner.  It has been a fun journey seeing all the places she recommend against the list of places we have been.  Because of my travels with the National Guard, there are a lot of cities I have been to but I didn't always get off the beaten path to see all of the places in this great book.  Barb agrees that we need to slow down and see more of the places and eat at more of the restaurants listed.   A lot of things are less than a couple of hours from here in Topeka.  The book is available at Barnes and Nobles.

Dave and his wife spent last night at their house but we still have the kitties here.  I am pretty sure they will be going home in the next day or so.  Yes, I will miss the kitten Pixel.  He has spent about half of his life here and is just getting to the place where he will let me stop and pet him.  He won't come when called but Barbara said, he is not a dog.  Dogs have owners, Cats have staff.

Today is Martin Luther King Day and I am proud to say that he is one of my personal heroes.  His love for all of mankind was remarkable.  I wish that I had even a tenth of the understanding and caring he displayed.  To overcome the hate and division we had in the 60's with his easy touch and care was a lot better than I could have ever done.  To be shot down in the middle of his fine efforts was a shame.  For the Director of the FBI to work so hard to tarnish him was shameful.   I wish we had a man of his fine caliber today.

What do you need to do the most in your life?  I think we need to de-clutter first then deep clean.  That will start after the kitties go home.  I have given Barb the OK to start renovations on the house any time she is ready.  After 25 wonderful years, there are things that need to be renewed and replaced.  I'm sure that there are a lot of things here at Rabbit Run we just don't see. 

Well, I have a lot of things I need to do for tonight so I'd better be moving on. 

MUD - Singing those Old Songs, and a few new one's

1/18/2015

The Sky

Being from Kansas, we don't have those majestic mountains to look at and be inspired by.  Instead, we have the beautiful sky to watch as it changes and models the incoming weather.  Today it is cloudless and the warmth from the sun just shines in the windows elevating the mood of the day.  Yesterday afternoon, it looked like a combination sky.  There were at the leading edges clouds looked like Verga or rain that was falling and evaporating before it hit the ground.  Behind that was the bumpy clouds that looked like the precursor to hail.  On the tail end there were some scrambled clouds that just looked too mixed up to call it anything.  By the time I got in the house to tell Barb to look at the sky the wind kicked up and made every door and window in the house kind of whine as the air either snuck in or was sucked out on the down wind side. 

What inspires you?

MUD

KU Lost at Ames, Iowa.

There is always one game that makes true KU fans shudder and that is the visit to Iowa State.   They always seem to show up in force and play a hard game.  I guess the real truth is that everyone does that and Iowa State is no different.  Last night was one of those games that flowed and ebbed and just didn't flow at the end quite the way the hawks needed to win.  Oh well, it is a game and they are just young men.  Moving on...

Any day now, the kids will pull up stakes and move back home.   They will take their load of stuff, the three kitties and move back into their home.   I will say that other than the time it took to get it done, everything looks great.  The updated bath is so nice and I am sure that the Master Gardener has ideas about what ours should look like.  I really care about the ability to get clean so looks aren't all that high on my list.  I would rather re-do the kitchen first and then the carpet upstairs then the bathroom downstairs. 

Sometime I need to decide what I really want to do with the 57 Chevy.  To be a decent daily driver it needs disk brakes, a dependable motor and A/C.  Either that or it needs to move to a new home where someone else can derive pleasure from it.  It is one beautiful car and deserves to be out there for people to see.  If it was as fun to drive as it was pretty, I would have it on the road.  I will probably find another Crown Vic when the one I am driving fails to go.  120,000 miles and it goes fine for now.  I can't fault the 21.5 MPG here and the 25 mpg on the highway either.  It is also great that gas costs about half of what it did last year.  On our last trip it cost at least $50.00 to fill it up and this week I filled it up for $24.00.  Oh well, moving on...

I have mentioned to the Master Gardner that I want a wake not a funeral.  I want it to be kind of like that movie "Weekend at Burney's" and I want to attend.  Prop me up in one end of the room, put a pipe in my mouth, a beer in my hand and have everyone show up and tell Petty Jokes.  I want there to be a case of scotch, two kegs of beer and invite all the military guys (current and ex) to participate.  The best joke teller and the guy more privy to the best jokes has preceded me and is waiting at Fiddler's Green with a canteen cup of Grog.  This is my way of thinking outside the box.  If she doesn't want to do this, have my ashes sprinkled in the impact zone at Fort Riley.

Does anyone else find it spooky that some cats like to watch you up close and personal.  The kitten, Pixel, will come down and just sit on my computer chair for a couple of hours most nights.  He will follow people into the kitchen even though he knows he won't get food there.  If everyone leaves the room he is in, he will make a crying noise until someone yells his name and he will join us in the next room.  I won't go as far as to say I'll miss him but I will a little.

Have a great day out there. It is in the 50's here in the Heartland and will be pretty nice all week.

MUD

1/17/2015

Stupid Me!

I left the composing room for my blog to travel to other blogs and hit on one that talked about a cheap beer he and his friend found at a local liquor store.  I thought how dumb to write about a beer that is hardly fit to drink.  His quote was "When opened the beer tasted like cigarette ash." Man, just how desperate could you be to drink a beer with that aroma let alone write about it.   Then it hit me, isn't that what I am doing? 

Just to be fair, I had some friends that did their best to search wide and far for the cheapest beer they could find.  The brand that won most of the time was Buckhorn which did taste like rain deer piss stirred with an antler.  But we drank it anyway.  Some guys will drink anything.

MUD

I Went to a Fight and a Hockey Game Broke Out

After we sang the National Anthem last night, I watched the first period of the Hockey game.  As I left, the Pepperoni and the tomato were going to have their race down the ice.   Been there and done that.  After about 20 minutes of madness rushing up and down the court they take a 20 minute break.  Probably the best part of that is the Zamboni comes out and runs up and down the floor.  I can take about 20 minutes of Hockey so far.  Perhaps in March I will stay for two periods.  The most impressive thing I saw was a 2 minute penalty invoked because a defenseman used his stick to try to hold the guy with the puck back as he raced off towards the goal.  He really missed and it was no big deal.

The other day I crawled under Dave's trailer to hook up the vent on the dryer.   My elbow felt a little funny that evening and when I looked at it, I had a big old nasty bruise on it.  It looked a lot like the blood pooling marks on a dead person.  I guess I could cut back on the 81 mg aspirin.  I don't think I am in any danger right now from a heart attack.  I did have a good friend have by-pass surgery last week so one never knows.  The last time I saw him he admitted to not feeling very well and he attributed it to depression.  Makes me wonder how much of it was the arteries slowly clogging up.  I know that several time over the years I have felt kind of bad and found myself right in the middle of a major tooth problem.  I guess sometimes we don't listen to our bodies very well. 

Best Buy is delivering a base to the washer/Dryer set Dave bought.  It is an LG set and the base cost as much as the cheaper brands.  His wife is there today waiting for them to deliver it.  I was told that I didn't need to wait for the guys to deliver the base and I could go home.  Here I am. 

Tonight KU plays at Iowa State and that is always a fun close game.  It really depends on which team from KU shows up.  They have one team that couldn't hit the inside of a barn with a shot gun and one that free wheels and dunks the ball all over the place.  With only two losses this year, they have managed to keep that bad team in reserve.  From what I have seen, it will be a close race for the Championship of the BIG XII this year.  Even Texas and Oklahoma State have had their stinker games. 

This morning there was a filler ad in the paper.  The 2014 GMC Trucks start at $27,000 and they have a used truck at $47,000.  Can anyone tell me why a used truck would be worth that much?  Beats the heck out of me.  I do know that businesses can write off the entire cost of a truck in one year but do not know how or if there is any Depreciation recapture.  There has to be some Government involvement there.  

Speaking of Government Involvement, Our Governor (Sam Brownback for those of you in Rio Linda) is getting his ears pinned back for the nutty job of taxation he designed for the new year.  IT is projected to cause a 360 million dollar shortfall this year.  He has borrowed for Peter to pay Paul and everyone is feeling the heat.  After dipping into the Highway funds and the State Personnel Retirement Plan he is still short.  Why don't they give up on the Business Tax Breaks and put it back on the shoulders of the taxpayers where it belongs.  Wild ideas have a 50/50 chance of success in good years and a bad chance in stagnant or bad years. 

Better run and see what is happening in the rest of the world.  Keep your eyes open for flying pucks at the hockey game. 

MUD

1/16/2015

Watching Hockey

We will sing the National Anthem at the local Road Runner's Hockey game tonight.  I will probably stay through the first period and see if I can gain any more insight into the game.  It appears to be speed skating from one end of the rink to see if one team can gain an advantage at the opponent's goal.  If someone gets lucky, the puck gets sent into a goal and everyone celebrates.  In Basketball, the referees would call a Technical foul for that.  I would say that they don't allow fist fights in Basketball but I've seen them break out so I won't say that. 

Right after our Christmas dinner, I put the turkey carcass out in the garage and promptly forgot about it.  Trash goes out today so I saw the pan and put the remnants in the trash.  I brought the turkey pan in today and cleaned it up as well as I could.  It was then put in the dish washer on a heavy clean cycle.  I will definitely check it out in a little while.  I think that cycle turns the heater element on to super sanitize the dishes.  It is not normally used but this time I thought it might be a good ideas.

Yesterday was a strange day.  I am sure that Barb doesn't feel a lot better than I do and we were both a little grumpy.  Knowing I am a lousy patient, I just went out.  I took the car to the car wash as spent $4.00 cleaning the exterior.  On the way home I stopped at the local Drug Store and bought her some of those Russell Stover chocolate covered hearts and took them to her and said I Heart You.  We both needed that.

Does your computer auto-correct things?  The other day I wrote Barry and when someone else proof read it, it said Gary.   Not sure if that was my error or not.  I do try to look at what I write but my dyslexia a lot of times just auto corrects it in my mind and it stays wrong on the paper.  At least if I spell it close to right it will red line things that are wrong.  If there is a real word there, nada.

The other day I posted on Facebook that I had gone to the VA for a check up.  I told the Doctor that I had been on a high fiber diet.  The bad news was that it made me gassy, the good news was that it wasn't too noisy and didn't smell at all.  He game me a prescription and after taking it for a day or two, the farts smelled terrible.  I called the Doctor and told him that the smell was bad but they were still pretty silent.  He said great, now we will work on your hearing.  

Oh well, miles to go, places to see and books to read.

MUD

1/15/2015

Pithy Remarks

Do you remember a time when you were considered a smart aleck because of your ability to throw one liners at stupid situations?  I only wish that same level of brain activity stayed with me long enough to make it all worth while now that I am getting older.  I watch Jeopardy on TV and now have only flashes of brilliance and a sensation that I am smart (Delusions of adequacy)  Oh well, I will continue to try to do my best and until it really falls short,  I won't really worry.

Yesterday I went to one of the Big Box stores on the other side of town.  I went to find a holder for a 20X20 furnace filter to put in the return air duct at David's house.   I went in and bought several small things to put on the dryer vent and got out on the Interstate before I remembered the main reason I went there.  Thank god that I remembered and could turn around and find it at the store.  At least I didn't get clear home.  I did remember to get the furnace filter for the furnace here at Rabbit Run.  The one in the furnace here was fuzzy with a coat of dust.  The ones at David's were just full of sheet rock dust. 

I have talked to several people that have had this stupid head cold for at least two weeks.  I am about over with the first week and have three trash cans full of used Kleenex.  The first couple of days I tried to right it and didn't take anything.  I was completely in pain from the sinus pressure and finally broke down and bought a bottle of Musinex  DM to help me break up the phlegm in my chest.  It also helped me breathe and didn't elevate my blood pressure more than the BP medicine could overcome.  I have taken some stuff that just gave me worse symptoms than the cold.

Yesterday as I crawled under Dave's house to hook up the dryer vent. I must have bruised my elbow.  This morning it looks like the survivor of a full contact fight.  I didn't feel it at the time but I sure do now.  If I could figure out how to take a "Selfie" of my elbow I would but it looks like probably every bruised elbow you have ever seen.

The local paper loves to run stories about KU players that are in a slump.  Seems like every one has had a week or so they weren't up to par.  If they ever get everyone back on track and healthy they might run the table for the rest of the season.  They are 3-0 in the BIG XII right now and even when they look bad they seem to find a way to win.  Going into Iowa State is tough with a team all on track.  We'll see if their Saturday game there and against Oklahoma on Monday can be winners.  That back to back test will tell the true metal of the team. 

Seems like mother nature has seen fit to give us a break weather wise for a day or so here in the Heartland.  We'll see if it is enough to convince the Master Gardner to get out and walk in the Mall or somewhere.  Have a great day.

MUD 

1/13/2015

Things You Hear at Old People's House

Here's my coffee cup,  right where I left it.

What were we arguing about?   I was on a roll.

Have you seen my "insert lost item's name here."   When the other spouse goes to look, it is right where you were last looking. 

After buying a pill case that separates AM from PM seven Days a week, You hear - Did I take my Pills? 

"We need to go to the store to buy more food."  The reality is you are having trouble closing the freezer door or storing ice because it is so full.. 

You could go on a trip for two weeks and never bring back a pair of dirty socks or underwear.  Most of the elastic waist bands aren't elastic any more.

You could decorate at least half of the Christmas trees on the block with the decorations you have stored in your storage space.

When are you going to do something about your storage room?   (closet, garage, storage shed)

When you were young, you could grab a small bag and go cross country.  When you had a child, it took a station wagon to go for a weekend.   Now that the kids are gone, you don't want to go anywhere.

Even when you don't vote for the incumbents, you can't truly say you lost in the elections.  We get what we vote for (or against)

It once was that the newly elected Governor would hold an inaugural ball.  Now they need to answer the protest rallies. 

At one time the swearing in ceremonies were outside the State house in January.  Now they have moved inside because of the cold.  Is it getting colder or are they afraid of people seeing them with their hands in their own pockets? 

Dang, the game starts at 6 PM.  Might miss Jeopardy and then also have to drive home in the dark?

Have you checked the furnace filter lately, It seems the house is dusty.  (After moving the computer that hasn't been moved in a year)  Yes, it needs changed (16X25X1) 

Dogs have owners, Cats Have Staff.  I don't mind that they won't play fetch with a ball so long as they will chase the laser pointer. 

I really hate the toilet paper you bought.  It is industrial grade sand paper in one ply.  But when I go buy some I find I can't remember the good kind either and buy a 12 roll package of the same stuff.

Oh well, Life is a roll, put a little butter and jelly on it and move on smartly.  Insert some witty saying here if you have one...

MUD

1/12/2015

Just an Idea

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

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

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

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




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

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 

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

'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

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)

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