done

 short & sweet.

mailed my taxes off today at 4:15

done

No return -rant

 Once again I have found a restaurant that will not see my return.

We stopped at the Sirloin Stockade in Round Rock on Monday.  We have eaten here many times.

Not anymore.

It has nothing to do with food.  The workers were excellent.  The girl taking my money was smiling and happy to see us - it seemed.  Our waiter was right there for us.  One cook worker took time to show me hidden restroom...with a smile.  The guy cooking steaks, I think, was more interested in getting a tip in his jar than being functional.  None of this was a problem.  Wait.  Maybe the lack of chocolate cake for my wife might be an influence.  

The problem is the price.  A cheap buffet type place should not cost almost $40 to eat.  That is way over the top.  We use to eat in one in Corsicana before the Flu bug hit.  The price was quite reasonable.  But, now, $20 each.  This is outrageous for a simple buffet.  And that price was with the Senior discount.

I still go to the Golden Corral - but never go on the weekend.   These places serve canned green beans, canned corn, canned everything.  The fried okra was done 3 hours ago and is mushy.  The fried fish is okay albeit sometimes a big grease laden.  Pies and so forth are okay except I am diabetic.  Whatever happened to the sugar free cookies and ....

No sense going on.  

I suppose the problem is the costs that have gone up when there was a perceived shortage - supply problems.  That has ended.  Did the cost come down?

2 years ago, I could buy 2 liter Coke products on special for $1.  Now Cokes are up to $2.50.  Why.  I know, the water to make cokes has increased or the bottle caps or the plastic bottles.  Nope.  None of that.  It is just greed.

winter bluz

I'm tired of cold weather.  I am as tired of cold weather as I was last summer when I was tired of hot weather.  We did not have spring last year.  We did not have fall last year.  THUS - I'm tired of not having spring and fall.  I'm tired of other things too.

If that  paragraph was not profound, what is?

Our garden is taking shape; or, it was taking shape until the temperature dipped to 30 degrees last night.  What is with this?  I live in Texas.  It is not suppose to get this cold right now.  Now, don't go arguing with me about our average freeze date.  Intelligent arguments have no place here.

I have a house full of tomato and pepper plants and Black Diamond watermelon plants waiting on warmer weather.  Our peas and beans have sprouted outside.  We even have a carrot or two plus radishes growing.  May have to start over.  I'm ticked off.

==============================================

Think I'm gonna go sit in the corner and eat worms.

m

Hot Stuff

 Friday - March 17th - St. Patrick's Day,  2023

What you just read has nothing to do with this entry.  However, it is safe to note that the above is accurate.  Not everything you read is true y'know.  I was shown something on Facebook a while go, it wasn't true.  Thus, we should make some type of an assumption.

=================================================================

DIDJA KNOW:

that a bottle of Frank's { Extra Hot } REDHOT Sauce will bounce off a concrete floor.  It will.` Yes, it will bounce one time if it hits flat on its side.  If you are quick enough, you might catch that bouncing bottle on that first bounce.   If you're not?  It will break on the 2nd bounce.  To be honest here [like I am never honest here??] - the bottle doesn't bounce very high - maybe 4 to 6 inches.  But, bounce it will.   Wait - but not twice...

Told you this is hot stuff.

The first sentence should have read Frank's Redhot, Extra Hot, Hot Sauce.  That is a lot of hots in one sentence.  Hot Stuff.  As Advertised.

Personally, I have always been a Tabasco Man.  Tabasco goes on most stuff.  I became somewhat addicted to Tabasco back in the 70s when my family was running Ragtime in Amarillo (this adventure shall be saved for a different bloggy).  At that time I ate what we had on the menu - lunch & dinner.  I became particularly fond of Tabasco on tater tots.  Don't knock it till you've tried it.  There have been bottles of hot sauce in my house constantly since childhood.  Tabasco has even traveled with me over the years.  I do like it.

Last week, reading my morning paper as I do religiously on a regular basis frequently in the morning oft times, I read an article about a Chinese guy who came to the USA via Hong Kong several years back.  He carried $20,000 in gold hidden in condensed milk cans.  Now, don't go asking me questions about how he did this.  

I cannot imagine: open a can - insert gold - tape the lid back on with duck tape ??  You figure it out.  I shan't recite the entire article right now - you can look it up somewhere. This Chinese brilliant man came to the USA.  He moved to N.Y.  Then, he moved to Calif.

In California he took some gold and bought a big building.  He started making his Sriracha Hot Sauce.  It took a while, but the sauce caught on.  Now it is the 3rd best selling sauce in the U.S.      -- 2nd best is Frank's.  Of course, Tabasco is #1.   The guy, whose name escapes me, became a billionaire with his sauce.  Good for Him.  Maybe Huy Fong ??

It made me thunk....think.   I need to try these sauces again.  Might be good.

jump forward

Went to an HEB grocery store in Round Rock Wednesday to pick up a few things.  I saw Frank's on a shelf.  I reached over an removed a jar.  But, it said  EXTRA HOT.  Nah, for my first time in a long time, I should take home the milder.  I put the jar back and - yep - brushed another one with my arm.  It flew off the shelf like it had a mission to complete.

Straight for the floor it fell, landing on it's side.   I grabbed for it.  I had time to see it bounce and sink back down.  Wham.  Hot sauce went everywhere.  My hand was just a foot off the floor.  Too Late.  I froze.  Who saw me?  Panic and Run?  What to do?

Behind me a 30-40 year old dark haired lady yelled (almost yelled) at me to not touch a thing.  She would go get help.  I had no intention of touching anything.  It was a broken jar surrounded by smelly red hot sauce.  Taking out my handkerchief, I blotted the hot sauce from my paws.  I stood and cautioned people to be careful.  The really nice lady returned with a worker.  I smiled weakly - apologized as best I could - thanked all for helping - grabbed another bottle of hot sauce - and walked fast.  

Let me pause the narration here.  I am old.  She was middle age.  Did she respond to me so quickly because I look old and feeble?  Was she afraid this really old guy might try to clean up the mess?  Or - and I hope this is it - or, was she just a nice lady who would have reacted the same way to a much younger, less feeble looking person?  Getting old is not always easy.  Being young wasn't much easier at times.  We all do stupid things.

That's it.  I ended up with an EXTRA HOT bottle of the sauce, which has turned out to be somewhat mild.  Hours later at home I discovered that my left shoe was covered in dry hot sauce.  I had spent the rest of that day showing my hot sauce adventure to the remainder of the world, ONE STEP AT A TIME.  Never Noticed. Not Once.  If it had been a snake, it would have bitten me.

Ethically, should I send HEB a check for the broken hot sauce?  I do feel guilty.

or not.

mtz3     

quickie- Home & Garden show

 I'm not sure that it is called the home and garden show...but something very similar.  I have seen the show advertised for a couple of months. I got rather excited about the show - plants, seeds and all.    It is held at the Bell County  bright silver dome on hwy 121 south of Belton.  

We went today, Sunday.  Entrance is $7. 

The show was primarily people selling new windows, hot tubs, makeup, 2 chiropractic folks, Ford truck, insurance, water stuff, bath tubs, remodeling - I won't go on.  What is was Not:  GARDEN.   In spite of the title, no garden stuff.  We didn't go to be sold stuff.  We wanted GARDEN stuff.  We will save our $7 next year.

Pause now as I let you know that hiccups just started.  I am starting to have hiccups about once a day.  Now, they are gone.  Do they make a drug for hiccups?   I mean, do they make a legal drug.  If you take the wrong stuff, you 'll never know you had hiccups.   Great word:  hiccups.  Some folks put a hyphen in the middle: hic-cups.  Nuff.

No garden stuff.  We finally found the Bell county master gardeners who were selling trinkets instead of gardening. And then we found storage sheds.  Sheds could be gardening.   Do you need some pavers for your backyard?  How about a walk-in bathtub with appropriate remodeling of your bathroom?  So it goes.  something to complain about.  needed something to complain about.  it makes my day.  One young lady trapped my wife at a makeup booth.  I told the boss standing there, that I needed to save her because my wife wasn't going to buy anything.   Eventually, I believe I made the young lady mad as I whisked off my wife.

It never dawned on me  until now that my wife might have been enjoying that attention.  Too Late.

later.  GARDEN SHOW!!!!    nevermind

m  

my palm itches

    We have heard stories over the years about things which are true.  There was one about ear itch that meant someone is talking about you.  They are out there.  Old wives tales - not that I don't like old wives.  I'm married to one.  Broken mirror equals 7 years bad luck.  Feed a cold; starve a fever.  How about the bit that people go crazy when there is a full moon?

     Aside:  I think I should be using an "  '  " after the word wives.   Is it wives (plural) or wives' possessive? Could it be plural possessive?  Perhaps that is best put off for another time.  That I shall do.

    When I retired to my bed chamber last night (I went to bed), the palm of my left hand started to itch.  I thought about lotion, but, cheeee, lotion has always been a last resort for me.  Even, then, I've NEVER noticed an itch solved by lotion or itch cream.  Maybe it is just me.

    So, my left palm itches.  I awoke my customary 5 times during the night to  - well, you know -  each time, the palm still had an itch. Then, I remembered the old wives' tale:  If your palm itches, money is coming your way.  Word it anyway you like, this is one tale that I am choosing to believe.  

Whar's the Cash?  

    I'm still waiting.  Nobody has knocked upon my door - or called from Pub. clearing house (you have to enter, to win) - none of that has happened.  My neighbor to the east just got a delivery left on the porch.  A quick trip over there might deliver a profit.  Just a thought.

Maybe, certainly Maybe, in today's mail.   Money to sooth the palm.  C'mon, sooth me baby.

-----

I am using the word "just" too often in this missive.

I might mention here, that I just had a thought.  I turned on the cell phone - typed - and whammo, the internet has listings of old wives' tales.  I can see a book being written.   The Idiot's Guide to Old Wives' Tales.  It could be as helpful as Poor Richard's Almanac  - with a nod to Benjamin Franklin.  I'll get started on that tomorrow.  

-----

Speaking of that, here's another book that I wanted to write, actually several books, a series:     

    49 Things To See & Do in ____________.   Put the name of a town or a county or a state or a community into the blank.   Example:  I live in Bell County.  49 Things To See & Do in Bell County.  Now you start to make a list.  Of course, you could pick the easy way out.  List all the towns in the County.  But, no, you must actually do the leg work.  .  .  . .  Each item must by listed with a photo.  Take a picture of the courthouse.  Then, give a short history of the courthouse.  Salado has its mermaid lore.  Killeen is right there next to Fort Hood - soon to be renamed because Hood was a Confederate.  East of Temple is a little community with Green's meat market and cafe.  I'd list Buc-ees in north Temple.  

    Can you see the possibility?  Every town in Texas surely can find 49 things to see.  Certainly, every County could.  Perhaps 49 is the wrong number.   I do like odd numbers like 77, 49, 53, or 61.  Numbers like 25 and 50  are "just" too plain.  But to keep the book(s) consistent all over the State, one number must be used by all.   Each book must have a different color cover...maybe, in the local school colors - if only one school is to be had.

    These books could be printed at home - those would resemble a pamphlet.   37 things to do in Waco.  I smile with inner-glow at my brilliance.  

Ooooo Ooooo Ooooo   Franchise.   Sell the concept to a local historian.  They gather the info - you print, staple, art work - deliver  - take a nap on the couch.  

Now where can I find that financing?

The palm is itching again.

Hey! Somebody bring me some Lotion?

Love,  m3   

Saved emails + brrrrrrr3

Let's get the weather over with first.  By 9 a.m. this morning, we have gone above 32 degrees.  It is now (almost 4 pm) about 36 degrees -- a heat wave is upon thee.

Looking forward to temperatures in 24 more hours.   My furnace is getting tired of exercising.  It wants to hand the ball over to the A.C.  With a heat pump, it's almost the same thing.

------

Decided to erase some of my old emails.  My mailbox has 1015 saved emails, most of which I have no idea what they say.  Some I save because my deceased relatives and friends sent them  It is sorta a way to keep them close by.  I'm sure my children will delete everything when the time comes.  I might caution them that I have hidden instructions on how to find that missing $100,000 inside one of the emails.  The cash is buried .....

(At this point one of my children has muttered, "What missing $100,000?")

From 2015 came a list.  The writer is stating things that bother him.  I did not originate this list.  I do not have the slightest idea who sent it to me - sometimes I copy emails and resend to myself in order to edit the content.  And, yes, I did edit this list.  I'll be glad to give credit to the author, if known.  

Or, he can SUE me.  He'll soon learn how little money retired teachers have stored away.  Nuff.  Here is the list from 2015.

---------------                 -----------------                     -----------------

My 75th year kindergarten reunion is coming up soon and I'm worried about the 195 lbs. I've gained.

The location of your mailbox shows you how far away from your house you can be in a robe, before you start looking like a mental patient.

 

My therapist said that my narcissism causes me to misread social situations. I'm pretty sure she was hitting on me.

 

My 60 year kindergarten reunion is coming up soon and I'm worried about the 195 lbs. I've gained.

 

I'm getting kind of tired always slowly raising my hand when someone asks, "Who does something like that?!?"

 

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon announced that this will be his final season of racing. You could tell it was time for him to retire during his last race when he had his blinker on the whole time.

 

The speed in which a woman says "nothing" when asked "What's wrong?" is inversely proportional to the severity of the storm that's coming.

 

Denny's has a slogan, 'If it's your birthday, the meal is on us.' .....If you're in Denny's and it's your birthday... your life sucks!

 

If I make you breakfast in bed, a simple "Thank you" is all I need.....not all this, "how did you get in my house" business!

 

The pharmacist asked me my birthday again today....Pretty sure she's going to get me something.

 

I can't understand why women are okay that JC Penny has an older women's clothing line named, "Sag Harbor."

 

I think it's pretty cool how Chinese people made a language entirely out of tattoos.

 

What is it about a car that makes people think we can't see them pick their nose?

brrrrr 2

Wednesday.

Day 2 of 24 hours under 32 degrees.

Thursday.

Tomorrow, Day 3; however, they talk warming.

Weekend.

Looks like we are back above 50 degrees - some into the 60s.

Nobody has asked me today.  I thought I made it perfectly clear in "brrrrr."  {See below.}  I don't like cold weather.  never have.  never will.  never.  ever.

When I was a fourth grader in Crete, Nebraska.  It snowed in the winter.  My folks had bought us shoes with deep treads on the bottom - seems like those would be forerunners to waffle stompers.  My spell check doesn't like "stompers" as a word.  

In the fourth grade at school, there would be a tall pile of snow.  The boys would climb up and slide down the hill, standing up.  Seemed fun.  No sleds; just feet.  I gave it a try and was immediately ostracized by the others.  My waffle stomper's soles dug out ditches in the slide.

Nobody loves me.  It was a relief to move to Texas.  We only had sand dunes for sliding.  That was fun. You can roll down a sand dune.  Never tried rolling down an iced hill.

Have you ever noticed that a furnace never fails in the summer.   My rent house up in north Texas.  It is failing to ignite.  Of course.  One more thing to whine about.  It's like the ice fairy has focused in on me.   Nobody loves me.

It is sorta like you never have a solar eclipse around midnight.   But, you could have ( I believe ) a lunar eclipse in daylight.  Actually, I am not sure about that since the placement of the moon in the Earth's shadow might not do that.  Don't quote me on that moon thought.

Now I am going to list all the good things about winter:

1.

   

I'll try to return tomorrow with more.

mtz3

brrrrr

 Why did I choose to move south instead of north?  Cold weather.  I should have moved even further south.  Does it ever snow in  / ice in Panama?  Of course some drug lord may do you bad.  But, it is not cold.  If you - a reader - lives north of here, you probably think this is just whining.  And, you're right.

Whine.

Brrrrrr

In earlier years I have lived through winter in Amarillo, Lubbock, Oklahoma, Kansas, and one full year in Nebraska, albeit I was much younger in some of those years.  In Kansas, I walked to school on top of snow drifts higher than my head.  Of course, I was in 1st through 3rd grades.

Here I am.  Central Texas.  Ice storm outside.  Temperature dropped below freezing yesterday and has not broken back through the glass ceiling of ice.  Maybe tomorrow.  Maybe not.  In the past 24 I have received lectures from various relatives about how to stay warm.  It never ceases.  

So, here we sits - staring out the window at the wet - if it were just 20 degrees warmer, we could sits - staring out the window at the dry.  There is just something about dreary days that eat on you.  It is a wonder residents of Seattle ever live to be over 30.  (For the uninformed: it rains a lot in Seattle.  This was just an example.  I could have used St. Paul instead.  Up north winters seem to linger into eternity.)

With this I close.  My winter coat is draped over a chair, waiting.  My dog is snuggled under a nice quilt.  Y'know, if  I had some carrots and potatoes, we could have a steaming hot crock pot full of beef stew - if we had some stew meat.  Well, maybe a can of Wolf Brand chili instead.  That would be warm and comforting...cold crackers and a slice of  onion on the side.

me

FNBO BABBLE

With an apology -  I have just reread what I wrote below.  It is nonsense to read.  How often have I been stuck beside some old person who just rants and raves about some meaningless subject.  They don't know when to stop.

Here is my  meaningless rant.  Try to enjoy.  You won't.

===================================================================

 Here is the deal.  A while back I had dealing with the First National Bank of Omaha.  I owed them some money.   I'm gonna make up some dates and $$ amounts here.  I don't remember the facts.

Anyway, lets say that I owed them $100 and it is the end of April, 2019 or so.   I received their statement; and, I mailed them a check for $100.  Well it seems that in between the dates that I don't really remember, I had used their card and charged something else - let''s say it was a purchase for $50.  

Fine.   According to their printed paper, if I paid off my debt, I would not be charged interest.  These clowns charged interest on the $50 when it was still in "it's" first month.   I called to explain.  The girl on the phone recited some garbage - I asked to speak to someone higher up.  If I am going to call and sit through the phone nonsense, I want good results.  Higher up person listens.  He recites some garbage.  I questioned.  He gave me the name of someone else to call - tomorrow.  I did.  Got another young girl on the phone and we repeated yesterdays adventure.  

After 3 calls and same garbage response, I gave up.  The interest was only a couple of dollars.   At that time I sent them a message to forget that I existed, and I cut up my card.  Done.  Over.  Complete.

Now that was when I lived in North Texas.  I moved to Central Texas in my motorhome and used the mailing address of my daughter for business.  That was about 2 years ago - the moving that is.

My daughter moved.  I moved up here.  The now resident of her old place gave her a letter addressed to me from this company. . They were sending their yearly credit rules.   

GADZ.   I have not done business with them for over 2 years.  How did they get my new/old address?  Mind boggling.

I am mailing them the following letter ( which I modify here because some folks like to do bad things when they get certain info).

 ================================================

TO:  First Natl Bank of Omaha 

Sir:

I have a problem. 

You recently sent me a letter regarding my account.  It went to the {new/old} address listed below. As an FYI, I have not lived at that address for about 2 years.  The above address is my current address. {address listed on letterhead by me}  

Frankly, I cannot find this card.  I do not have the slightest idea where it has gone.  Digging in my stuff, I found an old letter that I had written to you; otherwise, I would not have known how to contact you.  Apparently, I have not used the card for well over 2 years.

I had one account with  you that had made me angry.  I didn’t like the way you charged interest on certain items.  On the phone, I just got a run-a-round story.  This may be the card that I vowed never to use again.  Beats me.  I’m old.  Who can remember being mad over 2 years and 2 house changes ago?

Do what you want.  Send me a replacement card or cancel the account.  But, most importantly, if you are going to keep me on the books, change my address – please.

{signature}

Credit Card

0123 4567 8910 etc. 

Former addresses:

{old address}                                               {new/old address}

=====================================================================

SOOOOOOO,

This brings my questions.  Why would anyone do business with a company that has lost you for over 2 years?   Obviously, I am not a good source of income for over 2 years. Why do they mess with me?  I am willing to bet they will send me a new card.  I have another account with them - different company on letterhead - but still FNBO.  

I close.

tomorrow, I will try to write much better babble.

The Big Three

 Last December, I made a resolution to post more often.  Now that I have messed that up, in January, I am making a resolution to post more often even if I don't feel like it.

Moving on.

==================================================================

THE BIG THREE:

No, I am not talking about Russia, China, & the good ole USA.

No, I am not talking about Cancer, Heart Disease, & Warts.

And, NO, I am not talking about Trump, Polunkski, and/or Biden.

This list could be extended for several pages.  Make your own list of Your Big Three.  Let's see what you come up with . . , The, And, & You Know . . . Football, Baseball, & Basketball . . . Roast Beef, Pork Chops, & Fried Chicken . . .  Easter, Christmas, & Thanksgiving (with a nod to the 4th of July) . . . Christians, Jews, & Muslims 

We could go on with this for hours:   Rain, Snow, & Hail   You get my drift here.

----

My big three:

SOLAR - BUGS - & SHINGLES

I  live in a nice little neighborhood / housing development.  You can look it up online - love the title - Amity Estates.    Not Amityville, just Amity Estates.  I understand that our HOA has a new website going up yesterday or thereabout.  There is a facebook page too.

It's a nice area.  As of this year, the development is "built out."  This means that all lots have houses.  There will be no more building here. Of course in our associated close-by village - Salado - many many many more developments have been started.  These houses are not mansions.  They're just nice little, over-priced homes with grass and few trees.  I'm getting to the big 3.

We moved here about 2 years back in a house that was  probably built 5 years ago.  It is fine.  We're happy.  Now, that is the rub.  Sometimes we are not happy.  You sit back in your easy chair, relaxing your eyes.  They flutter shut.  There is a hint of a mild snore.  All three dogs  (ANOTHER BIG 3) have settled down for their afternoon nap.  Anna, Bella, and my own Sadie.   Sadie has a cushion by the front door and keeps a look out for killers and muggers and teenagers  (3).

All relaxed.  Settling down.  At rest  (3)

ALL OF A SUDDEN, YES -  ALL YOU KNOW WHAT BREAKS LOOSE.  The dogs have seen, smelled, or sensed (big 3) movement outside.  Let the barking begin.  Anna, the big girl, has the biggest bark.  It could cause deafness in the more fragile.  The other two have annoying barks.  I'M SURE their sounds reverberate around the front porch before reaching the ears of .... you may have guessed it ....  One of the Big Three.

Our neighborhood - being fairly new - is prime resource for companies who want more money.  They are a bit wrong about Amity Estates.  On the average, someone comes to my front door at least 3 times or more per week.  Are you getting it yet?

Today, my front door visitor:  Two fairly young, good looking men with matching shirts and a small computer in the left hand.  I stepped outside and said, "No, I do not want my roof shingled;  or my house treated for bugs;   and I do not want to place solar panel thingys on my roof."  They both smiled, and we had a nice conversation about me having too many salesmen trampling down my front sidewalk.

They moved on to the house across the street.  I stepped back into the house to try and shush my vicious animals.  My wife came out of the bedroom and said that she had really enjoyed her non-nap.  I put my trusty 45 back in the drawer.  And - I use this word too often - And, we both tried to settle back in before the next visitor arrives.

An Aside:  last week I was visited by 2 different young ladies from the Salado M.S. Band selling World's Finest Chocolate (and girl scout cookies).  This is different to me and happened after nap time.

To sum it up, I will add the 4th Biggie.  I get phone calls DAILY of people who want to buy either this house or my Rent house.  Each promises big money.  I did that type of work back in the 80s.  But, I only called people who had FSBO (for sale by owner) listed in the paper.  They were willing to stop and listen to me.  That experience is a completely different stone for a later date.

I close now because ANNA is in the back yard barking at the school bus.  I think it is time for her to come inside and nap more.

Thanks for visiting and listening.  "Hey, would somebody grab that ringing phone?"

mtz3