H.S. SPORTS {& side bar on names}

This morning, I had no intention of doing another blog/blug thing.  Sat. morn.  Nuthin' goin' on'.  We have no plans for today.  Could run into town to the farmer's market - cascade into Temple for a couple of estate sales - visit Belton Walmart to make fun of people - side trip to Killeen for Chinese food - slog over to Stillhouse Hollow Lake to look at the new sand bars (we are getting thirsty)  =  stay at home and not watch TV.  What's on TV on a Saturday?  Golf. Sports. Cooking Shows. Bad News. Cartoons. Must be something interesting on TV.  Jewelry sales?  Emeril hawking toaster ovens? Prostate shows?   Nah, none of these meet our standard.  We do have standards.

Got up.  Put on pants.  Walked out front to retrieve newspaper ( "i" B4 "e," except after "C" ).  Pulled a couple of Eggos from our deep Frozer.  Sugar free syrup + butter  and OJ.  Pretty good breakfast.  I'll be hungry by noon.  Opened newspaper to sports page.  3 articles on the  1st page that got my juices going.

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The first.  Wait.  I am not a sports fan except when it comes to Texas Tech.  That is only because I went there.  I want them to win because it makes ME look better when I apply for a job.  At 82 and 5/6ths, I apply for a lot of jobs ya know.  Still, granddots attend Tech.  I support them & Tech in every way except spending money and waving flags,

Back to regular subject:  the first article.  Two H.S. in Belton.  Belton HS (as you may have guessed) and Lake Belton HS north of town.  Interestingly, I believe Lake Belton is located in Temple city limits.  Hmmmm.  L.B.H.S. is pretty new.  They have only been playing competition ball for a couple of years or so.  or so.  SOOO, they played Leander Rouse last night, Friday, at LBHS.   One Minute before halftime,  L.B. is ahead 34-10.  WHAM!!!   BAM!!!!  Sparks Flew!! Everything went black.  A transformer serving the stadium blew up.  

As darkness settled on the stadium the moon was shining.  It was a cloudless night as most nights have been since it quit raining in central Texas last June.  Give your eyes a moment to adjust.  We have 2 hostile football teams lining the sidelines - 24 on the field facing each other with a (moon) gleam in their eyes.  Behind 34-10, I'm sure Rouse stood ready to play in the moonlight.  

It was just 1 minute before halftime.  Two bands are poised on the sidelines ready to march forth and demonstrate their wares.  Moms sitting in the stands wringing their widdle hands afraid their 6' 5" linebacker will somehow be electrocuted - maybe Chicken Fried if you will.  The good thing about dying at the game:  the school will dedicate the yearbook to you in the spring.  That is worthy of consideration.

I can see it now.  Nobody is moving except a lone hawk soaring over the stadium looking for a lost hot dog slathered in mustard.  The coaches meet the refs in the middle of the field.  Here comes the Superintendents and Principals and various other important figures (in their mind, important).  Much talking.  Much gesturing.   Much  looking at flaming transformer, sparking its heart out.   They called the game.  Right there.  It's over.  Nobody volunteered to climb the pole and spray water on the flame.

As the stadium empties - there must be no P.A. system to announce anything I would guess - all grope for belongings - teams scour the area to find all equipment and Gatoraide bottles - the bands tramp back to the stands to retrieve everything.  Their either head for their local bandroom or to the band buses.  Cheerleaders, not quite with the program, are still on the field making pyramids and flying through the air holding lit candles in their teeth.  

An hour later, all is quiet.  Not even the scoreboard is broadcasting the 34-10 first half score.  Band Directors are pleased to be getting home an hour and a half / maybe 2 hours / early.  I wonder if either band tried to do their halftime show in the moon light - just for practice of course.  It would have been a glorious - bring a tear to the eye.

The one redeeming factor:  everyone, NO, LET'S SAY EVERYBODY, turned on their cell phones, flashlights and all.  They could have aimed the phones towards the field and finished the game.  How fun would it have been to see a marching band flashing their phones to the rhythm of the music.

AND, THAT, was only # 1 from the sports page.

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#2  I'll try to keep this short.  Temple H.S. FOOTBALL team has entered the record books by winning its 800th game - that is 800 games since football started in Temple maybe ABOUT 100 years ago.  They scratched through records and reports until they found 799 games.  Playoffs last year provided the chance for number 800.  But, the tigers lost in the playoffs.  Eagerly, we held our breaths as one, together, awaiting the 2023 season in order to score that 800th game.  Now, it has been done.  The thrill still lingers for those who were part of this season ... we will remember it in our hearts for years to come.  I imagine that at least one of the players will have it listed in his obituary 60 years from now.  "Bubba had 12 children and was on the Temple football team that racked up their 800th win for all time.  Members of team were: ......"  No mention of his children's names.

There was an article in the Temple paper last week.  You can find it online if you want to know what other Texas schools have triumphed 800+ times.  I know Amarillo HS was one.  I think they used to hire oil field roustabouts to come into town on Friday night and play for them - before you sue me - I'm not really sure about that; it was a rumor I once heard when I was teaching across town.

It is interesting that only 4 teams have ever had 800+ wins in their entire existence.  

Just a quick calculation.  100 more wins to 900.  10 games a year not counting playoff games.  If they don't lose again, they can have 900 in 10 years....assuming they don't win any playoff games.  If you have a 7 yr old football player, move to Temple now so HE/SHE can be a part of the 900th win.  Oh, the anticipation.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

#3   I once read about a visiting team that took the opening kick and ran for a touchdown.  The home stands went silent.  On the next kickoff, the home team ran for a touchdown.  7 to 7    They began the game again, even.  Wish I had been there.

      Last year I read about a team that made the playoffs in Texas.  The locals were thrilled.  It was written up in the newspaper and the coach was praised.  Their record that year was 3-7.  In Texas, the top 4 teams in all districts advance to the playoffs.  Let's say there are 4, maybe 5, schools in your district.  All you have to do is beat ONE team to make the playoffs.  With only 4 teams in your district, your record could be 0-10 and still be in the playoffs.  Yes, we praise the coach.  I admire him for taking advantage of the situation to support his team (and his future job offers).  Wouldn't it be nice in life to be able to lose everything and still get a bonus?   I love sports (snicker).

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#4 Before I start this last epic, I would like to apologize to anyone who may be directly insulted.  I really mean no harm.  The chances of mentioned people seeing this note is very small.

I was reading another sports page story when I ran across some first names.  In the article in the order they appear, here are the mentioned football player's first names.

We have Ja'Quorius covering a fumble - Braylan throwing a touchdown pass - Kardias ran for a touchdown - Kason caused a fumble - Coach is Rick - Cody recovered a fumble - Elijah scored  a touchdown - Dominic scored - Homero kicked a field goal - and Cole covered a fumble.  Sure were a lot of fumbles.

Whoever did this report must have had a list of players.  First names are interesting to me.  Some day go find a list of the local cheerleaders or drill team members.  The names are so different than when I was a kid.  We had Pat - Mike - Jim - George - John - Jerry.   My wife was a Brenda in elementary school.  There were 2 other Brendas in the same classroom.  Thus, she became Brenda Joy.  Preferred loved names change over the years.  You can't find many Brendas anymore.

I read that Katrina and Ida use to be popular names until the hurricanes hit New Orleans.  Now, nobody wants to name their kid Katrina - ?? afraid the kid will be a hurricane in the house ??

I'm through.  Keep your first name.  It's okay with me.  In the future, the world will have to learn to spell it.  My middle name is Eugene.  My mother blessed me with that, naming me after Uncle Gene.  There have been some great Eugenes in the world.  Perhaps you have met a few.

see ya, love ya, don't do stupid things....

m

June - that was the month that was

 AND, here it is, the last day of July.  I suppose that month of July passed swiftly.  I am trying to forget a bunch of it.  But, July ( I like to pronounce it Hoo-lie ) has been 31 days of sameness and newness.  Let me cite a few examples.

Our garden has pretty much stopped producing.  Surprisingly to me, the cantaloupes keep putting forth little fruit.  To start, they were regular size - now, we get little ones about 2 to 3 inches across.  Yummy, they still be.  Tiny, they are.  My watermelons never have seemed to make it this year.  

Now tomatoes and peppers have been good.  Here in central Texas, I can now plant a fresh crop of tomatoes and peppers.  It won't be long till they'll put on fruit.  Our corn crop yielded about 5 good ears of corn.   Potatoes were somewhat of a joke.  I suppose Okra was the most surprising star of them all.  We learned that Okra should be picked when it is about 3 + inches in length.  Any longer and they become too hard to chew after cooking - yes, we fry our Okra.  Who, I ask you, "Who" can eat that slimy okra stuff that shows up in soups?  Certainly not me.

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Back in June - yes, back in June, we ordered a new king sized bed.  It is a sleep number something model and cost way more that I should have spent.  The bed is actually 2 twin sized, extra long beds tied together to give the appearance of one enormous bed.  The head and the foot areas - both - can be raised and lowered.  Our old sleep number, regular size, bed has been with us since before the beginning of time.  My side has begun to lose air daily.  I realize Sleep Number people would make it work; but, I really felt that we need this (what I call) medical type bed as we lunge into our older age.  I can visualize one or both of us being bed ridden for certain periods of time.  This should make it easier.

Oh, forgot the point of this entry.  The bed will be delivered on August 9th.  I roll my eyes.

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Son Roger and wife Penney plus Grand-girls came through on Hoo-lie 23rd or there-a-bouts.  Our Dot Christine joined them as they went to San Antonio for the DCI competition.  DCI stands for drum corps international.  It is a drum and bugle competition.  They dropped off their 4 dachshunds for us to dog sit.  We had a fairly good time with the dogs; I'm not sure our Sadie appreciated the company.  A good time in San Antone was had by all and the Blue Devils won.

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Let's move on to the gross medical things.  In addition to our wellness visit (where our doctor says "hmmm") plus my wife's 3 visits to the dentist {had to go back the 3rd time because their air compressor died 2 hours before we arrived } - my radiation treatments began this month.  I didn't think they were ever going to get here.  I write this because there might be someone out there who'll have to do this in the future.   I will have 42 sessions of radiation.  They are are aiming at my prostate, I believe.  I have this philosophy: don't ask questions - just do what I am told.  My doctors seem confident and skilled.

/////an aside: my cancer doctor (Jhavar) was raised in India.  He had a vacation and flew back to India for the time.  It took 38 hours to fly - each direction.  I believe I have that number right.  He said it was tiring and thanked me for asking about the trip.  I like this doctor. /////

So for my first session, I had a short visit with my doctor (Jhavar) prior to the zapping.  I had just given blood on a different floor of the facility to be used in a heredity study being done by someone to see if I have a certain bad gene that caused this.  We'll see.  I was sitting in doc's office with my diet coke bottle on the floor.  He pointed at it and explained that I wanted to give them up until treatments end.

Before I continue this forward, an apology to my ex-students and others who might know me.  I am going to produce an image which some may not want me to share.  Imagine some of your past teachers lying naked on a metal table.  It is somewhat revolting.  

Now - get this - it seems that I have to have a bowel movement prior to the zapping.  The doc has prescribed Milk of Magnesia for me to facilitate this occurrence.  That, I assume, is to make the bowels empty for zapping.  At the same time, I am to come with a full bladder.  To me, these are contradictory.  But, if there is a gas bubble inside me, this is wrong.  Before zapping, they must roll me over and insert a tube (guess where) to let out the gas.  Tube goes in - Gas comes out.  You can hear the whooshing noise.  Cokes seem to be the biggest contributor to gas.  Who knew?

I am called into the room.  They make me put on scrub bottoms.  My regular pants have zippers and buttons and belt buckles and a knife and a cell phone and ...  I am escorted to a long metal table.  Lie down.  My feet are strapped to a block;  a longer block is placed under my knees;  I am given a 6 " plastic hoop to hold on my chest;  under a small / tiny blanket, I pull down my pants to the thigh; and, I am left alone - just me, a metal bed, and this enormous white machine.  I left off the part where they slide me back and forth and up and down until the green laser light is properly adjusted to my new tattoo.

They start. The bed slides under the machine.  The machine begins to rotate around me.  I believe there are 4 different arms on the machine - each different.  As warned, the machine rotates one way then the other then back and then back again.  Then, nothing.  Then, I lay in silence.  [ This paragraph has way too many "thens" ]   A voice speaks into my left ear.  "The doctor is always right."  I rolled my head his way and said, "Really?"  It was Jhavar.  Out came a tube - I laid on my left side and a procedure began.   Hisssssss

Back on my back (cute expression).  The machine rotated again and again.  Now silence.  Apparently the first rotations are to see if my innards are prepared properly for the zapping.  They were.   The  radiating began...I felt nothing.  With eyes closed and horrible rock and country music playing through the P.A., I was zapped. 

Wed. Session #42 was over;  only 41 more sessions to attend.  My other doctor (El Tayeb) was the one who used a device and removed parts of my Prostate 3 months ago.  He told me that 90% of the prostate had been removed.  You know how that 90% left my body.  It left through the other portal - like that word.  This means they are zapping only 10% of my prostate.  I suppose.  What do I know.  I have a degree in music education.

Thurs. Session #41 the next day was a replay of  #42.  This Session's numbering system has nothing to do with our President's number in office.  Coincidental, that's all.   In #41, I had the same gas problem.  The doctor was not there this time.  The technicians performed the dirty deed.  Interestingly, as I rolled over and listened to them talk, I figured out that one tech was a newby.  The other tech showed "her" how to insert the tube, etc.  I am close to losing all of my modesty.

Fri. Session #40 was different.  I bought a pair of shorts with no zipper - no changing into scrubs.  The night before, I swallowed a gallon of milk of magnesia - making me get out of bed at 3:30 a.m. for a quick trip.  In the morning, I swigged  half as much around 8:30.  I took a Gas-X Extreme pill after lunch.  I moved lunch back one hour closer to zap time.   I had no problem.  The FEMALE nurse said, "whatever you did this time, continue doing it."                      

I won't drink carbonated drinks again until this is over in September.  I won't eat beans or sauerkraut or ?? again until  September. I no longer have milk with my breakfast (milk is another trouble maker).  

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For the rest of the month.  I see a doctor in about a week to get shots in both knees.   I get another "anti-hormone" shot in about 2 weeks.  My eye doctor appt. is coming up.  The new bed is coming soon.  And =

let's make that a big  A N D ....

My wife and I will be having our 60th anniversary on the 5th.  I need to plan a festival for that.  It would be nice to be able to see our 70th together.

over and out,

love you (sure),

send money,

mtz

The Gatherings

 This has nothing to do with human gatherings or spirits gathering or all animate objects gathering.  If you're hoping to read something about a haunted house of creatures or a field of restless zombies all "Gathering" to assault the world, you have come to the wrong blog.  I have never been able to get into the zombie thing.  Now I like a few of the space creature or ancient sorcerer getting together - assuming the bad ones are eliminated by the end of the adventure.  We move on.

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Back in high school I read a book by H. Allen Smith called Lost in the Horse Lattitudes.  I can't say I remember much about it.  Surely I picked it up at the local Hockley County Library after I had finished reading all of their Wizard of Oz books.  There was quite a series of those.  I cannot remember my age - but I enjoyed the book.  I seem to remember it as a glommed together of several short happenings (stories) haphazardly lumped together in to a moderately sized book, easily read.   My spell check doesn't like the word "glommed."   You don't suppose that "glommed" is not a real word, do you?

I enjoyed that book.  Since I can't find it among my junk, I must have found it at the library.  Yes, I would like to reread it someday.  Maybe it is on amazon.  First of all, consider that I have remembered the title and author for over 60 years and tears.  That in itself is remarkable for me.  One story stayed with me all this time, the details of which I have forgotten.  H. Allen Smith wrote about an uncle (may have been a cousin or grandparent) who was a bit strange.  He kept a gallon jar under his bed filled with his toenail clippings.

That haunts me.   

I have trouble getting my toes up high enough to properly clip...much less collect.

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Which brings me to Gatherings.   He gathered his toenail clippings in a gallon jar.  I'm sure his heirs were appreciative.   Over the years, I have Gathered things.  Most folks consider my gatherings to be innocuous  (ooooo, ooooo, be jealous of me for using that word).  For many years I would pick up match books and file them away.  For a while I put a wire across the wall and hung them up to display.  Then, one year, as we were considering leaving Ardmore, my family encouraged me to sell them in a yard sale (actually a backyard sale).   $5 - a sizable sum in those days.  My matchbooks went to some poor slob.  I miss those matchbooks.  Some were quite interesting - to me.

Later I started picking up business cards.  I had several.  Then, I received a letter (pre-email times) in which a cousin told me about a dying child who collected business cards, and how much joy he had when more business cards arrived.  This was before I became calloused about "scams."  I thought for a while about it.  I mailed all of my cards to the child - all of my collection - truly just a small box.  Never did I hear back or receive a thank you note.  I was a tad bit bitter.  Too late.  That was in Amarillo.   The kid was somewhere in the Midwest like Ohio or Iowa.  Never could tell those two states apart.

Life went on.  When I moved from Amarillo, I dumped my 10 year collection of Instrumentalist Magazine in a trash bin.  All gone.

Years passed.  Christine (#1 daughter, the eldest) was on the Texas Tech plant judging team.  How about that.  They traveled to Florida for a competition.  We were living in Plano when we saw her next; she brought Florida gifts.   Mine was a Disney key ring.  As a mere offhand remark, I said, "I guess I am collecting key rings now."   That was the "Event."  I now have a few thousand key rings ... maybe hundreds is more accurate (so who's counting?).  

I have almost quit acquiring / buying key rings.  One day I had an Epiphany.  One can't own a copy of every key ring produced in the world.  You can try, but you will fail.  The last one I bought was from Buc-ees in Ennis.  It sets on the kitchen table next to the salt shaker.  Cute little critter.

That reminds me.  We were visiting my mother in Levelland many years back.  I had been given a small music box.  I made the remark, "I would love to own 100,  no 200, music boxes to display on one wall."  I should have paraphrased that remark for you, the reader.  Immediately I caught myself.  What was I thinking?  I backed up and explained to all within hearing range that I only wanted the 200 if I could get them all at one time.  No dribbling in of music boxes.  All 200 at once or none at all.

It was too late.  The idea had already taken root.  I started receiving one or two every "present giving" day.  The collection (or gathering, if you will) had begun.  I get blamed for collecting stuff, but it is not all my fault.   I do not think I have reached 200 music boxes yet.  For the past 12 years, they have been collecting dust on a wall in the garage.  Our house is too small to offer a display option.   I do love music boxes.  Once in my early years with my computer Excel program, I did try to inventory all my key rings and music boxes.  Eventually, that project failed.

Well, folks, I'm gonna sum this up.  I have other collections.   Being a Republican, I thought it would be fun to own a stuffed elephant.  That gathering has grown and grown.  Branching out from stuffed elephants, all sorts of elephants, I have.  I'd betcha that I have a hundred around here somewhere.  

Of course, I have several dachshunds - not only the live models - but others to look at. Some are quite nice.    CD's, Recordings, Tapes, VCRs, you get the picture.  I once owned many many band records - 33 rpm.  I put an adv. on ebay and sold them all to some guy back east.   I need to do that with SOME of my other stuff.     Louis L'Amour books, I have them.  The "Wheel of Time" series by Robert Jordan - they are here.  Decks of Cards - ?  of course, I have several.  My list of stuff gathered perhaps shows my age.   Did I mention the piles of postcards?  Some go back to the early 1900s.  They are fun to hold and read.  Innocuous messages scrawled in the early morning hours by people I'll never meet (there I used the word twice in the same bluggy).

I do love stuff.  M&Ms are just fun to have.  Coca-Cola.  Hobbit books - Harry Potter stuff - just plain workman tools ---  I'll stop here with the question:   What do you have gathered among your things.  Are they valuable collections, or are they like mine?  I like them.  Locally nobody wants to share my enthusiasm.  Nothing here to adorn the halls of a true museum.    I could spend hours boring you with a tour of my possessions (Too Late).  I Won't - but I Could.  Time to move on.  Today is my day to check the financial books in preparation for our next month of hibernation.  Then, this afternoon, with true joy in my heart - I mow the leaves in the backyard.

It never ends.

take care,  "TREES,  LEAF  ME  ALONE!!!"

Mtz (#3)

Lots of junk here

 SIGH!   Sometimes I marvel at my incompetents at being a marketing genius.  Here I am - 8 plus months into the "hide-from-your-neighbors" period of my life - sitting and watching on my back porch as the world squeaks by.  Nothing of wonder or true excitement has been created within my habitat.  I write.  I read.  I eat.  I sleep.  I play ball with Oscar.  I ... well, you should get the idea by now.  The Corsicana Swing Orchestra doesn't rehearse, so I don't have that little game of fun.  You'd think I could use my brain and find a way to make some more bread.

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ASIDE:  I did make some bread a few months ago.  I like making bread.  I have a couple of recipes which produce fine tasting bread with minimum amount of effort.  Maybe, more bread should be made soon.  I love home made bread.  But, the bread I am speaking about in the previous paragraph has nothing to do with eating.  MONEY!!

2ND ASIDE:   Above I said I was "sitting and watching."  This IS the correct word to use.  You set something down - like a vase.  (I set the vase down. )  You people sit down.  Well, I am just-a- wonderin' in this singular case, since the world has forced me to remain on my back porch, have they not "set" me down?  Thus, wouldn't I be "setting and watching"  rather than "sitting and watching?"  It's amazing what crosses the mind when  you are slowly retreating into madness.

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I have railed about our local paper in the past, The Corsicana Daily Sun.  It is a dying newspaper which the locals can't figure out.  Instead of planning for a future and growth, they do the opposite.  Our paper cuts back its print editions.  Some fool has told them that the internet news is the wave of the future.  Nonsense.   How many people go to the internet to read the news.  I'm sure they have a statistic.  They are wrong.  The paper is about to wither up and die.  You should always plan for growth and make moves that way.  On the plus side:  Less grammatical errors, less improper use of our English language,  less common mistakes that would make an real editor shiver with discontent, and less intellectual commentaries to plow through.  

We had a Methodist preacher here a few years back that tried to plan for growth and the future:  Bayard was his name.  Our church could only look backwards, and in the tradition of Methodist churches, he was transferred.  Our present Preacher is doing an excellent job.  He was the right person for this job when he came.  One of Bayard's saying was to govern for growth and (in my words) execute.

But, once again, I have veered off my desired path into a different subject.  Money.  Why have I not been able to create anything from this Covid-Stupid to make my life richer and better?  I am embarrassed.  I am dumbfounded.

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VEERING OFF AGAIN:  In the Saturday edition of our worthless newspaper are the Sunday comics and the Parade Magazine plus numerous coupons to be discarded.  This week's edition of the Parade features an interview with Sienfeld.  He has a book coming out - publicity is good.  One of the questions is, "Dog or Cat?"  His response is point on.  "Dog.  I have two dogs, but they're not real dogs.  They're dachshunds...."

Right he is.  I have an improved vision of Sienfeld now.  We never - and I mean never - watched his TV show.  It didn't make sense to me.  Well, I had to have watched it some to have formed that opinion.  It was so much fun for so many; but not for me.     "But Not For Me"  great song.  I love to hear Ella sing it.   "They're writing songs of love; but not for me..."  I can hear her now.

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Moving on.

On Page 2 of the Parade Magazine is an advertisement for: TheraBreath.   I quote from the adv.   

"Bad breath can get REALLY BAD when wearing a mask.   STOP MASK BREATH.   Dentist formulated oral rinse.  Use twice a day to keep your breath, and your mask, smelling great.  Stay safe, America."     

Yes, keep America safe.  Isn't that wonderful?  Let's think about this.  Stop mask breath!  Here we are being forced to wear a mask daily, and we must smell our own breath.  What a concept.  Save the public from your breath.  Save America!   Stay safe!   Wear a mask!!  Refresh your mask breath.   This company has a marketing genius on staff.  Use TheraBreath, when you want to NOT offend the person you love the very most - yourself.  Wear the mask - save the street from your breath - Keep Safe America  - and breathe only your own fresh smelling breath.  Hang the onions and chili beans.  TheraBreath!!!  TheraBreath for you!!  TheraBreath for America!!  Stop Mask Breath!!  Stay Safe America!!

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Before I leave, let's deal with something less important.  Shall it be:  World Peace?  Starving children in Africa?  Socialism vs. democracy?  Our failing educational system?  Electric vs. gasoline cars?  Whitey-Tighties?

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I have decided to bless you with a photo of my boy dogs Bruno (left) and Oscar (the Ball Boy)  They were sitting on the kitchen floor in hopes of a morsel of accidentally discarded food.  {I love spell check - it keeps me from looking unschooled - "Accidently" is a fine example.}  Here are the boys & his green ball.

That's it.  Take care America.

TheraBreath!!        Just breathe.

Mtz

 

Adventure Day

Today has been designated as "An Adventure Day."

Already, I have had 3 adventures.

1.  I am wearing red socks.   The diabetic problem.  It is difficult to find socks which don't mess up your legs with lines.  I buy mine on Amazon after much reading and deliberation.  Last week I ordered 9 pair: 3 from one company and 6 from another - in packets.  In the 3 was to be a black pair with specks of red.  It arrived and was red with specks of black.  

    My  wife asked if I were going to wear those red socks.  So, today, I am red sock bound.

2.  The trash men came about 9:15.  The dogs lost it.  When the dogs lose it, one cannot talk or even think.   Our trash men come twice a week:  Monday and Friday.  For this service I pay $30 a month.  That is a bargain in my opinion.  They'll cart away pretty much anything I put out there - no leaves or branches - stuff like that.  I can burn those when we don't have a burn ban.  

    Our trash guys drive an old pick up truck of many colors.  The front fenders are two different colors; the bed a different color; the hood another; the right door brightens the world.  They pull a 4 wheel,  really tall trailer.  A driver drives.  A passenger climbs out at each stop and throws sacks of trash over the top of the trailer.  And, my children bark and bark their indignation.   We have have expectations apparently.

I do love "spell check."   I do hate "spell check."  This is the perfect example of a love-hate relationship.  At least on the computer my checker does not automatically change the spelling as My Android does.  Still it can be quite annoying when it nags my lack of correctfullness.  That is a word which I purposely misspelled to see the results.   It gave me 5 quick choices:  correctness, correct fullness, correct-fullness, neglectfulness, and, of course, respectfulness.  

Adventure #3:  Water Sprinkler.  My sprinkler is set for Thursday and Sunday - when we do water rationing, those are my two days.  But, wait, we just had a hurricane hit southeast Texas.  All week the weathermen have been show water dousing our yard.  Hurricane Laura decided to move a bit east of here.  We had a sprinkle on Wednesday night - it was not Laura.  Today, I am watering the yard - manually, if you will.  This means that I go to the controller and set the machine to run each area for "X" number of minutes.  When it quits, I set another area to run.   I have 10 areas.  So far  I have water areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, and 10.  5,6,7,& 8 are yet to run.  That is an adventure when you have retired to being worthless.

Adventure #4:  We are going to the grocery store HEB in a few minutes.  While we are out, we may get a bit to eat somewhere. That is always an adventure.  I LOATHE drive-in windows.  I never can understand the little guy at the speaker;  he must not be able to understand me.  Then there is the exchange of money and packages at the next window followed by the surprises as you look into the sack.  What did you order?  What did you get?  I LOATHE drive-in windows.

My wife just had Adventure #4.  I don't have my hearing aids in.  I am really getting hard-of-hearing.  She asked if I heard the airplanes fly over.  I didn't.  She described a covey of planes buzzing our house, LOUD.  I was oblivious.  Just a couple miles south of here is the Corsicana airport.  Housed there are some of the Confederate Air Force planes - WWII models.  They fly them at times.  They changed the name.  It is no longer the Confederate Group.  I believe they are now the Commemorative AF.  Using Confederate was funny.  Now it is just an interesting group.

#5  I am going into the shower.  I never can predict how that turns out.

more adventures soon.  I shall not proff red this before publishing.

Life's Little Pleasures, #1

 I made a suggestion to one of my GrandGirls for a blog subject to be explored on her blog - Now, folks, that was a wordy sentence.  It stands as printed, no editing.

Life's little pleasures.   She handled the subject very well.  But if you read her blog, you'll see that she and I have different pleasures.  https://meganmetze.wordpress.com/author/meganmetze/    [I don't know how to make one of those blue links to other websites.  Maybe Roger will show me someday.]

Here are a few of my life's little pleasures (in no particular order) keeping in mind that this is just a few.  Some pleasures may never reach the printed page.

1.  Sprinkler System:  When we moved here in 2008, I had about 3/4 acre that needed water.  I could not afford "City" water for that much grass for sure.  Over time, I had a dock built and a water pump installed which fed lake water towards my house.   There was one lone faucet down by the lake.  This was glorious.   Our lake allows us to use as much water as we wish for a one-time fee.  I still have to pay for the electricity to pump it - a 220 Volt pump - loud rascal.

    Time went by - I bought several heavy duty water  hoses and sprinklers from Home Depot at about $50 per.  The hoses were  man-handled up our hill one hose at a time and individual sprinklers were strategically placed throughout the front, then backyard.  After 30 minutes or so, it was up and at-em outside to move the hoses again.  This was heavy duty effort on my part.  My knees and attitude began to give out.  It was singularly wonderful in some ways.  It was tough going in the heat of our Texas summers.  We finally saved up enough money to hire a local company to install a sprinkler system attached to that heavy duty pump.   

    I marvel at the system.  Our water intake is about 400 feet out to the middle of the lake.  That 220V pump pulls water out of the lake from way out there and shoves it up my hill for another 300-400 feet.  And the water flows hard and fast.  All I have to do is set the system on automatic.  Then, I am in house - no sweat.   Our sprinkler has 10 different stations which run for about 30 minutes each - that figures to 300 minutes of pump work - or 5 hours.  I wonder why my electric bill is so high?  I could run them 24 hours a day if I chose.  Right now we are not on a mandated watering schedule.  Restrictions will come in this 100+ degree weather continues.

    Do my knees feel better now?  Not really; I'm just getting too old.  

2.  Fritos:  Must I explain this?

3.  Blackeye Peas:  On a shelf to my lower right is a copy of my high school newspaper.  One week, three of us "band boys" were selected as students of the week for interviews.  When asked, I proudly proclaimed that I loved,"Pok Chops and black eyed peas."  Nothing has changed since 1958.

4.  Dachshunds:  By now you must know that I have wire-hair dachshunds - doxies to us old hands.  We have had several over the years and mourn the loss of each lost baby.   Today, we have 4 year old Sadie - a fine little girl with a loud voice.  When the others go into the howling mode, she tries; but, all she can produce are high squeaky sounds.  She is not embarrassed.   My twin boys, Oscar and Bruno, are in their 11th year.  Excellent dogs other that being boys and doing certain things that boy dogs do.  Oscar loves his ball.  Bruno loves his food.   We miss Jill, Mandy, Greta (the snake dog), Fritz, and Liesl.  This is Sadie in one of her better moments.

    We have had other types of dogs in the past.   Abby was a peke; Mac and Maisie were Scottish Terriers.  A few great cats and a gerbil or two lived with us.   I miss all of them too.  Wire-hair doxies are our thing now.  I wish I had a couple more to keep me awake barking.

5.  Conversations:   I enjoy talking to my kids and other relatives / friends on the phone.  Oft times, we have absolutely nothing to say that really matters.  It is still having contact though.  Some folks have the gift of gab - others no so much.  People's personalities are so different just like my dog's personalities.  Roger doesn't talk much.  When I use to talk to Marshall, you could hear him typing on the computer as we talked.  Jim and Earline were quick to laugh and talk, always.  Awwww, the list goes on.  I'll stop with this listing out of fear that I will leave someone important out.

6.  Phones:  As much as I hate our mobile phones, they really are marvelous.   If people could "just" not get so involved with the machines - staring for endless hours - doodling with the fool things - not being able to live 5 minutes without a tether - ignoring the rest of the world because the phone made some type of ding-dong.  Y'all know what I mean.  Sure, it is the other feller that does these things, not me.  Remembering:  we took 3 grand daughters to Yellowstone, there is no phone service in Yellowstone Natl. Park.  You could call that a bit tense.

Come to think of it, National Parks and State Parks and other camping places - they are a true pleasure in this life.  Six pleasures listed.  More later including  chocolate almond ice cream, a dream.

take care, Mtz  

Post Mother's Day Post

I thought the title was cute.  "Post Mother's Day Post."  It's probably not enough to make it into Bartlett's Quotes.  But, I'll live.  Sometimes I am so cute, I can't hardly hug myself enough.   Now Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
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With that said: I had a fairly nice mother's day.  We made it to Wax-a-hatchet (spelling stolen from son Roger) in time for the lunch buffet at El Fenix.  Frankly, I prefer Panchos - smaller crowds - fewer waiters hustling for your attention - more enchilada choices - as much guacamole as you care to have - less room noise (something that has bothered me quite a bit since I put in the hearing aids) - cheaper - and memories.
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It was good to see Tom and Laura.  Their dog Hannah - recently paralyzed - operated on - spends time in a crate till her back improves - Hannah looked good.  She was so happy to see us all.  While she still doesn't run and play (a 3 yr old dog will run and play), she was still somewhat mobile.  And, her Licker was fine tuned just enough to reach my nose.
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Went over to Lowe's and made arrangements for a storm door to be installed both on our front and back doors.  The back door one will have a doggy door implanted in the glass.  I'm sure the dogs will love laying down inside the house while they scan the back yard through the glass - then, Whamming!!  through the doggy door as they attempt to maim the local squirrels.  Plus - now, they will be able to look out the front door as well and warm up their Barkers for our local traffic.  We all do love to bark at the local pickup trucks that frequent our cul-de-sac.
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Wednesday should bring the guy here to measure the door openings and plan the installation.
Tuesday will bring a different guy here to fix our refrigerator and dish washer.  Really?
The dishwasher door has 2 springs to support the door.  Both springs are broken.  The freezer is flowing water out the bottom.  I think the freezer drain may be clogged, but, of course it could be a leak from the ice maker.  Since the leak doesn't happen every time the ice dumps - or only when the ice tray fills, I am optimistic as you should be too. 
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Thursday - is my semi-annual visit to my doctor so he can tell me that my blood sugar is too high.  Lately, this doctor seems concerned that the blood sugar will get too low some night and I will croak. I have never had a "low."  I don't know how fun that would be. Let's think on it a bit.
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On the way home we stopped in Walmarts to buy yarn for the "Mother" (of recent Mother's Day fame).  Now we are all set for a future trip.  
      Daughter Christine is going to a Tandy's store soon and buy a couple of leather projects which we can use on a future trip.  I have leather working tools which I never use enough.  If only I could get a real horse; then, maybe I could make a saddle.  Frankly you can only make so many billfolds, key rings, and leather pouches.
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Stay tuned.  My next bluggy will have to do with blue jeans - if I remember to write the next bluggy.  Y'all take care now, ya here?
m3

p.s. did I ever mention that Christine sent us a recipe for wrapping bacon around dill pickle spears - cooking in the oven till done - and eating of course.  She thinks this is a great product.   I had a bit of a problem with eating a hot pickle.  To each his own I suppose.

May 11th, it is

It is May 11th, Sat.
I do much better at this when I am feeling chipper and have excess time.
The rains come and keep coming and coming.  I am so tired of thunder and lightening and water everywhere.  I realize that in a couple of months it will be 100 degrees in the shade and no rain anywhere.  I know, I know.  But still, wouldn't it be nice to have 4 days in a row without rain?
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Oscar, my ball playing boy, doesn't like thunder.  Since we can't go out and play ball, he doesn't like rain either.  As it roars outside, my boy is here on the floor beside me - I have covered him with a small blanket, and he seems less distressed.
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I've often had a theory about this.  Some dogs are so scared of thunder;  others pay it no mind.  I'm thinking the smarter ones are afraid because they process the noise.  On the other hand, maybe they are dumber because they process the noise.  My boy is just scared, just plain scared.  Our little Liesl girl dog use to be afraid of thunder too.  Greta and Fritz could have cared less.  My boy Bruno seems to go with the flow...as long as there is a big bowl of food at the end of that rainbow.
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We had a major disaster last week here at my house.  My daily game was really thrown off kilter.  It has been a long time since I was so frustrated and beat down.   Our microwave broke.  Your immediate reaction is  something like - "stupid."  My father got a microwave back in the 60s-one of the first in town.  I've had one in the family forever.  Some of you might have been born after the microwave was common place.  I challenge you - go for a week without one.  That is the same as challenging you to walk a mile in my shoes, buddy.
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A few months ago, we had a power outage.  This is nothing new here.  Some are brief; some last for several hours.  I don't understand the problem.  We own lots of candles and lanterns.  After this particular outage, the microwave was shut down.  Nothing.  No clock; No nuthin'.  I began to look up microwaves on Consumer Reports and online.   4 hours later, BOING!!  It restarted.   Just like that.  BOING!!   All was well..
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About a month later, a power outage and - it never came back on.  Back to Consumer Reports and internet I went.   Then; about 6 hours later -- you guessed it -- (I assume you guessed it )  BOING!!  All was well.  It has nothing to do with the length of the outage, just that it was an outage.
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Last week - Wednesday, I believe - the lights went off for less than a minute.  Perhaps, it was only just a moment.   No microwave.  I climbed up and unplugged it for a couple of minutes.  It seems that you reset some microwaves by unplugging for 30 seconds or so.  It is a computer, you know.  Nothing.  Consumer Reports and the Internet and I had a religious meeting.   Several hours later, I unplugged it again and left it that way over night.  Still nothing.
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Here is my thought:  It is not a fuse.  It is the motherboard.  Fuses do not reset.  Breakers can be reset.  Fuses will not.  I read that fuses for microwaves cost nearly $200.  That is probably a lie.  But, a motherboard is liable to cost more than a new machine.  Because our old machine hangs over the stove, we have a problem with the plastic front door cracking - it melts over time.  The outside of this machine was on its last legs.
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Let's reduce this story to something shorter.  We bought a new GE down at Sears.  It was a floor model hanging on their wall.  We paid to have it installed.   The guys installing broke part of the screw mechanism.  The installer said that he would go back to the store and order us a new microwave.   I rolled my eyes.  He said they would call when the new machine comes in.  I rolled my eyes.  They left this one hanging on the wall, held by a back bracket and one strong screw.  

I am afraid this stone is not over yet.
I'll close now and ask you to pray for my niece Marion.  
More on that at a later date.
M3

Jan 3rd - karma

Jan 3rd
Sprinkled / drizzle / mist most of the day.  Water has stopped now but yard is a soaked swamp.  Oscar wants to go out and play ball.  He has no concept of cold - wet - mud.  He doesn't care:  "Throw the ball!"
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Mail was weak today. I received a notice from a magazine that I just subscribed to and have never received my first copy.  They think now is the time to suggest I re-up for an additional year at a $1 savings.  Wouldn't you think it would be better to wait until my first copy arrives?  They don't; then, they whine that so much of their budget is spent on notifications.  Also received a catalog from Woodwind Brasswind.  I do enjoy looking through music catalogs.
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There was a show on TV several years back about a bad guy who was turning his life around because of his newly learned love of KARMA.  Good things happen to good people.  I've had my doubts about that premise over the years.  It never seems that things get better when I behave better.  Let me give you an example.  Is Karma chasing me?
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About a month or so ago, before Thanksgiving, my wife and I made a motorhome trip.  On the last day of the trip I made a stupid mistake and the slideout hit a storage door on its way to being closed.  My stupid error.  The door was okay, but a piece of trim and hardware for the door were damaged.  I figure it will be $1,000 before that part of the motorhome is repaired properly.

We  got home and within a week I had the following problems...by the numbers.
1.  Motorhome storage door damaged.
2.  Motorhome trim piece damaged.
3.  Motorhome awning has quit retracting and must be retracted by hand while standing on a rickity chair or table....no ladder with me.

The remainder are home problems:
4.  All of sudden there was water all over the floor of the master bath.  This room is on the north wall.  The sewer line picks up stuff there and exits the building with 8 foot.  Water was everywhere.  The toilet was overflowing.  Even when it was not flushed, water came out from under - where the toilet is attached to the floor.  Now I know there is a wax seal under there, but, apparently,  the water pressure was more than the seal could hold.
     My wife had washed clothes and this water was coming up from below.   The floor of the master closet had to be emptied, all was wet.   Rugs, boxes, you name it - all wet with slimy water.  I am sure you can imagine the mess.  It was everything you could imagine.   What to do?
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The house is on a septic system.  The pipe goes out the north side of the house for about `10 feet then makes a sharp right down to the septic tanks about 20 ft or so.  In my mind I could see that the septic tanks had filled and were backing up into the house.  When something like this happens, you can see all possibilities.   I made a mistake.  I flushed the toilet in the other half of the house to see if it worked.  It did fine - well other than crud that was backing up into that bathtub.  All of the sewer lines were full.
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I went outside and opened the clean-out cap.  I expected to have water pushing against the cap and a geyser created with crud all over me and the yard.  Nothing.  the pipe showed a tiny tiny bit of flowing water outside.  This meant that the problem had to be between me (the sewer cap) and the master toilet - a 10 - 15 foot piece of pipe 4" in diameter - FULL and waiting.

Years past, I purchase one of those drain snakes which was run with an electric drill.  I began the drilling.  Nothing.  5 feet in - 6 feet - nothing happened to the end of the 25 foot drain snake.  I slowly backed it out.  All of a sudden there was a whosh.  "Whosh" is a word in spite of my computer spell check saying it isn't.  Water and goop came flushing through the pipe as God had intended for it to do.  When the flow slowed, I ran the snake inside again and again.

I'm always afraid that tree roots will invade my pipes.  My machine did not pull out even one tiny twig.  There was something solid inside the pipe holding back all that water.  I don't know what it was.  It would be nice to know though.  The next day I purchased some stuff which goes into the drain to kill tree roots - ya never know for sure.   It cost around $25.  All of the wet stuff cost even more in an emotional toll.

5.  When I drove to town to get the root killer - my car put up a sign that the tire pressure was low on a tire.  I stopped, looked, and moved on.  Later I found the right front tire to be down to 15 lbs pressure.  An annoyance for sure.

6.  Next day I started to weed eat.  I have a good gas weed eater.  Today the starting rope grabbed the throttle wire dislodging it.  I have tried since then to reinstall the wire properly.  Someday I will have to pay someone to fix it.  The machine still runs; it still eats weeds; but gas control is a prob.

7. So I take the big lawn mower/tractor out to mow.  Not 10 minutes into the session, I hear a noise.  The belt has come off the blades.  Nothing mows.  This took me - a real handyman - a couple hours to reinstall.

8.  The door to the bathroom has started to swing.  If it is not shut properly, it swings wide open.  The door to the bedroom as shifted enough that the catch won't catch.   This allows Sadie to open the door whenever I am asleep.   Agreed this Karma is really 8 & 9.  Still just doors.

9.  Our church has a new choir director.  I was on the committee to select.  I think we chose the best one - she has a PhD in music - has done opera stuff on a college campus and other good things.  The Karma thing is that for some reason right at the very beginning of her career here, she set the choir up to go to both services.   I do not do well at 8 o'clock in the morning.  This is a bet of a stretch to be listed under bad Karma, because I believe she is the right person for this job.

10.  Before Thanksgiving, we had storms.  For 2 days our electricity went out.  One day was about 10 hours worth - it came back on  - next day off for several more hours.

11.  I had to go buy a battery for my tractor/mower.  Poof!!  no power.

12.  I wrote myself notes about the Karma so I wouldn't forget.   I went to Home Depot.  As I exited and piled a few items in the back of my Flex, a car drives up really slow and a window is lowered.  Two Spanish ladies in the front a a couple of kids in the back.  The driver starts in asking if I could help them buy gas so they could continue their trip - some type of disaster back home.  These ladies spoke good English.
       When I didn't respond, the driver lady pulled a ring off her finger - flashy ring - and started telling me how it was a heirloom and she'd let me have it if only I could give them $10.   At this exact moment I noticed the other lady slip a flashy ring off her finger and hide it under her dress.  What a con.  The little kids were watching from the back seat.  What a lesson they were learning.  I told them "no"  and got into my car.   They drove slowly away - I am sure they were looking for another old guy to fleece.

13.  To end this, November rolled around.  We went to Canton to see the flea market.   I was wearing my floppy hat and looking at puppies.   A young boy - say 4th grade area - walked up to me and said, "Are you my Uncle Jake?"  What?  I looked at him as he asked again.  He told me that his Uncle Jake wore a hat like mine and had taken him on a trip through New Mexico.  Was I his Uncle Jake?
      Quickly, I looked for the hidden cameras.  Everything seemed normal.  I told him that I was not his Uncle Jake.  We had a couple more words and he walked off to be with family.   Nobody looked over and broke into laughter.  Me thinks it was a legit question by a legit young boy.
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With that Karma and I close.
Dogs are fed;  night is nigh; leftovers await my tongue; nighttime TV to watch; and video games to be played.  See ya,
m 

1st day of 2019

Listening to the radio, I heard a commercial.  Before you hit me with a "duh" let me explain.  The announcer starts talking about some guy.  He gets up in the morning, brushes his teeth, eats, breakfast, drives to the station, takes a train to town  (actually I don't remember exactly what all the guy did that morning), went to work, ate lunch, took the train home - and so forth.  The point is that a description is given of the guys common everyday events - then he goes to bed unaware that an F5 tornado will strike his town that night.
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What is implied is that he did all the common mundane things he always does not realizing that this was his last day to be alive.  I assumed the F5 tornado took him out.  When you get to my age (78) this type of thing hits home - to me.  I never know from one moment to another if it is the last moment - or (morbid thought) if it is the last moment of my wife, children, grandchildren.   It is just what it is.

One should live as if it is the last day.   Enjoy life.  Give up smoking - cut back on the drinking - drive a tad bit slower - what's the hurry? - enjoy foods that are good - play with the dog more - the list just continues.

I was loving on my Sadie tonight talking into her ear as if she could understand.  Sadie snuggles.  She puts that little furry head right under your chin and pushes  up to get closer and closer.  I stroke her and talk to her ear.  And I get a bit despondent...sad, if you will.   I wish I could go back to all of my other little critters and children and hold them again, talking into their ears as if they could understand my babbling.  I remember that "Jill" use to sit on the step of the den (converted garage) looking into the rest of the house just waiting for someone to talk to her. 

I could write this for another hour I believe.  Let's move on.
Today, January 1, 2019.    I was up around 9 - Greta was up about 9:35.  I took her to the dog pit for relief.  Sweet girl.  I watched the Rose Bowl parade marveling at the different enormous bands.  They are all so very good.  The band from Japan with its fine playing and cute little dance steps is a highlight for me.  Sometimes I believe I could watch bands 24-7.  Then, other times, not so much.  I really loved the parade today.

Lunch was our traditional Ham and Black-Eyed Peas.  Today we added BBQ sauce to the ham with sliced onions.  Good.  Yum.  3rd course was macaroni and cheese.  I have to limit how much I eat of certain foods, but when I get to enjoy them, I do.  

While my wife napped the afternoon away, I worked on my finances in order to put 2018 away and start the new year fresh.  I have a box ready for all 2018  receipts - IRS is looking over all of our shoulders.   

Not that any of you might really care, I have a method to help me with finances.   Several years ago I had some money problems.  I developed this method to keep me on the straight and narrow.  

First of all, I get a big spiral notebook from Walmart - each new year a different color.   The Walmart thing is not a part of the system; the notebook is.  2018 was bright orange (certainly not burnt orange) 2019 is bright Yellow.

I make an index at the front.  Then, each page of the book is dedicated to an existing account.  
Page 1 = Water Bill;  Page 2 = electric bill;  Page 3 = Propane company; Page 4 = AT&T - and so forth.  Each credit account is given a page whether I am using that credit account or not.  I have a page that list medical expenses - payments to any charity / church - Everything that I do which needs a paper trail.  One might have a page for House payments, another for house taxes due - I could go on with this for another few hours.

As I pay something, I notate it in the book...date, amount, check #, acct details.  This way I can check to make sure that all bills have been paid.  You might think this is overkill - and it is.  I even have a page which explains the kind of tires to buy for my Marauder....how the sprinkler system is set up....which rooms of my house have LED lights...yep, a bit obsessive.   

One thing I haven't got squared away is listing what medicines - shots the dogs need.  This bit of nonsense is really too much.  I don't understand the Vet's system.

Another reason I got into this is that at one time I worked at a place that paid me every other week.  You have to be organized to make sure everything gets paid in a timely manner and with which bi-weekly check.  I don't see how people survive that system without a plan - or even worse, what if you are paid weekly?  Gads, that would be a problem for me.

I remember that I use to pay my car insurance once every 6 months. Boy, did that not work out for me. We were teaching in Oklahoma and barely made it to the end of the month with any extra cash.  And, of course, at least one child got sick monthly.  It never failed.   Then, that dreaded insurance bill would arrive in the mail.  It was almost too much to handle.

That is what makes living fun.  Trials - can't spell Tribulations - Try-bu-lays-sions.  I got three pretty good kids out of the ranting and railing though ... so, let's move on to January 2nd and see what happens next in my future mundane happenings.  I do believe we may go to the grocery store tomorrow - always an adventure doing that.
m
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Monday the 23rd

Today was a great day.  It was.
I turned my tax info over to the lady who files my taxes.
If that is not a great day, what is?
Let's re-think that.  It is not the bit that I love to pay taxes.  It is grrrrreat because it is over.  All over.  Kaput!!  Until next year again.  Meanwhile, that part of my desk is cleared.  Let's dream up something else to do now.
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Fortune cookie:  (received this past Sunday)  "You will never need to worry about a steady income."   Since fortune cookies are always right, I wish I had had that one about 50 years ago.
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Thinking about student loans so many have ... I was so fortunate that my parents paid all of my college.  I had dance jobs that gave me a bit  of spending money - and helped to pay for my wife's engagement ring our final year (before our final semester).  A friend, Gerald Heath, worked every year at a grocery store.  Gerald's father was our barber in Levelland.  Another friend had a paper route - everyday - throwing papers.
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I do feel sorry for the kids that have all that debt (including my own).  i suppose I feel the most sorry for those with big debts and worthless degrees.  Knew a kid who got a degree in trumpet performance, and he was not as good as I was.  I betcha he had to go back to school eventually - or - maybe he found a job at Home Depot.  Sorta sad really.
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Oh no.  On TV there was just a commercial for me (or you) to meet beautiful girls from Asia.    There were beautiful young ladies of oriental backgrounds smiling into the camera - and I can meet these girls just by going to  asiadate.com    The Question:  Do you think anyone really goes to this website?  If you were an Asian girl, would you want to meet someone who was desperate enough to dial up this website?
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it seems to me that there is probably websites for:   russiandate.com    or  Eskimodate.com   or    Loweramazonriverdate.com     Perudate.com  Ugandadate.com
The list may be endless.  Keep in mind all of these girls are about 5 ft 10,  thin, and have beautiful smiles  (extra white teeth).
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I heard about a Senior citizen who started studying  karate - 
has worked up to a Gray Belt.
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how about a photo of my 4 dogs
L TO R   Oscar (ball at feet), Greta,  Bruno, & Liesl
My title for photo is   "Daddy's Home"
I don't know what Liesl is looking at - certainly not me

g'night all
m

misc of the day

Whar's the Beef?  no,  No,  NO !!! Not whar's the beef.   WHAR'S THE SUNSHINE !!!
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I awoke this morning expecting to see sunshine.  Wrong!  Maybe if I had listened to the nightly weather report, my expectations might have been lowered.  I am not a total believer in weathermen (and/or women if you must have that included).  They get it purdy near right usually maybe...if...  What did they study?  I betcha Beethoven never almost got it right.  Tomorrow?
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Big news story yesterday.  Okla U.  SAE fraternity in a bus on the way to somewhere to frolic sang a song stating no Negro will be in SAE (I paraphrase) and hang him from a tree. Jerks.  They are just overgrown kids in a Fraternity Suit.  They have no brains. I'd bet if you'd pull any one of them out of that bus, he'd treat all Blacks with respect and not have a racist bone in his body.  Now?  The Univ. Prez threw em out of school.
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2 things:  (at least 2 for now)  #1  I bet they have been singing that same song on the bus since the 50s. . . pre-integration.  Back then, there were no Blacks in the University but it was coming.  It was their way of letting off steam at that time.  And, nobody, because they are stupid kids, never thought to quit singing that song on trips.  They probably have other wild and crazy songs they sing too.
    #2  What stupid kid took out his camera and made a video?   Sure, they others are as wrong as can be, sure.  But the clown who took out his cell phone was so very stupid.  Who did he send it to?  Did he make the video maliciously?  Was he just innocent and stupid.  Maybe he thought he was bringing down the Government.  If I were the other bus riders, I would find him and ask.  If nothing else, let him know he is a traitor to his own Fraternity.
     #3  Does this excuse the other clowns?  Not at all.  They have all learned to watch their backs.  I assume none are enrolled in O.U. anymore.  Will they be allowed to return and finish their degrees?  If yes, will they list  S.A.E. on their resumes.  None of these will ever get to run for President, not even Governor unless they are affiliated  with the democrat party and move to New York.
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Lighter Stuff:  Went down the "As Seen On TV"  aisle at Walmart yesterday and bought a can of Flex Seal.  $12.99.  Our gutters leak on every corner.  Let us see if the stuff really works.  On TV last night, I saw the advertisement.  One can for $19.99.  I felt good about the purchase.  Wait!  Act now and you get 2 cans for $19.99  plus this other can of sealant.  Sigh.  Not a good buy @ Wally's store.
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When I was in high school  (had driver's license at 14), I decided I need some more money.  I could pick up a buck or two when mom sent me to the store - keep the change.  And Bro Jim and I had a business.  We both owned a roto-tiller and worked for $3.50 an hour (each).  Our father lined up the jobs for us.  That was $7 an hour to the home owner.  It was a good biz and lawns need that in Levelland.  Back then, $7 an hour for anything was good pay.
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I had a girl friend in high school  We needed to have some dates.  Why have a girl friend if you never see each other - well other than in the hallways of L.H.S.  I carried her books to class at times.  Not that she'd care if we went out on weekends - guess that is one reason I married her - certainly not a gold digger, which is good since I went into public school teaching.  
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Extra cash.  I saw an advertisement for a paper route.  I called the guy.  He was interested in hiring me.  I got up early one morning and rode with him on his route.  
He showed me the route and his method for remember where the houses were.  His method involved the number 3.   On this block, skip a house throw 3 in a row.  This block, throw a paper after the 3 bushes.  Now on this block, throw the 1st house, skip one, and throw the next 2  (1+2=3).  The man was a mathematical wizard with the number 3.  3 birds sitting on a telephone wire - throw a paper.
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He proudly showed me his skill for tossing the paper.  I cannot remember there being any cute plastic bags - rubber bands.  He had a skill.  Bubba threw out his own window to the left.  For the houses on the right, he threw out his window over the top of his car....and it was a ratty car.  We chugged up and down the streets as he distributed the news.
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One day.  One day riding with him.  One day riding with him really really early in the morning - I resigned.  There must be an easier way to make money, or we could stay in and watch TV.  Thanks to my mom for sending me to the grocery store often. I wonder if she purposely forgot to get stuff at the store.  It does make you wonder.  Maybe it doesn't make you wonder, but it makes me wonder.
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later -  send in the Sunshine, I'm ready.
m3

   

Truly a ramble around the back porch

Here is the game plan - all day I am going to add to this blug (blog, bloggy, bluggy,et al) as the mood hits.  There will be no main theme song; just a ramble as this long day continues.  I will number each new thought.  Why?  Cause I like to number things and it is my blug.   If you would like to write a guest blog on my place, send it to me.  I could send you my email so you can send it to the house.  I wouldn't do that for everyone.  But, you are special.
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1.   Just used my ice tea maker and made a rather large cup of hot tea.  Tea really needs to be sweetened in my opinion.  Since this diabetes thing has crept upon me, sugar is out - so we use sweetener.  I am using the yellow pkgs now in my life.  I heard the yellow sweetener might send you running for the bathroom - make that "running for the reading room."  I do some of my best reading in there.  My tea is not nearly as sweet as I wish for.  From the musical Bye Bye Birdie,  "Suf-fa"  I do suffer.  Poor me.
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2.  I had a conversation with a young band director this week.  He is not really young, YOUNG.  But to me, everyone is getting younger daily.  It all started by me being a bit of a smart aleck - yes, believe it or nay - I made a smart remark.  I even called him a young pup band director (I thought that was cute & he showed no resentment).  I advised him to start saving his money because Texas Teacher's Retirement System does not give you enough. They have piles of cash in reserve, and they pay their top dogs enormous salaries; but, we retired teachers don't get a bunch.
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It is my own fault.  I could have gone looking for better paying gigs instead of staying where I thought I could do some good.  And I liked my students, usually.  The retirement system pays "X" dollars based upon a formula.  The amount is "X" now and it has been "X" since I retired 10 years ago.  It will be "X" in another 10 years.  Nothing is based upon inflation.  You get what you get no matter how many years you have been retired.  My fault.  I could have been a brain surgeon...no I couldn't.  
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Even Social Security has payments that increase with inflation.   I worked 10 years in Okla. and earned my 40 quarters.   I get a bit of a S.S.# check monthly.  It is better than a kick in the head.  $7.   $7.  It increased this year by $7  That is 7 big gulps or a couple jars of mustard.  Again, it beats a kick in the head.  Don't expect teacher's retirement to pay for a new car yearly or a cruise to the Bahamas.  You'd better save extra.
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3.    As I type it is about 5:10.  We dogs have all been outside barking at birds and squirrels.  Greta barks only at birds in the sky.  Can't say what her hangup is with birds floating way up there.  She barks.   The other three have no preference.  If Greta barks, they will too.  No prejudices here.   
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I threw the ball for Oscar as Bruno explored the same backyard that was explored this morning.  Nothing new was found.  Liesl likes to look under the bird feeders for spent food.  So little nutrition there for a dog; she cares not.  The bird feeders were empty.  I made the trek to the garage and brought out bird food and sunflower seeds.   I think squirrels would kill for sunflower seeds.   We dogs reloaded all the feeders and included a few whol peanuts for the SQ.  It is apparently appreciated.
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After much ball playing - barking at the squirrel who found the new food to his liking, we returned to the house.  
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4.  Now I practiced my horn.   The Corsicana Swing Orchestra is playing next Saturday for some type of a benefit for the local Palace Theatre - if I misunderstood it right.  Where else could you hire a big jazz swing band to play a benefit in someone's back yard?  We are hoping they bring in some heaters to keep the mouthpieces warm.  Cold weather has not left us lately
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In a previous post I wrote something about us using high school kids in the band.  I may have stated that too harshly.  These boys have talent.  A smart college band program should come looking for them.  I think all three would / could become excellent band directors if that is what the mean spirit gods have in mind.  For youngsters from a small H.S., I admire their talent.  More than once I would have loved to have them sit in my bands - even some of the big school groups I fronted.
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5.   And now it is past time to feed the kids.  Normally they eat at 5 - 'Tis 5:20 now.  Bruno is hungry...I mean really hungry - no, I mean R E A L L Y    H U N G R Y !!!
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6.  Tonight, Greta almost ate her whole dish of food.  That is remarkable considering she ate all of her breakfast.  Most of you don't know what this means.  Greta normally eats every other day if she thinks about it.  You'd think she would lose weight.
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7.    After sup, the wife and I sat and watch a netflix - Miss Fisher's Mysteries.  We are on Season 2, episode 12.   Fisher is almost fun because the music is fun - early 30s in Australia.   The other Netflix we are working through is  Midsomer Murders.  We're in season 11 of that series.  I really enjoy the music of this show.  Good, really good woodwind players.  It is worth watching the series to hear the music.  Sometimes they will utilize a local brass band or community band / orchestra.  It is enjoyable to a poor defenseless retired band director.
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That is enough for today.  As I tried to say when I began, this episode was not meant to be a great learning experience.  It does demonstrate my exciting life.  Now as I close, Bruno is in the distance telling me it is time to outside and = well, you know what dogs do outside.
me
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