Fire in the belly

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I've posted more often than you probably want to hear of how I don't feel my years.

It's probably more often the truth than not unless sickness or ill health has taken it's toll earlier than we'd wish.

Still my desire to live to be 192 has not diminished with time.........contrarily..........much the opposite. This does not mean that I keep my weight at the ideal setting or munch on carrot sticks twice a day or run 20 miles a week. I'm doing good if I ride the stationary bike 5 miles a week and bend the smallest rod on the bowflex halfway. A fellow has to have a goal......after all.

And it's true that while my sisters hair has all gained beauty and color over the years their brother has begun to silver a bit on top. Every time I get a haircut I try to get the barber to only cut out the gray. He insists I can't afford the time or money for him to pick out only the ones I don't want ........ and besides.....there'd be no insulation between the sun and my brain.

Oh Well......

Anyway.......today I'm back over at Walhalla visiting my Vietnamese lady friend again. We're going over the design for a diamond pendant she wants built out of the top of an old piece filled with CZ stones and putting in new heads and real diamonds. She has a fondness for original pieces of her own design. Fortunately her late husband left her well off.........although when I gave her an estimate of $150 for the labor she screeched like a cat with it's tail caught in a wringer.

We had concluded our business and I was seated at the small table talking and doing a little business with a couple of other good ol' boys.......both of which are of an age with me, and both do a little trading to fill in their spare time........ mostly buying and selling a few shotguns and rifles from time to time.

Sue has gone to the counter to take care of a customer who wanted to pawn an item. She asked how much he needed to borrow and he of course gave a figure higher than was reasonable........so she demurred saying it was more than she could do. Well, as often happens he took a little offense at the price she put forward and started cursing in Spanish which is the first time I looked over and saw he was with 4 other Latinos. Sue proceeds to tell him not to use that kind of language in her store and you should have heard the bones in three old geezers necks pop as heads snapped around and focused on the group. One of the young men immediately raised his hands and said "I didn't do it". I know 2 of us were armed and the third guy at the table had come in to see if she wanted an old Winchester model 94 30-30....so it's reasonable to assume he was carrying also. The youngsters left with only a few mutters and their heads down...........probably were going anyway........but the gimlet eyes we had focused on them might have helped a little. Don't mess with a Southern lady........even if she was originally from South Vietnam..... which doesn't exist anymore........ Not if three over the hill southern gents are there with nothing else to do.

Like they say.......there may be snow on the mountain.......but there's still fire down below.

Can she bake a cherry pie.......

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......Billy boy, Billy boy......
Can she bake a cherry pie, darling Billy?

I started this last night when I was eating a fine bit of cherry pie.
Tonight I'm snacking on a double chocolate cake the wife made this morning. It sort of fell apart as she was spreading the chocolate icing.........so she dumped it in the cake plate cover and called it a "Dump Cake".
I don't care what you call it..........it's chocolate ......and all good to me. A little whole cow milk to help slide it down and I'm working on a gooooooddd evening.

The cherry pie got me to thinking of my maternal Grandmother last night.

Born right after the turn of the last century to a rural farming family, she was a faithful help meet to my Grandfather for the better part of 60 years.
To say that she was a good cook doesn't give her enough credit to my mind...... as I look back.
I well remember the mid-day meals (we call that dinner where I come from, it being big enough and hearty enough to sustain a farmer through the rest of the day) that she would cook.......as well as on Sundays when we grandchildren would go visit. I've written before about the Holy day meals that would be consumed at their house.

There was an old wood fired cook stove that sat in the corner of their kitchen even though she had a modern electric range and oven. That stove was huge in my memory........it had to be easily 6 feet long and 5 feet high in the back. I can only imagine the meals that were cooked there........and the labor to keep the fire temp just right. Probably burned pine because of it's hot burning temps and ease of starting. The oak and hickory were burned in the parlor wood stove. It would last all night if damped down just right.......ready to flame up in the early morning as Paw would go out to milk the cows.

I don't have enough information about her early life........I need to take a tape recorder to my Aunt Margret's before she gets any older herself........she's over 80 now......the spitting image of Grandma.

One picture I do have is one of her in the Lawrenceville Canning club.......sometime in the late 19 teens I'd guess........



She is 3rd from left second row. Maybe not a raving beauty by todays standards.... ..but beauty my friends is more than skin deep.

It seems strange to think of a canning club........but young women back then were trained in practical arts........useful things....to prepare them for the real world.........not to get them to think of themselves as only how large their bust size is, or how many paparazzi are chasing after them. They would no more think of showing their shaven genitals as they exited a car than we would think the world is flat.

And she could make a cherry pie.......or an apple pie...or pickled peaches......
.......and most especially a home and family.......and be the heart and soul of it.

I miss my Grandmother.

Helping a friend

I read these words tonight.........

"If you desire to help your friend, do so in a way that will not bring your friends burdens upon yourself".

It caused me to think upon a friend I once had who lived on the side of Pink Mountain.

Jake was a good ol' boy......originally from down in Florida.........moved north with an insurance settlement and two steel rods in his back from a truck accident.
Actually I suspect that he was also running from two disastrous marriages and 4 kids he couldn't handle.
A nice enough seeming guy........drawing a small disability check........which never seemed to stretch to the end of the month, although he lived alone in a two room with a bath and a sleeping loft cottage with a great view.

Both of us being veterans we had a little in common........although I only came close to divorce 6 or 8 times never tried to go for a twofer. We shared a distrust of all politicians and most political processes wherever they were.

He was always broke and needing one thing or another. Mostly fire wood since his only heat was a small wood burning stove and I had a sawmill and plenty of slabs to cut up for firewood. A group from church and I would several times a year make the pilgrimage up his steep ass road to stack wood in his yard. Much council was given on giving up the reefer and drugs and he would cry and swear never again......but could we see our way to a few dollars and he'd pay us back when his check came.

Time stretched to years and he took another woman........although we figured between his belly and hers there'd be be no chance in hell of ever consummating anything.

I should have known better............I've seen short legged Angus bulls herd in-heat cows into a gully to give him the reach he needed. Jake was almost as smart as those bulls.......I guess. Soon there is news of a pregnancy. This to two disabled people with the common sense quotient of a poodle between them.

You hate to give up on a friend............but when the demands on your time and generosity start affecting your own well being there is no choice left but to limit contact.

I hear his mother moved up from Fla. and bought them a house near her. Hope that works out well.

I wonder about them when I'm driving through the area........but I'm careful never to stop.

It's a three dog night

No.........it's not cold here. Quite the opposite in fact. The morning started off a little above freezing and warmed up from there. Bright sunshine made sitting on the porch of my tool building with a cap pulled down over my eyes a thing of pleasure. Hey..... I takes 'um where I gets 'um. Of course Gracie the dalmatian had to keep nuzzling my hand so I'd pet and stroke her. Damn dog loves me like I love chocolate.

The three dog night thing is because the wife's sister and her husband are going on a cruise down to the Yucatan for a week............guess who got to watch their two dogs?

Our pouch has just about got us trained the way he likes us. Of course he's really the youngest daughters dog.......but my wife stole him and here he stays. I don't really mind 'cause he and I get down in the floor and wrestle from time to time........tugging at his rope toy with our teeth until I'm pooped and give up. Even the fact that she lets him sleep in the bed with us is not too bad, because when I come to bed he gets out of my way.

Now , however we have these two other neurotic pups for a week and our dog is going out of his mind with jealousy. AND of course they will have to sleep with the wife also. Hmmmmmmm makes her sound a little perverted doesn't it.

All I got to say about the situation is they better not interfere with my sleeping or I'll have to go outside and sleep with Gracie in her wheat straw filled 55 gallon drum.

They say politics makes for strange bedfellows............but they haven't been to my house.

Wake up call

I was rudely awakened from my after supper pre-bedtime nap in the smaller E-Z chair a little while ago to hear the evening news talking head pontificate on guns.......... like he is an expert.

He was rattling on about the fact that there are over 312 million guns in private hands in this country. He may have said that there were that many handguns.......... I was two rooms away and just roused from a snoring sleep. (Amazing what these bionic ears let me hear)
Anyway, he goes on about how many people guns kill ever year....week......day. All this sparked no doubt by the recent spat of nationally reported killings facilitated by guns recently.............. but guns killed them........somehow it's apparently politically incorrect to say that people killed other people. I assume that is because people have evolved to the point that if guns weren't around no one would be taking the EDN. (Eternal Dirt Nap) or as the police and doctors are fond of saying DRT. (Dead Right There)

I wonder if he would say the same thing if I shoved this pencil on my desk into his brain through his eye.......or up one of his nostrils..............or maybe through one of his ears. Would he blame the pencil?...........or what about I hit him with one of several of the shovels I have in my tool building. The edge of the shovel across the back of his neck as he stood wondering why I dug that 3 X 6 X 4 foot deep hole he's standing beside in my back yard. Would he blame the hole? What about if I drove the phillips head screwdriver down between his collar bone and what ever big muscle is behind it......and wiggled the point around between his lungs and heart. Death by screwdrive...............somehow strangely leaving me only as an accessory.

You have to wonder if the LLM (left leaning media) is that stupid or are just parroting what they have been taught to say by their masters.

Next time we'll consider the question of what he would blame if I clamped his penis with a set of vise grip pliers and stretched it across the 100 lb. anvil and gently tapped on it with one of my 20 lb sledge hammers?

Let that teach you not to wake me up early from my nap.

1980 vs 2008

One might well look at these two dates and not see a connection between them. I think perhaps they may be closer aligned than is at first apparent.

If I might paraphrase Abraham Lincoln for a bit;

Eleven score and 2 years ago our fathers brought forth a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men (and women)are created equal. (if not anatomically the same) (Thanks, God)

Now we are engaged in a great national debate, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

........It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

For over one hundred years various group and nations have tried various incarnations of socialism or communism and even National Socialism. (think Nazis) Even the Mormons tried a version where all property was controlled by the church and given out equally and members were then judged by the productivity they attained from their land. All of these attempts to achieve Marx's dream were in fact dismal failures. Greed, or the love of power over others, and the desire of all rationally thinking beings to live a life as free of encumbrance to the demands of others... for what in fact amount to a portion of your life...... have failed........or as in the case of Venezuela, North Korea and China have failed or will fail in time, even if they do try to leaven their particular brand with limited capitalism.

The great debate we are currently engaged in...( whether you are actively participating or simply being inundated with the blathering of the media and advertisers is ( in my foolish opinion ) much adieu about nothing.

We can pretend that freedom and liberty hang in the balance, when in fact, they were scrapped to the ditches long ago by the powerful and corrupt.

In 1980 I voted in my first election. In the previous elections that I was old enough to vote in, I was in the military and going in the direction I was pointed. But in the election between Regan and Carter I could see the difference that could be made directly to my business (dairy farming) by the outcome.

I've said many times since that I almost wished that I had voted for Carter so as to accelerate the slide that I saw the country making away from Freedom and Liberty into an ever expanding circle of socialism, so as to hasten the inevitable coming time of chaos.......and then hopefully a renewal of the spirit of our forefathers.

I begin to think that this election is shaping up to be another one of those Pivotal points in our history. Whether for good or ill......I cannot see.....

I always hope that good will trump evil but we don't have to look far to see instances where it doesn't.

I have no crystal ball........ just a short time span of life to go by and the records of those gone before.

I find instructive some of the popular pundits of the day. Ann Coulter is always a pleasure to read. Some of her thoughts reflect some of mine.......not all. But judge for yourself.......HERE

RSVP if you like.

Super Tuesday

We all gathered at the local elementary school to cast our ballots this morning. First time voting since we moved. Got a few funny looks from some of the other locals .........
..we living in an area inhabited mostly by blacks. We stood out like nipples on a frosty morning. The lady who checked my registration against the computerized record looked like she was searching for a hanging chad......... then we tapped on the screen and were gone in less time than it takes to tell.

It is a sad commentary on the times we live in when you have to vote holding your nose....no matter who you vote for. Hopefully the eventual winner of the quadra-annual beauty contest will be better than we expect.........although my expectations at this point are at the point where I just hope they can chew gum and tie their shoes.

I know this sounds pessimistic........ but I'll repeat myself "keep your head down and your powder dry". Add to that........."buy more ammo and food and get out of debt"

Look at it this way........ at least the late night comedians will have lots to talk about.

I missed the rain........

.......this morning.

You know how good it feels to wake up about 5:30 of a morning to hear the rain on the roof.........splattering on the windows and gurgling down the drain. Oh yeah....
.....I missed that.

What I heard......and what I never hope to hear coming from deep within me.......were
moans of pain and sobs of agony that were as close as I ever hope to be to having kidney stones for myself.

The Wife woke me with the tearful question of "how do you know when you have kidney stones"?

My reply was "I don't know, I've never had them but from the sound of it you got 'em".

When you don't have insurance you tend to want to wait to see if the pain will go away, or if a heating pad to the afflicted area will help.......or at least cause the pain to ease ...... if only for a few minutes. Men tend to want to fix things themselves of course.......tighten it a few turns with a crescent wrench.... bang on it with a shop hammer to see if the vibration gets worse or goes away.....

But soon it was apparent that the thing to do was go to the emergency room. Youngest daughter working at one of the two local hospitals determined which one we chose.
Both are excellent but after all having someone you know there makes you feel a little less alone and perhaps she can pull a few strings.

Emergency room check in........if you're not spurting arterial streams against the wall...... are designed to make you wait......even though you're screaming inside "Hey!, these sorry ...........'s sitting out here with their runny noses and crying brats who simply don't want to go to school today.....aren't important. Get my sobbing wife into a room and shoot her up with some kind of liquid Pain Off".

Eventually we are taken back and she's checked and an hour later a doctor comes by for a minute and prescribes some painkiller. All this time she's groaning and moaning "It Hurts". And if you're any kind of man at all......you feel helpless and worthless at not being able to fix "it".

Minutes before the nurse brings in the saline drip and the pain shot, the pain eases up a little and the wife is able to lean back on the bed. Then the shot takes effect and blessings of blessings she is able to relax and even doze a little.

About halfway thru the bag of saline the urge to go comes upon her again, so, clutching the back of the hospital gown with one hand while I carry the IV and hang it on the nail over the toilet, she shuffles across. She comes back with the urine sample in one hand and the strainer in the other....and with a weary sigh says "it came out". And sure enough......there in the strainer is a small, black tiny stone looking object. If I were to judge it by the diamond gage in my pocket it would have probably fallen through the .05 carat hole.

And so.......that was that. The CAT scan showed no more objects waiting to spring upon her. An hour and a half later the doctor came by and prescribed a precautionary round of antibiotics and pain medication and signed the release form..

And so home........

Boys and girls, I'll tell you one thing.............that's as close as I ever want to be to one of those things. Whew!

Simple pleasures..............

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..........simple pleasures people.

Today was warmer and sunny with only a few clouds.

The youngest granddaughter came to visit. We got to play outside with the dogs and dig in the dirt.........although she kept wanting to wipe her hands on her grandmothers pants. Cartoons were watched.........crayons were rubbed all over the coloring book and occasionally on the little wooden stool.
We watched a youtube video of Mickey Mouse and gang singing the Hot Dog song about a million times.............in a row..............
......even worked in a 2 hour nap together in the big recliner when she got so grumpy neither of us could stand it any more. If there is anything more beautiful than a young child sleeping so deeply they seem to be without bones I've not seen it.

Of course her grandmother got the most time with her. I just made it sound like I was really involved............no big deal to me if she comes or goes.

All in all quite a day full of pleasures of the simple kind.

Now to spend a couple hours with a new book which is supposed to be in the style of the late great John D. MacDonald. Simple pleasures.............

Hope your weekend is going half as good.

Individualism

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Today as I made my rounds between getting my ears lowered and running up to he foothills I had a great time playing with the new GPS unit. Yes......I finally got a detailed map of North Georgia and parts of North and South Carolina downloaded. I can see where I am at all times.......whether it is within 200 feet ( accuracy to within 10 or so feet ) or on a map of the United States. Topo information is available at the 1 mile level. Gonna do some Geocacheing soon as well as locating prospecting areas.

This level of technology is amazing to me. While by no means an oldster........I've been alive since shortly after the jet age commenced to the point we are today. I wonder if I'm using this thing to pinpoint myself.........is anybody else watching. Don't have any reason to think they might. I'm not the only cracker out here with a deep distrust of the powers that be and express it. Just something to wonder about.

I was over in Walhalla, S.C. (coincidentally the place where I was wed 40 years ago)visiting with a nice Vietnamese lady. It's interesting to know people of different cultures who think much the same as yourself. Proving nothing I guess except that we all are basically the same no matter where we were born.

Later in Toccoa, GA I was buying some scrap when this ol' guy pulled out a chain and locket which he wanted me to test and buy if it was real. Although it looked like a cheap fake, we determined that it was 18 kt gold. Inside there was this picture.



We figured the locket was probably about as old as the picture appeared. ( I would show the locket but, it unfortunately is being being separated into it's molecular components even as I type this. Didn't realize I'd be writing about it.

I have to wonder what the old boy in the photo (and it appears to me to be the better part of at least 100 years old) would think of the advances in technology that have taken place. From automobiles to whatever miracle you wish to think of that exists today. What would he think for instance of the ability to do heart bypass surgery...... much less the ability to do it from outside the body using what amounts to robots which use minimally invasive techniques. What would he think of molecule sized machines which they will one day inject into a persons blood stream to cure.........whatever.

What would he think of the train of thought that we are not sovereign individuals....... but considered property of the State to be manipulated at will by the powers that be? I have no clue............just curiosity......which is not likely to be satisfied since I have no time travel device.


Today was one of those weird days for visitors. I had hits from London, Bucharest, Romania, Brazil, Italy, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, Israel.........as well as from Washington State to Florida to Maine.

It would be interesting to read how people from those other countries think of topics like Individualism, personal liberty and freedom and how they think they have or have not those things where they live.

Oh well........if I were a better writer they might choose to comment. If I were better educated and more widely traveled I might have personal experience with them to judge by.

I hope someday they will comment. The world seems to be shrinking as information travels faster and faster. Somehow in too many cases it doesn't seem to be bringing us closer together.

Just scratching an itch here in the Kudzu Grotto.

A matter of Allegience

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Surprise.............I'm back.

Nothing like a few days of not posting to cause the itch to start.......to pontificate, to lecture.......to rant a little..........to ponder......well to tell you the truth I wasn't thinking of much at all.......just doing a little vegging out because .....well I had nothing better to do.

Cold.....it's been. A couple of days where it barely got above freezing. That may seem like a spring day to those from northern climes, but to we thin blooded.... aristocratic.....lay about southern types......it's just this side of hell freezing over.

Which brings to mind the question.......Is Hell exothermic ( gives off heat ) or
endothermic ( absorbs heat ) ?

I've lived long enough to have seen several presidential political campaigns go by. I've gotten all excited about some of them......in the end disgusted with all of them. My enthusiasm for trying to change the direction of the impending avalanche has just turned to a kind of jaded ho hum, here we go again.......a choice between bad and worse. I held out a bit of hope for Fred Thompson.....hey, a guy that old and ugly with a young beautiful wife and child has got to have something going for him........and he could lay out a compelling case for turning back to conservative values. Alas......i fear it may be too late.

I have stated many times that when I was sworn into the army and again when sworn in as a warrant officer, that I took and oath which I don't remember being released from.

That being said.......I have to consider if it's still binding......or if the ideals have been so throughly trashed as to have no further effect.

For a time now, I have begun to consider myself more an anarchist than patriot.

When a society ceases to be worthy of support, it is reasonable to withdraw support. The time, I submit, has come. You may feel differently.......that is your privilege and right.

Here I do not mean to urge crime or counsel treason, but to suggest quiet renunciation of the national disaster. Ask yourself how much of American life pleases you. The schools are run by fools to manufacture fools, government grows more intrusive by the day, and culture is determined by the triple cloacae of New York, Hollywood, and Washington. Freedom withers, not only in the ominous encroachment of police powers, but in the loss of control over schools, church, hiring, daily life. We are no longer our own. The United States is not the country we are told it is, and not the country it was.

If we look critically at our government and culture and feel that small bit of disgust.......the bile creeping into our throats like it tends to do when we smell "chitlins" cooking and realize that we'll be forced to eat them like it or not.....do we labor to turn aside the avalanche......or warn the town folk below......or just try like hell to get ourselves out of the way. After all, we can't help the survivors, unless we ourselves survive.

Let me suggest that one owes loyalty to one's family and friends, to common decency, and to nothing else. Render under Caesar what you must, keep what you can, and swear allegiance to nothing. Not just a corrupted government.....but a corrupted culture.....a desperate consumerism.....a society which is beginning to smell a little like that 'possum lying alongside the road for the last week.

We can begin with the seemingly small things. For example, do not imagine that you are under an obligation to marry, or to have children, or to raise them as the government requires. Procreate if you choose, but only if you genuinely want to procreate. It is not your job to perpetuate a civilization that is daily less deserving of perpetuation. Also........if you are not willing to wait until you are financially able to support a family.....and willing to stay and do just that with all that entails ......DO. NOT. HAVE. CHILDREN.

Never let the government have your children. Once they are had, your responsibility is to them. Teach them at home. Hire your own capable teachers if you must. It's interesting to consider that there still remain in this world, countries where you are not forced to fund an academically retrograde moral cesspool and then to drown your children in it.

I for many.......far too many years.....labored to have more and bigger, until it started falling down around my head and caused me to wish just for an end......
....of everything, especially the constant striving and worry........looking for the light at the end of the tunnel and never seeing even the light from the onrushing locomotive.....which would at least have brought surcease.

why should we tie ourselves to THINGS ?

The price of freedom is poverty: freedom grows as your needs diminish. Do you really need the huge house in the fancy neighborhood? The price you have to pay is more than just money.......it's entrapment in that high paying job with long ours and maybe working for a boss that you come to hate with a mind warping hatred. Of course, you will need a new expensive car ( sort of a motorized phallic symbol ) and a retirement plan that may be jerked out from under you just before you need it.
This, we are told, is the American Dream. I fear it has become so.

Learn to work the system. Ask not what you can do for your country, but what it can do for you—you ought to get some of your taxes back. They're going to take at least half of what you make and spend it on things you'd never pay for yourself. They will give much of it to useless bureaucrats, much to various forms of welfare, use much to bomb countries you may have no desire to bomb, and much to force upon you services, such as horrible schools, that you do not want.

Remember.........life is meant to be enjoyed.

You will still read of the rot and running sores of a declining culture, but it will bother you less. These things are your problem only to the extent that you feel yourself to be part of the society that produces them. Don’t fight the government, as it will win. Don’t try to reform society, because you can’t. Laugh at it. Live well. Read much. Love much.

Gooood Morning

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BLOGOSPHERE

It's a right coolish 27 degrees here outside the KD (Kudzu Grotto) hacienda. Grey and cloudy with a slight breeze.

I've had my Granola cereal and vitamins, anti-depressants and anti-prespirients , so I'm good to go somewhere. Just got no good idea of where that will be.

I still trying to get the GPS unit loaded with maps. Wouldn't you know it......I had to go back to wally-world and buy another program and a SD card. Another $150 and hopefully I now have everything I need........except for a good manual to follow. That's where they get you on electronics....all the extras you need. I still need that 5th grader to follow me around.

When I get it all figured out I'm going to the N GA mountains and try it out.....along with the metal dowsing contraption I made to see if I can locate some placer gold. At least it will get me out of the house and get a little much needed exercise. I'll probably need to get some grease zerks implanted in my knees so I can lube them up.

I see that Bill Clinton couldn't stay awake at a MLK remembrance in spite of the loud ranting about how the poor people of color are getting such a shitty deal in this country. Maybe if their heroes were George Washington Carver or Bill Cosby instead of P Diddy or other hip hop thugs they might accomplish more.

Shrillary and Hussein are still Calling each other names. I can't seem to get enthused enough to care about this year's collection of candidates. My feelings run more along the lines that it's time to just hunker down and take care of ourselves and close family and friends and hope that better times will eventually come back........when we finally wake up........sorta like the Latvians did in the late 80's.

OK.........time to let the dalmation off her chain to run around the back year. She has a back corner she likes to do her business in and will likely be quivering in anticipation till she gets to run down there.

Stay warm or at least find some one to snuggle with.

The Day Dawn is Breaking

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Well, actually it broke some time ago...........I just slept right through it.
The sun is up and bright........the air is clear as only a cold winters day can be. The turquoise blue sky is empty of anything except an occasional bird flitting from one potential feeding ground to another.

The pooch, having a bladder the size and capacity of a thimble, begged and pleaded till I, giving in, let him out and walk with him. Shudda worn a coat........my nipples popped out so I worried that they might get frostbite......exposed skin quickly chilled to meat locker conditions.

Finally he watered two blades of grass and fertilized a half dollar sized patch of winter killed Bermuda grass.......scratched like he was a big dog and took off to the front door like a cat was after him........leaving me......my hands in my pockets..... to shuffle quickly after.

My apologies to those friends farther north......but it's colder than a witches tit in a brass bra around here. Wish I had a wood stove or fireplace...........

I am Not

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Smarter than a fifth grader.

I can put my pants on right the first time....button my own shirt.....even tell time using an analog watch.

BUT

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to start up the new Magellan Triton 1500 GPS unit. Oh, I can turn it on.......even tell if the battery is charged and if I'm receiving a satellite signal. But do the instructions give you a 1,2,3, step by step explanation of how to get every thing up and running, with all the maps downloaded.


WELL, HELL NO!

And to put the icing on the cake the MFing technical support 800 # is closed till start of business on Monday, and the online support system doesn't even recognize that they make a Triton 1500 yet.

This just pisses me the hell off.

Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not have a get out of jail free card, do not attempt to work an electrical product made in the last 10 years without a fifth grader by your side to draw you pictures.

Just Damn, Damn, Damn

The Blonde solution

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Aaahhhhh.........a nice stimulating warm shower
.........a tall mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top......

.........I'm good to go.

Wow! Yesterday's post could be considered a bit of a downer........although probably not news to those who keep up with such things. The LDM (left dominated media) have been letting us know how bad the economy is under the Bush presidency every since shrillary started denying she was going to abandon the good folk of her home state of New York and run for president. (Lack of Capitals intentional)

Looks like even the wealthy may take a few hits from their friendly lending institutions.

Don't feel bad for them. The truly wealthy wouldn't have gotten in that position in the first place because they know the 5 laws of money. The Nouveau Rich may learn them the hard way.

My sister sent me a cute email today. Thanks Sis.






Subject: A blonde and her shoes



A young blonde woman was driving through the Florida Everglades while

on vacation. She wanted a pair of genuine alligator shoes in the worst
way, but was reluctant to pay the high prices the local
vendors were asking.

After becoming very frustrated with the attitude of one of the shopkeepers,
the young blonde declared;


"Well then, maybe I'll just go out and catch my own alligator and get a
pair of shoes for free!"

The shopkeeper said with a sly smile; "Well little lady, why don't you
go on and give it a try?"


The blonde headed off to the swamp, determined to catch an alligator.

Later in the day, as the shopkeeper is driving home, he spots the same
young woman standing waist deep in the murky water, shotgun in hand .

As he brings his car to a stop, he sees a huge 9-foot gator
swimming rapidly toward her. With lightning reflexes, the blonde takes
aim, shoots the creature and hauls it up onto the slippery bank.

Nearby were 7 more dead gators, all lying belly up.

The shopkeeper stood on the bank, watching in silent amazement.

The blonde struggles mightily and manages to flip the gator onto its back.


Rolling her eyes heavenward, she screams in frustration;



"DARN! THIS ONE'S BAREFOOT, TOO..."

I can tell that joke because before my distinguished slivering hair became so distinguished it was a dark blonde color.

But, in thinking about it........the young lady is the epitome of Americans......well not the leaches and race mongers, and others who haven't been broken from the teat yet.

On the one hand a very important segment of our economy is in very, very, very serious trouble. And because of it's importance, it has the capability of causing a great deal of pain to nearly every other segment of the economy.

But the Blonde took her frustration and did something positive with it. She by damned went out to work and started a business of killing 'gators. She hasn't yet realized that her shoes are there in multiples on every single 'gator she kills. They're just not in a recognizable form to her. Give her time and she'll realize that if she skins and tans the hides and then makes arrangement with a shoe maker to keep part of the shoes made she will have all the alligator shoes, purses, belts that she wants. Plus if she gives it further thought she might be able to sell the meat to a local restaurant and the claws, teeth or even the skulls to tourists who'd likely pay a pretty penny for such curios.

She might even learn enough to save up some of the money from the sale of all these things and buy her own piece of swamp in which to raise her own 'gators. Feeding them the leftover scraps of their late lamented cousins and any leftover scraps from the chains of restaurants selling prime alligator tail.

All this to say that there will be those who cry out for the government to help them out of this crisis. (And we see the Federal Reserve and even the European Central Bank doing all they can to staunch the bleeding from our financial artery.)

Make no mistake (I know that's hard. At least learn from your mistakes). Troubled times are coming. Winds are blowing a change in the air. Will it come soon enough?

Not for everyone, but, the watchmen on the walls are shouting at us.........waving their arms about in excitement. Do we hear what they are saying or do we just think they are trying to entertain us with their antics?

The hot chocolate is dwindling in my cup.......so is my enthusiasm for this evening.

We'll talk further if anyone is interested. Just address it to me C/O the Kudzu Grotto.

A Big Texas Cinnamon Roll......

.
......and a diet Pepsi.........

One might get the impression that things are going well.......as I sit here in my bull moose patterned PJ's.

And it is quite........at least since I stared down the pair of Lab's two yards over. Well......I didn't so much stare them down as shine a laser at them until they stopped hanging over the fence barking at me as I sat on the back deck. (hardly worthy of that name being only 8' X 10').

I had to go visit the VA doctor for the quarterly interrogation as to how I feel the drugs are doing. (something she should probably be asking the people who read this drivel). We ended up agreeing that they would keep sending them if I promised not to do anything drastic or rude.

On the way back home I made a slight side trip to one of the mining locations I frequent............and the owner and I spent a pleasant half hour discussing the current sad state of affairs (and lack of same) in the local economy and around the world.

It seems that he has a new neighbor who also has a fondness for Crown Royal. (How many of you keep any of your valuables in a CR velvet bag?)?? If you do you just might be a redneck.

Anyway as they were thus engaged in lubricating their vocal cords, his neighbor......who by the way recently sold the bank he owned in Florida and moved up here to the NE GA foothills......opined that to his way of thinking the US economy had only a couple of years left until complete and total meltdown and chaos. To make things even worse his neighbor on the other side of him has recently published a book forecasting the same thing. You know............the sort of things that makes simple folk like us ask the unfortunately long overdue and almost too late question of "WTF do we do now??

This conversation led to much ruminating and cud chewing on my way home and I considered some of the possibilities that might be open to a boomer like myself only a few short years from drawing my generous old age pension due me for the at least 10 quarters when I actually did work for a living.....and paid taxes.

First, We baby boomers are a financial force to be reckoned with right now. We've worked hard and saved a little money and many have reinvested it by continually buying ever more expensive houses which we plan to sell.......make a fortune of of and live the high life ever after......once we pay the balance of the mortgage off.

Second, The housing market in my opinion was way overbuilt 3 years ago. Major mortgage lenders are going broke......er, um, .....I mean being bought out by even bigger major players. This is because it's getting damn hard to sell your house for what the county said it was worth a year ago. This may be influenced by the litterly thousands of speculative houses built by formally flush real estate developers who have had to give them to the banks voluntarily or be foreclosed upon. I've had bankers ask me if I'd be willing to buy one appraised at 245 K for less than 175 K. Of course they weren't willing to finance it themselves and many lenders are now requiring a minimum of 30 % down, in cash, on any investment property with proper assurances that you could make the payments out of current income before rents.

....so.......

Third, your investment just went down at least 30%..........your 401K and IRA's got hit by the tech bubble for about half. Do you think this might make you tighten your belt a little thereby not stimulating the local economy because you eat out less, you travel less, you don't spend as much on luxuries and services. How do you think this makes your lawn care professional feel after all he has done to make your property look like a English garden. And let's not forget the undocumented workers that he used to pay in cash every Friday afternoon. Will your local businessman still be in business in five years?? What will this do to Tax Revenues? When the businesses stop pay where will they look to make up the shortfall? The property owners?? The concept of cutting unnecessary workers and services will never ever even enter their squirrel sized brains.

Forth, Will you be willing to continue to work much longer than you had intended to? Will you be physically able to continue to work. How will you ever be able to pay the increasing cost of the medical treatment you will need.........you know you will... if like me you love red meat, white meat and all those cheeses and wines the magazines tell you you must have. Perhaps those investment bottles of wine in the cellar can be used to season your squirrel or venison stew..........if you can afford the electricity or gas to heat it over, or the property owner doesn't shoot you for poaching and trespassing.

Of course all this is just the rambling of an over the hill, high school educated redneck who has experienced more than a few ups and downs...with the emphasis on the downs.

Others might have different opinions.......all of which would be welcomed here in the Kudzu Grotto...........if you can stand the sneering and jeering as we encourage you to get to the point dammit.

My friend John

I knew him as John........the uncle of a classmate.
When you're from the rural area around a small southern town everybody is related to someone you either know or are related to yourself.

Search my family tree in any direction and you're as likely to find a Doctor as a storekeeper or dirt farmer. From Preacher to property owner (where the property owned was humans)...........to a War between the States deserter who was hanged as a horse thief. One distant cousin traveled with the '49ers to Cali-for-ni-a and returned with a bag of gold.........then returned West and on the trip back died in Illinois at the start of hostilities.

All this to say that we might have been related........I have no idea. But John would come dove shooting every September after the silage was cut and the ground would be sometimes gray with doves.

He sensed in me a somewhat kindred spirit I guess.........I was fresh out of the Army and pissed at the government for telling me that to keep the farm my Dad worked so hard for, we'd have to pay tribute to Washington to the tune of $53,000.00.
John was divorced.......20 years older than me.......and lived in a 26 ft. travel trailer. He was pissed at the government for passing The 16th Amendment to the Constitution and the Federal Reserve Act of the same year.

Always a character, one of the first things John showed me was how to get a silver dollar to fit into a longneck 12 oz. Pepsi bottle and then out.........without bending the coin or breaking the bottle. Of course there is a secret to it which I cannot reveal lest I bring down retribution on my head from the Magicians guild.

In the mid-seventies this country got exactly what it deserved when it elected a South Georgia supposed Peanut Farmer as President. This denigrated both the honorable profession of growing Peanuts and the Presidency. Those who know, knew that Billy was the farmer and Jimmy was always a kiss ass politician. And not a very good one at that. When he kissed Komenia's ass by refusing to stand by the Shaw of Iran, they repaid him by turning him around, doubling him over and shoving the takeover of our Embassy in Tehran up his nether regions.......causing him to dribble down his pants and lose the next election.

This in conjunction with Federal Reserve policies led to the worst one year inflation of the last century and as a consequence the price of Gold jumped to $852.00 an oz.. An aberration which quickly corrected itself and stayed below that mark until just recently. An while there are companies out there touting gold as a great investment........if you factor in inflation over the last 28 years (which by the way shows that the current value of a 1980 one dollar bill to be approximately .05 of a dollar or five cents) you have to have a price of over $2000.00 to make gold worth as much as back then.

Don't get me wrong........I like gold.......I read somewhere that pure gold reflected the soul of God. Gold is described in the Bible as 'clear as honey' and if you look into a crucible of molten gold it appears to be transparent and at the same time reflects and image of you back to your eyes. Reflecting the God within us perhaps??

Of all of the images made of or engraved on Gold I think I like this one best:



Probably because Liberty has always been the lady I chased the most.......and have the greatest love for.....................

.........something very few of the current candidates for president have any love for......nor any desire to help any of us have more of.

John..............

........Oh yeah.........The Athens SWAT team traveled 2 counties out of their jurisdiction at the behest of a crooked sheriff and shot him 10 times with automatic weapons when he came to the door of his travel trailer.

Another name on the list with Abraham, Martin and John.

Muley Sikes

Muley Sikes had one gold tooth,
An Elgin watch, and a porter's suit.
He hustled bags for fifty years,
And he worked the railroad line.

From overalls and cotton fields
To spit-shine shoes and rumbling steel,
His life was made to roll on rails.
And that suited Muley fine.

His old Pap never got so far as
Twenty miles from a sharecrop farm,
While Muley, he's seen shooting stars
From Denver up to Maine.

He loved the gentle, rolling sway,
The sound the lonesome whistle made.
He knew his calling from the day
That he first saw a train.

Muley was a railroad man,
From Portland to Miami's sand.
He knew that in this great big land
There's nothing like a train.

He'd tell the children stories
How the rails were laid by hand.
And they knew his name
From coast to coast.

Muley was a railroad man.
Muley was a railroad man.

He'd spend his off-days at the yard.
And he knew each engine there by heart.
He could have taken one apart,
But they never let him try.

He said, "We've all got a gift to use.
Some drive the train; some shine the shoes.
The engineer may get folks there,
But me, I make 'em smile."

He always spoke about the time
That Woodrow Wilson rode the line,
And tipped him twenty dollars, gold,
He carried 'til he died.

But he'd have praised the Lord
If someone laid a quarter in his hand.
God put him here to ride the trains.

Muley was a railroad man.
Muley was a railroad man.

Muley spent his golden years
Explaining throttles, wheels, and gears:
Caretaker for the train museum
At the Dallas County fair.

He'd tell you how the whistles blew,
The engines roared, and the cinders flew.
When he got to heaven, he just knew
They'd still be running there.

He lived to be a hundred-four.
He died in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
Laid to rest in his porter's cap,
A double eagle for his fare.

And when I step off heaven's train,
He'll have my bags in hand.
With a smile and a "Yes, sir,
Right on time."

Muley was a railroad man.
Muley was a railroad man.

Muley was a railroad man.
Muley was a railroad man.


Courtesy of Dr. North

Ain't it funny

.
...........how things have changed over the last few years. (Oh shut up, I know I qualify for the Denny's senior discount.....don't mean things ain't changed).

I always knew my parents loved me by the way they didn't hesitate for a moment to wear my little ass out if I deviated one step from the straight and narrow. (least if'n they say me........or a teacher.....or sister.......or neighbor ratted me out). Spare the rod and spoil the child was taken literally by rural Gwinnett County farmers in the '50's and '60's. And don't go thinking that only parents were seen as disciplinarians. Oh no! I remember my first week in Mrs. Venable's 1st grade class. Ricky Hall and I were chasing the girls on the playground at recess.......kissing them and making them cry.

FIRST of all Mrs. Venable whupped our 5 year old bottoms and then to add insult to injury she stood us up in front of the class and lectured us on why we shouldn't be doing that (for the life of me I can't recall her reasoning) then she had all the girls pass by and slap the fool out of us. Well....at least it caused the fool to wither and withdraw somewhat.........evidence being what it is, foolishness didn't totally abandon me.

Experiments to find out where the lines were drawn such as the above over the next few months and years taught me to be a little more discreet (sneaky) in the things I attempted.

Corporal punishment at a young age convinced me that there was probably no profit in things that could earn you capital punishment. Believe me when I say that a belting by a rednecked, strong as a mule, pissed off farmer (or even one administered by a slightly more delicate farm wife) will go far toward making one see the error of one's ways. If you survived adolescence they were willing to let you go knowing that they had done the best as they knew how.......the rest was up to you and the lord.

Which is not to say that they didn't care what happened and would help you all they could......just that you had to man up and take what came down the pike after that.

One of the most painful memories I have is the hurt I saw in my Grandfathers eyes as he talked about how much he wished he could have had more influence over my Father decisions and how much responsibility he felt when my Father died at age 46. Headstrong seems to run thru the bloodline even to the 4th generation.

Whence comes this maudlin cud-chewing you might ask. Well since you aren't here to ask, I'll just assume you did anyway.

Yesterday, as I stood in a shop, busily sorting and checking, the owner mutters "oh no", as I hear a young boy and apparently his grandfather come in.

"I'm gonna buy a play station" the boy proclaims.

"Whatcha looking for Cory?" the owner asks.

"I don't know yet but I've got $7.00".

Ben Franklin, in "Poor Richard's Almanack," put it
this way: "A child thinks that twenty dollars or twenty
years can never be spent." Actually, he said twenty
pounds, which was a lot more money in 1755. But you get
the idea. Money gets spent, and so does time.

"Oh you mean you want to buy a game for a playstation?"

"Yeah, a game".

I just keep on doing my thing with one ear cocked to the conversation behind me. I love enthusiasm in a young'un, and this kid was full of it. Loud.........you could have heard him the next block over, and I can tell that he's ripping up and down the game isle in search of what he wants.

"Whatcha got your cap on back'ards for Cory?"

"Cause I wonna".

"If'n youse my boy I wouldn't let you wear yore cap like that".

"My folks let me do whatever I want", proclaimed Master Cory.

Much more was said than I can tell here. Let me just put it this way.......

....Young Cory is going to have an abrupt awakening one of these days.. I just hope he or his parents start making better choices somewhere along the line........else we'll have another Democratic or Republican voter on the loose.......who'll believe anything the Socialist media and politicians tell him..

At some point, some people start looking for visible,
long-lasting value. Maybe most people don't. This is
because they recognize early that they are highly
replaceable and therefore insignificant. They never take
up the quest for significance because they see no future to
it.

As for my political leanings..........I'm a faithful follower of John Gault.

What a B.E.A.U-tiful day

70 degrees with blue skies and an occasional puffy cloud.

Wish to hell I'd have felt like enjoying it. I feel a little more down than that piece of dog squeeze you just tracked onto mama's new carpet.

The only upside is...............this is a heck of a lot better than the weekend.

But I still live. This is just to rattle the bushes a little so you know I'm still here captain.

Wanna Know???

Wanna know how the 2008 election will go?

Too soon to tell, but you might consider some of the opinions of Dr. Gary North.......


1. Most voters want government-funded freebies.
2. Voters expect other voters to pay.
3. The long run is the next election.
4. Government expands unless its budget is cut.
5. Voters do not want to cut budgets.
6. The bureaucracy is close to autonomous.
7. Elected representatives are soon co-opted by the
bureaucracies.
8. Money, sex, and power do corrupt.
9. Good-looking single women like to work on Capitol Hill.

Here is my conclusion: "The system will not change until
Washington's checks no longer buy much of value." Given the fact
that the Bank of England has survived since 1694, I am not
optimistic about positive change inside the Beltway.

Probably be more of the "Same O, Same O"

A new beginning

For some that's what the New Year represents. Of course you could say the same about every new day in which you wake up alive, but somehow it seems appropriate to link it to the turning of a calendar page.

And so.......we begin.

I finally obtained a little egg nog yesterday and I raise a glass of it in toast to the new day and old friends. (non alcoholic of course, because there is an automatic link between my mouth and a glass that switches on my elbow)

Today will find many of us nursing a small ache between our ears. I hope it's not too unpleasant in your head. The parades will be watched on TV or in person. Platters of snacks prepared for the bowl games ahead.

Here at the Kudzu patch the collard greens have already been cooked and only require warming. We'll have black-eyed peas in abundance with cornbread to make sure they all get onto the spoon. Possibly there will be some pork ribs or backbone to add flavor and fat. These are traditional new years grub........eating the greens is to ensure you have green in your wallet during the year, and the peas supposedly represent the coin you'll find in your pocket. The pork is just to make everything else taste better.

UGA is playing Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl today. I'll most likely not watch any of it, but will root for the Dawgs of course. Even though my time at UGA was short and not very distinguished, once you walk thru the Arch something happens to your DNA and you are forever a Bulldog. Go Dawgs.......woof, woof, woof!

What I will be doing.......like many a small business person.......is to back up files, check the balance sheets, and the P & L, get a start on working to begin work on the plans made for the near and longer term........and most especially taking a while to contemplate the blessings I've already received.

Hope your patch of Kudzu has a great time this year.

11:02 and counting down

Soon complete strangers will be kissing each other on the streets of Times Square if you would believe the popular media. Hell, I hope so. There is a need for more kissing in the world.

Fire works are beginning to pop around here, although we still have nearly and hour in the old year. It just sounded like someone knocked at the front door, and as I went to answer it with my Hi-Power held just behind my hip, I realized as I opened it that it was fireworks. I strolled around anyway, just for the hell of it. It never hurts for the neighbors to see that someone is awake and alert.

2007 has been a roller coaster ride in many ways........struggling to remain afloat for most of the year to reaching a point where at least the necessities are assured for the foreseeable future is a good feeling. We've been blessed indeed.. I've got a shop/storage building to put most of my stuff in. I won't have to sleep with the dog in her plastic barrel lined with straw if I really screw up. I can clean off a shelf and wrap up in the two sleeping bags out there if necessary. Even have a hot plate.....but I'd have to raid the house for something to cook on it.
The piddling I do to bring in a few bucks has really picked up the last couple of months. Hopefully i'll keep enough of a head of steam up to keep moving down that track.

I've written more this year than before. A little less crazy ranting and hopefully a few cogent thoughts. I really have to thank all of you who drop by for visiting and occasionally commenting. I see you out there........even occasionally a visitor from other countries. I wonder what they think in China or Norway when they stop by here. It'd be wonderful to start communicating with other countries residents and learn of what they are thinking.

We've been subjected to political campaigning from numerous candidates for president of the U.S. in 2007. I look forward to that being over with so we can get down to complaining about the final result in 2009. And you know we will........rather you know I will, because I intend to exercise my franchise and encourage all of you to do the same. Oh you can complain if you don't vote........but we'll just consider you a hypocrite if you do.


So Thanks to all of you out there in the blogosphere. God Bless us all.

Happy New Year.

Now this is just wrong

Decency (and I'm not talking about showing a little skin) used to be the standard for most Americans, especially we expected it of our law enforcement.

No more.........tactics such as these are beyond the pale. Entrapment does not begin to explain it. The entire police force in that town should be made to resign, along with the city council, the District Attorney and his or her entire staff and put on trial for offenses against humanity. The poor guy would probably have just sat and talked with her if she hadn't enticed him to go further than he should.

Makes me sick to be an American if this is what we have become.

Uh-Oh

Here it comes. The post-coi.......er Christmas depression.

All that build up to the climax of the season. The excitement......the anticipation......the frantic rushing around to get everything done on time. Gifts bought....and wrapped. Lists made and carefully checked off so as not to miss anybody. Lights to hang.......and bulbs to replace. Bows and ribbons to carefully tie which will be ruthlessly ripped apart in a joyous, eager burst of conspicuous consumption.

And now.............

Every one has gone home or at least on their way. Farewells shouted and waves waved. Newly activated Tomtoms plugged in and programmed to get us home by the fastest route......one which we've traveled many times before.

We're gradually working our way through the last of the leftovers.....the sight of 3 day old turkey begins to make us slightly green around the gills.

We begin to see the old year come to a close and a new tax year approach.....I wonder if I can claim the cost of that new outbuilding??? And I wonder if the New Year will really bring anything new.......or different? Did I do the things I sat out to do at the beginning of the old year........WHY not? Should I make new plans or just try to finish some of the old?

Over a year ago I bought an old (relatively speaking) phonograph.....remember those?....with the intention of listening to recordings of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies Nos. 4, 5 and 6 by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. Events (moving to Athens) forced us to store many things in a rental storage unit for lack of room in the new abode.

Now with the building in the back yard storing all the accumulated junk which isn't in the computer/sewing room, all that sits on a shelf. I think tomorrow would be a good day to dust off the record player and finally listen to the old queers work.

The No. 6 Symphony is called "Pathetique" which appropriately describes my dedication to actually doing the things I say I want to do.

Most often my regrets are of the things I neglected to do rather than the things I actually did. I've lived a varied life doing many different things. A 'Jack of all trades, and master of........well.....a few', and I intend to keep on doing things I want to do rather than those I have to do.

I just intend to do more of them next year. So what really started off as a depressed sort of post has kinda fired me up a little.

If you have things you've been putting off, better get started. None of us know when we'll be meeting up with those who've gone before. I hope when that meeting happens and they ask "Did you do all you could?", I'll be able to say "No.......but at least I gave it a shot".

The wages of Sin

.
Well I really don't know how much they pay.......but every one is always talking about it from the pulpit. I mean Jimmy Swaggart probably gave a thousand sermons on the importance of fidelity to one's wife and then goes out and hires a hooker or two. Did they cut his salary? Probably gave him a raise for temporarily increasing the number of people who tuned in to his broadcasts.......if only to point a self righteous finger or two at him.

The sin I'm speaking of thought is the sin of GLUTTONY.........

Really it's not my fault. People kept giving me chocolate kisses and Herseys dark chocolate bars (Love the dark chocolate), bags of pistachios (another real weakness), Cans of cashews, cookies, pies, bowls of home made banana pudding.......

Whewwwwwwwwwww.......... if I were Catholic I'd go say a mess of Hail Mary's or something, cause I do believe all that consuming has about caught up with me. Goooooooddddd thing I don't drink on top of all that. The projectile vomiting would not be a pretty sight to behold.

As soon as I get down off this sugar high and the blood pressure returns to something resembling normal, I'll have to hunker down and make up a bunch of New Years resolutions to never do any of this again. Ha! like that would do any good. I'll just do as always and blame my need for sweets on low blood sugar.

Hoping all your stomachs have started returning to normal.. We could take a clue from the pooch........go out and eat a bunch of grass.....

Full .....Full ......Full....

We've arrived back safely and a little bushed, but filled with the joy that a good time shared with family and friends will give you.

Gifts were exchanged...wrapping paper, boxes and kids with toys all over the floor. Even the pooch received his own stocking stuffed with goodies.

Much food was consumed...turkey breast deep fried in peanut oil...moist and delicious...ham, Elk tenderloin, deviled eggs, potato salad, all those things that make a wonderful feast. Topped off with CAKES & Pies & Cookies & banana Pudding made from scratch (two big bowls). All this blessed by our 4th grand child Lee, who did a masterful job of it, with only a little whispered help from Grandpa.

Oh Yeah! Kudos to the eldest Daughter for baking me a Japanese Fruit cake. I wondered why I was having a hard time getting the wife to look up the recipe so I could post it. They didn't want anyone else to make me one. Four layers tall it was. So high the cake plate cover wouldn't fit by at least an inch. 3/4s of it returned home with me. There goes my diet. Well there is always next year.

Through it all we were blessed with the most wonderful sweet spirit. A gift from the greatest gift of all.

Christmas Eve

Here it comes.....the big day. All the little kiddies will be all excited tonight before bed and be hard to settle down to sleep. Threats will be made and a few even carried out. Last minute assemblage of various geegaws will happen accompanied by curses that parts don't fit, and equally fervent pleas to "just read the instructions".

Cookies and milk will be left out for the fat man and someone will go to sleep with crumbs on his chin.

Last minute shoppers and travelers to Over the River and thru the Woods will be crowding the mall parking lots and the highways and byways. Travel safely if your one of them.

We're off shortly to our oldest Daughters to spend the night and tomorrow with them. Food and sweets will be eaten in abundance and for those who partake maybe a beer or margarita or 6.

There'll be laughter and perhaps a few tears. Tales of olden time and not so olden, friends present and late remembered.

But in the midst of all this jubilation and merry making, let's not forget the real reason the season was started. Whether the date is correct or not........it's the thought that counts.



Merry Christmas to all...........and may God bless us..........everyone.

Just for me

.
I stole this from Sparrow, a lady of rare talent and insight. I hope she'll forgive me.

I've generally been a little apathetic about the political field before us till now.......but no longer.



If I have to tell you why...........you wouldn't understand anyway.

Freie Nacht

We had a bit more rain here last night and this morning. A little over 1/2 inch according to the ABS Jones cattle breeding gage in the back yard. I've had it for 32 years now and unless something happens will likely for years more.

This afternoon the front came through and pushed all the clouds out and the sunny clear skies were so bright and beautiful it made you draw a deep breath and almost forget to exhale. The moon is almost full, and will be full for Christmas Eve. If you have snow and clear skies be sure and look out and enjoy the beauty.

While you're at it...........say a little prayer for safety and protection of your troops in the field in Afghanistan and Iraq and other places around the world far from their homes and loved ones.

Maybe they'll hear from somewhere the strains of music being played bring peace to their hearts.



A peace which every soldier desperately wants no matter their religion. For they truly know the price that must be paid.

Happy Birthday Eve

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I'm off to my middle sister's where we'll enjoy a bit of conviviality, a scrumptious meal and a little catching up with her and her spouse, along with the youngest sister and her family.

It's a funny thing to me, I'm the oldest of six and the only one with gray in my hair. 10 years ago I was the only one with out. I want some of those fountain of youth pills they must be taking.

If any body is thinking of what to get me for Christmas, you may be guided by the incomparable Mr. Bennett

It'll never happen here

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The only two white Christmas's I've seen in Georgia in real damn close to 58 yrs now was two years when I was about 12 or 13 when we had back to back ice storms for Christmas.

But that doesn't keep everyone from saying that they wish for a white Christmas..........and it would be nice to be stranded wherever you are with a blanket of snow to muffle the sounds and make you glad to be inside with friends and loved ones
..............sooooooooooo

Let it Snow

Counting down

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Not long now boy and girls...........Soon the Jolly old elf, Santa Clause hisownself will be paying a visit to every girl and boy. At least that's what all the retailers would have you believe. 98 more hours to go........have you finished your shopping and preparing?
On the other hand Christian Churches across the land are having or preparing to have programs devoted to showing how Christ was born in a cattle shed and then laid in a manger where shepards and wise men came to pay him homage...........completely ignoring that it was more likely spring (maybe April)when he was born, and if the Star started shining when he was born the the Wise Men would have had to travel weeks if not months to come from maybe Persia or areas around Iran or Iraq to see the child.
But don't worry about revisionist history.........the child Emanuel is the point of the story.............a gift to mankind.

I love this time of the year. Cool weather.......even a little ice in the water bucket of a morning.....always makes us think that there is just a chance we'll see a white Christmas here in NE Georgia. The neighbor borrowed my ladder to hang lights along the eves on the front of his house (after much threatening from his wife). So far I haven't seen them burning........maybe they'll wait till Christmas Eve.

All my moneys are spent, I'm at the mercy of the weather and the Fed Ex deliveries until after the big day, and then another looong weekend for New Years.

So I'll be spending a lot of time roaming the blogosphere, reading about all the festivities around the country and listening to classic Christmas songs on youtube.com. I'm too cheap to actually go out and buy the CDs or anything.

So I think I'll post one of what I listen to hear each night. You will have likely heard it 10 times the day before.......but I'll tell you a secret..............I'm doing this for me.......'cause I love Christmas.

Let's try a little Sinatra, shall we?



Dang,......now I want some Egg Nog and it's to late to go to the store.

Traditions

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Ask most anyone who knows me at all and they'll likely tell you I'm an opinionated, stubborn, throwback to a different time and era. Is this a bad thing?

Do any of you remember when singers could sing and enunciate the words at the same time. I know that it's not just because i need bionic ears.........really I only got them so the wife would stop shouting at me. What I really need are mufflers for the ringing in my ears and the advertising jingles that repeat over, and over, and over, like an eight year old in the backseat of a '59 Mercury repeating endlessly "are we there yet?"...........sort of like me when I read the directions on the shampoo bottle........."Lather, rinse, repeat.......Lather, rinse, repeat....Lather, rinse, repeat.......

Anyway, I was driving the Red Ram around the highways and byways and on the radio (AM.....OK......it's my radio) comes this caterwauling and screeching like I'd never heard before. I pull over to the side and try to figure out what's wrong with the speakers.........till I realize there's nothing wrong on this end, but on the other end is some diva or other (maybe that Cilon Dejon Canadian twig) singing her version of Silent Night. Every other word....and it's in French or some foreign sounding heathen tongue (she's Canadian fer Christ's sake, an English Commonwealth country, speak English stupid)..........she's shrilling like a cat with her tail caught under a rocking chair..........hitting notes that would crack a walnut much less crystal. I mean this broad (Ha nothing wide about her) is trying to impress everyone with how long she can go between breaths.........or when we'll stuff our fingers in our ears.

What happened to the good old days when you could listen to a song and the beauty and emotion came through with the clarity of the words.

Something like ol' Bing here.........



Or even that Redheaded cowgirl, Reba



Don't go messing with my Traditions

In the Garden

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I guess I attended about half of the memorial services for the 100 or so Troops we lost from my unit along the DMZ more than half a lifetime ago. Most of them I knew........slightly or better. In an aviation unit all the pilots know each other and their crews and mechanics.. The infantry squad was less well known but familiar on sight. Being back at the base at night mostly we weren't out on patrol so were expected to attend. As is right and proper.......

But, somewhere in there, it just was enough, and any excuse could be found not to attend. That way you could pretend that it wasn't anyone you knew. One day they were there........and then.......simply not. Don't ask, Don't tell........no one needs to think about it. Higher ups who had been there any time at all wouldn't give you any grief about it although their sense of duty required their attendance no matter their preferences.

As you age you gain a perspective about the whole live or die thing and it generally becomes easier. If you're a believer it's a thing to look forward to (although you don't want to rush things. If you're not then it doesn't matter anyway except that you'll be shorter of acquaintances than before.

Whence this navel gazin' you may ask? Damn if'n I know. Not sure how I got there but for you who enjoy fine writing and story telling that'll draw you to the conclusion like a risin’ will always pop, ease on over Here and read all three tales.

Mostly I don't think you'll be sorry you did.

Perhaps you'll remember someone like the little lady who heard ghosts.

Taboos

I've often heard that there are two topics which are not to be mentioned in civil discourse or polite society as they are sure to cause conflict.

I've sometimes been called polite, but rarely civil. I'll certainly extend to you the same and more courtesy as you extend to me, but it irks me something fierce to have to put up with someone who is an asshole or claims to know better than I what is best for me.

I read somewhere that there is no sin in enlightened self interest. Probably a libertarian concept or something from an Ayn Rand novel, although it may have been addressed in The Law by Fredrick Bastait. I'll have to go back and check.

Nevertheless I look with skepticism on those who put them self forward as knowing what is best for me and everyone else and will provide same if we will only vote or follow them to the promised land, especially if it requires me to turn over control of any aspect of my life to them, the government, a particular party or cause. I know what I believe and exactly why. I can tell you the place, time and date.......and a lot of the reasons. I don't ask that you believe me......only that you accept that I believe it.

We have over 10 months till the next national election. People have been campaigning since the last one 3 years ago. Very few are putting forth radical new solutions to the problems we all face. Most are more interested in convincing us of why we shouldn't vote for the next guy or gal. If truths are distorted, or stretched, if honesty has to take a back seat, that is excused in the name of electing whoever so they can push thru whatever scheme they hatched last night or took from the communist manifesto and sugar coated it.

I looked for some one or group to break out of these norms and give me something to hope for. Still looking. But there is one group which is trying to effect change in a rational and unique way. A way that requires people to decide what is important to them and our nation as a whole.

You can read their proposed platform HERE
if you've a minute or an inclination to. If not, that's OK too. Your actions are only relevant to me inasmuch as I'll consider them when I decide what I'll do to either accept them or decide how I'll avoid the consequences of them.

Oh, yeah, the two subject are politics and religion. Mother's milk here in the Kudzu grotto.

Home again........

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...........jiggity jog.

Just returned from an overnight visit with the missus up to N.C. visiting daughter Joy and her family. An early Christmas visit as they will not be coming down here to Georgia this year because her husband has a doctors visit scheduled for the 26th. He had surgery on his neck in September to fuse 3 vertebrae damaged when another driver rear ended the work truck he was in. Several months of preoperative doctoring and physical therapy gave no relief and surgery was the only alternative. He's doing well but still not 100% with a good bit of pain yet.

Don't you just love the excitement of young children (they are 8 (girl) and 4 (boy) years old) when they get Christmas presents they really love. I had more fun watching them last night than would have seemed possible to me. Really put me in the Christmas spirit, especially listening to them unconsciously singing Christmas songs as they played.

Today we got some much needed rain which made for a dreary and cool day.

I was a little anxious about leaving so late from their home since my eyes still see halo's around oncoming car lights at night after the lasix vision correction. But we made it mostly OK.

Well.........if you discount the fact that I didn't quite get slowed down in time to miss the second deer about 20 miles away from home. The Red Ram 1500 showed only a slight bit of damage to the front bumper, but I'll bet the deer fared somewhat worse due to being smacked at about 35 miles per hour by a 5000 pound truck and then run over by the wheels. By the time we got away from the little bit of traffic and found a spot to look for damage the deer was either off to the side where we couldn't find it or made it farther than one would expect. Glad it didn't happen on I 85 while doing 70 in heavy traffic and rain. That probably wouldn't have been a pretty sight.

We did see the result of 3 different crashes on the way home, caused no doubt, by the combination of speed and wet highway. No one hurt apparently but one sporty little car in particular won't ever see the highway again.

Hope you all arrive safely if you travel during the Christmas holidays.

The back deck

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I sit on the back deck after dark, watching the stars that manage to shine through the surrounding lights of houses and security lights. The air is warm and calm, belying the nearness of official winter only 9 days away.
Airplanes pass silently overhead from west to east, flashing their lights of white, green and blue.
She comes padding silently on bare feet to lean between my legs and rest her head upon my chest. Wordlessly demanding my attention, insisting that I stroke her head and neck, she is totally mesmerized by my touch, seemingly aware only of the touch of my hand and soft murmurs of affection, she arches her back and snuggles close as if to merge our two bodies into one.
We stay like that, enjoying one anothers company, the warm night air, the leafless white oak rising massive against the night sky, two tall thin pines standing silent sentinel by the back fence.
No irritating buzz of insects as in summer, only the distant bark and call of neighboring dogs. She has no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive........wanting only to be as near to me as she possibly can, touching and being touched. Love totally communicated, loyalty eternally pledged....peace surrounds us and calm washes over us like the warm waters of a jungle pool.

As I gaze into her eyes outlined in black against her white face......smoothing the hair behind her ears.............she looking lovingly back, then........

........licks my face.


Damn dog..........I think you need a bath.

The good thing about Grand children

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It is often said that the good thing about Grand children is that you can play with them a while, keep them a while, enjoy them a while, be frustrated that an eighteen month old can be so independent, spoil them, and then give them back to their parents.

We had a great weekend for watching the youngest. The temperature was mild (got into the 70's today) not too much wind. Her mother and father went deer hunting, also the paternal grandparents, so we were elected, or blessed, take your pick.

Unfortunately both the grandbaby and grand mother picked this weekend to be sick. Wife had a sinus infection and the baby a cough and runny nose.

This didn't seem to affect Callie's desire to play and generally keep us entertained. She played so hard it wore both of us out. Naturally drawn more to her grandmother (she sees me as the one that puts her to sleep in the easy chair) she proceeded to have to be fed, play with the etch-a-sketch, blocks, demand to be read to, play dress up with strings of beads and frustrate the pooch by repeatedly telling him "NO, NO Toto" (her version of Toby) and trying to keep her treats out of his reach. The poor wife was soon down for the count and had to lie down so it fell to me to be the host.

I'm here to confess that they don't make a vitamin B12 pill strong enough to keep up with her, but finally she was calling for her baby (doll) and milk.. Rubbing her eyes in frustration for they were disobeying her by trying to close. Took me the better part of half an hour reading, singing, rocking and finally just letting her cry to get her and I an hour and half nap, only to be awakened to be sent out for burgers for supper. Bedtime was another case of letting her get so tired that she couldn't resist the sand man.

E. T. Sullivan once wrote these interesting words: “When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn’t stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother’s heart, and she puts it into the baby’s mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies.”

I'm here to affirm that when it comes to resisting the wants and needs of a small child I'm always in that proverbial tight spot between an irresistible force and an immovable object. Sweet torture. And they do change me more than I care to admit.

We hear and read on a regular basis of someone abusing a child. I'm not talking about a little spanking to get their attention, which is sometimes necessary, but acts of cruelty so horrific that even I (who sometimes wishes the darkside wasn't so alluring) can't wrap my mind around it.

Just an ol' softy noodling at the keyboard here in the kudzu grotto.

The power of the internet

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According to THIS nbc has had a change of heart. The article says nothing about what was surely a massive amount of negative emails and phone call, but you know they didn't just suddenly grow a conscience or heart.

Middle America needs to realize the tremendous amount of influence we can have on public officials and life for good. The blog world changes everything.

We ought to now email them and thank them for running the ad, and advise them that we will be watching their programing with a critical eye expecting them to cater to their base instead of trying to shovel their own ideology down our throats. We don't have to continue to eat shit and like it.

Intention

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Dr Wayne Dyer has a book out (out for a while now) called the "Power of Intention".

I've not read it but have seen parts of his speeches based on the book aired on PBS. (and you thought all I watched was Porn and Action Movies with Steven Segal or Chuck Norris) Ha.
Anywho as all who know me suspect, I don't have a real job, but I do piddle at things which I happen to have an interest in and enjoy. So.......i get up around 7:30 am most days. Occasionally a little earlier, (depends on how good breakfast smells)sometimes a little later.

This Phd (piled higher and deeper) suggests that there is a power of intention in the universe coming from God or whomever you prefer which intends for all people to have and do good. I have no idea whether he is right or wrong. I just know when I go out with the intention of having a good productive day, it seems to happen that I will.

I left out with the intention of going to pay a debt. (which I did) Along the way I stopped at a few of the places I frequent in my piddling, and as I did so I picked up about 2 lbs of silver, 1/2 lb of scrap gold and about 3 carats of fair diamonds. With these I intend to turn a profit.

Let's hope the Gods of intention are as nice to me as the Weather Gods, who intended that I have a nice sunny day...........and I did.

Hope you intend for your tomorrow to be a good one.

The day before

The day before....... we were contented enough. Work was picking up in many areas. New industries were being started to produce goods not needed or wanted a couple of years before. The government had many job programs available for those who wanted a steady paycheck. You might be building roads, parks or dams, but you had a job. Many still weren't able to say that. Farming as always was hard, grueling, sweaty work, but prices were picking up and if you didn't have too much debt or the drought hadn't run you off, you at least had a roof over your head and enough to eat......grown in your own garden.

Sure there was talk of trouble in other places, but we had the barrier of two vast oceans between us and them. Goods were sent, more promised, hopefully, that would be our contribution.

The day after.................we were at war. Out Pacific Fleet for the most part lay in ruins......smoking and sinking to the bottom of the harbor few had heard of. Men and even women were lining up to volunteer to go fight the foes of this country, and our politicians were united behind a president that had to make the most difficult decisions of his lifetime, and he rose to the challange............WE rose to the challenge.............

The challenge handed to us on Dec. 7th, 1941. A day that will live in infamy.........and honored memory for the valiant patriots that answered the call.

Today we live in greater wealth than those hardy souls of 66 years ago could have imagined. People, machines, industry, money, information move with speeds undreamed of a short time ago.

We have more of everything...................

......or do we?

Well that cuts it

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I am now offically on Owlgore's shit list as being a contributor to global warming.

They have apparently never walked under a forest covered with Kudzu and felt how much cooler the air is there. And when the kudzu is in bloom the lavender fragrance takes you away from the cares of the world and induces relaxation an such a sense of well being that actual cognitive thoughts begin to form in your brain and you realize that all these global warming nuts are full of shit for brains and will say anything to make you think that they are true conservationists and are going to save the world for the spotted owl.

Buncha freaking nuts