Life Events

Sometimes life is like a box of Cracker Jack,  but instead of a prize, it's some untold event that jumps out at you. For instance, this morning the wife woke up with an inner ear infection, with the room spinning and very dizzy. Now, I can remember in my younger days, when I would wake up with the room spinning, and no amount of foot dragging over the side of the bed would stop it, but it was caused by dipping my snoot in John Barleycorn a little too deeply. However, this is not the case with her problem today. I must add that it is a miserable feeling, but in a few days she will be able to plow again.
What started out as a clear cool day, has now developed into an overcast, dreary day. At mid afternoon it's 68 degrees. We had a fairly good frost last night which will help turn the trees into Autumn colors.
Our little village will have the annual Harvest Moon Festival this week end. This event features local Bluegrass bands through out the day, and loads of food to enjoy. It's an event, believe me. The best part is observing the folks that come out of the hills. These 'ol boy's are the real McCoy! I'm pretty sure a fellow could buy a little "Shine" if he knew how to go about it. Speaking of shine, in my younger days, I was offered a half of a teacup full of it. I can tell you I left a pretty funny track the rest of the day! No telling what proof it was, but it must have been atomic grade stuff! I have been told that I WILL leave my banjo at home this week end. Those 'ol boy's would probably laugh me off of the stage! Dapper Dan and I have threatened to make an appearance as "The Long Hollow Boy's"
at past events. Maybe one of these days, but we would need a chicken wire screen in front of the stage. Some of you may know what that's about!

And so it goes!

GETTING READY

Here on the ridge, I've been checking off the things that I needed to do to get the house and the yard ready for winter. Finally got the gas furnace checked out, to make sure it would keep us warm. Both vehicles have a new coat of wax on them and oil changes have been done, but the tires on the pick up are getting to the point of questionable replacement. Maybe I can get through the few snow storms we have here with them, if not, it's a two thousand pound sled!
The grass will more than likely need one more cutting around Halloween, then I can winterize the mower and lock it in the shed house for the winter. It was so dry here this summer that I only burned up fifteen gallons of gas in it, a new record low for yard up keep.
This is the first year that I can remember, that we did not take a long trip somewhere. In our younger days we traveled a lot, but, I think that because we saw so many places, the old "been there, done that" thing is setting in, and the comforts of home are hard to beat. We did, however, take a few day trips to the foot hills of the Smokies to do a little country road exploring. Just make sure you have plenty of gas and watch out for the kid on the front porch pickin a banjo!!
Our recent cold spell has us going through drawers pulling out warmer clothes. We did get to thirty four degrees a few nights ago, a little early for that low, just hope the winter won't be a humdinger.
Earlier this week we both got our flu shots. The next morning we both woke up with feeling like we had the flu! Took us four days to get back to normal. First time in years a flu shot has knocked us down so hard. We should have one heck of an immunity built up after all of the muscle aches of the past week!
I have been noticing that a lot of bloggers have been storing food for some kind of a problem they feel might be coming. We always have extra provisions on hand here on the ridge because of the ice storms we get. When these hills get ice on them, it's back to pioneer days until it's safe to travel, but reading these blogs, makes me wonder if a few more canned goods are in order. They even warn of neighbors breaking into your house to get your food. If bullets were canned goods, I'd be eating for a year. Maybe these folks know something, I should be knowing. Who knows!
We plan on voting early in the upcoming election. Mitt's the man, for us anyway. Nuff' said.
Enjoy the Fall, see you next time around.

 

Random-ness

I am currently at the "critical mass" stage with politics! I did watch the Republican convention, and thought the speeches for the most part were on point, however, when the political commentators would come on to interpret what had we just heard, the TV went to 'mute' every time! I just didn't want to hear their comments.
Do I plan on watching the Democratic convention this coming week? Not just no, but Hell no!
No more lies, socialism, and how great Obamacare is for seniors, ad nauseum!
O.K., enough politics, just vote for Romney!

On another subject. Here on the ridge, the weather is still for the most part hot, but moderating some, so I'm hoping that since we had the hottest summer on record here in Tennessee, that fall will come early. I'm sure ready for it so that I can do things outside, that I have had to put off. The Holly hedge out front needs trimming, but are full of wasps until frost. The truck and the Pilot both need a coat of wax before winter, and the list goes on.

For the past four years my son has coached a co-ed city league soccer team. These kids are between ten and twelve years old. It's amazing how these kids start to become a team as the weeks go on.
We try to go to all of the games, and have to admit the past two games of the season so far have been head scratchers! Generally, by about half way through the season they finally understand about playing a position, until then it's a free for all!

BTW, what do you think the IRS is going to do with that truckload of .357 ammo they just bought?
I could understand if the ATF bought it, but the IRS!!!! "Ve haf vay's of making you pay der taxes, ja"
 

Hot 'Nuff for Ye!!!

It's been a little hot here of late, on the ridge. Generally we are a few degrees cooler than the flat landers, but the grass here is cruncy and dead looking. The small garden is barely hanging on, even with me throwing water on it in the evenings, you would think it's August! Yesterday it was 101 degrees and the humidity was 30% here at the house.
When I was a kid I used to spend the summers with my grandmother in Ms. She had a big old two story house and there was no air conditioning. If you didn't have your errands finished by 10 A.M.,
you had to wait until the next morning, for it got too hot after that to anything but stay in front of a fan, and drink Kool-Aid. Even her big ol' black Buick didn't have air conditioning, talk about an oven!
Generally a nap was called for in the afternoon, because by then, that's about all you had the energy left to do! The movie house was the only thing in town that was air conditioned. Seemed we always watched the movie twice just to be in the cool, didn't matter what was playing! Boy, those were the days! Some how we made it. I know many of my fellow Southerner's know what I'm talking about!!

On another subject. The battery on my HP laptop has finally died, and to replace it will cost pretty close to $100.00. I'm thinking it might be cheaper in the long run to just get another lap top, as this one is old and the memory is just about maxed out. It's been a good one, but no more Windows Vista for me!

Looks like a few travel plans for the summer are taking shape, so I will probably be blogging even less than I have been. I will still enjoy keeping up with the folks I like to follow, and comment every now and then. Maybe there will be a few more adventures to share with every one as the summer unfolds, I hope so anyway.

Slummin !

Today we went "slummin." Around here that means driving the '95 Ranger, instead of the 2012 Honda Pilot!
Nothing better than driving up to a nice restaurant with the lot full of  $40 to 70K  really nice cars, and pulling the old Ranger right close to the front door of the place and going in. We always dress appropriately, but the looks you get are worth the trip. Just the reverse is true at Wal*Mart, the dirty old truck fits right in with the rest of the folks there, far as that goes, so do we!
There is something to be said for having an old pick up truck. Last week, we needed all new mulch for the flower beds in the front yard. I would have had second thoughts about loading a new F-150 with all of that black mulch. That stuff is like a printer cartridge exploded in a wood chipper, but the old Ranger just took it in stride, no harm done!
Her crowning glory happened some years back when she pulled a brand new Chevy pick up out of a mud hole at deer camp. Some how Ford screwed up when they made mine and put a locking rear end in it, so both rear wheels pull together. My friend in the Chevy doubted that I could do it and still tells the story today. I was so proud of the old truck I actually washed it when I got back home!!
On our trip today to Lowes to pick up some items, I realized that the Ranger is starting to age (like me.)
Some of the systems are getting a little weird (like me,) so I know there will come a time soon, that a trip to the mechanic will be in order.
Strange how we get attached to a vehicle that has served us well. Last week the wife mentioned that since we drive it very little, we might think about getting rid of the Ranger. Talk about a knife to the heart!! My old truck, Naw, I just couldn't!! No more slummin' or trips to the dump. Quick thinking was called for here, so I asked her if she would feel comfortable taking the new Pilot on one of our fishing trips to Old Hickory Lake? Whew! That was close, so a reprieve was granted!
Ford is no longer making the Ranger starting late this year. It has been a great truck and given me 96,000 trouble free miles. Maybe Ford made them too well, who knows!!
Now, I need to find a five star restaurant with valet parking, a slummin' we will go!

Memorial Day Comment

Memorial Day is a day that always brings back a lot of sad memories. I rarely reflect on my forty four years of being a funeral director, but this day, things just flash back, that you thought you had  pushed back into the recesses of your mind.
All  military services for our young folks killed in action were difficult, especially the widows left behind with small children who no longer had a father. I knew how in years to come there would always be that empty spot. Just a few pictures, a few service medals, perhaps an old uniform, and the fear that asking your mother about him, would still bring her to tears. I also knew how they would feel when there was no father to give them a word of praise for something they had accomplished in their future, or for that matter, just a dad to be with when you needed to talk.
The reason I say, I knew what the road ahead for those kids would be like is, I lost my father in WWII.
A B-24 co-pilot, whose plane crashed on take off in India, in May of 1945.
There is one Nam era funeral service that stands out in my mind. It was for an Army helicopter pilot who had been killed during a rescue mission. The family requested no military service, only the flag to be placed on the military issue grey casket. The family had a long visitation at the funeral home, so all of us got to know them fairly well during that time. There were two children, a boy of nine, and a girl seven. The wife told us that the kids were especially close to their father and they were dealing with his death the best they knew how. The day of the funeral we were concerned for them and wanted everything to  go smoothly. Which it did. When we arrived at the cemetery and everything was in place the minister had his service, and it was time for us to fold the flag, and present it to the family. The wife had previously told me, that I was to present the flag to his son. At this point the little guy had been pretty dry eyed, and we were wondering if he was trying to be brave for his mother and sister and holding it all internally. So I bent down on one knee, and said the words we were supposed to use. On behalf of a grateful nation, ect., and gently handed the perfect triangle
of  our flag to him. He jumped up and gave me a bear hug around the neck and just bawled his eyes out. At that point there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd, mine included,  I knew far too well how much he would miss his father.
Mine is buried in the Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. I am grateful to the person who put a flag on his grave today and the other activities to be held in the cemetery to honor our service people buried there.
We should continue to be proud of our veterans, and those people serving in the military today. They deserve more thanks than we give them.

Runnin Down the Highway

"Two Weeks on the Road, and I'm Gonna Make it Home Tonight!" Now I know how the song writer felt. We arrived home a few nights ago after being gone for two weeks, attending to some family needs in western Kentucky. "The Ridge" looked mighty good turning into the driveway.
The new Honda Pilot did an excellent job for us, and I think it's the best Honda we have owned so far.
This one is number three. Now, the wife with her bad knees can get in and out of it easily. Such was not the case with the previous Accord and it's low profile. Now it has finally hit me, why geezers drive big old comfortable cars!
Being gone for a few weeks always means plenty to do upon returning. Bills, wash and provisions must be taken care of right away. The rest can wait a few days.
Where we were there was very little internet exposure, so I have been catching up on all of your blogs and working my way through e mail. You sure do feel cut off with out the net, but to some people it's a total mystery, especially where we have been in the strip mine area of Kentucky.
Now back to being retired, there is a garden to plant and fish to catch in Old Hickory Lake, and always grass to mow.