Monday is wash day

Stupid weather. Wear a heavy coat in the morning, shirtsleeves in afternoon, and back to coat at night. It is 71°F (21.7°C)  as I write this at noon today but it is supposed to snow Wednesday and Thursday.
Had to buy another new cable modem Saturday. Even with that, the net connection is unusually slow. Comcast needs to do some equipment upgrades.
 
Carolyn has gone to get a problem with the van looked at. I think the starter is bad. Also, she bought two new tires for the rear of the van about two months ago and one of them already has a knot on it.

Most people do not smile on Monday until 11:16 am.

All these degrading TV shows and movies; I would like to know the zombie’s side of the story.

Later

Getting ready for Christmas — Sam and Mason

I will be away from blogging for a while … at least until my health improves. RA is a day-to-day malady so who knows, I may be back tomorrow. Have wonderful days until we meet again, my friends.

Reflections on Elections

Our new friends in Washington seem to be doing what the people elected them to do. I cannot understand why liberals, democrats, and environmentalists are up in arms over fracking of shale being allowed. Voters want fracking and fracking they shall have. Even if the majority of the natural gas produced will be exported to Asian markets, so be it. Voters voted for big money to continue guiding the country down whatever road that leads.

In 2012, voters reelected President Obama, apparently wanting him to take on Congress and see that they do what the people need. Instead, the president went on the defensive and hunkered down for two more years, allowing the latest election to go to hardcore conservatives. Now, after losing his chance to lead, Obama jumps up and starts rhetoric about positive immigration reform and many of the other things he allowed to sit idle for so long. Too late, Mr. President. Go back to bed.

Monday Boys

So this is Monday
What else to say
Boys were here yesterday
I’m pooped today

Rant

Bumble bee on golden rod

Why the hell can I not go on Facebook without seeing Kim Kardashian’s big ass? I don’t even like her face, much less a glorified picture of her naked butt. Facebook is sicker than ever.

Carolyn isn’t having the best of weeks.  Wednesday night she was pulled over by a policeman for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Yesterday she was in a waiting area while oil was being changed in the van when someone in a car rammed into the wall of the building behind the chair where she was sitting, nearly knocking her to the floor. The car driver left the scene and the proprietor called the sheriff’s office but they were too busy to respond.

Above photo is on my Megashot stream.

Better

Do a spontaneous kindness for someone and you may change their life for the better. Do many good deeds for as may people as you can and you may change the world for the better. Don’t worry; feeling good about doing good is not being selfish. It is just your soul patting you on the back and saying ‘you did what was necessary‘.

Afternoon Wednesday

Golden autumn magic

Used to be I only scratched my head in wonder when the good people of Texas elected some nut case but now the whole country has me pulling out what few hairs I have left.

I suppose I like the above photo as well as any autumn shot I have made.

The awaited comet landing seems to be at least mostly successful. I smile.

Carolyn, with the help of Jaden, lost one of her birthstone earrings I bought her. Now, I must get her a new pair. Shopping Amazon.

Wednesday; the day we finally get past Monday’s hangover.

Veteran's Day 2014

Today we pay homage to our veterans; we would not be here without their sacrifices.

Call me a nerdy geek egghead if you like but I am on pins and needles awaiting tomorrow’s landing of Europe’s space probe on a comet. All things space related have garnered my attention since the Soviets launched their Sputnik satellite in 1957. Even before that, I was an avid science and science fiction reader, always pestering the school librarian to buy new book and magazine releases pertaining to my interests.

Trying to enjoy the last day of autumn, for a while at least. Rain and cold weather coming once again.

"Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life!"

Ah Monday! "Can't trust that day." When one is retired, Monday becomes just another day ... sort of. Tucked away somewhere in the mind is a remembrance of all those aches and pains that used to come on Mondays after weekends of debauchery. The aches and pains are still felt but are from decades of aging and not from recent partying.

This past Saturday's blog post got a bit of recognition; I suppose a "like" from the official Wordpress blog is good. I've never had one from them before so maybe I haven't lost my writing touch after all. Actually, the holiday season with all its excesses and hypocrisies is not difficult to write about.

The boys were here yesterday but they napped for several hours and we didn't get a lot of play-time with them. I'm sure they will more than make up for it next Sunday. Yesterday's highlight was a knock-down-drag-out fight between Sam and Mase.

Only a couple more photos from last Wednesday and I will  go back to videos, etc.

Is it not written that Monday's philosopher has a shady past, a murky present, and a dark future?

Buy Your Cheer Here

“Pretty papers, pretty ribbons of blue …” sings Roy Orbison in his 1963 recording of Willie Nelson’s Pretty Paper. A long shelf brimming with bright, multicolored papers met us yesterday as we neared the front of the store. Beside the many shades of greens, reds, whites, with a few blue rolls of holiday wrappings were bags of assorted and fancy ribbons which may have been even more brilliant and and eye-catching. All this adorned the outdoors walkway of the produce market which just a couple of weeks ago teased our eyes with fresh vegetables and fruits which were just as colorful as the Christmas fripperies. Now, we go inside to shop for produce and outside for our gift wrapping “needs”. It is still almost three weeks until Thanksgiving but stores cannot wait to capture every dime a spontaneous shopper might be willing to give up for Christmas cheer. Maybe they will have some real reindeer poop around the market the next time we visit.

Above is another of my Wednesday cell phone photos.

Breaking Bad redux. In Albuquerque, NM — the city where the popular TV series Breaking Bad was set — a local pastor reported that his church on wheels as stolen. In my mind’s eye, I can see Walt and Jessee out in the desert cooking meth in it. Is it not written that a holy man who casts his lot with a wheeled sanctuary has spewed his seed on the wind?

Waiting for Thanksgiving

Lake View

Cold, dreary day in the hills.  I have to go out for a while  and I dread it; seems like I cannot stay warm enough. Maybe  should try wearing a coat; I hear that they help insulate skin from cold.

Above is another cell phone photo from my little side trip Wednesday. Quality is not very good but I like the scene with the little lake and its fountain plus a mountain top in the background.

Not long until Thanksgiving. Will you prepare a big meal this year? We don’t expect guests so we will not cook a lot. No turkey but maybe a small ham. Of course we will have dressing and cranberry sauce along with green beans, corn of some yet to be determined variety, deviled eggs, mashed taters, and candied sweet potatoes. Sounds like a lot but we will eat left overs for several days and anxiously await Christmas dinner.

Have a good weekend!

Seeking Color

Red Maple

I made another trip to new R.A. doctor yesterday and after we left I asked Carolyn to drive me around a bit to see if I could spot an autumn photo op. I had only my cell phone camera but I found a few decent trees which hadn’t shed all their leaves. Quality is not very good but I am happy just to have made some photos, all of which were shot through the car window. I am posting some of them on my Megashot and on this blog. Leaf color is a lot better this year than I thought it would be. Many of them have fallen but there is still enough to please my eyes.

Get ready for a fine weekend, folks.

Sugarless

What a bland day. If it were any more yucky, it would be unsweetened oatmeal.

Even my imagination is lackadaisical.

Tomorrow may be better because I should get out of the house for a while.

Do or do not. There is no try.
~Yoda

Snow

We had our first — and I hope, only — snow event of this new winter season. Most snow I’ve ever seen this early for these hills. Our climate usually has the grace to await Thanksgiving or later to dump on us. We had 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of snow at our house but some of the local mountains had twice that much or more. Our electric was out nearly all day Saturday and thousands of more homes were without power. We retrieved the kerosene space heater from the basement and put it in the living room where it kept the house liveable if not completely comfortable. We bought it eight years ago for such an emergency and this was the first time we had to use it. Jerry didn’t get his power back on until late Sunday. To salute this early bestowment of winter, I present the above video of Christmas music.

The two eldest boys were here yesterday and we again managed to survive. They are a supreme blessing but they do wear us down after a few hours. Mason cried for ‘Papaw’ all the way home, Carolyn said.

I am still having much fun on Megashot, mostly just commenting on other member’s photos. I love the “snapshots” of daily life throughout North America and from around the world.

Watched a heck of an exciting college football game Saturday night; a big comeback win for my Tennessee Volunteers over the South Carolin Gamecocks. The Vols won in overtime after an excellent ending to the fourth quarter when they made two quick touchdowns to tie the game.