Winding Down

At least I thought that was what the year was supposed to be doing.

Around here ol' Father Times doesn't seem to have lost a step since June. Busier than a three legged dog in a rabbit hunt. Still, while I left at 9am and drove back and forth for over 200 miles, sometimes at 80 mph (like the time just before I saw the Sheriff's car parked beside the abandoned hotdog stand just outside Franklin Springs) I wound up back here, right where I started from. I can travel farther and make less progress than anybody I know.

The snow from the weekend is mostly gone except for a few patches in the shade, although it's been windy and cold enough to mostly dry out the ground that's now showing.

I think I'm just going to forgo the rest of this year and stick around home till after the weekend. I'm sure it will ring on down to 2011 just fine without me. Still if the fire works Friday night sound too close and too much like Tec-9's I may be forced to rouse myself and light off a few .357 cherry bombs. That reminds me......I need to make a run to Wally World to the sporting goods section soon. You can't have a really good New Year's celebration with out enough noise makers and those little annoying thing-a-ma-jigs you blow into that sends a paper annoyance uncurling into someone's face.

It's been quite a year here at the Kudzu Grotto. Lot's has happened and nothing much seems to have changed.

I'm looking forward to the New Year and the onslaught of potential presidential candidates announcing there intention of running for office in 2012. More than ever the internet will have to do yeoman's duty to hold their feet to the fire.
Get out there and do your part.

Snow on Christmas

It must be all that Global Warming stuff.
In the last 100 years it has never happened in this area of Georgia.
Before we'd left the festivities in Gwinnett County where our eldest and her family live we were beginning to get snow sticking to the ground. The stuff of songs and movies, something little children (and some adults) had wished would happen for generations. Just that little something extra to make the holy day merry and bright.

By the time we had driven 40 miles to the east we were back into only rain.

Never mind. We had truly experienced a White Christmas. Not for the first time, since the wife and I had three Christmas' in Germany once upon a time, but, a first for our home stomping grounds.

Later, after the wife and pooch had turned in early for much deserved sleep, I watched as the drizzling rain here turned into snow. By the time I turned in around 11:00pm there was almost an inch on the porch railing.

This morning we awoke to 3 inches of the icy fluff, and it was still falling.



Although the roads and paths are a bit too warm for it to entirely cover the ground it still makes for a nice picture and give us hope that it will soon be gone.



Don't get me wrong.......I love to see it come, but the remnant of the farmer left in me remembers and hates the mud that comes after it.

Merry Christmas to all who visit

It's quiet and still here at the kudzu grotto this evening.

The ol' Grump is abed with who knows what running thru his head, the wife and pooch are already down at the eldest daughter's preparing for tomorrow. It was sunny and nice today with a slight chance that tomorrow will see the first snow on Christmas in Atlanta in over 100 years, though I can remember two back to back Christmas' where we had ice storms in the early 60's.

May you receive the spirit of Christmas tonight and keep it all through the coming New Year.

Oh Yeah........

I feel so much safer NOW

On the one hand they tell us to let them know if there is anything suspicious, and on the other they hassle you if you suspect that their policies are stupid, wrongheaded and designed more to control a people that think because they live in the USA that they are a free people.

It's coming.

Prepare now. Don't think that because we've elected a few new people to the congress that everything will be alright.

Because it won't.

Wikileaks & mr. Assange

If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is wrong, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one ever was truly harmed.
.
Marcus Aurelius

While the reptilian portion of my brain say, 'cut him into little chunks and make fish chum outta him', another portion asks the question, 'what if our government took George Washington's advice and avoided entanglements with foreign governments'?

I realize that politics has gotten to the point that, like sausage making, we really don't want to think too much on how we get to the finished product, but, I sometimes wonder how things would be if, as individuals, and as a country we could stand forth boldly saying, 'these are our guiding principles, we will stand by them. We do not ask that you necessarily have the same ones, but, we require you to respect ours. Ours are embodied in our Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. We will defend them and this Nation against all who wish us, or them, harm, both foreign and domestic, until the last breath'.

I'm not so naive as to think this will happen now at this late date and in light of all the things that have happened in the world.

I just get to wandering on the paths thru the kudzu every once in a while.

Swift and Sure

Who says there is no Justice in the world anymore?

Vigalante or Concerned Father you decide.

Maybe she is old enough to decide, maybe not. Age of consent.....probably. Age to make responsible choices.......probably not.

I suspect the father and many other people consider his actions justifiable and appropriate. Personally I'd have been tempted to do the same.......possibly more. For sure there wouldn't have been an opportunity to call the police when I finished..
...
Maybe a few more bratwurst for sale down at the corner wurst stand.

Southern Weather

Windy, cold, drizzly suck ass weather.

Damn, I'm glad I live in the south where this is only a 2 or 3 month thing.

Pity th' fools what lives in the North.

Flickers from inside the Grotto

For lo these many years now we have slide ever more deeply into the morass of political correctness in this country.

Laws are enacted forbidding you to even possibly think a negative thought about anybody, any race, any country, any religion or sexual persuasion. Soon we'll all have to wear blinders like the ol' mule hooked to the plow lest we even acknowledge anyone else's presence let alone notice that their eyes may be of a different hue.

An alien from outer space landing in this country for the first time would think by noting the vast number of laws against everything that each and every individual in the world hated every other individual, group, cult, gang, whatever, in the whole world.

Just Dang.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that we need very few laws in these regards. Indeed,we need far fewer laws period, and like some of my libertarian friends we need only to ask the question, "Was anyone harmed by force, fraud or violence?". If yes, then let the punishment fit the crime, but let's get over the idea that we have to legislate every aspect of an others life.

Today in this country there are vast numbers of people enjoying the idea that they are pitted against vast numbers of.....Those, Them......whoever it is politically, financially, racially, political party affiliation, skin color or whether they dye their hair orange and wear black lipstick. It's tearing the fabric of this once great nation apart. Fear, whether a real danger exists or not, will drive people to do insane things, horrible things, things most of us don't want to admit to, even in our darkest nightmares.

Personally I'm of the mind like our old good friend, Rodney King asked after he'd literally had the sense knocked out of him while rampaging on PCP, "Can we all just get along?".

But no, apparently we can't, despite laws and regulations too numerous to count. There are laws benefiting or restricting every group or individual you can think of. Whatever happened to the concept of equality, under the law, for all, so that we are each able to pursue whatever we think will bring us happiness or fulfillment.

Perhaps we need less legislating, more common sense, and a whole lot more individual responsibility.

Unfortunately it may take two generations to turn the tables around again.

At least that's what it looks like as I peer out of the Kudzu Grotto.

Crashing and burning

The ol' Grump fell again tonight.

Second time in a week, the first time hitting his back on the edge of the dresser. This time hitting his head lightly on the floor and tearing some of his paper thin skin on both arms. A good bit confused.

He seems to be getting weaker and more confused with each week that goes by. Plans to attend a nephews wedding may have to be put off.

If you care for an elderly parent you know the stress it can place. The wife of my youth doesn't need any more stress above what I cause her, but with two elderly and not so healthy parents, one living with us and one 30 minutes away, both of whom don't eat right and one smokes like she's on fire, my dearest is stressed out. I'm not very good at being her Rock of Gibraltar and it's painful.

Ya'll that are inclined are requested to keep us and them in your prayers.

Thanks and Ya'll come back now.

Shots fired in the 'Hood today

First I see 4 or 5 young truants with their hoodies and dreadlocks walking down the pipeline that bisects the neighborhood. A couple minutes time takes them over the road to Nowhere and a pistol sounds off.......maybe a 9 maybe a .380.
Another couple minutes and I see them hurrying back up the pipeline close to my chain link fence and through the yard next door where at least one of them live. They keep watching me furtively as I hold the cell phone to my ear and watch them. Called no one, just gave that impression.

Imagine my surprise when 5 Clarke County police cars converge on the edge of the road at the corner of Smokey at a house on the otherside of us.

Thinking they might be responding to reports of shots fired I walk over and volunteer what I'd seen and heard.

They'd actually come out because a deputy had driven by while they were across the road and they'd scattered like a covey of hard hunted quail. Thinking it suspicious the constable called it in.

While the K-9 unit worked the Now here road side, two other deputies questioned the youngsters next door.

Apparently satisfied the deputies all converged back to their cars and the Juveniles next door along with either the mother of some or a girlfriend piled into their own 3 cars and left the scene toot sweet(sic).

Does anybody want to trade about 20 acres out in the country for a 3 bdrm, 2 bath house in an excellent neighborhood with all the amenities?

The more refined side of kdzu

It's been a typical late fall day here at the Kudzu Grotto.

Threatening rain (although all we've gotten has been a little drizzle from time to time) with winds that have all but died out since darkness came creeping out of the east. Cooler tonight with the week ahead forecast to be in the 40's for the highs. Just damn.

Made a run up through Carnesville to Toccoa mid-day then back to the Grotto with only a smallish amount of work to get started. Then a very nice nap in the rockin' recliner, awakening in time to heat up a boiler of oyster stew with soda crackers for supper.

Ah, the high life.

I've been reviewing the pictures taken last night at the youngest G-daughter's ballet recital and Nutcracker production.



At 4 1/2 years old you can only hope that their 3 minutes on stage will be satisfying for them and fun for us.

I have to report that it was all that and more.



Although the lights were more of a glare onstage than Callie could manage without squinting and holding her hands over her eyes trying to see mom and dad in the audience, she gets an A for effort and the hope that her parents will keep her in dance as long as she enjoys it.

She really got into the period after the intermission sitting in her Nannies lap and wiggling along to the music.



That's her mom sitting to her left.

I enjoyed the entire production even more than I had hoped to. The younger dancers gave great efforts even including a little 'Break Dancing' from a couple young boys.
The production of 'The Nutcracker' by the Classic City Dance Troupe was icing on the cake of a wonderful evening.

There was one young dancer that I think caught the attention of a large portion of the audience...



This picture is the best I could get of her. She had to get a Gold Star for her performance. Although the smallest and apparently youngest of her group with slightly baggy leggings her style and grace sat her firmly head and shoulders above many of the older more accomplished dancers. It was apparent that she truly loves dance and is willing to give her all for it. What will happen when she discovers boys and the hormones kick into overdrive is anybodies guess...but, she could be a contender.

Who knew that an ol' redneck would have such a good time at the ballet?

Georgia Weather

.......If you don't like it just wait a day or two....especially in the fall and winter.

Rain, clouds, thunder, lightning: all occurred yesterday with even a tornado or two thrown in for good measure, though, thankfully, not too near the Classic City. Just up the road a ways they were holding onto their roofs only to watch them sail away like a kids balloon in a Wal-Mart parking lot. This will be the first time a lot of roofers and carpenters have worked in a while. Hope they are able to hold onto a little of this (pardon the unintentional pun) unexpected windfall, it may have to last till the spring storms.

All that changed overnight. A front moved through and we had the coolest temps of the season here. 26 degrees overnight according to the truck thermometer, with a frost heavy enough on the windshield to require about 10 minutes of idling to clear the windshield. Yes I know I could have taken the little ice scraper thing and gotten underway a little quicker, but it was sort of nice sitting there looking at a white nothingness for a few minutes. I wonder if that's what heaven is going to be like..........sitting in the clouds with whiteness all around?

The day warmed up nicely as the sun rose higher in the sky......brilliant blue with only a light breeze. Gradually the layers of clothing came off to a point that we were comfortable.....thankfully before the neighbors had to call the decency committee on us.

Tonight......well, we'll see. It's supposed to be a bit cooler in the morning (reminds me I've got to go drain the garden hose). That didn't take too long.

Whatever comes tomorrow.........let it come.

Ya'll come back though.