Another Day in the Life....

Well it's Tuesday already, and so far this week I have not had my "borrowing neighbor" come over and ask to use something. I have never been selfish with my toys, always willing to loan anything that someone needed, but this guy must think we moved here just to be his own resource for what he seems to need that is" broken" or "not working right now". Case in point, a few weeks ago he came over asking to use a one inch socket and ratchet. I knuckled under and let him use it, breaking my own rule about never loaning out my tools. My tools have a sentimental value, as my step dad gave me a complete set of Craftsmen tools when I graduated from high school, which allowed me to tear down a whole lotta engines when we couldn't afford a decent car. Anyway, about an hour later he brought it back, spotless, with a light coat of oil applied. So far, so good! Then last week he came over wanting to borrow my riding mower claiming his drive belt was slipping. It took me by surprise as it really takes some balls to mooch some one's mower, plus the gas! Since the mower is almost new and belongs to my son on loan to me, I told him I wouldn't feel right loaning it out. I did explain to him how to adjust the belt tensioner to make the belt grip. You would have thought I just gave him a $100.00 gift card to Walmart!!! He had no idea that you could make the belt tighter. Now, I'm thinking the boy is one brick shy of a load!
Several weeks ago, we had a wind storm that took down one of his bradford pears, you can guess who's chain saw cut it up! I got to thinking about it and if he had cut a foot off, he would have claimed that I had loaned him a defective and dangerous chain saw and take me to court. I'm learning!! Fast!
On another subject, it was a banner week at Walmart for people watching. It was a light shopping day for groceries, I had just turned down an isle, and way at the other end, I saw an elderly lady reaching up for a cake mix on a top shelf, just as she got a grip on it her "step-ins" fell down down around her knees! Not wanting to embaress her, I grabbed something off of the shelf and pretended to read the label. Well, low and behold, she just stepped out of them and put them in her purse, just as though nothing had happened and continued shopping! Now at 68 years old, I  just thought I'd seen it all!!!!
Now, I know why nothing shocks me anymore.

The Green Thumb !

It's great to be back on the Gooble after a short set of problems that developed, from where I still don't know. I tried the suggestions from Buck and the Woodsterman, and the damned thing started acting right.
Glad I didn't take an axe to the laptop after all. Thanks again.
We spent a little of that Social Insecurity money making a raised garden spot. You've seen them on the TV garden shows, the 2 x 12's and then you fill the space with top soil, mulch, all the right stuff. Planted the tomato plants and other veggies. It is a total disaster! We didn't have room for all of the tomato plants, so I dug a hole in the old garden spot and threw them in, well, wouldn't you know, they are doing great, twice the size of the ones in the super soil. The raised garden was the wife's idea, so now I am being accused of planticide! You live and learn.
We are still having August type of heat here on the ridge, need rain, but it goes around us it seems. Need to do a rain dance I guess!
The Accord is due for it's 5000 mile check up which I am dreading. No problems with it, just that I get the feeling like being hit in the butt with a wet mop, when it's time to pay the bill. It's still under warranty, but we all know how that goes! This is our second Accord, both trouble free and unlike the Cadillac's I have driven in the past that liked staying at the dealership more than my garage! I must say though, the Cadillac's rode like a cloud and were very comfortable. The Accord's not so much!
Dapper Dan and I were discussing cars and we can both remember when a 1000 mile oil change was suggested for the cars of the period. Things have changed a little, huh.

Now What?

The google will not let me make a comment on my blog site or others!
Great!

Bee's and Other Things.

Our long time friends, Charles and Beverly, who live south of Atlanta sent me an email talking about the lack of honey bees they are seeing. Come to think of it, we are seeing the same thing here on the ridge.
We have blooms in the garden and a patch of clover in bloom, but nary a bee in sight! I wish I could say the same about wasps, it must be a banner year for them as they are everywhere. There is a wasp here in the south known as a "Cow killer" wasp. It's about the size of a June bug. If it tags you, it's  trip to the hospital for sure! The most vicious of all of the bee family that I have encountered is the yellow jacket.
They have sent me packing many a time, generally with 5 to 7 stings. Mean  little critters!
The weather has been hot and dry now for about two weeks, which means a lot of watering just to keep the things we planted from withering away. The water bill will be a big one as it always is, even in the winter! The Cumberland River is not that far away, plenty of water there, but the utility charges premium bucks for it, on the other hand electricity is very cheap because of TVA, so I guess it's a wash when it's all totaled.
It's been a while since I have blogged, the heat has kept us inside, so a lot of TV has been watched!
The National political scene is getting interesting...will she run, or will she not! The trail in Florida has been pretty dull at this point, but maybe this week it will get down to the nitty gritty. Then there is the news! It's pretty bad when you have to read off-shore newspapers on the web to find out what's really going on. Kudos to the CIA/FBI for arresting two more Muzzies, who were plotting against us. We need more of it.

Pink Flamingo's

Here lately, it seems like all of my time has been taken up with doctor visits! Just the usual check ups that they seem to require. Last week when I was waiting my turn to see the doctor, I started looking around the waiting room, man, those people are old I thought, then I remembered the old guy in the mirror looking back at me as I was shaving that morning. It's strange how you don't picture yourself as getting on in age.
I kind of equate going to the doctor about like taking your car in for the check ups in order to keep the car in warranty. The car can be running perfectly, and you can bet your bottom dollar they will find something to repair, about the same with the medical community! I have to give the medical folks credit though for a job well done, otherwise, I'd be pushing up daiseys by now!
On another subject, I had to go and buy another gas can for the mower. I thought I'd  zip into WallyWorld and pick one up. I wanted a steel gas can like I had, but found nothing but plastic cans, no steel. So passing them up, I went to ACE Hardware and the friendly folks explained that steel cans were no longer made for gas! Come to find out some jerk in the UPA thought they were too dangerous for home use and let too many fumes into the atmosphere, so plastic is the relacement with a filler cap that is almost impossable to get to work right. Boy, now that's progress, huh!
It's flower planting time here on the ridge, so made the pilgramage to the nursery with the wife.
Came home with the pick up loaded with annuals to plant in the beds. What is it with old geezers and flowers? Reminds me of a story...My brother in law used to live in a very exclusive neighborhood in Georgia. All kinds of covenants on what you could and couldn't do with your yard. I happened to find a bunch of those God-awful pink flamingos someone was throwing away, and the wheels started turning!!
The next Sunday we were there for a visit, and I covertly placed the pink flamingo's in his flower beds! (sorry Andy, mauve flamingo's)
The next day, I got a rather heated phone call from him. It was a true "gotcha" moment!!! It is  amazing the crap people put in their front yards. I recently drove by a clawfoot bath tub standing on end with a statue of the Virgin Mary enscounced there in! I still don't know what to think about that, is there a message there?

Be Back Soon!

Having some issues with the computer at present. Looks like a trip to the Geek Squad will be in order to get it back on track. It can't make up it's mind on which operating system to use!
I'm still reading your blogs, just takes it forever to work.

Lawn Mower Therapy

We have had so much rain here in middle Tennessee, that the grass is jumping out of the ground!
I am using more gas in the riding mower than the car just trying to keep up with it.
For some folks cutting the grass is a real drudge, just one of those mundane," have to do" jobs around the house. But for me, it's time well spent. I used to joke about it being "lawn mower therapy" time, but the next time you are faced with the chore, see if your mind doesn't drift from one thought to the next!
I have had folks that ride motorcycles tell me the same thing happens to them, in that after a good ride, all of the problems of the world are solved. Well, I've got to tell you the first and only time I was on a motorcycle, I rode it through a huge rose bush trying to get to the street, but I do envy the folks that enjoy a day on the hog. My experience kind of wiped out the "biker" image and used up a full box of Band-Aids.
Flying a plane also has the same cathartic effect. You are so busy trying not to kill yourself that everything else seems to vanish. When you land the thought that "I cheated death one more time" does pop into your head!
I have know several people in the past who have paid big bucks for psychotherapy sessions, when you know, all they needed was a riding mower and a big yard! It works every time!