What do you want?

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What do any of us want?

Just to be loved as we love.

What......................

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...................would you do for a Klondike bar??

Not much, if this evening is to be any judge. Although to tell the truth I did drag my sorry behind out of the easy chair wherein I had parked it to crawl to the freezer and fetch my own.

Where I had flopped after a supper of pinto beans, cornbread, a slice or two of onion and 1 1/2 pork chops. This after a loooooong day of climbing up and down a set of stairs and a short ladder painting a bedroom and living room in a condo rehab I got suckered into helping on.

Still the heavy lifting of hanging the sheet rock and finishing and painting it lies ahead.

I tell ya, I'm getting toooooo old for this kinda stuff. I tried to talk Don into hiring a crew to hang the sheet rock. Oh no that didn't go over once he heard they wanted $400.00.

I'm not gonna get paid enough to cover my gas going back and forth, but right about now I would pay that $400 just to get this job over with. Can't confuse me about what a job is worth.

Ya'll pray for me. I'm off for a long cool shower and we'll just have to see if I have the strength to rant on anything tonight.

Hiding and cowering in the kudzu hoping no one wants me to carry the trash out.

40 years

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Can go by in a few blinks of the eye if you're not careful.

Time enough to get married, have kids, grow them to adulthood and send them off to have kids of their own. Sometimes you can try the getting married and having kids two or three times, if you try hard enough.

What brings this looking back on, you ask? And well you might.

Oh nothing, just that I attended my 40th high school reunion last evening. Getting together to see how much hair everybody else had lost and how many extra pounds the girls who wouldn't give you a second glance have packed on. And which had anything lifted and enhanced.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. Oh don't misunderstand. There was enough thinning and graying hair among the guys, for some reason women don't seem to get gray as soon as men. And lots of belly's were a little past the ol' belt far enough that I soon quit trying to hold mine in so much. What a relief. I did suspect at least one guy of having a elastic belt on under his shirt, but I'm sure it was to protect his back or something. And the girls, while there were a few who might have had a little of the sand shift, were seen with rose colored glasses, and surprisingly friendly for a change. Probably because they knew that I'd been married since 7 months after graduation.

A couple of surprises. Joe Ford got married 2 years ago. Charlie Ray 11 years ago. You'd have to have known them to understand and I don't have time to tell those stories here.

Wade is still an Anarchist and makes his living working in a silencer factory. Still lives with his mother in the Castle his father designed and built. But not for long, she's finally seen the money and is moving out of metro Atlanta.

Gail and Nancy inherited their mother's ability to cook. Coconut cream pie, ummmmmmm one of my favorites.

51 out of 56 still among the living and 33 attended, with assorted spouses.

Below is a CD cover of the music album my friend Charlie made. He's standing in front of the Methodist church I attended every Sunday of my youth. The graveyard out of sight to his right is full of mostly my kin.

The title Wagon Tracks refers to the still visible ruts worn by iron rimmed wagon wheels in the granite rocks of the church yard.

Balance

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There must be some kind of system that keeps things in balance in this ol' world.
Something that will remind a person that for every up there is a down.
My last post was about a person who was down while I was on the up. (Or so I thought)

But I've learned that the pawnshop owner (the husband half) is dying with inoperable brain cancer. My wife's brother in law who was supposed to have surgery on his throat for cancer Tuesday will have to wait because now his carotid artery is enlarged for some reason, causing additional stress on him and his wife. And just now I received a call from a friend who's daughter in law drowned at Myrtle Beach SC, and they pulled the plug this morning.

Sorta puts some of my wants into a lesser order of importance and makes me a little pensive.

Sorry to be on a downer, but, if you have a moment, send up a small prayer for these folks and remember to give thanks for your own blessings.

He stood

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Just outside the door.

As I exited the pawn shop after concluding my business with them, he said, "excuse me". I thought I'd bumped him with my bag. I said, "I'm sorry did I bump you"?

"Oh no" he said, "I"m sorry if I was in your way".

As I looked at him I saw tears trying to form in his eyes. A thin small man, about my age, I thought, wiry strength in his arms and shoulders.

"What's wrong?", I asked.

"I was trying to pawn my father's pool cue", he said, "made in Germany, a real antique". "They wouldn't even offer me anything on it".

I noticed the smell of beer on him, and the blue of his eyes were faded, as if he'd drank hard most of his adult life. He had a half empty pack of cigarettes in his knit shirt pocket. And I could see that he was trying to carry himself with what pride remained to him.

"I've been out of work for two weeks" he said, "and I need to buy some groceries for me and my wife". "My rents due, but I hope the landlord will go easy on me 'til I can find some kind of work". "There's no work to be had in this town, and I don't have a car to go anywhere in".

"What kind of work do you do?" I asked.

"Construction", was the reply, "I can do anything from framing to roofing, but there's no work right now, the mexicans have taken all the jobs in this town".

Suspecting that maybe that wasn't the only reason, I asked, "how much you trying to get for that cue?

"$50.00, but it's worth $400 and they wouldn't even let me pawn it".

I'll confess that my first thought was to commiserate with him and go on down the road. I'd just spent most all of my cash and still had to leave a $2200.00 postdated check for a third of the balance to be cashed after labor day.

But the first of the week I had been almost as broke as he with $600 of rubber checks out that I hoped wouldn't bounce. But I'd received several blessings this week, where I'd not expected and my foolish old heart went out to him.

I've seen drunks spin any old kind of tales in order to get enough money to buy a six pack or a few cigarettes. But his bearing and just something told me he'd never pawned anything before.

"Tell you what", I said, "I don't have $50 but I'll give you $40 for it". That wasn't exactly true, in fact I had $46.00 on me, but I figured I might need something before I got home.

Desperate gratitude came into his eyes as more tears fell. "You'd do that for me?", he asked as I told him I'd give him my card and if better times came he could come get the cue from me anytime in the next two months.

To make a long story shorter, I gave him a ride to his house about 4 blocks away. Don't ask me just why. I visited with him a while and tried to encourage him to speak to his preacher about his needs. He said there were others who needed the church and he didn't want to ask. Foolish pride leads to many a fall I said.

I can't say if his tale was true or not. I really don't care. The Cue is up on top of the bookcase where it will likely stay no matter if it's a long while before things are better, if ever, for him and his wife.

We go thru life making decisions all along the way. Whether they are good or bad they lead us to exactly where we are. But too many realize that only when it becomes too late.

I've made my share, so I'll not criticize others for theirs. But I kinda wish I'd let him have the other $6.

Rain on the Kudzu this evening, along with some nice lightning and thunder. Scared the pooch of course, but we're glad to get it.

On their Wedding Night

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I don't remember where I stole the following bit of humor, but it's still tickles me.

On their wedding night, the young bride approached her new husband and
asked for $20.00 for their first lovemaking encounter. In his highly
aroused state, her husband readily agreed.

This scenario was repeated each time they made love, for more than 30
years, with him thinking that it was a cute way for her to afford new
clothes and other incidentals that she needed.

Arriving home around noon one day, she was surprised to find her husband
in a very drunken state. During the next few minutes, he explained that
his employer was going through a process of corporate downsizing, and he
had been let go. It was unlikely that, at the age of 59, he'd be able to
find another position that paid anywhere near what he'd been earning,
and therefore, they were financially ruined.

Calmly, his wife handed him a bank book which showed more than thirty
years of steady deposits and interest totaling nearly $1 million. Then
she showed him certificates of deposit issued by the bank which were
worth over $2 million, and informed him that they were one of the
largest depositors in the bank.
She explained that for the more than
three decades she had "charged" him for sex, these holdings had
multiplied and these were the results of her savings and investments.

Faced with evidence of cash and investments worth over $3 million, her
husband was so astounded he could barely speak, but finally he found his
voice and blurted out, "If I'd had any idea what you were doing, I
would have given you all my business!"

That's when she shot him.

You know, sometimes, men just don't know when to keep their mouths shut.

Saturday morning

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Another fine morning at the kudzu grotto. There was just the lightest of showers last night, just enough to barely disturb the dust on the truck. Nice temperature though right now. Soon hotter than is fit for man or beast, unless you're a fence lizard though.

As a youngster I was told they were fence lizards, and I thought that was only the country-fied name for them. Imagine my surprise to find out that common sense had reigned for once and called them correctly.

When our grandson Cody was small nothing would tickle him more than chasing lizards around the log pile and across the red dirt. He wouldn't catch them though, he wanted me to do the actual picking up and holding for him. Ain't scared though, just cautious.

They strike me as a pretty smart critter for a slithery reptilian. They'll wait patiently in the warm sun until any small insect crawls by and then, flash, snap, down the gullet it goes. But I have seen them stalk and attack prey with the ferocity of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Makes me glad they don't get so big. Even if you were armed you'd likely have to shoot your way out, sorta like the guy in "Men in Black". You'd never know what hit you until you're all ready sliding down the gullet.

Hope your Saturday is as fine as you want it to be.

CNN

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Or as I like to refer to it, Communist News Newwork, was gleefully reporting about the numbers of US service people who are committing suicide nowadays.

Some moonbat had written in to them to suggest that since the military is an all volunteer service nowadays that they ought to be able to un-volunteer army with a two week notice in writing. I'd like to see that woman. Her neck must be 6 feet long to be able to reach that far up her fat ass.

Combat troops always see their share of suicides. Warfare when you're in the middle of it is a matter of survival, both yours and your comrades. And you'll fight harder to save their lives than you will for your own.. But after the battle is over and you have time to think (about those you knew or not who did not survive) of how you did and might have to do it again tomorrow .........well it's enough to cause even strong men to falter.

While in Quang Tri back in '71 the unit across the road from us had two men who took their own lives. One with a .45 to the head and another who was attempting to shoot his thumb off with a m-16 but forgot to move his head out of the way after he laid his thumb on the barrel.

I have a confession to make. When I volunteered in '69 while the draft was still in force, before the lottery, my basic training company was chosen to be the test company for the volunteer army. Made sense because the majority of us were volunteers for flight school or other specialized training. Each of us had our own reasons I suppose, I just figured that I'd rather fly over the jungle rather than walk through it, and if I did get shot at least I'd go down in flames. (Stupid Child)

Every other unit at Fort Polk, Louisiana had PT every day. They had to quick time to the ranges and every other place they went, while we had PT about twice a week and walked every where we didn't ride to. Oh boy, you should have heard the drill instructors put us down, and I don't blame them. We were really getting over on all of the other units. The funny thing was that we took the commanders trophy for that cycle by a margin that made the other units look like sissy girls. I've always felt a little bad about that because I've never thought that serving your country should be an option depending on whether your parents had money or you just didn't want to be inconvenienced.

Having said that though, I am extremely proud of those wonderful young men and women who do choose to volunteer to serve in the military, and I pray nightly for their safety.

I've always been partial to Robert Heinlein's idea that the amount of citizenship you were able to exercise in relating to voting or holding office depended on your service . It seems a given that the more you desire to live in the land of freedom and opportunity the more willing you'd be to earn that right

I rather like the Swiss military service PLAN.

The best way to avoid a war is to be prepared to win at all cost and to otherwise maintain a position of neutrality.

I don't envision a future ahead that has no conflict in it. Certainly not with the divide between cultures as they are today, but a gradual move to less interference with other countries while holding the biggest gun on the block here at home and an attitude of I'll not mess with you unless you insist, but then I'll grind you into bloody dust and sow your land with salt, might go a little bit toward re-establishing a bit of civility to the world.

And Ladies, just so you know, I have no qualms about you serving if you wish, but feel that we need to preserve the only resource we have available to birth the future if we can. I note with interest that the Russians are having holidays now for the express purpose of every one spending the day trying to increase the population. A somewhat better idea than importing the least educated by not watching the borders.
That's a rant for another day.

Free enterprise

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While I am all for a capitalistic free market, the antics of these two Curlish sisters makes my blood start putting off a little steam.

They need to hang them up by their nipples from shark hooks with a couple threaded through their shoulder muscles so they won't tear free. And then pluck the hair from their legs with needle nosed pliers one every five minutes so they can spend the time anticipating the next one.

Just damn.

And where were our vaunted and over paid government accountants for the last 6 years??

Jobs need to be lost over this.

Updated website: Curlish Sisters

I really wanted to call them something else, but some of my family lurk here and while they've probably heard me before, no use making them winch in pain at my lack of couth.

Ever had a conniption fit??

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I mean a real old fashioned foot stomping, arm slinging, hair pulling, wild-eyed CONNIPTION FIT. Mad as a poked hornets nest, spittle flying, gasping for air, woe betide anyone within your narrowed range of vision further darkened by the RCOB over your eyes.

This is not to be confused with a "hissy fit" which is a more sissified girly type of fit which is generally directed at someone or gaggle of someones.

No a conniption fit had no direct target other than anything and everything that pops into your slithering reptilian brain at that moment. Much like my general feelings about all things political and your view in particular on the subject.

I used to have one on a fairly frequent basis when things went south in opposition to my well reasoned and plotted out course to the north. They come much less frequently these days. I'm taking all my medication on a daily basis and "I'm much better now". Either that or I just don't give a flip about what everyone else is doing wrong now. And it has to be wrong if you're not in lock step with me. (and no one ever has been)(probably a good thing).

Just wondering if you are taking advantage of your right to a good ol' fashioned fit every once in a while..

I didn't realize that there was a song about it till now. Lyrics follow since I couldn't find a video of the music.

I'm going crazy i'm lying on my back.
There's an army of idiots out on the attack.
Uniformed and armed with shotguns full of shit.
You better run or else you're gonna get hit.

I don't know if I can deal with this.
I'm gonna have a conniption fit.

You're in my living room I can see it on your face.
You're on my TV screen pleading your fucking case.
Well i don't want it.
No i don't care.
I'm stuck here pulling out my fucking hair.

I don't know if I can deal with this.
I'm gonna have a conniption fit.

I'm gonna have a conniption fit.
I'm gonna have a conniption fit.
Conniption fit Conniption fit.
Conniption fit Conniption fit.

Muslims

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Are our friends

And the IRS has a refund just waiting for you.

Those Lazy Hazy.........

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...............Crazy days of Summer have devolved into those Hot Sultry days we refer to as dog days. Or as relates to me, dog daze.

When the heat rises to over 100 degrees and feels like the fetid, rotting breath of a demon from hell. When you wish you could wear a space suit with an internal air conditioning unit, you know that the dog star is rising with the sun each morning and you just want to shoot anybody and everybody that asks, "Hot enough for ya?". Yeah, those days.

Don't get me wrong, I love the South and all that implies, but along about now every year I wish I lived in a nice cool cove in the Swiss Alps, high enough up that you could use a light blanket at night but still sit out on the edge of a cliff in the day and get an all over tan.

People say that money can't buy you love, but it could buy you accommodations in a cooler clime, perhaps with a long, lithe, Nordic house keeper to pick up after your slovenly rich ass.

Perhaps then I could shake off the ennui that seems to have me in it's grip and I would feel the urge to crawl out of the kudzu grotto.

Do you hear?.....................

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................without listening?

I causes me much heartache to think so many people in The United States of America are described by my wifes tee shirt which says, "Never under estimate the stupidity of people in large groups".

When a youth I was sure that the more we learned as individuals would carry over into the group dynamic and cause all humans to evolve into better and smarter people.

Now in my middle years my heart aches with the realization that while more and more knowledge about everything is being obtained, people as a whole, or at least those that I am most knowledgeable about, those in this country are devolving as far as their intelligence as a whole goes.

I stole this link from Pamela , I did tell her I was going to do it. Maybe you will find it interesting, because I know that most of my readers do not fall into the average group. You have to be above average, obviously, since you check in here from time to time.



I hate my thoughts on this matter. It pisses me off no end. We're supposed to be better than this damn it. Why aren't we?

Prayer request

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I'd like all of you to consider giveing up a few words of prayer for 3 of my nephews. Two are in Iraq, and one in basic training. This needless to say is a cause of concern for my sister and brother in law. They could also use a few words.

As a veteran I have a little feel for what the boys are doing, but can only imagine what the parents deal with.

I'm proud of all our service men and women, but especially my nephews. Below is just a little of the email my BIL sent me.



******* called last night - talked about "opportunity" to extend his time in Iraq.

He would be moving to another post/camp/FOB, working with an engineering co. at their aide station and more time on the ground with the troups as one of their medics (this would be in Rhamadi).

He originally thought he could extend just to December.

Called again this morning - if he takes extension it would be till next June (2008).

He is seriously considering this.

We will keep you folks updated on his decision.

... this ain't gettin any easier... ******* is putting on great airs of being strong but the stress is taking it's toll... pray for her continued strength (and for me that I try to be the best husband that I can be in this time). I know she' wouldn't want me to mention anything other than the boys' needs - and, I covet your payers for them... But, also remember all of the mothers this is and will impact as well. Juanita will be a "three blue mother" in a few weeks here as **** finishes basic (Mothers sending that many off to war is something the nation hasn't seen a lot of since WW-II) ... she's a remarkable woman.

Ever eat a maypop?

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Most people here in the southeast probably have at least seen them growing. Maypops, or technically, the fruit of the Passion Flower vine are not quite as profligate as kudzu, but their flowers are more intricate and to some people prettier. Of course I'm a little biased in favor of the kudzu which smells better to me.

We have a few growing along the bank beside the drive way. This one is right beside where I get out of the pickup when I park.



The fruit has a sort of mild citrus taste, which I don't particularly like but many people do. They're best if eaten right after they fall off the vine, but you better pick them a little early or you'll find no maypops at all since many other small critters will get them first.




Whatever you call them, and they may grow in many parts of the country, they remind me of the South.

Happy 15th

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A happy 15th birthday meal with cake was held yesterday evening at our oldest daughter's house for her son Cody Blake. The actual birthday was Friday. He was taken by said daughter to get his learners permit. If any of you are on the roads around the eastern and northeastern portions of metro Atlanta, be careful out there.

You probably don't really have to worry too much as most likely he'll be driving to where ever the fish are biting or the deer and turkeys roam.

Last night we partook of grilled burgers and hot dogs and assorted other comestibles.
Much beer and margaritas were sucked down by all but me and those under age.

Apparently one of his gifts was a brand new compound bow for the deer hunting. Th' boy is goooood. You could have covered the first five holes in the target with a silver dollar .

Of course this led to others bringing their bows out and every body practicing for deer season which starts for primitive weapons in about a month. Seems too early for me to cover up in all the camouflage, and trek to the woods in September which is still a nice hot month here. And their starting the season so early now. Of course Georgis is overrun by whitetails.

Don't start on me about all those hunters wiping out the poor deer. I can remember a time when you had to get up and drive to below Macon to maybe see a deer. Now they outnumber cars in some stretches of the highways.

Anyway a proud milestone for our oldest grand child. And I have to say that he is a credit to his mom and dad.

The 3600

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A moment ago according to site meter I reached 3600 viewers. A distinction as least, without being an honor. Or maybe it is an honor. An honor that that many people from around the globe have spent at least a few seconds of their time to check to see if any of my drivel has any interest to them.

Of course many of those hits come from a small group who check in on a regular or semi regular basis. And even a few that check every day.

It is fitting that The Darling Miss Jean is the one to place me at this mark. If you haven't checked her blog Pondering yet perhaps you will. A Poet, A thinker, and kind hearted soul.

My thanks goes out to her and all of those who have kindly stopped by, whether you comment or not, I appreciate it.

Does anybody

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Recognize this coin or anything similar to it?



Reverse side



It seems to depict perhaps one of the rulers of china. And the dates of his rule. I picked up 36 of them all different.

If anyone out there can read Chinese and help me out with any of the ideographs it would be much appreciated.

Do these idiots.......

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..............even know how to engage their BRAINS before turning on mouth.

Just one more socialist dictator wanna be, kinda like Shrillery.

I'll kinda be glad when some of these bombastic bobos are kicked to the curb.

Does she............

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........or doesn't SHE look like one of those japanese blow up dolls?

I'm just saying, is all.

Just wait...............

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............Until they have to change the refineries over to making winter gas.

That's when THIS
is going to really hurt.

Right now the refineries are putting out enough summer gas so the pump price is not really reflecting the per barrel price. Remember back a month or two though, when the pump price shot up because the refineries couldn't switch over all at once and there were shortages and thence price increases. I figure along about September or October people are going to be screaming bloody murder about the obscene oil company profits again.

You do realize that their net profit on a gallon of gas is in the range of 6 to 10 cents, while the state and federal taxes on that same gallon of gas cost you directly at the pump between 50 and 70 cents per gallon.

Want to scream at someone. Look to Mordor-on-the-Potomac. Want to bare your breasts in protest? Come on by Athens, we'll have someone out on the perimeter to weed out those deemed unacceptable.

Phew!

.
It is a hot day here in the Kudzu. Was supposed to get up around 91-92, but with the humidity up it feels like more. Could be worse I reckon, I could be working on the highways or up on a roof right now. I've put on several roofs where we had to keep a water hose spraying cool water on it and us in order to be able to survive. That's a tough way to exchange bits of your life for a piece of paper at the end of the week that you can then exchange for other pieces of paper with pictures of dead presidents on them.

That's what your doing, you know. Exchanging portions of your life, your time, and your knowledge, skill, and or ability for money. Doesn't seem hardly fair that you have to spend your youth and middle years just to try to have a little something to tide you through the end stage of your life, when you may be sick and feeble and not much in the mood to enjoy it all that much. Maybe want to end it altogether.

Why can't we have our retirement in the middle years. Say from 35 to 60, or 45 to 70. Something like that. We can then enjoy the retirement and look forward to having something to occupy your time in the last years we have. So many people have nothing to do other than watch the tv and wait for the grim reaper. Their children have moved on and the grandchildren have grown up and have their own lives to live. If their lucky their children will visit a few times a year. Better to give them something to get up for each morning.

Or you could spend your time and effort wisely. Ensure several streams of passive income and live the rest of their lives in retirement or semi retirement.

Just my view while resting in the shade of the kudzu and waiting for it to bloom.

Unghh

.
Waking up with the birds is for the birds. Up this morning at a little before 6:30. Had to go to bed at 10:30 to accomplish that feat.
I don't mind so much mentally, but my body says no, no. A couple of Aleve and 8 oz of water will (I hope) take care of the aches. Worst part is my lower back. Rode in the truck about 250 mi. yesterday. Paying for it today.

Well, it does give me an early start on the work I've got to do today. It's not too bad outside right now (just a little humid) but it'll touch close to 100 on the back side of the house by afternoon.

Oh, Poor, Pitiful me.

Take care out there people.