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!

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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

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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.

Hits

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Hits came in today from all over Europe, South America. Even one from Lithuania. I all ways remember them for their courage in facing up to the Soviet Union and in the process of gaining their freedom led millions of other to freedom from tyranny from the old men in Moscow. Although in light of some of the things Putin is doing we need to keep a close eye on the Russians. The memory of Empire has not left their leaders.

Another was from Argentina. I was fascinated by tale of the gauchos on the pampas when I first read of them in grammar school. It's always been on my wish list of places to visit. Especially the mountains in the South. I also like to go on down to Terra del Fuego, the island group at the southern tip of South America that they share with Chile.

It would be lovely to speak enough Spanish to travel and interact with those peoples.
If any lovely young Latina from Argentina wants to visit America and teach me Spanish , I'll try to show them this part of The United States.

Open

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Open yourself up
And expose your heart
Open the window
and let the light in

Why sit in the dark
When you can
Let the sun shine in

Expose the dust bunnies
and the cobwebs
in the corner
up high near the ceiling
where you never seem to look

Why sit in the dark
while the bookshelves are loaded
with people and places
you've never thought to go

Why sit in the dark
You'll be surprised
From the very start
As you begin to open
Your heart

The lack of pain

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leads to a marvelously blissful sleep, and all the meds ensured that most of the day was drowsy. This was good as it tried to rain off and on, and finally came a most welcome downpour this evening about 7:30, and is still rumbling with thunder around here even now.

I started off the day by assembling a dowsing system to find items like gold rings or silver bars. I have had the plans in my head for a time now. dowsing has a long history and has it's believers and detractors. Those who either haven't seen it done or can't do it themselves tend to be skeptics and ridicule anyone who will claim it works.

Not believing in something simply because you don't understand it is akin to claiming there is not God nor UFOs simply because they've never seen one.

Anyho, I did assemble the device and tested it out in the back yard. Works very well there, will have to do more testing of unknown objects and locations to confirm my theory that one has to tune ones self to the correct channel to make the rods work.

Let's see......

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............Nerve blockers, blood pressure meds, anti depressant and anxiety pills, two very good pain pills, and a muscle relaxer. No way in hell could I get it up tonight, and I don't care. No pain is good.

You all stay safe.

Imagine if you will..............

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......How much heart this dad has............and for how long.

If they don't inspire you, you may need to hold a mirror under your nose. You may have died and didn't notice.

Oh my word..............

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............Please mister government official, Save us from these perverts who think that pleasuring ones self is going to somehow ruin the world.

If you don't think that the socialists in power in all governments want to rule every aspect of your lives, you are living in fantasy land.

Update: I stole this quote from Neal Boortz. "Apparently toying with Waldo the one-eyed wonder worm in the privacy of your prison cell is a no-no. Better to wait for the morning shower."

Want to buy a house.

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Anybody out there want to buy a house?
Either a brand spanking new one or a slightly used one?

For many months now, those with eyes to see, and even a vague knowledge of what's going on in the housing and financial industry have been worrying about the huge numbers of houses being sold to consumers with average (read poor) or poor (read very bad) credit and no down payment. This follows the collapse about 3 years ago of the mobile home - land purchase loans to anyone who would slightly fog a mirror held under their nose.

This week sees news articles about the numbers of mortgages in default in various areas of the country. See here and here and here. And see too many other news articles to count on your fingers and toes.

Countrywide mortgage has recently been advertising in my neck of the woods like every thing is so good that they will damn near pay your mortgage for you if you'll just make a call to them

But a good friend of mine who has been in the mortgage industry for 36 years told me 6 months ago that countrywide would accept the application and perhaps even approve it, but would keep asking for more info and new surveys and appraisals even up to the hour before the closing making it impossible to close a loan with them.

What does this mean to you? Damnifiknow. I don't know you or your financial circumstance. But I do know that if you have the cash, you can go to any bank around here, and I suspect in a lot of other areas, and buy a brand new house built by a good builder, in a good subdivision, for less than they loaned the builder. Because they have had to foreclose on him and any number of what used to be good risks and have more houses on their books than the federal regulations permit. I have personally been offered houses for $80,000.00 less than the appraisal of $250,000.00.
If only I had the money or knew some one with the money to invest.

What will be the fall out for any of us. Maybe not much. Maybe you are struggling to make your own mortgage payments. Now might be a good time to see if you can negotiate better terms on your present mortgage.

The housing industry has carried a huge part of the countries economy for a decade now. Big and small industry has moved overseas to where production cost are less.
The good thing is that this has spawned huge numbers of small businesses. The Bad thing is that so many of them are serving the housing and related industry.

Henry Ford priced his cars so that his own workers could afford to buy them. What happens if the consumer doesn't have any money to spend?

Riddle me that, Batman.

I just feel...........................

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.....................so freaking much better now that I've heard this.

Now I don't feel so bad about my tinfoil hat.

A first for me.

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Not much surprises me anymore. I've seen, read about, heard of, imagined many of the positive and negative aspects of the bi-pedal, mostly hairless, mammalian species we call us. Believe me when I say that no so called lower species of animal can obtain higher achievement, nor sink lower into degradation, than humans. Perhaps that's because we have free will to choose as we want or desire to.

My wife has a tee shirt that has written on it, "Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups". Can't argue about that. Some are all to eager to accept as truth anything someone they either admire or perceive as a leader, whether political, military, educationally or whatever as long as they don't have to think for themselves, just follow along like sheeple, heading to the shearing barn..

Come to think of it, they also like to make fun of anyone who stands outside the barn and thinks about whether they'd rather keep their wool for themselves. And if you're not careful they'll start throwing rocks or other more dangerous missiles at you.

I could go on and on and on and on. Just ask some of my relatives. All of my former friends, and a lot of people who only met me one time. But, I was going to write about a first for me.

Today I saw someone riding a real Segway personal transporter.

Oh yeah, I know they're old news. I've seen the articles on them and pictures of the use for them. I don't after all live way back in a cave. (just a small, dark, snug grotto with the salamanders and other slithery things).

I guess I'm lucky to live near a major university (UGA) Not only do I get to see a few of the flatbellied hardbodies on some of the hotties around town, I also occasionally run into something as interesting as a Segway. And being as shallow and stupid as the rest of the herd, for a brief second I thought, "hummmm, I'd like to have me one of those.

Real world that works...................

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.........Real world that doesn't work.



I'm sure he's never stood in line at the Athens post office either. Eight (count 'em 8) counter spaces and I've never seen more than two manned, and generally one of them is processing passport photo applications.

I rather suspect.......................

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...........that all of us could recall some things we'd rather the world didn't know we had done.

Kinda like the preacher saying, "Damn brother, I don't think I'da told that one.

Oh Please, please, please...................

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..................tell me that's not his right nut hanging out there.

That's just too, too much information. ttmi

I have the strangest........

.
..................feeling that This
just might work.

Especially if the others in the group were attractive women, intelligent, good humored, socially adept, and..................


.........................................more or less seductively clothed nymphomaniacs.

Just might work.

Star Trek Fan

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I confess to being a huge Star Trek Fan. From the Sixties until today, I've enjoyed all of the various incarnations of the Enterprise.

I suppose it stems from coming of age in the 60's when we considered that we, all of us, individually and together could accomplish anything we wanted to. Or, as a friend once said, "if you can conceive it, you can achieve it".

That seemed to me to be so true. Especially in the summer of '69, when, while in basic training at Fort Polk, LA, we heard and watched as the USA, fulfilling a goal set by young President, John F. Kennedy, sent a rocket containing 3 astronauts and a moon lander to the moon, sat two of them down upon the surface, and returned them safely to mother earth.

Star Trek seemed so prophetic in those early days of the space program.

I've stated many times that I'd give my left nut to go into space. In any kind of vehicle that would carry me there. Heck, no more than I use them these days, I'd likely give them both. I could always get a bionic Roscoe like Acidman if I made it back and the women were clamoring for a piece of a man who slipped the bonds of gravity, if only for a little while.

The latest incarnation of Star Trek has to be my favorite. I'll admit to having had a crush on Troy on Picard's Enterprise, and later the delectable Seven-of-nine.

But Tpol played by Jolene
Blalock gets my sluggish blood pumping at like 2 cm per hour, or more. Quite a step up from my normal sloth like existence.

Even without the fantasy women though, I think we need to have a goal of the magnitude of achieving some sort of good space program again. Whether it's just going back to the moon, (to stay this time) or to mars and beyond. It would seem to be a goal that has the potential to unite all mankind, if we could only get beyond our petty politics, anger, and greed.

The way things are going, it just might be the last great hope of the human race.

Just my thoughts from the kudzu grotto tonight.

I wonder if women have fantasy's about some of the men of Star Trek.

It is always .............................

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....................a mistake of the grossest kind to let me loose in a grocery store when I'm hungry. Especially if I've got 3 or 4 dollars burning a hole in my pocket.

Yesterday I was tasked to go to the store and pick up some soft drinks and ice for the old grump. Sufficient to quench the thirst of a group from his church an hour and a half away. They try to come up once a month to make sure that I don't convert him into some kind of weird cult or something. Well actually, they just like him and want to check up on him and visit for a while.

The preacher and his wife have about 9 children mostly girls, and as they are some sort of primitive Baptists, or something, they don't have that instrument of the devil, a piano, in their church. (Probably make someone get up and dance or something) As a result they have learned to harmonize their church songs, and it's a little like listening to a choir of angels to hear those girls aged from 5 to about 18 sing together. Papa and the one boy still at home are wise enough to keep their bass at a level that only adds to the general attractiveness of the sounds.

Quite a pleasure really, to listen to them.

Anyway as I was saying about the dangers of letting me loose. I returned home with the grumps drinks and change............and a package of Oreo cookies from my spare quarters and dimes.

Oh, the horror, and massacre, with which I tore thru them. Kinda like Sherman thru Atlanta and middle Georgia. Leaving nothing but plastic wrap and crumbs behind. I think the wife may have had two or three. I finished them off this evening just in time to click this out.

I'll probably poop black for a couple of days now. Chocolate being almost as good as Castoria (remember that kids?) at scouring the old pipes out.

Back to back .

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Double feature of Pretty Woman with that flower of Georgia, Miss Julia Roberts on the TV this afternoon. Hogged the remote and me and the old grump watched it twice. I'm sure the song was written before the movie but Roy Orbison had to have had Julia on his mind when he wrote it.



And then when it was over I felt....
...........lonely.

Some times

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When you want to hurry, the rain comes along and says, "Slow down, go inside, sit down and put your feet up. Just in time for second breakfast.

Leroy and Maybelle

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Leroy and Maybelle were standing in front of the divorce court judge, Judge Amos.

"Ladies and gentlemen we have before us Leroy and Maybelle and Maybelle wants a divorce from Leroy" declared the Judge.
"Now Maybelle why is it that you wants a divorce"?

"Well sir, I be wanting a divorce from this hear man Leroy 'cause he don't satisfy me sexually, yore honor", said Maybelle.

"Well now Maybelle, Leroy looks to me to be a fine physical specimen of a man. Why just look at him. A little over 6 foot tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist and no fat at'all on him. Why can't he satisfy you?", asked Judge Amos. "Mos' wimmen would consider him a fine catch."


"Leroy, what you got to say to that"?

"Yo' honor, sir, I can't understand that cause I never had no complaints befor'," quote Leroy.

"Well now, les' just let the court determine that", said the judge>.

"Leroy, drop your pants and let's just see whether you have the wherewithal to fulfill your family responsibilities", ordered the judge.

It's hard to say that Leroy blushed, but he did sorta darken a bit as he faced the judge and complied by dropping his pants. It was quickly apparent that Leroy liked to go commando.

As he stood there the judge kinda smiled as he said to Maybelle, Miss Maybelle, it looks to me like Leroy has the equipment to satisfy most any woman". And sure enough, Leroy was the proud possessor of at least 10 inches of flaccid manhood, about the circumference of a coke can..

"Does he have a problem raising that flagpole", the judge asked?

"Oh no sir judge", said Maybelle,
he gets hard as steel."

"Well Maybelle, I can't see what the problem is".

"Let me show you, your honor. Turn around Leroy".

Upon Leroy presenting his backside to the judge, he could see that Leroy's ass was just as tight as the rest of him.........., but small as a young boys it was.

"Now Judge', asked Maybelle, "have you ever tried to hammer a spike with a tack hammer"?

"Divorce granted", bellowed the judge.

Slightly updated to make a little more sense.

Some people don't ........................

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..................Know Shit from art.

The escalating value of the late Italian artist Piero Manzoni's canned feces was chronicled in News of the Weird in 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2004, but now in June 2007 his former colleague Agostino Bonalumi told a reporter that the project had been a hoax and that Manzoni had merely filled the cans with plaster. Manzoni created 90 small tins, and collectors had paid thousands of dollars each (making his feces worth more per ounce than gold, including once, in 1993, paying $75,000 for a tin). (A spokesman for Britain's Tate gallery, which once paid the equivalent of about $35,000 for one, said that the actual content of the art is beside the point.) [Reuters, 6-12-07]

Stolen with laughter and thanks from News of the Weird

Fred has women

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...Figured out I guess................Go Here

"Rather men seem to want a woman who is reasonably cute, not fat and, by whatever the standards of the particular man, likeable. Conducing to the latter condition are (depending on the man) brains, sense of humor, a minimum of bitchiness, and being a decent human being.

With the exception of brains, these are not evolutionarily respectable categories. Yet, in my experience, bright, vivacious, good-humored, dark-haired and small-bazoomed easily trumps the reverse qualities."

I would however add one other criteria...............

..............Take a really really good look at her mother and grandmother. If possible have them and the intended take an IQ test. Be guided by their looks and disposition. Don't settle for anything under 115 IQ. Although if you have an IQ of 150 and no common sense, you'll likely ignore what is said here to your greater earlier satisfaction.

Wherin I have been .............

.
.........Tagged by the Darling Miss Jean, I shall endeavor to think of 8 things about me. Might take a while.

First the rules.


1. Post the rules for the meme at the beginning of your post.

2. This meme consists of the blogger listing eight random

facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged in this post are to write their own

post listing their own eight random items and list the rules.

4. At the end of the post/meme, list the folks you are tagging

and leave them notice of such in their comments.


**************

1. I graduated high school two years before Jean. Which is OK because I hear that girls mature before guys. And by the time I grow up she'll likely catch up to me.

2. Married almost 40 years. 20 of the happiest years of my life. (my wife hates when I tell that at a social gathering) (With good reason I guess).

3. I have 3 lovely daughters and a handsome son. Most of them inherited my brains, which is a good thing considering my looks.

4. I have always had a fear of wearing shorts. It's long pants or nothing for me.
The flesh of my belly and legs would put to shame the belly of a fish I reckon.

5. I have always had a way of putting the kids and grand kids to sleep when they are young. Give the mothers a break and me an excuse for a nap.

6. The years of 1969 through 1975 had a profound impact on my entire life. Not always for the better, but then, not always for the worse. It did give me a respect for taking oaths, which doesn't seem to be in vogue now among our exhaulted leaders. Much to my dismay, regret, and disappointment. But I will predict that the future leaders who have served during the current War, no matter the name they give it at the moment, will show the current crowd what Honor means.

7. I went to and graduated from Greenleaf Business College in Atlanta. Subjects were computer programming and business accounting. Neither certificate was ever used to good effect. Back then youngsters, the IBM 350 had 4K (four kilobytes) of memory.

8. I have on my desk a 10 oz bar of silver that I refined, melted and cast. A little rough looking, but so am I.

I tag anyone who may want to reveal anything at all about themselves. If I don't have you linked send me a note and I'll add you and read with wonder all about you.

Do you Care ??

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That prominent leaders of the "religion of Peace" Can spout this kind of crap at will, but opponents are censured, spiked and ridiculed??

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."

Omar Ahmad, Chairman Emeritus, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Or do you feel helpless??

Someone out there is trying to kill us. Some people out there are trying to destroy our culture and our very way of life in this country. These people don't care who they kill -- women and children and just fine – to achieve their goals. CAIR is trying to protect these people; to convince the American people that they don't truly exist.

Why not call CAIR and express some concern?

* Call CAIR and tell them you're concerned that CAIR was founded by supporters of the terrorist group Hamas.
* Call CAIR and tell them you're concerned that they have received funding from Islamic terrorists and is currently being funded by Islamic countries that support terrorism.
* Call CAIR and tell them that you're not feeling all that warm and fuzzy about their spokesman Ibrahim Hooper after he said: "I wouldn't want to create the impression that I wouldn't like the government of the United States to be Islamic law sometime in the future."
* Call CAIR and tell them that you have just the slightest of misgivings about a statement made by Omar Ahmad, Chairman Emeritus of CAIR, that "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."


If you're still in the mood for calling ... how about calling your local newspaper the next time they quote a CAIR spokesmen and ask them why you had to read this stuff on the internet.

Some Parts..............

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..............of the world don't live constantly in fear.

A profound Q & A

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I don't remember where I copied this down from. I ran across it again while trying to pare the size of my documents down to reasonable and back them up on CD.

Perhaps you can think of better answers or explain your feelings on the subject.

I am reminded of the writing assignment that a teacher gave his class, "What are the two greatest problems facing America today".
One self-absorbed young man answered in a manner that speaks for most people, "I don't know, and I don't care".

The Student got an A.

Oh my freaking ...........................

.
.............expletive of your choice.

We are all going to die this summer.

It seems as if our asslamic brothers have graduated another class of suicide bombers just in time for the big 4th of July fireworks displays all around the country.

Kudos need to go out for the quick way the British were able to make arrests and tow off the car bombs before most of them went off over there.

If that happened in this country there would be liberals who'd shout 'take all the guns away from the conservatives' because "we all know that guns kill children" or some such drivel.

I'll tell you how to solve this asslamic (my new word of the day) terrorist problem in just a few weeks time.

Just declare open season on all of them, with a bounty paid for ears (double if brought in by an honest to goodness redneck) no license or limit and extra if it's a doe nursing a male child. One eyed and one handed mooselem clerics would get you a winning lottery ticket for one million dollars payable immediately and tax free.

You'd have good ol' boys trying to get enough gas in their bass boats to make it to the suez canal. They'd be travel agencies advertising "Get your big Five in Iraq and Iran for only $3000.00 including air fare and deluxe accommodation's". Taxidermists would mount them to hang in the living room in natural poses like they just stuck their head thru the wall. Bronze their balls and use them as Knockers on the front door. Best pair in the neighborhood would get you lawn service for a month.

Come on people, start writing your states DNR office an talk up this idea. Some of the politicians up in Mordor-on-the-Potomic are big hunting fans, always ready to take a donation from the NRA, hell they let the vice president shoot lawyers (on whom there should be open season until the population is reduced to 5 per state. That way we won't have so many of them run over chasing after ambulances on the freeways.

Now people..................all 8 of you who read me, you know I'm a live and let live kinda guy. Whatever turns you on, floats your boat, tickles the little man in the boat, gets a rise out of you even if you do have to have a little pharmaceutical kick start, is all right with me. I don't want to interfere with anyone's method of expressing themselves, as long as they do it in the privacy of their own home. But when you start sending people, materiel, money, and suicide belts to other countries, that's where I draw the line, because my poor little doggie is afraid of lightning and thunder, in fact he's hiding under the desk as I type because of the rain and clouds bumping together, and I'm pretty sure that loud explosions and fireballs would make him shit all over himself and he'd try to drag it off on the carpet. And Friends, my wife wouldn't let me shoot him, so I'd likely be looking for the first sucker riding on a magic carpet shouting "alley, alley, akebay", and I'm likely to open up the 7.62mm anti-nutcase fire power on their ass.\

I mean Nobody better cause our dog to get more neurotic.

That's my view from the kudzu grotto. Where I have two flags flying. One reads "don't tread on me". The other reads "send your balls to Washington, they need them there".

This is just .............

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...................Damn Depressing

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	4.4
Mind:	5.4
Body:	5.6
Spirit:	6
Friends/Family:	5.3
Love:	0
Finance:	2.3
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

WTF do they know.

Are you a Slave?

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.....I saved this from Pamela's Site several weeks ago, thinking that I would get around to thinking about it later.

Well better later than never I reckon.........
It has been over a month I discovered when I went looking for it.

Apparently some Islamic Thinkers are putting out posters that just melt the heart of anyone who sees them and causes all right thinking people everywhere to flock en mass to join their noble cause. (You may have to scroll down to see the one which asks "Slave of Man" or "Slave of God"?)

With the obvious choice being that you would choose to be a slave to God, (as they are I suppose, although their roots trace back to Abraham of the old testament, who's god was Ya weh, or as we know him as Jehovah architect of this world at the direction of his Father, Elohim. Later he came to earth in human form according to christians and saved us all from our sins. Call him allah or the one god, seems the same one if you follow that logic. (Of which there may be none here).

My understanding is that the jewish and christian god gave us free will to serve him or not according to our wishes. Why a God would need a bunch of slaves to sing hosanna to him day and night is beyond me. I mean........after all, he is a god. Which I guess ascribes to him intelligence beyond my comprehension, and he would probably want us to use and increase our own intelligence, not show what myrmidons we are that all we can do is mimic what he told us 5000 years ago, or 2000 if you follow the Christ. Shouldn't we much better continue our increase of intelligence to draw nearer to understanding God, if such a thing is possible.


My personnel belief is that the religious leaders in the middle east want to make us their slaves so they can live well off the efforts of our backs, much as some of the so called religious leaders in this country would do if we gave them half a chance. There can be no other reason for them to want to Kill or convert all the rest of the world.

All I know is that I would take affront at anyone who comes into the Kudzu grotto and tried to force me to do anything. Even if I would normally do it on my own. That affront might cause me to let vital fluids leak into the ground. It's excellent fertilizer don't you know.

My butt is dragging

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Hopefully no one will drag me off and shoot me.

From 9:15 to 6:45 today I drove to Augusta, back to Athens, then to Dahlonega, and then back to Athens. Maybe not 400 miles but it feels like it.

Sometimes you have to put yourself out a little bit in order to accomplish anything. Turned out much better than I had hoped and I came home broke again. But I'll continue to do that to earn 10% a week on my money. Just need more money in the kitty.

The ebay items from a week or so ago, didn't sell, so I tore them apart and sold the metals and diamonds seperately. The diamonds went well below wholesale so the jewelers I sold them to will make a very nice profit when they sell them. That's business and business of various kinds makes the world work, such as it does, today. So go out and spend those fiat dollars. Then they'll print more of them for us to spend. And you better spend them. (hopefully on things of value that will increase in value over time, because the $ will continue to decrease in value.)

At least that's how I understand economics here in the Kudzu grotto.

At least one white guy..........

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.........isn't afraid to speak truth.

Of course it helps that he lives in Guadalajara, Mexico. Jessie Jackass is not likely to run down there and protest his white ass.

What will you do if the civil war comes. Do you have an arsenal and supplies? How about a secure place to live and defend? Think it can't happen?

I try not to be or teach racist. But I also try to see life as it is, even though it keeps kicking me on my butt.

Perhaps I'd be better off pulling back into the kudzu? Whadda ya think?

Outside the light

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We started out on a clear blue morning in June. There were only a few white puffy clouds in the sky and a handful of parents to see us off. It was almost as if everyone else couldn’t abide the thought that we were really going. Possibly,…..almost certainly never to see us again. Silence was the rule among us. Everyone seemed to be contemplating their own reasons for going.

Sara and I were the last two to board. We had struck an arrangement between ourselves to share berthing assignments. For two years we had known each other at the academy. Loners, we had watched as all the others paired off into compatible couples. Till only we two were left to ourselves. Out of necessity we had joined forces since only male and female couples were allowed to sign on.

It only made sense. We were heading to Peltus Six. We would travel fifteen light years from Earth, in the southeast quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy. Not so far, I guess, if you considered the size of our home galaxy.

Only in the last fifty years had the Hawking-Thompson Drive been perfected and men burst into the sky in search of whatever was out there. And out there consisted of a whole lot of nothing, lots of near vacuum, uninhabitable, hostile planets circling a variety of suns, both large and small. But Peltus Six had that rarest of rarities, a planet neither too hot nor cold, breathable atmosphere, in fact slightly more oxygen than earth, and water, life’s blood itself to a species comprised of seventy-five percent water.

If you want.................

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.............to be a successful criminal. First make sure you're not an Idiot

Scroll down and it becomes clear.

Invasion of the Walmartians

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I confess, We shop at Walmart, or as I like to think of it, China West. I mean, come on, have you tried to find anything made in America there?

Now, come to think of it, we live in a college town, so I'm pretty sure that all of the checkout girls have been...............well, maybe not that really ugly, fat one on register 5. But then considering the numbers of freshmen males.........who knows.

The upside of it is that the store here probably gets more than a regular share of hottie's coming in and out, plus sufficient numbers of milf's that my eyes are more on a swivel than anytime in Nam watching for AA fire.

But the hottie's and the milf's are not what I was there for. The wife invited me to tag along while she picked up grumps medication, a toilet set, and fabric for a sewing project she just thought of. So I figure I'll make a few points with her by going with her. Plus as I mentioned, the Hottie's and Milf's.

Well about the time she hit the fabric center I asked if she would be there for a while. (I knew the answer) So I'll just be found in the book and magazine isle.

After I had read at least the back cover of every book there, 2 novels and SOF magazine completely as well as most of Guns and Ammo. I skipped some of the ads for exotic game hunting trips to the wilds of Texas. (Did you know you can bag all of the big five from Africa there?) I called her on the cell phone to find out where she is. Saves walking all over the 2 acre super store looking like a 3 year old who had lost his mama. Still in the fabrics, and she still has to go pick up the medication.

My feet by now feeling like I just finished the Ironman Marathon, I say I'll be sitting on a bench beyond the check out counters.

You can see anything in the world in a Walmart. I swear there was a woman rode by me on one of those courtesy scooters whose ass overlapped the seat on either side by at least a foot. She had the steering handle pushed all the way forward and still had to suck in her gut to make a turn. Wearing a set of jogging pants that showed every roll of fat and wrinkle in places you don't want to hear of. Just trust me.

Then there was the opposite lady.. Slender to the point of emaciation almost. There with what had to be her daughter and two grandsons. All wearing flip-flops of course. They had half a buggy bottom of stuff and I kid you not that it took them 25 minutes to get checked out. Exchange this, discount for that, what was the price, send someone to check. Flip-flop your way to check for your self. But what really made me giggle behind my hands was the older womans dress. Now I have to say, that it was a nice sun dress. Pretty pattern and color. Would have looked real nice on most folks, but she hadn't seen the sun in years. My legs have more color and they haven't seen the light of day in decades.

The dress had those straps which come up and cross in the back so as to show off your shoulders, maybe a little bit of boob, just the tops, and a good bit of your back.
And I swear to you that she has an old faded, worn out, stretched out, whiteish bra on under it.

Maybe I'm behind the times. If I am just let me know. Is this a new way to show off your bra? It wouldn't have been so bad, but the manufactures tag was hanging down right in the middle of her back below the little hook-ie things.

Walmartians...............................gotta love us.

You just have to wonder...........

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...............when you read of some one being struck down by a Lightning bolt from the clear blue sky what were the last thoughts of the person struck if any. "Damn, I shouldn't have stolen money out of the church poor box Sunday"???

I mean how can you not wonder if some kind of divine retribution is taking place or not? Or perhaps it was to scare the other two wetbacks into returning to south of the border. Is this racist of me? Probably not, but it could indicate a bit of bigotry. I mean I'd be saying Hail Mary's all the way back to Neuvo Laredo just as fast as I could get there.

This would be weird to see

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I have a good friend, a lawyer from Peru who lives in this country but cannot practice law since he didn't attend an american law school.
He has written several books on the architecture and archeology of South and Central America.
There are quite a few things of a mystical nature and UFO sightings in those areas which do not make the news in this country. He leads tour groups to those areas and I have seen many pictures taken by group members that have things which I cannot explain on them.

Many people have filed somewhat credible claims of seeing UFO’s and while I can't prove or disprove any of them I still wonder about the strange and mysterious. Like why have perfectly round iron objects with carvings on them been found in mile deep gold and diamond tunnels in South Africa?

Well now,

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Let's just all bend over, stick our heads where the sun doesn't shine and ignore common sense.

Am I ready to pay $6.00 for gas? Hell no! But if we expect the gov't to do anything about it we all have a malodorous bodily excretion over our eyes.

Several good points in this article in todays AJC, the official Georgia Fishwrapper.

Gas at $6 per gallon? Get ready.

By Jim Wooten | Thursday, June 21, 2007, 08:15 AM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Get ready for Congress to solve the energy problem just as it has previously solved the illegal immigration problem. A bill being debated in the Senate this week is described by some of its supporters as “far from perfect” but “a good start.”
A good start, yes, to higher gas and food prices, to new taxes and to forcing consumers to pay for high-cost “renewable” energy sources — solar and wind, for example — that are to energy independence what bicycle trails are to traffic-congestion relief.

The Senate bill, grandiosely and falsely dubbed the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007, should come with a section prohibiting price gouging — by Congress. The legislation “could result in significantly higher prices for gasoline consumers,” according to Heritage Foundation researchers. “A review of S. 1419, including the just-completed section on tax changes, reveals that the bill could increase the price of regular unleaded gasoline from $3.14 per gallon (the early May national average) to $6.40 in 2016 — a 104 percent increase,” write Heritage Foundation researchers William W. Beach and Shanea Watkins.
“Gas consumers can expect to pay between $3.16 and $3.79 a gallon for gas in 2008 after adding in the estimated impact of the Senate energy bill. By 2016, all states can expect gas prices in excess of $6. As a result of S. 1419, consumers would spend an average of $1445 more per year on gasoline in 2016 than in 2008,” they write.
With the the concurrence of the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, Charles Grassley of Iowa, and others (Gordon Smith of Oregon, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Pat Roberts of Kansas, all Republican), the committee is proposing $29 billion in new taxes on oil companies. The tax is to subsidize wind and solar power, hybrid vehicles and biofuel. The bill calls for a sharp increase in the use “renewables,” including heavily-subsidized ethanol, up from 8.5 billion gallons next year to 36 billion gallons by 2022. And it requires, too, that utilities would be required to buy at least 15 percent of their energy from wind, solar and other “renewable” sources.

Ethanol requires more energy to produce than it generates as fuel, to say nothing of the water required for irrigation in areas like drought-stricken South Georgia. It’s subsidized by taxpayers with a 51-cents per gallon tax credit, and it’s subsidized again at the pump with a 54-cents-a-gallon tariff on imported ethanol. Go figure.

The provision, too, that would “protect” consumers from “price gouging” is an invitation to price controls. And that’s an invitation to economic disaster. This comes, incidentally, despite the fact that no reputable studies establish that price gouging has occurred.

Borders were made secure and the illegal immigration problem was solved in 1986. And now the energy problem is about to be solved, too.

A new period of Global cooling?

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Can it be possible?? Can the enviro-wackos possibly be mistaken? Will empirical evidence make any difference to them? No of course not. They are not so much for saving the planet as they are trying to save it for a socialist dictatorship which caters to their perverted views of things. Most of them never study the science at all, merely repeat the slogans of the day, like the myrmidons they are.

To all the girls

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even those who have known me, the following regret or wish is my wish for you.



A rich gentleman, I reckon, would be preferable.

Mama's

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don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.



And if they do.....................Thank God. It could be worse.

Slight progress, I guess.

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We seem to be making a little headway with the minions in Mordor-on-the-Potomac.

I received two letters today. One from the Vice Presidents office signed by his lackey for correspondence. A special assistant no less, thanking me for my correspondence about the Illegal (my word, not hers) immigration policy. They notify me that my views have been noted. Probably means I'm on a list somewhere. Either that or that my returns for the last 10 years will be audited.

Another from one of our Senators from Georgia who at least now is mouthing words more to my liking. But who now comes across as a Clinton who will spout whatever flavor of the moment poll indicates is the thing we want to hear.

I don't think they expected the uproar that has been raised. Good. Let them contemplate the results of their actions just a little more.

I'd love to think that they stare anxiously into the fire over their highballs and worry just a little bit that a sleeping giant had been roused. But more likely they conspire in their smoke filled rooms about how long they have to wait before we fall asleep again like a newborn puppy. So suddenly that he sprawls to a halt in mid stride because we can't seem to keep our eyes open.

Just a little rant here in the kudzu to let you know that I'm still kicking.

Evening before Father's day thoughts

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We had lunch and a good time down at a sisters house today, along with her husband and another sister and her husband down from VA.
Always good to see family.

Tomorrow we'll travel down to our oldest daughter's home for father's day and I guess all the children will be there. They just tells me where to go and I do.

My father died just after my 25th birthday, a month after his 46th. So I knew him less than half my life and more than half of his life. Plus I had been gone serving in the Army for 6 years, so I could subtract 25% of that. And I had just reached the age when I was capable of knowing someone on an equal level. Sometimes I wonder what things I could have learned had I been more willing to listen or he better able to teach.

He could be a hard man, and seemingly was, a lot of the time. A farmer during the 50's and 60's, life was a continuous round of getting up in the dark to milk the cows and working all day to keep everything including his children fed and tended to. Although much of the children tending was left to our mother except when he needed us to do what he wanted us to. A stern voice and sometimes a boot to the behind or a twist of my ear figured in a large part of my early memories.

It took a little more maturity and adult understanding after he was gone to come to an understanding of some of his ways. And even now I wonder if my perceptions of him even come close to what he actually was. Oh well, in the sweet by and by as they say.

My oldest daughter is now 10 years older than I was when he died, and I recognize how hard it is to let your feelings show through in your dealing with your children.

Much of how we raise our own comes from how we were raised, and unless you are gifted with the blessing of being able to communicate really well with your children you have to have some doubts about how you are doing of did.

My oldest was born when I was 20, and five days old when I left for Vietnam. I saw with my younger children and grandchildren how much I missed of her in that year. And now I can see how that one year influenced the rest of my life. She thinks she takes after my mother, but I think she'd be surprised and perhaps dismayed by how much she takes after me.

My next daughter was born of a relationship I had while my wife and I were separated. I saw her once before her 16th birthday. I'm awfully glad she was stubborn enough to want to know her father. And extremely thankful that she had a Daddy who loved her in her young life because I wasn't there. She is a great young woman and mother of 2.

Our son was born 6 months after my dad died. He carries his grandfathers name, as does his son. Fathers and sons can butt heads, and we did. Today he has two children of his own and I have seen what a good father he tries to be.

Our youngest daughter was spoiled because she was the youngest. In spite of my best efforts she has grown into a beautiful intelligent young woman with a husband and child (which has been featured here several times).

On this father's day I'll be thinking of my father and grandfathers of course. But most of all I'll be thinking of the awesome responsibility and tremendous blessing of being a father myself.

Happy Fathers day. Remember that many young fathers and some grandfathers are away from their families serving overseas in harms way. Take a moment to remember them in your prayers.

What the world eats.

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I guess that I'm more surprised by the similarity in Costs among so many of them than anything else. Of course I'd like to see any American dine on $1.something a day, much less a family of four.

eBay Items

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eBay items I have for sale are # Item number: 110137328670 & item # 110137334961 for those who might wish to look.

I've set up another blogger site where I'll be putting things from time to time but haven't got it set up yet.

Waiting

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While sitting here waiting for my arteries to harden, my synapses to snap, and my joints to calcify, it occurred to me,.........
................... what the hell am I waiting around for?

Pickled Pigs Lips?

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Ok, here's the deal. A couple of days ago the wife and I were in the grocery store. Just picking up a $100.00 worth of snacks and so forth, when we went by the meat counter and there for just everyone to see were jars of pickled pigs lips.

Now I know that people have long eaten pickled pigs feet and chicken feet and 'chitlins, although why (unless you are starving) is beyond me. But pickled pigs Lips.

I'm sorry, that's just wrong. I'm speechless. Well I guess the pigs are too.

And I know that's a hippo, but it's the closest thing to hand.

A long long time ago........

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....in a land before time, the USA was a nation of movers, shakers, innovators, builders.

Sadly, we are reduced to a land of wussies where our every effort is subject to criminal prosecution.

This is what we get for having so many lawyers and politicians.

I hope you're happy. You and I allow them to control everything.

WTH????

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What. The. Heck. am I going to do with this?






It comes as no surprise to those who know me that I will bring home anything that is odd or unusual or I think I might be able to use it one day in the undefined future in some undefined way.

I've had this, approximately seven gallon glass jug with it's styrofoam cover, for several years. Army surplus originally holding some kind of acid, but now rinsed and just sitting in the sewing room / computer, office, lounge, library, ie., my junk room. I thought about a terrarium or fish tank, but that probably requires more time and effort than I'm willing to spend.

For now it holds up...... a note book (empty) 3 packs of 3 ring note book paper, some carbon paper and whatever else is handy at the moment.

Just call me pack rat.

Help request

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I sometimes have a few items listed on eBay and want to start a website to feature those and other things for sale. Does anyone know of a free website builder that is techtard friendly? I've wanted to keep ads off this blog since it's just my stream of consciousness rant & raving and keeping in touch blog.

Recent developments require a renewed effort to turn a few schmollies. Ideas welcome. Links to porn would reveal too much of my perverted nature, so will be limited. Linking to sites of undraped maidens of legal age will be confined to the kudzu grotto and not made accessible to the general public.

Rain

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Blessed rain.

We're only 10 or 20 inches behind so far this year. Many of the crops either withered aborning or soon after. Pastures usually so green in a late spring were a uniform straw brown in color.

But, hope is not lost. Yesterday the Governor and all the big wigs at the state Farm Bureau down in Macon called on everyone to join in a prayer for rain.

We'll need more, but a thunderstorm came through the corner of Smokey Rd. and Nowhere Rd. and dumped what must have been an inch or more of rain. Puddles appeared for the first time in months.

I stood barefooted on the front stoop and enjoyed the roar of wind in the leaves and rain bouncing off the driveway. Pine treetops were thrown back and forth in a fury, or a dance of delight, not sure which, Twenty or thirty feet to their arc at the height of the storm.

And like listerine kills the bacteria in your mouth and makes you want to spit them out, so the winds and rain cleansed the air, with a little help from the lightning to give it that ozone smell, which quickly drops all the ugly smells to the ground, leaving that smell of fresh laundry on the line.

And it seemed as if some of the kudzu was washed away from my soul, along with a bit of the black rotted vegetation that gathers among the roots, vines and leaves. Not all, probably not what's needed, but enough to let a little hope shine through.

Thanks due. Thanks given.

Outside the light

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I’d overheard them talking in a pub. O’Reilly’s, if it matters. Wondering what it would be like to hike through the forest, from the river to the lake.

I’d quietly said “that’s not such a good idea”. I had thought I’d spoken under my breath. My mistake, getting involved. Trying to stop the inevitable. You’d think I would learn. Questions poured out like ale from an overturned mug. Ridicule, when I told them that they would be better off in the pub, or their own beds.

“How do you know”, asked the apparent leader, a thin tall kid named Josh. “Just take my word for it”, I replied. “You have no idea of the things that live in there”.

“Like what”, he demanded. “How do you know? Have you been there? I could see the nods from the group, five girls, four males, all just over the legal age from what I could tell. Must have been college students, so sure were they of themselves and the rightness of their beliefs. You can tell. Nothing had happened to make them doubt themselves, or, what their limpid, swishy, pasty faced instructors had told them. All of it pronounced from the lectern with the sureness of an edict from on high.

I was once like them. Not so very long ago.

Five hundred years. Five hundred years. Even when I say it to myself, a long time. Seems long anyway. Seven lifetimes ago, and yet it remains as vivid in my mind as if it happened this morning.

Outside the Light

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I crouch just outside the light. Facing into the darkness toward the unknown out there. Others lie sleeping quietly in their sleeping bags or sit chatting idly by the campfire.
They don’t know that I’m here. My sleeping bag is filled with clothes and my knapsack.
They wouldn’t understand why I watch. Nor would they believe me if I told them what I know.
I’ve tried, believe me, many times with others much the same as these. Even those closest to me think I’m slightly paranoid, slightly off kilter in my ideas. No harm can come to them. They’ve never offended anyone, neither varied in their thinking from the consensus, the status quo. Never have they asked “please sir, may I have some more”. Go along to get along is their creed.
Five days on, two days off, every week. Week after week, the same old thing, the same old people, nothing ever changes for them.

But I watch, not just tonight, but while they're off living their short, pathetic, little lives.

Once I was much like them, going day by day to the job assigned to me. But, that was before…….

A night bird calls, my eyes turn slowly in that direction, my ears listening………listening for anything unusual. Nothing. Just more of the quietness, more of the dark, yet it waits, out there, somewhere. Somewhere…. ahead.

I find it interesting

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.........that a liar found out will not hang his head in shame, but will loudly criticize and berate the one who found him out as the liar and threaten to cause them to have a bad day. Then still proclaim the lie as truth and vow never to have anything to do with you again.

Little do they realize that the reason you found them out was their own outrageous claims which grow over time as thy try to convince you of the reason things don't happen when they said they would.

Like I said, I find it interesting.

Ever Kill..............

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..............A rabbit by mistake? And not be aware of it till days later?

Once in my younger days as a bold intrepid aviator for the US Army, I was assigned to ferry a huey from Budingen where stationed to Hanau Army Airfield where our division maintence facilities were.

Hanau was an interesting place. During WWII it was a secret Luftwaffe airfield. Secret by virtue of the fact that the hangers and other things were underground, and during the day when allied planes were overhead the runway and surrounding fields were flooded to a depth of a couple of feet. Looked just like a lake. Which in essence it was.

After that part of Germany was overrun and occupied by the Americans, it was used by them as their airfield and may be even today. Nice runways poured and hanger facilities built right on top of the underground hangers. One interesting story said that once a Stuka tail rudder floated right up through the wooden hanger floor, because the old hangers were just flooded by the americans with all the equipment and planes still in place.

Any hoo as stated, I was assigned to fly a bird down for maintenance we could not preform, hitch a ride back and a couple of days later go back and fly it home.
Nothing unusual at all. A nice little 30 minute flight each way, admiring the neat German countryside as we beat our way through the air.

A couple of days later the Major in charge of our maintenance called me in his office and asked if I had dragged the tail stinger on landing at Hanau. Not to my knowledge replied I. And you could always tell when this happened because the tail stinger was a 1 1/2 in thick 2 to 3 foot long piece of metal placed below the tail rotor for exactly the purpose of preventing you from putting said rotor in the ground and killing the plane and possible everyone else within a 50 yard radius. The stinger would spring you back up a little and was very noticeable. Of course if you were really intent on crashing you could get past this slight impediment. But, no, I had no memory of anything of the sort happening. Nor did my co-pilot, a Viet Vet with as much experience as I.

You didn't have a tail rotor strike, asked the Major. To which, of course, our reply was no.

Well you didn't post flight the plane then did you he asked? We certainly did, was the reply, as this was as automatic as breathing to us.

Let's walk out to the plane, sayeth Major. Curious we followed him to the flight line to the bird in question.

"Look there" instructed Major.

And there, to our wondering eyes, at a point about 1 1/2 feet from the hub of the tail rotor, each blade of which is 5 feet long and at the lowest point of a parked huey the tail rotor reaches is about 5 feet off the ground, so the hub is about 10 feet off the ground, embedded in the leading edge of the blade was the remains of bunny teeth, fur, and blood .

Now I don't know how high a German Bunny can hop, but even considering that the tail rotor was within a foot of the ground, that rabbit had to be at least 5 feet in the air when I dispatched him to bunny heaven .

I just wonder what the poor rabbit's last thoughts were?

Little Miss Hilton

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Apparently has enough pull to spend only 3 nights of a 45 day term in the Pookie.

Do you need further evidence that our once Grand Republic and the Rule of Law based on the Constitution has been flushed down the old porcelain crap receptor.

Any more evidence needed that the old maxim "He who has the gold makes the rules" still holds true.

Now this is a silly thing for me to be concerned with. Paris Hilton is a whorish slut, whom her parents enable to do just as she damn well pleases. The once proud name of Conrad Hilton will forever more be associated with his granddaughter. Bet he's looking on in disgust from where ever he is, if there is an afterlife.

Even Kudzu wouldn't grow on the lack of soul in her.

Reassigned my redneck ass.

How long............

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...........will it be before this happens in our playground?

DEMANDS for a ban on “un-Islamic” activities in schools will be set out by the Muslim Council of Britain today.

Targets include playground games, swimming lessons, school plays, parents’ evenings and even vaccinations.

See previous link to LL in musings below.

There is lots said about those good ol' boys with their guns. Would even this bring them out?

We tend to consider our family's and homes and secure jobs before seriously thinking about that. I know I do.

I said many times that if I'd not had a wife and daughter back in the world, I would have extended my tour of duty indefinitely. I still consider that if ( big word that ) I had no one but myself to think of, I just might hit the road with an old pickup and camper and all my weapons.

When to start would be the first consideration. Where? would be the second.

Idle musings tonight in the safety of the kudzu. But I've and eye cocked for goats.

Damn it ! ! !

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Where shall I go?? How shall I live??

Do we make a.........

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...........Difference here? Do any of the words written change the future?

Allow me to spin a little tale if you don't mind.

I was raised in the country. On a small dairy farm owned by my parents. We might not have had a lot of money, but we sure ate good looking back at it in my memory. Hogs that we raised on corn we grew and milk that we couldn't sell. Beef raised on grass and feed we mostly raised. Vegetables raised in a garden that I hated to work in as a child. New clothes and shoes each year before school started. My parents only graduated high school, but wanted us to go further than they did. We would have too, if we hadn't wanted to leave home so bad to strike out on our own. Thinking that we could certainly do better than they. Because there was the reality of a hard life at work at home. Looking back, I'm not sure it could have been better, but we might have responded to it more intelligently.

I always wanted my way and more. After only 3 months of college, I married the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. Mostly I still see that image, although only in my minds eye. Sometimes I say half in jest that we've been married 20 happy years.........
..not too bad out of almost 40. And maybe I'm counting a few too many. She's tried to rid herself of me many times, but I was too stubborn to leave, or maybe just didn't have enough sense. But we have a fine set of children and grandchildren that we both love.

I elected to join the army after a year and a half of marriage. This was in '69. I received my draft notice the day I came home from signing the papers to enlist. There was no doubt that I'd go off to war, only whether I'd manage to get to fight it with my preferred weapon, an AH1-G Cobra gunship. When my orders to 'nam came she was near term in her first pregnancy. I left when the daughter was 5 days old. I look back and see how that must have seemed like I abandoned them both. Starting from the day I left to go to basic.

But, I survived to return. To watch that little blonde curly haired little girl charm the hearts of the Germans at my next duty assignment. Shortly after leaving that assignment for Washington State, my father died, and I resigned my warrant to come home and take over the farm. Just as the army did, it required more of me than I gave to her. And like many viet vets I felt betrayed by my own country and it caused me more than a little hurt which sometime found release by violent treatment of the cows and vulgar language in an almost constant stream. And I realized that I was missing a component of my life which I shed in my teens. A religious component.

So I sought for a direction to travel in. And I found one. After much searching.
Much prayer, until one night I woke to find a strange man standing at the foot of my bed, 2:10 in the morning, my wife sound asleep on the other side of the king sized bed. And through mind meld or something, he told me to accept Christ and be baptized. Which I did 2 days later, with my wife off at work and the kids at school. Says something about how close we were doesn't it. I was active for a while, but none of my family wanted to go with me, and pretty soon a man gives up trying to drag the mule to water only to have them not drink.

10 years later, I was running a small sawmill at our place in the middle of the woods, when a man drove up in a battered blue van. Said he was from the church and was looking for, as it turned out, me.

Now I hadn't been to church in years and had moved 80 miles from our old home. But somehow my name had been sent to the local branch and here he was. We talked of shoes and ships and sealing wax, and at last I got around to telling him of the nocturnal visitor so many years before. Because it still remains more vivid than almost anything I've ever done. I had often wondered why that visitor came to me when most people never had that experience. And I wondered if there was some great work that I was to do. The man simply looked at me and said "he wanted you in church". And so I go, not as often as I should now I guess. But for 12 years I felt that I was touching peoples lives in a positive way. And I could sometimes see the hurt on my wifes face as I would get ready on Sundays, and leave her for 4 to 6 hours. But she didn't complain, only endured.

So now I spend more Sundays with her, but I wonder, will we ever have again that closeness we had in our youth, when we clung together because it was us against the world.

I started this post intending to rant about a post over at LL’s, but I guess I needed to see what was under the Kudzu today, and trust me, I didn't look as deep as I should have.

Maybe another day.

Prayer Request

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Please send up prayers for Kat and her family, especially her husband. A tireless worker at supporting and remembering our troops. They deserves our prayers and thanks.

I learned something new today...............

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In an email from my brother in law. Retired major in the reserves. I rarely hear from him in person. A wonderful quiet guy, he has worked most of his working life since leaving active duty as assistant chief, or chief security guy for places as varied as Cape Canaveral, high grade think tanks, super computer companies and a stint as security chief for the company charged with rebuilding the part of the pentagon damaged by the suicide plane that wrecked one whole corner and took many lives on 9/11.
He's also been a loving husband and stepfather to my second oldest sister, who I think turns 29 soon.

I heard nothing about this ceremony in any newscast or blog, so I pass it to you as it was sent to me.


Subject: A Memorial Day Must read

Joseph L. Gallowy is the co-author (with LTG Harold G. Moore, USA Ret) of "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young." I think you will find this interesting.



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First I heard about this Friday parade at the

Pentagon. Isn't it "newsworthy" enough for the mainstream
media?? Brake


COMMENTARY
A must-read for Memorial Day

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers

It's that time of year again. Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of summer fun for most
Americans, and as I've done before in this space, I want to pause to take note of the real reason there is a Memorial Day.

It's meant to honor and pay our respects to those Americans who've given their lives in service to our nation, who stand in an unbroken line from Lexington's rude bridge to Cemetery Ridge to the Argonne Forest to the beaches of Normandy to the frozen Chosin Reservoir to the Ia Drang Valley to the sands of Kuwait to the streets of Baghdad.

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war. Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals.

This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.

Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Web-log of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Web site.

"It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here.

"This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew. Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area. The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares.

"10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

"A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.

"Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden ... yet.

"Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.

"Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer.

"11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. `My hands hurt.' Christ. Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.

"They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

"There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

"These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years."



(Copyright 2007 by Robert Bateman; reprinted here by permission.)

Thanks, Bob, for this Memorial Day gift.

Rain.........

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.........just when you think it will never come again, a light rain over the area brings some much needed moisture to the area. Makes me glad to see hurricane season as this is courtesy of a tropical storm from the Gulf. We're just on the edge of the path, but there may be more tonight and possibilities for the morrow.

Spent much of the morning over the hot plate in the back yard. This afternoon however was the celebration of Callie's 1st birthday, which is officially the 5th.

Oh, My, there was feasting. Down to the other grandparents house on the lake where we dined on 2 varieties of deer tenderloin. One cooked on the grill and tasted like the finest prime rib you ever tasted, the other cooked in the oven in marinate and covered with foil to steam it to perfection. Also fresh, as in caught this morning fresh, white and striped bass, along with one large mouth bass and a flat head catfish, all filleted and deep fried outside in the fish cooker. Slaw, potato salad, two crock pots of pinto beans and assorted other comestibles.

Afterward, ice cream cake for the birthday girl, which she dove into head first and was blowing ice creame bubbles from her nostrils.

Did you know they can put an edible picture of someone or anything on the icing of any cake now. Still trying to figure that one out. Got to literally eat the birthday girls elbow.

Afterwards much ohhing and ahhing of presents as they were unwrapped.

So the top button of the pants is undone and the belt fastened 2 holes larger this evening.

The 2 grand children are in the bed, if not quite asleep. I have to creep in and threaten with dismemberment if they don't shut up and go to sleep. Back they go tomorrow to the loving arms of their parents, who were warned this evening to prepare for their return, in spite of their objections.

All in all, considering the rain which was awarded a thousand points, not a bad day.

Woo....HHaaa

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... breath sigh of relief. Today wasn't so bad after all. Even got a nap in this afternoon.
Took the grand son (7) with me to the pawnshops today. He was very well behaved with the exception of wanting everything he saw. But relatively quiet about it, unlike at home, where his mouth motors a mile-a-minute. He's always had a difficult time communicating because he will not look at your face when he talks. Never learned to associate sounds with the positions of mouth and tongue. So I work on that and make him speak more slowly. He wants to jumble all the sounds together and my old ears can't make turnips from tornadoes of what he's trying to say.

We got back shortly after 12 and his grandmother suggests she'll take them both to her sisters and let them swim in the pool. Wear them out so they'll go to sleep early is my response.

Now can anyone give me a good reason to let a 9 yr old girl have a cell phone with text capability. Drives the wife crazy. Just enhances mine. Spoiled brat is calling everyone and pouting about everything. That's gonna cut the visit short. Guaran-damn-teed.

What in the world did we do back in the stone age, when all we had was a party line phone in the corner at home and no one used it except in emergencies.

Just one more addition to the noises in my head.

Blogging........

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.........may be a lighter than normal for the weekend. Two grand children, aged 7 & 9 have come to visit. Talking like today will be the last chance and they're eager to get everything they'll ever have to say, said right now. .

Grandparents tend to spoil grandchildren. These their parents give in to every whim and I get stuck with the authoritarian role.

Those who know me realize that I would take eagerly to the role of Supreme Ruler of the World, and kinda like that fairey queen in Lord of the Rings.........everyone would love me...........and fear me.

Those who have to work today, take care.

We'll be spinning like Rapunzel this afternoon.