A NEW ELECTRIC EAR.

I've been loosing my hearing now for sometime, in my right ear. I'm pretty sure the wife is tried of me saying,
"What did you say?" So, I finally broke down and got a "Hearing Instrument" as they are now called.
I'm having a tough time getting used to it as everything sounds tinny, but despite that, I'm pretty sure I could hear a mouse fart at fifty yards! I look at it as though it's just one more notch, in the belt of getting old, of course those faulty ear plugs at the range, probably didn't help things either.

To add to the tale of woe, the dentist replaced seven crowns that had been leaking this month. The last two permanent crowns go on Monday, to say I'll be glad is an understatement!

The weather here has finally turned the corner, and it looks like in another two weeks we can plant some tomatoes, and a few other things to help the grocery bill a little. Today I put the lawn furniture back on the patio, so that, and a full tank of butane for the grill, must mean we are ready for the summer. Now for the mosquito's. They just discovered a new North African organism spread by our local mosquito's that will, if you
get bitten, take you out if you avoid the warning signs. Boy, what next? I think I will just forego listening to the news, and take my chances on all of the warnings, that the wombats delivering the news put out.

I did a little mechanic work on the '95 Ranger this past week. The temperature sender switch was bad, and the needle was on the peg, dead as a hammer. After I got home from the parts store, I'm sure I looked like a dog digging for a bone, way down in the engine compartment! But now it's fixed, and all is well. It's been a great truck, Ford got that one right!

OLD TIMES.

Another gloomy day! It's hard to get motivated with ice pack still on the ground, and fog to boot! I'm looking forward to August when Spring will finally arrive.

Yesterday, after the dentist visit, we were starting the 16 mile trip back home and had to stop at a rail road crossing with the gate coming down. Now, there are no train tracks here on the ridge, so the coming train was a big event. Watching the engine approach, it brought back some good memories of when I briefly worked for the Illinois Central RR, right after high school. Back then they were phasing out the "fireman"
position in the engine, so I was out of a job, one that I knew would not last, but, for a kid of 19, it was great.
I learned a lot about life, from those grizzled old engineer's that I rode with. These guys had graduated from steam, into diesel, kicking all the way, complaining that diesel's just didn't have the power the old coal fired locomotives had. They had been there, and bought the T-shirt!
Finally the train was gone. Back to reality.

The days events will soon unfold, I don't know what the "better half" has planned, but I know I had better get with whatever program is on the agenda! Maybe just one more cup of coffee, here in my recliner would be acceptable.

HOT CAT HEAD BUSCUITS

We woke up this morning with ice covering everything, and a coating of snow on top of that. For once the weather guessers got it right!
Since we are icebound, seemed like a good morning for cat head biscuits and sausage patties. I would have made grits to go along with it, but they take a little more time to make right, and I was hungry!
Speaking of grits, we have a Cracker Barrel just off of I-65, about two miles from the house.
We get a lot of snowbirds headed south, and I always enjoy watching them when grits come with their breakfast. Most won't eat them, and those that attempt it, think they are supposed to pour milk over them!
People watching is a great sport, especially folks that are born and bred in other parts of the U.S.

I have noticed that more and more restaurants are favoring chicken on their menu. The only way I like chicken is deep fried in lard, spare me all of the fancy names they put on baked chicken and the abortions they come up with. The stuff is just downright nasty. A chicken will just about eat anything, including each other. I'm sure chicken allows them a better profit margin, but I'll take beef or pork anytime over chicken. I know a hog will eat just about anything also, but a plate of deep fried chitterlings, that are stream washed are hard to beat! Never had chitlins? I used to scoff at the idea of eating them too until on a dare, I had a plate full. At the time, I recall I had finished a six pack, prior to the gastronomic treat, which made them go down pretty smooth. One good 'ol boy with us got sick, and there were chitlins strung in the bushes in the parking lot. Needless to say, he had a hard time living that down!

I did manage to trudge my way out to the mail box a short time ago, skated would be a better word.
All of that risk of busting my butt for a few advertisements, no bills anyway! Not much else to do but watch TV and read blogs, maybe a nap might be in order shortly. The ice will be with us for a day or so as the temps will not go above freezing until Wednesday.

I have a dentist appointment on Wednesday at "Dr. Joe's chamber of  horrors", another crown prep which I'm not happy about. I reckon he must have a house payment about due. Over the last month or so, I'm sure I have paid for his summer vacation to the islands! It's kind of like taking your car in for a check on something,
they always find something else that needs fixing...know what I mean.

This morning I actually saw a Robin. I think he had a plane ticket back to Florida in his back pocket!

ATTIC CRAWLING

Today was one of those days that your mind tells you that you can do something, and your body just says
"no way!"
Some months ago, I had opened the attic hatch in the garage, and noticed two bare wires sticking out of a junction box. Well, old geezers have a way of letting things like that gnaw at you, with all kinds of scenarios playing in your mind. So, with the weather being a little warmer today, I decided that I would crawl up there and put wire nuts on the wires and put them back out of harms way.
Now that sounds simple enough, but the box was deep in the attic through a maze of beams and supporting cross members. I finally snaked my way back there, sat on a joist and made the repairs. But, when I got ready to make my way back, the legs turned to jelly! Now, what am I going to do! This called for some deep thought and planning. After about fifteen minutes and several rest stops, I was back at the hatch, down the ladder and resolved to never do that again!
Just another example of a 35 year old mind, trapped in a 70 year old body. The list of "no-no's" is growing way too fast!
We have been fortunate here in middle-TN this winter. It's almost like we have a bubble around us.
Only two big snow events, a little ice, and three nights of well below zero temps. However, just consistently
cold days that keep us closer to home than we would like. I know that many of my fellow bloggers have experienced a really brutal winter so far, and like many of you, I am so ready for spring to get here.

IT"S OVER......TILL NEXT YEAR !

Christmas morning here on the ridge dawned bright and clear, but the temps were just above freezing.
I was glad to see that it was clear, so that the kids that got new bikes, and outdoor whutzits could enjoy them.

I was raised in S.W. Michigan, the land of lake effect snow. I can recall that one year I wanted a new sled for Christmas. My old one was a hand me down, and the nails on the seat would rip the seat of your pants pretty good. Well, I got one, but that was the only year I can remember, that we did not have snow and what was there, was patchy. The paint on the runners, until it was worn off, slowed the sled down to a snails pace. Sliding on the patches was not bad until you hit the dirt, then every thing came to an abrupt stop, including yourself!

A few weeks ago, I was explaining to my Tennessee grand kids, what I did in the winter time in Michigan when I was a kid. I mentioned that a toboggan, on a long hill was a great ride. They both looked at me like I was nuts! Quickly, I realized that a toboggan, here in Tennessee is a wool, pull over cap! I also told them about walking a mile through the snow to go to school, but I could see the B.S. alarm was about to go off, so we changed the subject!

Sometime between now and the first of the year, we have to pack up what Christmas stuff we put out, and get it back out to the plunder house. Thank goodness, we did not go over the edge like several of the neighbors, boy have they got a job ahead of them!

This morning we had to go to Wally*World for a few items. The place really looked picked over.
There were people snatching up wrapping paper by the basket full. I was thinking that they are pretty optimistic, that next year they will have something to wrap, with the economy and job situation going down hill the way it is. Who knows what surprises lie in store for us?

Well, it's over. The best part was being with family. They are all well, and doing fine, what more could an old man ask for!

Windy on the Ridge.

Another Sunday has rolled around. Today is cold, overcast and windy. A good day for a hot cup of coffee and flying my recliner. The wife is nose deep in a good book, so she is happy. We have the TV on just background music, must of which sounds like some poor lonesome American Indian, in the woods hoping to attract a squaw with is dole full music. The bills are paid and the pantry is full. It just doesn't get any better than this. (At the moment!)

I sure am having a hard time getting into the Christmas spending spirit this year. Since we elected not to put up our Christmas tree this year. I was feeling a little like Scrooge, so we bought a small table top pre-lit
tree at Wally*World. The rest of the house is decorated with the wife's collection of snow men, so it kinda looks like Christmas around here, but for some reason, I'm just not into it. Maybe, the older we get, Holidays are not as exciting as they used to be when the kids were small.

The past week has been full of more dental appointments, and more to come. I also wedged in a trip to the lab for blood work to be completed for next weeks doctor appointment. I ate like a hog over Thanksgiving, so the A1-c, and blood sugar levels will be high I know. This leads to a lecture from both doctor and wife.
More "Shame on me's" coming for sure!

Yesterday, we received our notice of the increase in our S.S. benefits, boy, just don't know how I am going to manage that 1.5% increase. What a wind fall! Now I can buy TWO cans of spam. I guess I should not complain too much as there are a lot of families struggling right now. Some I truly have compassion for, others, not so much.

Last week was gun cleaning time. The Ruger LCP, that I carry in my jeans pocket had a lint plug in it. I'm glad I didn't need it, for the lint plug could have created a problem. I need to keep an eye on it.
In the summer, I use a belt holster for that gun as I can wear my shirts on the outside. The rest of the arsenal
looked good. I still have not fired any of the bear loads through the 870 Wingmaster. I'm pretty sure they will destroy a door if need be.

If the weather we have had of late, is a prelude to the rest of winter, boy, it's gonna be a humdinger!
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Stay Out of the Kitchen !

Turkey day is tomorrow, so the kitchen is "Off Limits" for now. The house smells of pumpkin pies in the oven, and other treats for the over indulgence that will occur around 3:00 PM tomorrow.
We will pack it all up and go to my son's home, as he has a larger home than we do, and with all of his wife's family and ours we will need it.

I'm still nursing a sore jaw, the result of having a molar extracted earlier this week. The tooth had been filled once, and two crowns put on it over the years. I think that one tooth alone payed several car notes, and a house note for the dentist. The crown had decay up under it, and the only way came to light was a tooth ache from Hell! Nothing left to do but extract it. This was my first experience of being put to sleep while the deed was done. It's the only way to go, let me tell you!

Like many of you, we had a little dusting of snow earlier in the week. You would have thought a blizzard was coming! The salt trucks here on the ridge went into full frenzy and spread the stuff every where. The snow on the ground lasted about four hours! If we had several inches on the ground, I'm sure the salt trucks would
have all been at the Warful House, drinking coffee! Good 'ol boys, fer sure!!
The next day we had to go Wally*World for a few provisions, and found the folks had panicked and picked the grocery part cleaner than a hounds tooth. I think these "Preppers" just might have something about storing up a few food items for an emergency.

I have noticed food collection box's everywhere. I hope the food will go to people who really need it,
rather than the "Welfare Queens" who know how to use the system, and deprive a family of a decent meal due to their greed. Well, 'nuff said, I suppose.