Still sick with a cold. Can't half see; can't half breathe: you know, the usual cold stuff. Except for one thing; it will take many weeks to get over it.

More when I feel like it.

I have a cold; I am ill tempered; I am still very lovable.

I've decided to get my hair cut; it is now longer than at any time in my life. I will have to pick a fairly mild day because a trip to the creek will be called for. Nothing like a good immersion in running water to flush away loose hairs and clippings thereof. Nothing like a good case of pneumonia to round out the winter!

I've been reflecting on this year that is leaving us. It will dump us into a new year and we are totally unprepared. Take each day as it comes, I suppose.

Some reflections tomorrow... or whenever.

Christmas leftovers are all gone. We did Christmas dinner differently this year; no turkey or ham. Fish, baked beans, baked potato, slaw, and corn on the cob made for a different and satisfactory meal. Plenty of cakes, pies, and candy for desert. Jeremy came in and was to eat at his other grandma's house on Monday and had to head back home Tuesday, so we ate our spread on Sunday.

This has been an uncommonly quite week. Not a lot going on in the blogs I read, postings to Flickr have been slim, and I haven't had much to write about.

Keep on smilin'...

Nothing of importance going on in my little corner of the room this evening...

Hope everyone is ok!

Today has been busy and I am tired. Once again the computer is running at full throttle, and I've been working on year end taxes, along with doing some writing... a lot of writing. Most of the stuff I'm composing at present is basically rubbish—see yesterday's post—and helter-skelter pieces of thoughts that flitter through my brain on their way to oblivion.

I went to a hilltop just after sunset to watch the stars rise. It is a good place, with a view of far horizons with only small obstructions. and not much light pollution. I was looking for the constellation Leo. I always begin anticipating the lion at this time of year, because it slowly climbs the zodiac until it becomes very prominent in April. In other words, it is my springtime symbol in the night sky. As the Three Wise Men followed the star in the east to find baby Jesus, I follow Leo to find an infant Spring. This has been my ritual since the early eighties and my college days.

++++++++++++++++++

The photo is of my grandson, Jeremy. He was home for Christmas, along with Courtney, his girlfriend, and Rimmy, his canine friend. We were very sad when he left going back to Atlanta. Thanks to all of you who thought about him and asked about him when he was injured.

Silent Night

Hoping everybody is having a beautiful holiday. Was Santa good to you?

Merry Christmas, Alice!!!

Merry Christmas to my online Friends and Family!!!

Merry Christmas to my kin, wherever you are!!!

...............

This actually turned out to be a good Christmas, even through my grumpiness and complaining. My only regret is not being able to get Carolyn a present... she understands, though. Maybe next year...

...............

Today, I will visit my aunt and give her jars of locally made jelly, jams, and such. She and my cousin always make candy and cake for us.

...............

I've still got a lot of software to install and settings to tweak. I'm getting too old for this malarkey. I'm in no hurry as I still have my reliable Linux computer. I can't do all the business stuff from it due to not having a version of Quickbooks that will run well there. Other than that, the free-of-cost Ubuntu Linux is a much better operating system than Windows. I don't use Internet Explorer, preferring the free and secure Firefox instead. Firefox is on all my computers. Besides, Ubuntu has Mahjong installed.

With Ubuntu on your machine, you don't need a stack of disks to install software; it is basically a two click process. Linux has plenty of free software, including a very good genealogy program called Gramps, that will import LDS type files. It comes with Open Office already installed. OO will read and write to most MS Office files. Google has versions of Picasa and Goggle Earth for Linux. Basically, anything you can do with Windows, you can do it faster and more securely with Linux.

Rimmy waiting for Santa.

.................................

From the bottom of my Grinch infested, Scrooge ridden, evil heart, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

.................................

My main computer has been broken for a few days, and I'm just now getting repairs finished, Windows reinstalled (a pain in the gluteus maximus). I've four or more hours of software installing to do before I rest.

The blues are out to get me, thats the way it seems...

Today begins the march toward springtime. I dislike to wish my life away, but I do hope how soon this Christmas crap is over with. I look forward to warm spring breezes, fields of bright buttercups, the pastels of new leaves growing from the trees, and evenings on the porch entertaining mosquitoes.

I hope in these last few weeks I've made everyone feel bad about Christmas; after all, I am the Grinch. Even better, I'm grouchier than the Grinch. "On Max, to Whoville! I must win Martha May Who's heart!"

Christmas looms just like doom. Christmas should be treated like a disease instead of being glorified. Yes, I have a grouch going. I like being grouchy; I just don't like having things to grouch about. I want to live in a perfect world; a world created by me. No, I don't want to be God or a god. I just want to build it and live in it like everyone else. Trouble is, my perfect world won't be perfect for anyone else. At least I have my perfect world in my mind, and I can retreat to it when the "real" world gets to be too much to cope with.

In my world, all the good things from my past are there to soothe me. Growing up in my grandmother's house is the best memory I have. The only expectations she had of me was to be good; she was a simple person and I want so much to be like her. My mother pushed me to get an education and be a good student. She was right in doing that, but of course, I rebelled and became just another person in the crowd. Thus have I remained. It is my world.

What do the rest of you girls do when you wash your hair and it just flies everywhere when it dries? Especially in winter with all the static filled air. I look like I've been hanging out in Dr. Frankenstein's lab. Conditioner is out of the question because my hair gets oily by the next day anyway. I suppose I could get these lovely locks sheared...

Finished what little Christmas shopping I'll do this year. Funds for such have been scarce this time around. We cut back by fifty percent, and still paid out more than $500. Carolyn and I will do without buying for each other; maybe after tax season we can get a breather and take a day or two vacation.

I've already begun working on year end business taxes; that's why I'm uploading some poopy photos to Flickr. Time ain't on my side, regardless of what the Rolling Stones say. The IRS ain't Mr. Nice Guy, either.

I did manage to dig out a nice flower photo for a friend. The flower has special meaning for her... It made me happy.

For Becky

Why must our babies suffer? Why must our children die? This precious three year old baby died of liver cancer. Look at the beautiful, sweet smile. No, I didn't know this little one; I saw her in an obituary notice.

Is it not bad enough we are sending our kids to be killed and mangled in a piece of the world that doesn't want us there to begin with? Why can't we take the money going into making war and use it for making people healthier, including stem cell and prenatal research? We can do so; but we chose not to. It is much more convenient to ignore it and say it was God's will; after all, she wasn't our baby. Yes, she was our baby!

This Christmas, when your children are opening presents with eyes aglow, stop for a moment and think about Becky and all the other children whom are suffering and dieing without being given a chance to live. Think about the families who loved them as you love yours. I've shed my tears for Becky, and I may cry some more. I hope you have a little place in your heart for Becky and her family.

Sherry ‘Becky’ May--Age 3

Ok; so I'm a hypocrite! At least I admit it and am not ashamed. I'm speaking of the nativity star photo I posted on Flickr today.

I was in Wally World at midnight buying Christmas gifts. Again, I'm a hypocrite. The one thing I forgot to buy this year is Christmas cards. I put it off, and now it is too late. I could get local ones delivered, maybe; the US mail service sucks. But, after last nights doings, my knees are too sore for another jaunt. I can walk fairly well, but the pain from sitting down and getting up is almost unbearable. I hope everyone will understand I am a senile and feeble old codger and forgive me for not sending cards. I like to create and print the cards, but I'm out of card stock, too.

There was a beautiful moon last evening; one with a halo of ice crystals. Tried to make a pic, but the halo was too thin to show well.

The photo is of some fripperies Carolyn has collected.

Cold. We geezers tend to stay in and stoke the fire on days like this. Ain't as much fun with a gas fueled fireplace.

Just a few more days 'til solstice; Saturday 22nd 1:08 am. You will celebrate... won't you? After all, if not for the pagan holiday rituals of winter solstice, Christmas in December would be very unlikely. Both are a celebration of a new beginning. For Christians it is fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies of the beginning of the final days. For pagans, it ends the old year and begins the new with promise of renewal and lengthening of the number daylight hours. I'll side with the pagans.

..................................

My wife found out today that Joe is married and has a kid on the way. I've got this creepy feeling all over me that says I'm going to be a pappy by proxy. This just keeps getting deeper and more foreboding. Science is beginning to believe in parallel universes; cripes, I'm living in one and I am living proof that such places exist.

It is snowing.

I'm back home. Just checked to see what ol' Joe left me. He seems to have taken the underwear and socks I didn't have room for when I left. He tapped my wife and took my underwear; damn, I wish he hadn't carried off my bloomers.

I'm alone again... and loving every minute of it.

I am going to pull a chair up to the window and watch it snow...!

Today has been fairly warm, but dreary. Another day closer to spring. Haven't been out to shoot photos, and that makes it worse. Oh, well...

Supposed to have some rotten weather tomorrow; maybe I can find a game to watch on tv.

Not many photos have been posted on Flickr today, so I will wait 'til tomorrow to comment on them.

Jeremy is ok, I am alone, and my feet hurt. Life is good. Thanks C. and A. for thinking about him, and for your comments.

El Creepo Joe has again flown the roost, and Carlyn is demanding I return HER car to her. Last I looked, both our names were on the title, so I told her to take a flying f~ck at the moon. She hinted that I should visit her! I know what she wants, and I'm the only one who can give it too her. She needs me back at the computer catching up on her business stuff. I passworded some critical files, because I knew sooner or later Joe would push me aside for a while. I'll let her struggle through another payroll, then I may go back and help her out. This motel living is expensive; I hate to think I'll have to move back in with her.

I'm going to have to get a haircut. I'm relearning why I went for years with nerdy, short hair; when the long stuff falls out, it migrates directly to my mouth, or to whatever I'm eating. I grew this fantastic white beard to catch some of the hair before it goes asunder, but it helps very little with fallout into food. The last week has been spent mostly gagging on long, gray hairs tickling my throat and wrapping my tongue, Whoops! Sorry if you were eating while reading this. Heh heh...

Jeremy will be ok. He has bruises and a very sore neck, but is back at his apartment. After he left work yesterday, a car pulled out in front of him and when he swerved to miss it, a moving van hit him head on. The entire front of his car was pushed back; some of it in the seat beside him. The van axle was knocked asunder. He was wearing his seatbelt, and it gave him most of his injuries; without it, he would have gone through the windshield. He was driving a big 80s model Cadillac, but if he had been in one of these new small cars, no telling how he would have fared. They airlifted him to the hospital, fearing a broken neck.

That is about all I have to say today... except Buckle Up!

We just got word that our grandson has been hurt in an auto accident in Atlanta. If you don't hear from me for a few days, it is where I will be.

Portrait of Poop

Not much happening today. Went on the porch and took some photos of bird poop. The weather is exceptionally warm and beautiful, but I suppose it will get over it. Forsythia has some blooms. Raccoon got into the bird feeder again last night.

The weather is teasing hell out of me. Just a few more days 'til my second favorite day of the year: Winter solstice. My favorite day is when daylight savings time begins.

The photo is entitled "Portrait of Poop".

Cloudy and dreary again today. I am having one tough time getting through the winter blues and Christmas blahs this year; worst I ever had. Doc offered to write a prescription for medicine, but I take so much stuff now, I don't want anymore. Unguents, ointments, spells, pills, and potions are enough to drive one to drink. Maybe some bottled spirits are what I really need. At least I won't care if the sky is gray when I take by mouth as needed.

Instead of getting a bottle of Black Jack as I planned, I bought a jug of Jim Beam. Jack is much better sipping whiskey, but I decided to drink. Don't waste Jack as a mixer when cheaper will work just as well. Beam is a good, mellow bourbon and will blend with about anything; actually anything if you are drunk to begin with. Stopped at Kroger and picked up the fixins for whiskey sours, and it is what I'm enjoying as I write this.

Even the sun came out and the temp hit 70 degrees, making me me feel better. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the mid to upper 70s. Maybe I can get through this winter after all.

Got out in the rain yesterday to make a few photos, and as always, nothing remarkable was produced. By the time I got to the last location, fog had reduced visibility to less than a quarter mile, and it is still raining today.

For years, I've heard about a locally famous barbecue restaurant near Piney Flats. Finally paid it a visit while I was out, and the the food was very good. I had beef barbecue, fries, and slaw. They smoke the meat on premises, and make their own house sauce. The meat was tender and extra smoky. In fact, a little too smoky for my taste. The sauce was very good, but it had a little bite to it. I like my sauce a little sweet, but I ate all of it. The restaurant's name is Ridgewood Barbecue, and the late Benny Parsons of NASCAR fame ate there each time the big show came to Bristol Motor Speedway.

If you plan to eat in, be ready for at least an half-hour wait to be seated at a table. They have limited room, and the place is always crowded. The personnel are fabulously friendly and accommodating. I chose to get a take out, and drove to a secluded spot to have my meal.

The above photo is of Johnson City's best cafeteria, but it is now closed.

The photo was made last summer in happier times...


I'm sitting in a motel room, trying to get something done on a laptop pc that has only a 13" screen. Not quite large enough for old eyes. Fortunately I'm myopic, and able to put my long nose against the glass and see what I've typed. Can't get on Flickr, 'cause I forgot to being my new password with me. Changed all my passwords when I heard Joe was back in town, and they are stored on the desktop at home, or what used to be home. I remember one or two of them, but not for Flickr.

Anyway, I've been evicted by my wife or Joe's wife or whomever the hell's wife she is. Carlyn came in late again last evening, and this time she didn't bother to take a shower. I could smell the bastard all over her when she came to bed, so I raised a ruckus 'til mid-morning, when she told me to get the hell out. I left with the few clothes I could push into an eight gallon trash bag, this laptop, my cell phone, and my camera. Actually the cell phone belongs to Carlyn's company, and I expect it to be disconnected shortly.

I called Carlyn this afternoon to see if she would allow me to get some more stuff and my password list. I don't suppose I have to say who answered the phone?

Finally got a day off and managed to waste it. Didn't get out of bed 'til nearly ten this morning, then I had a hangover from sleeping too long.

Watched the Lady Vols put a big hurt on Old Dominion last evening, but I still don't consider them the best team in the country. That would be the despised University of Connecticut Huskies. Pat Summitt has done a great job over the years, but I believe there are other coaches in women's basketball whom are better. Even with a super-player like Candace Parker, she still allows the team to perform at mediocre levels way too much.

How are things in Philadelphia? Ready for Christmas? Kids excited, or are they at the age where they pretend they aren't.

Haven't heard a peep from good old Joe, unless the fact that Carlyn came home from work two hours late last evening means anything. She came in and took a shower; something she rarely does before retiring. I asked her the obvious, but she was too tired and sleepy to talk about it. Sure! She was in an awful good mood this morning; something else unusual. She still won't say where she was, except "working". Phooey! That is the reason I slept so late today; worrying about this crap.

I guess to her it is perfectly alright; after all, Joe and I are the same person. One thing for sure; Joe and I know differently. Neither one of them has made my short list for Christmas gifts.

Rotten, rotten day with crappy weather to boot. Day began cold, warmed into upper 50s, fell into lower 40s, and is still sliding. Off-and-on cloud cover has turned to threatening gray skies, with snow flurries promised for tonight. Had to get blood work done, run errands, and partook of a scrumptious meal at Burger King. Indigestion for desert. To top it off, some lowlife swiped gas out of the Escape last night.

Worse yet, it is only one day closer to spring.

That creep clone of mine hasn't shown his face or called all day, and it worries me. I know for a fact that his mind is most devious and at least slightly warped. Sooner or later he'll show up, and I hope I'm here to greet him before Carlyn does. If he gets to her first...

I wanted to spend a few minutes at the park today, taking photos and checking out babes on the walking trails. Hell, I'm afraid to leave home without Carlyn. I tell her to stay away from him and she tells me Joe is my baby and I'll have to live with the situation or get rid of him myself.

My Christmas spirits are at an all time low.

Thanks Robin, for allowing me to visit Paris with you. I do have some the spirit of the of the city now that I've read your descriptions and most of all, your feelings.

................................................................................

Another busy day, and I'm supposed to be retired. I'm just tired. Time sheets are finished by the bookkeeper, and payroll is ready to go to the accountant, both of whom happen to be me. Tomorrow I will print paychecks and send them to the CFO for approval and signing. I am not the CFO. Then it will be errands 'til about 4:00 pm, at which time I may be able to relax. I haven't had time or opportunity to get out and do any serious picture taking for more than two weeks, nor have I had time to comment on a lot of contact's photos, but I have been on their photo streams to look and admire.

.................................................................................

Joe/Ken is definitely back in town. He called this morning and asked to speak with Carolyn; the nerve of that home wrecker! It's bad enough he is perfectly like me in so many ways, but the s.o.b. has the gall to be a better lover than I. And with my wife. Just can't figure that one out. She won't even tell in what ways he is better; she just gets a dreamy, far away look, smiles, and shrugs me off. I've got to think of something to keep that turd away form my life; especially my wife.

...............................................................................

I hope you all are enjoying your Holiday season. Most people do, I think. I'm sitting here sucking on a candy cane and for some reason, it tastes like a margarita, and that ain't bad. I may get some Christmas spirit after all.

Today has been the busiest day for me in weeks; seems all the bad karma I've built over the past year has thrown a flying whoopee at me. Children to deal with (my grown delinquents), bills to pay, paperwork out the bazooka, prepare a bid for a job, run to the bank, and finally have a TV dinner for my day's repast. Ugh; yuck; and phooey. No wonder folks say I'm a cynic.

I understand through the grapevine ol' Joe/Ken is going to make a visit. You remember Joe, the perfect clone I had made of myself back in March? I hope that turkey stays away. Never in my life have I wanted kill anyone, at least not until Joe came on the scene. I've changed all my passwords on the computer, so maybe he can't screw around with that. I'm afraid what he can screw around with is my wife, just like he did before I bought him a one way bus ticket to Los Angeles. What a sorry piece of work he is. Christmas is bad enough, and he can only make it unbearable.

The Grinch is killing Christmas trees. These are some of the same eastern red cedars in the nearby park I recently wrote about.

Someone or something has destroyed them all. Trees outside the park seem ok, and that leaves the question of who and why. Sure, these can be pest trees, but only to a farmer or someone that doesn't take care of their property. Here, they were anything but pests. My reporter's nose is itching, and I intend to find the who, what, why, where, and when of it all.

.................................

About Christmas as a religious holiday. I double-dip dare any one of you to show where the Christian bible it says the birthday of Jesus should be celebrated. You can't, 'cause it isn't there. No one knows for sure in which month He was born, much less the date.

Christmas is an excuse and not a reason for Christians to celebrate. Celebrations of the winter solstice and the coming of more daylight hours goes back to early pagan times. Also, the Jewish Chanukah religious holidays occur just prior to the solstice. The early Christians that weren't Jews naturally wanted to have celebrations not tied to the past, so Christmas was born.

If you celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, then it is something not taught or mentioned in the bible. For those people who accept the bible literally as God's words, and yet celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus; tsk, tsk. Isn't it a little hypocritical?

Yesterday, I drove Carolyn to an industrial park to look at a new manufacturing facility under construction. It will produce precision ball bearings, and some new machinery came in that doesn't meet the standard of clean needed for such work. She will place a bid on getting the equipment in order, and later on, a bid for cleaning the entire facility on a regular basis.

....................................................................

The Twelve Days Of Christmas—true version


On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
some porridge in a salt tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
five gopher slings
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
six priests a-praying
five gopher slings
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
seven swags a-swaying
six priests a-praying
five gopher slings
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
eight maiden monkeys
seven swags a-swaying
six priests a-praying
five gopher slings
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
nine loonies laughing
eight maiden monkeys
seven swags a-swaying
six priests a-praying
five gopher slings
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
ten loaves of licorice
nine loonies laughing
eight maiden monkeys
seven swags a-swaying
six priests a-praying
five gopher slings
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
eleven punks a-puking
ten loaves of licorice
nine loonies laughing
eight maiden monkeys
seven swags a-swaying
six priests a-praying
five gopher slings
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
twelve dollar dinner
eleven punks a-puking
ten loaves of licorice
nine loonies laughing
eight maiden monkeys
seven swags a-swaying
six priests a-praying
five gopher slings
four colic burps
three French horns
two turkey ducks
and some porridge in a salt tree

Lyrics subject to change...
This is the true version of this often mis-sung song. There may be others equally as true.

Happy Birthday, Jerry

Happy 41st birthday to my eldest son, Jerry. You've always made me proud. Jerry is the one on the right in this photo. His friend is a carp.

............................................

Sometime today, I will upload my 1000th photo to Flickr.

...........................................

People, get those Christmas lists updated and send them to me, 'cause like I said yesterday, I know the Man.

Even if you've been naughty, I'll explain to him it wasn't your fault.

You better trust me on this one, and although I can't guarantee anything, I can affirm I am one of his closest confidants.

You gents can send me an email and tell me what you want, but I prefer the ladies sit on my knee and tell me what they desire from Santa. That way, I get a better feel for things...

..........................................

My aunt Iva just left from paying me a visit. She is the last of the family generation before mine. She will bake a molasses cake as always, and her daughter will make homemade fudge. Presents from the heart and hands; no more is needed.

......................................

Sleep well tonight and dream of sugar plums....

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/umedia/20071128/cp.442ea683be0cfd78a2d555a804029554

The link above is to the comic strip in case you can't see this one well.

............................................

I like comic strips. Presently, Over the Hedge is my favorite. I also like Pearls Before Swine, Bob the Squirrel, Close to Home, Herman, Gasoline Alley, Shoe, and several more. Ones that I like but are no longer produced are Bloom County, Calvin and Hobbes, and the all time greatest, Pogo, drawn and written by my mentor and hero, Walt Kelly.

........................................

I like Christmas music, as long as it isn't overly religious. My favorite is Deck us all with Boston Charlie, and I've included the lyrics for you music lovers and poetry buffs.

Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an' Kalamazoo!
Nora's freezin' on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!

Don't we know archaic barrel,
Lullaby Lilla boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don't love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!

Bark us all bow-wows of folly,
Polly wolly cracker n' too-da-loo!
Hunky Dory's pop is lolly gaggin' on the wagon,
Willy, folly go through!

Donkey Bonny brays a carol,
Antelope Cantaloup, 'lope with you!
Chollie's collie barks at Barrow,
Harum scarum five alarum bung-a-loo!

As sung and played by the The Okefenokee Orchestra and Perloo Society.

.................................................

What you all want ol' Santy to bring you for Christmas? If you tell me, I can make sure he knows, because I am a personal friend and confidant of his.

We've had several days of cloudy and fairly warm weather, but very little rain has come. The gloomy conditions, along with Christmas blahs, makes my winter time depression worse. The loss of daylight doesn't help any.

.............................

The photo is actually a doodle born of boredom. I never intended to upload it for public view, or I would have centered the light and door. For pure meanness, I wanted it to have flames all around the border—I did make one—and file it for future use. But, I'm running low on photos to quench my Flickr thirst, so I created a combo color/bw and posted it. At best, it is still a doodle.

.............................

The skies turned sunny and the air cooler this afternoon. Another day closer to spring.

.............................

Just because I dislike Christmas, doesn't mean I won't enjoy part of the goings on. There are a few very good seasonal movies that I try to see each year. The original Miracle on 34th Street is a favorite, as is A Christmas Story. In the later offerings, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is good, as is Home Alone. One movie that a lot of people love but I can't tolerate is It's A Wonderful Life. I liked Jimmy Stewart in a couple of his western genre movies, but his acting ability was limited, and his voice was whiny. I like The Santa Clause and A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Why don't you tell me what your favorite Christmas movies are?

The Christmas Curse

Welcome Home Robin! I hope you had a satisfying holiday. I bet Libby is jumping for joy.

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

I've come down with a case of the can't-help-its, better known as seasonal blahs. Post-turkey and pre-insanity blues. Christmas has gotten too out of hand for my tastes. It should be a simple time for family and friends getting together and celebrating another year of life. Instead, it is a celebration of money and materials. Lay-away; buy; charge; spend; borrow! What the hell for? No one benefits in the long run except the purveyors of commercialism. How important is it to the supply chain? For some merchants, it can make a third or more of their annual sales, and half of their yearly income! Re-damn-diculous!

We treat it like having one-night-stand sex; slam, bam, thanky ma'm and it's over 'til next year. Flirting begins in September, then by Halloween we're booking a cheap motel room, and at Thanksgiving we are naked and in bed. Now comes the good part; a whole month of foreplay, followed by twenty-four hours of unbelieveable intercourse, climaxing in an orgasm of give and take; grunts, groans, and screams of delight... and it is over. But wait; O my God! The sleazy encounter has resulted in us having caught a transmittable disease; indebtuptoourass-itis! We didn't practice safe holiday. We reached into our pants and whipped out our well endowed credit card and stuck it in every slot available, even allowing strangers to handle it. For the next nine months we curse, threaten, promise, and pull our hair. Never again! But September always rolls around. Even though we haven't paid our full price for the previous year's dalliance and indulgence, we begin anew.

Bah; humbug!

I'm stuffed to the gills and glad the holiday is over. Gets me another step closer to spring. Hope all of you had a most excellent holiday. Are y'all looking forward to Christmas, or dreading it—or better still—don't care one way or the other? Since all my grandchildren are grown, it is just another pain I have to endure.

The photo is of Eastern Red Cedar, and for me, is the prettiest and best fragranced tree for Christmas. I imagine the city would frown if one of these went missing from the park.

When I was little, my uncles would take me with them into the fields to find a suitable cedar tree. The best was one with a single trunk from which the cows had removed the lower limbs by rubbing them as scratching posts, and they looked much like the ones pictured here. If we didn't find such, they would usually cut down a large tree and remove the top six feet or so for Santa to place my loot beneath.

All that was left was taking turns carrying the unwieldy greenery home, and that could be a mile or more away, across hills, fields, thickets, and barb wire fences.

The last one we had like this was in 1987. I was still able to get around fairly well, and some months earlier I'd had found the perfect tree. Carolyn, JJ, and I went into the fields with a saw, and the idea was to capture, subdue, and cut down the prize. We found it and managed to get it on the ground, and I was to carry it out myself, but that sucker was heavier than I thought. Carolyn was tired and cranky, and volunteered to stay with the tree while JJ and I went for the truck to haul it out. Carolyn wasn't much of a country girl and didn't care for the walk.

By the time we got the truck and drove the long way around to the gate, Carolyn was waiting there for us with the tree. Apparently the cows came to investigate, and she—not knowing their intentions—grabbed the tree and made a run for the road. Good girl!

We got it home and trimmed out, and it brought back so many perfect memories (after so long a time, some memories were probably imagined). I took a piece of the unused trunk and whittled some shavings, retrieved twigs from discarded branches, and put it all in a potpourri pot. The scent, along with the natural aroma from the tree, filled the house with the goodness of the season.

Sadly, the entire day wasn't perfect. Just as we finished decorating the tree, the rescue squad pulled into my next door neighbor's driveway. He had a massive heart attack earlier in the day, and his wife found him dead when she came home from work.

Happy Thanksgiving! Thought I might get to relax a bit today, but I've managed to get Carolyn's business checking balance all screwed up. Just now got it in some semblance of order.

Carolyn is off to the store picking up a few last minute items for the feast.

The mockingbird was at Bojangle's yesterday waiting for a handout. He got part of my steak biscuit and for desert I gave him a piece of my apple-cinnamon biscuit. Actually, I had two of each biscuit... So goes the diet.

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?
~Erma Bombeck, "No One Diets on Thanksgiving".

..........................................................................................

Today is another beautiful fall day with hazy blue skies and near 70 degree temp. Supposed to have thunder storms tonight and in the morning, then turning colder with snow flurries tomorrow night.

Forever on Thanksgiving Day
The heart will find the pathway home.
~Wilbur D. Nesbit

.........................................................................................

Thanks for leaving the nice comments, C. and Alice. And thanks Kathleen for the comment on my story. Thanks to Maggie for stopping by here and on Lord Bubbha's.

None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.
~Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

It's almost time for my favorite food day of the year. I suppose I'll have to dine at home seeing as no one invited me over to share a meal.

I'll postpone my diet 'til after the holidays, because to try it now I would only be kidding myself. But I promise to go on bread and water as soon as the festivities are past. Promise!

For those of you in the US, I hope you have plenty to be thankful for and lots to eat. If possible, take a few minutes and think about the treacheries ongoing in this world that are making little children starve.

I hope my very dear internet friend has a wonderful holiday, and in case she doesn't know of whom I speak, she lives in Philadelphia, PA. Bless you, young lady.

I hope my vacationing internet friend in France is having a good holiday.

Alice, I hope you and Vanessa and the younguns enjoy the best ever Thanksgiving. I remember the ones we used to have...

To everyone else I share my life with on the internet, may all the good things be with you wherever you are.

Girl, you better not tell on me. Carolyn doesn't read my blog, either. In fact, she doesn't have a clue as to what I do online.

...................................................

There has been very little to write about today, so I reckon I won't bother you with drivel...

Catch you tomorrow.

Didn't make it to Unicoi Co. yesterday, but went back to Wilbur and and Watauga dams in Carter Co. I made a few photos there that I will post here and on Flickr, and I bet people will think I've saturated the color. But, they are like I saw them.

One especially I wouldn't touch. If I post it, I will probably be needing a place to hide out for a week or so; and I intend to post it soon.

Should be interesting!

..............................................

Here it is feast time, and I'm about to put myself on my first ever diet. I should weigh no more than 230 lbs., but am now up to 270. Even 230 is 10 more than I would like to carry, but if I can get in the vicinity, I'll be ecstatic. The hateful thing about dieting and losing weight is that it is so easy to backslide and put the pounds back on.

Carrying the extra pounds is putting too much pressure on my already wrecked joints, and it causes the three artificial ones to wear faster. We will see...

Can anyone identify the circular object in the lower left of this photo? The photograph was made in 1985 while waiting for a solar eclipse to commence. The whole thing is probably a reflection in a puddle, but I can't be sure about the object.

..................................................

Not much happening here today, except it has gotten cold. Not miserably cold; just uncomfortable.

...................................................

May head off to Unicoi County tomorrow and ride some back roads. There should be some good pickings for photos of old barns and abandoned houses. I need a good dose of rust. I'm running low on stuff to work with for here and Flickr, and if I don't find some decent subjects, I'll be doing a lot of self portraits. None of you have seen me with my hair this long and my salt-and-pepper beard; mostly salt, I'm afraid.

................................................

How cold is it in Paris, Robin. Not cold enough to dampen your excitement, I bet.

It's been snowing on and off for several hours; nothing serious, though. I may as well declare autumn officially over and get on with winter.

........................................................

You know what I'd like to do? I'd love to be able to sit down in a bathtub full of hot water and soak for a few hours, or at least until I pruned up real good. Actually, getting in the water isn't too much a problem; getting back out is the catch. I can sit on the edge of the tub and splashily ease myself in, but lifting more than 250 cantankerous pounds back out with sore joints is virtually impossible. I'll stick to taking a couple of cold creek baths each year, and an occasional shower.

.........................................................

I haven't asked lately so, are all one or two of my loyal readers doing well? I hope so. And don't forget that I have an email address in case you want to fuss at me.

Robin, if you get to read this before you leave, bring us back some memories.

.............................................

The beauty of autumn is certainly winding down. This photo is a view from my bedroom deck looking due south across a neighbor's back lawn.

.............................................

Am I ever miffed! You folks will let me go hungry on Thanksgiving and not think a thing about it. Not one invite did I get to share a meal with a friend. Sniff... I mean that is just plain cold, sniff-sniff. That's ok, though. The Salvation Army and the Haven of Mercy will provide sustenance. It won't be home cooked with the love of my friends piled on—sniff—but I'll get by. When you sit down to a table of plenty and give thanks for your prosperity, don't even feel a twinge in your heart for me. Just disregard yesterday's post; I should have known better.

..............................................

The whacked-out weather man says we may get a snow flurry by this weekend. That's ok, just another step on the road to spring.

Hectic day! One of Carolyn's customers—a bank—direct deposits her money into an account. Somehow, they missed paying her for one of the branch offices she cleans. We informed them of the mistake, and instead of depositing the correct amount, they repaid her for another branch which pays three times as much. Carolyn missed a doctor's appointment so she could try to get it figured out. Now, the bank has taken back the incorrect payment and says they don't owe her anything else. Every month she sends them six invoices, and every month they pay for six; except this month. The bank has a new bean counter at the main office, so I suppose he is to blame.

..........................................................................

What kind of Thanksgiving are you going to have? Traditional; exotic; none of my business? Of course, Canada has already had their feast day this year, and I don't know if any of the rest of the world has such a celebration.

Carolyn makes the best pan dressing and potato salad I've ever had. But that doesn't mean it is the best anywhere. If you all would be so kind as invite me over for dinner or supper that day, I would be more than happy to tell you yours is the best. I also like candied sweet potatoes, ham or turkey with cranberry sauce, green beans cooked with a piece of streaked meat, and corn; cream style is preferable, but whole kernel or on the cob will be fine. Fresh, hot homemade dinner rolls with gobs of butter are always good. Iced tea for beverage. For toppers, pumpkin and sweet potato pie, and maybe even a little pecan pie if you have it. If you splurged and made fruit cake, I wouldn't get mad.

Leave you address and let me know the time to be there. The comment box will be fine, or you can email me.

This is a photo of a section of the little park where I've been taking a lot of my recent photos. My house is just over the hill on the left side.

...........................................

I am slowly battening down for dreaded winter. I've a terrible case of the blues and can't-help-its.

For the first time in many years, I hope we have some snow. Mom Nature, if you are reading this, moderation please. Don't dump on me all winter long.

I guess I'll go to Wally World and pick up a new pair of long johns; just in case the power goes off for an extended period. I don't have any red ones.... I will want ones with the back flap so that all of me won't get cold when I have to go.

I'll load up on kerosene this weekend; we use lamps and a heater that require such. My grandma used to call it coal oil. As a child, I would try to imagine people squeezing a lump of coal 'til the oil dripped out.

.......................................................

Have a safe and happy journey, Robin.

C.: Mighty nice you didn't toss those kid's photos. Your work is so beautiful.

Kathleen: Thanks for reading my stories.

Robin: I hope this holiday will be your best ever.

...........................................

Not much happening; old folks life's are so dull.

Drove to Watauga Lake yesterday and back into downtown Elizabethton. One or two decent photos. It was a beautiful day and I managed to walk about 200 yards at the lake before my knee gave out. I wish I could have gone farther on the trails. Actually I wouldn't have gone that far but I had to find a place to pee. The few beers I had at lunch didn't bother my head, but they gave my kidneys a good workout.

Today I am having fun paying bills. I'm trying to convince Carolyn to quit her business and retire as the cost of doing business just isn't worth the effort. Gasoline prices are the biggest reason, and her fuel costs have gone to more than $500 per month for each van. She has three of them on the road.

Singing

You are correct, C. Flickr has slowed somewhat. I think after all the Halloween excitement, folks are taking a break. Halloween probably is the best holiday for fun photos. I've already begun "modifying" old photos to post during the dreary days of winter.

....................................

I found a small elastic bandage to cover my shameful zit, and tonight is karaoke night at the pub. If I go there this evening, I plan to be a participant and not a mere wall flower. I've been practicing Hank William's Your Cheating Heart, or "Yore Cheatin' Heart" as it sounds when he sings it. I will also don my best falsetto and do It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels by Kitty Wells. It was the first feminine protest song I ever heard, I reckon.

I won't stay long at the bar, though. I have an inclination to over do it with the suds and then try to drive. And when I do, I think I have to stop by and see everybody I know, which leads to more imbibing. Last time I did such foolishness to a big extent was 25 years ago. I passed out while driving, went through a fence and into a pond. Man, did I sober up fast! I was driving the old four-wheel drive Ford, and that machine would go anywhere, including getting my sorry ass out of the pond before the law arrived. I spent about an hour on round-about routes before sneaking home. Lesson learned before anyone got hurt!

....................................

Stopped by the juke joint for a few minutes this evening, but I sang not one stanza; the place was packed. I managed to get a couple of beers, but couldn't get close enough to the bar to pay for them. That's ok, though; I've had a tab with them for more than thirty years. Sony knows he'll get paid.

...................................

The photo is my second attempt at using Orton effect.

Zit

It's the end of the world as I know it! That one terrible affliction that we beautiful people fear most... I have a zit on the end of my nose! Don't laugh! You feminine types can throw on a little powder or zit cover and face the world, whereas we masculine types just can't do that. It is particularly difficult when you have a face you enjoy seeing first thing of the morning. I've a face Brad Pitt would kill for. No, not as pretty as his, but the he-man type: rugged, bold and wise in the ways of the world. I have beautiful green eyes that can adore you or see through you. I've a smile that will completely disarm you or make you squirm. Marble statues of Greek gods crumble to dust when I stand before their eon old presences.

And I have a zit on perfectly formed nose!

I noticed it yesterday as I was trimming nose hair, and as quickly as I saw it, I fashioned a hood for my head. I wear it around the house, but tomorrow I must appear in the doctor's office for my weekly injection of dope. I imagine I'll have to suck it up and face the shame and indignity of public exposure. And it won't begin to get well until it has exacted all the disgrace and ridicule that a vicious and mean spirited public can bestow.

"If you had taken a bath regularly like civilized people should, it wouldn't have happened," you say. My answer; I do take a bath regularly, twice a year! "Not good enough," you say. My reply; it's worked all these years! I also say, let him without pimples throw the first Clearasil.

Phooey! Life sucks!

Hillary

Will you vote for Hillary if she is the Democratic candidate? The biggest problem I have with her is the same I have for the rest of them: Don't do anything you will have to pay for at the next election. She was one of the first to jump on the Bush/Cheney war wagon, and now says it was a mistake and she was misled. I knew it was a mistake and I wasn't misled. I didn't like the Iraqi dictatorship, but it was obvious that Saddam wasn't in bed with Osama. It was pretty convincing that Iraq didn't have WMDs. If anyone whom supported the invasion of a sovereign nation and overthrow of a stable government had looked into the situation just a little bit, they would have seen the present turmoil coming. But no one noticed the the foil for the plot; Iran and its religion based government ready to pounce on any instability in the region, and allies like Russia, China, and even France (covertly) willing to back them with money, weapons, and words. Iran's oil is important enough to these pathetic regimes that they will conduct morally reprehensible acts to curry favor of the ayatollahs and their puppet government.

Vote for whomever you wish, but I suggest you carefully think about what you are getting yourself, your family, and the remnants of this once proud nation into. If it comes down to voting for the lesser of evils, make sure you are fully aware of the things the president of the United States is capable of.

I swore after the last presidential election that I would never vote again, and I didn't waste a ballot last year. Unless I find a non-politician running and advocating my social and moral beliefs, I will hold to my oath.

End of sermon.

Chris is pretty sick again; her thyroid has stopped functioning. Medication isn't helping much, and she can't see a specialist before February. We worry about her.

The air today is cool, only in the mid-fifties. First real day of autumn, for sure.

Stopped by the park again, but I didn't have a long sleeve shirt on and the wind was pretty biting. Not much in the photo line except for the airplane.

I've noticed things are slowing somewhat on good old Flickr. I guess the cooler weather is tempering people's desire to make photos. It damn sure is for me. I envy artists; cold weather doesn't affect their work. In fact, it may give them more time inside to do their creating.

Everyone have a good evening and night.

A Cat's Tail

It has been two weeks since I last shaved, nearly a month since last I bathed, and about eight months since getting a hair cut. I may be scroungy looking, odoriferous, and morally bankrupt, but I feel good. Would I feel as good if I were clean shaven, my body soaked in soapy water each day, and of high moral character? No! being a hippy is as much a state of mind as of bodily appearance. And I am as hip as it gets. Is this an act to garner attention? No! I am the last person that would be vain enough to want more attention than what I get. I have tried to be low profile all my life, and will continue to be so inclined. I am not a "type A" personality. I don't go in public unless it is a have-to cause; I don't like crowds.

Why do I write this pitiful blog if I don't want attention? Once upon a time, I had a mini-stroke that left me slightly dyslexic. I have left-right confusion in writing unless I practice often. Even with daily writing, sometimes it takes forever to to prepare a legible paragraph. It is why I've slowed my short story writing to a crawl. So, whomever reads this is reading therapy and nothing more.

The affliction hasn't affected my ability to read, however. I've been able to read and comprehend 500 to 700 words per minute since about the seventh grade.

.........................................................................................................

Someone whom got some new artist tools for her birthday is just impressing the hell out of me with her work. She has always been very good, but she seems to have moved to another level with her drawing. Keep the relaxed intensity going; your talent is bursting out all over.

Drove to Elizabethton and on through Stoney Creek to the high mountain area called Shady Valley. A most lovely place surrounded by mountains and natural beauty. There are orchards, along with small farms and cranberry bogs. The last time I was there was in the early '90s, when I took my mom on a quest for Winesap apples.

We turned west toward Bristol—a route I'd never taken—and I believe this was the first time I ever got seasick while driving. Crookedest mountain road I've ever traveled! We turned into Little Oak campground, where I got a few photos of South Holston lake. We are considering purchasing a small camper of some sort next year, so campground inspection on our little journeys has become a habit.

I still haven't had my hair cut. Carolyn said I look like a woman. I said am I a pretty woman? She said I look like and old gray haired granny woman. Now, I haven't shaved in a week. If I'm going to look like an old gray haired granny woman, I will look like one with an old gray beard!

...................................................................................................

I keep finding the simplest things to photograph near my home. I stopped by a local park last week and found some things I liked by just walking around the small parking lot. Fortunately I didn't have to walk far, because my knee is giving me fits lately. Today I went back to the same place and decided to walk a little farther. Behold, the city had put a little pond in place when they built the park about 10 years ago. Somehow, they neglected to tell me. I got some satisfying photos, but nothing that will make the walls of MoMA.

...................................................................................................

News flash... Just caught a thieving raccoon in the act of raiding my bird feeder.

After all of yesterday's fervor, today has been duller than mud, and that ain't bad. Too much excitement can make an old man's arteries harden, and that can be good or bad, depending on the vessels affected.

Didn't sleep well last night, lying awake thinking of things to write about today. Thought of some good ones, I'm sure, but I finally nodded off and forgot each and everyone of those profound ideas.

I would like to know if the birthday girl's day was as bad as she thought it might be. Hopefully, it was good, especially after she realized the day after is just another day, but it too demands to be lived to its fullest.

I'm beginning to get low on photos for Flickr purposes, and I won't go out in the cold, cruel world to make more, so I suppose it will be an endless winter of self portraits. Don't worry; I don't do nudes of myself. There is no way I could be a tasteful or artistic nude! Some things are better left unseen, but, if the public really, really demanded such, I could probably provide a "little" something for their viewing enjoyment.

Happy Happy--Joy Joy

Happy thirty-ninth birthday, CMB! You don't celebrate the years on your birthday; you celebrate YOU! It is your day and no one can take it from you! Live and cherish every minute of it!

I was way in the dumps on my last natal anniversary, but a dear friend told me the same thing I'm now saying to you. And she was so right.

I am proud to have you as a friend, and best wishes to you for now and forever.

..................................................................

Even I received a nice surprise and present yesterday. A photo I made, along with a few others from Flickrites, was published in a Swedish magazine: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1804802403&size=o

Mine is the tomato rows in white with my beautiful hills in the background and is on top of the two beauties (blush). I haven't a clue as to what the article says, because there is no English version of the magazine.

Thanks Jenny Maria for the honor!

It's still chilly and I'm still wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt and..., I turned the heat on. I'm the modern outdoorsman type, I reckon. The gas fireplace still works, but like myself, feebly. Unless the weather warms up quite a bit, I won't be doing much picture taking for a while; maybe not 'til next spring. Be prepared for more of my graphic violence—or as I call it, abstract art—to show up on Flickr,

I have some stories in the oven, and I've begun editing (almost a complete rewrite) the novel again. I'm working with a local publisher on getting a volume of short stories printed in book form. Trouble is, I don't have enough stories, and when it comes to having to write, then it becomes work and I'm not a member of the working brotherhood. So, the odds of getting anything published in the near future is probably nil. The world will have to wait to be blessed with my interpretation of life. Poor world!

...off of a brass monkey!

We had our first frost last night. Enough of that crap; I'm ready for spring. I dislike wearing long pants, jackets and coats, fumbling with buttons and zippers. I don't like cold wind, the sniffles, fewer daylight hours, lousy network tv shows (what other kinds are there?), outdoor activities unless sex is involved, snow, cold rain, day-after-day without sunshine. I don't like Christmas.

I do like the winter night sky with Taurus, Orion, and the dog star prominent. I like the minutes and hours of daylight increasing. I love the first promise of spring, which is usually momma squirrels stopping by for extra peanuts in late February. I like going to the woods and mountains when fresh snow is on the ground. And while I'm there, I enjoy having sex on the seat of a pickup truck. Something about cold vinyl against lots of bare skin that makes one move in a certain way.

What do you like and dislike about winter?

..................................................................................

We had a big to do Saturday, at least for a no-place place like this. On the one hand we had war protesters, and opposing them were quite a few Rolling Thunder MC members. The protesters began their day at a local park with speechifying and flag waving, and after enough speeches were spoken and flags briskly fluttered, they marched on a local factory where depleted uranium is used to produce military ordnance.

When the marchers arrived at the plant, they were greeted by the bikers. Police maintained order. The way I understand it, the bikers wanted a bit of a rumble but the demonstrators maintained discipline in the ranks. It was the same old story; one side wanted the US out of Iraq and the other saying it was encouraging the enemy. Basically anti-Bush and pro-Bush. Old Glory got a good workout. I think most of the protesters were local, but a lot of the bikers were from as far away as Illinois.

Anyway, everyone did their patriotic responsibility thing and went home. Local merchants reaped a profit, while taxpayers footed the bill.

Yep! Today is Friday...

So far today, that is all that's happened.

A while back, I went to the Ford dealership to have the Escape serviced. They have a very small waiting room for their customers, and on that day it was full. I lolled around the showroom for a short while until a seat became available. Soon after nodding a greeting to my fellow waitees and settling myself, a woman about my age came into the room. I immediately got to my feet and offered her my seat which she declined to take, telling me it was unnecessary for me to get up for her. Nothing really unusual about that, except it left me in a quandary; I was raised to be a gentleman, especially when ladies are present. Maybe old fashioned, but it is what it is and I am whom I am. There the seat was with no one to fill it. She stubbornly refused to sit down—a feminist thing?—and I couldn't sit as long as there was no other chair free. The longer I stood, the more my ravaged knee hurt. If I had retaken the chair and left the woman standing, my mom would somehow have managed to arise from her grave and slap me. Finally I limped back to the showroom and managed to put part of my big butt on a window ledge just to relieve my knee. When the service on the truck was finished, I was obliged to go back through the waiting room, which was abandoned except for a middle-aged man (he didn't get up and offer the woman a seat when she came in) and the stubborn woman. Of course, she was sitting and merrily chatting with that particular doofus.

Who knows? Maybe she wasn't a feminist. Maybe she just didn't like my looks or thought I was going to try to make a move on her. Or it could be she was being a bitch.

I'll go on being an ardent supporter of the feminist movement, but I can't get above my raising. In the end and if a choice has to be made, I will chose to be a gentleman. I can tolerate the bitches and chauvinists of the world, men and women.

Rain!

After many months of shunning his children, Zeus unclenched his mighty fist and set the heavenly waters free. It has been shower after shower since late last evening, and as much as it is appreciated, it is a mockery to mortals. Some good may come of it..., if he doesn't again turn his back to us.

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

Live for today! Tomorrow is promised to no one. Plans for tomorrow are useless on our plane of existence; they are--at best--merely hopes and dreams. Love someone or hate someone; be nice or be naughty; hold a grudge or forgive; laugh or cry! Dreams and hopes are precious and a vital part of our humanness and sanity, but we must refuse to be a slave to them, and we cannot live in their wispy shadows. Don't wait for tomorrow; do it now!

Neither can we live in the past, for it is just that; past. Remember; learn; reminisce. Yesterday is merely a lesson for today; not a place in which to be lost.

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

End of sermon...

Skies still gray but not crying.

This so far has been a moody week; I don't know what mood I'm in from moment to moment, nor do I know what mood I should be in. I've been staying away from home so much on the weekends..., I feel like I must be missing something when I'm not away. I make an excuse nearly every day to drive the mile to the park and photograph something. Went today, but came back empty handed.

Maybe I won't sleep good tonight, and will think of something good to write about tomorrow.

One thing I do want to say: Thank you Oh Boy (Gary) for sending me the PsP XI software. I've been using it since Saturday evening, and have most of it figured out.

If anyone wants my copy of PsP IX, let me know and I will send it along to you. It is a simple program for beginners getting into photo retouching and manipulating, but has nearly all the advanced power of PhotoShop.