Hello , everyone . Another bright , brisk winter's day , on this last day of 2013 . I hope that in the New Year to come we can all be healthy , comfortable , and loved . That we can also help heal the sick , provide for the needy , and love one another universally . In what began as a superstition , I think , and has now become tradition , white beans and cornbread to attract prosperity in the coming year . And speaking of prosperity , and God's blessings , he just sent an Angel to visit us , who bought the car we've been trying to sell for a couple of months . Now we can catch up bills , make a couple mortgage payments , and maybe bless someone else with God's bounty . I am writing this with tears of joy in my eyes , and thanking our Lord for his loving generosity . Have faith , trust God , and praise Him daily , for he is great and kind . Now I can save money on car insurance , because the former classmate who services that account treats me very fairly , and he doesn't need a CGI lizard . I can also renew the tag on my old van , which gets poor mileage but is very useful and enjoyable to drive . The car we sold , a 2001 , we bought in March of 2004 , when it had 31,000 miles , and was still under warranty . We put 107,000 miles under it's wheels , and many good memories . It never let us down , or stranded us anywhere , and I only had to change a flat once in that 9 3/4 years . Of course , we still have it's slightly less gaudy and accessorized twin sister , dressed in her housecoat rather than her party dress , but still attractive and functional . And after these holidays I can renew my search for a job . Thank you all for still reading me even though I sometimes shortchange you on content for various real and imaginary reasons . May God bless all of you as he has blessed us , take care , good night .

  Been here for hours , just now starting . Had a good day , got birthday gifts for the two grandkids with year-end birthdays . Saw our oldest grandson at the farm supply store , and again at the Chinese buffet . Our youngest son is leaving this week to a job in Minnesota . We've been trying to make sure he has enough warm clothes to get by . Snow isn't really fun if you have to work in it . The accent alone would drive me buggy . Cause that's what it's all aboot . Watch the movie " Fargo " if you're not sure what I mean . Regardless , I'm sneaking out of here early today , but at least I didn't just play hookey . So be kind , and thoughtful , and generous , and remember that Jesus loves not just you , but everyone . Good day .

  Logged in here a few hours ago , at 3:30P I'm just starting to write . The chili is good , so is the store brand peanut butter . While I ate we were watching some "reality television" programs , and it reminded me why I don't do so too often . "Cops" and "Jail" may be reality before editing , but other than that  , it's all scripted and staged . Especially any that involve a business , a family , or a group of "competitors" . Absolutely nothing is left to chance , down to the last detail . They are all an attempt to attract a certain demographic to the jaws of the advertisers , who don't care about veracity and originality , just revenue . So when a character on one of these shows says something witty or profound , or performs an act so stupid as to be ridiculous  , don't think it's spontaneous . A team of over paid , over educated , under intelligent writers spent 3 weeks thinking that stuff up . Remember , folks , it's ALL about marketing and revenue . Especially revenue , because that's the bottom line , get it ? Well , enough negativity for today , let's switch gears and think positive  . If every person treated every other person in the way they they themselves would like to be treated , our collective existence would be more enjoyable for everyone . If we lived as one big family , with compassion and empathy for everyone , what a beautiful , happy place our world could be .
  Once again , I would like to hear from some of you all through the comments . Whether you agree with me or not , I will review every comment , and publish all that are factual and in good taste . So once more I say to you , may God bless your endeavors , and your lives , and your loved ones . Good night .

  Not a bad day out today , sunny , high forties , not too breezy . Still eating leftover ham , it's so good I usually don't even put cheese on a sandwich . Wife made pork loin roast for dinner , good stuff considering it's still pork . The weather should turn cold tomorrow , so we'll have chili .
  I had the opportunity to talk to my neighbor this afternoon , he just got to come home last week . He was badly injured a couple months ago in a car accident . He has a long recovery ahead , learning to live with one arm , but he's a positive person and I'm sure he'll succeed . Visited our youngest grandson for a bit , so he could show me his new game characters . He is already quite technology literate at age 5 . Very advanced for his years . So , once again I leave you with only a short post , no excuses , just good night and God bless .

  Another long late day , extra tired , extra lazy . Good day and God bless .

  Well , everyone , I put this off until after 10PM , as I was paying attention to other chores , but here I am . I did some small repairs around the house , nearly ate myself sick on leftovers , talked to my Mother on the phone , did a little maintenance on one of the cars . The temperature wasn't too bad , and it's supposed to be a little warmer tomorrow . Maybe I'll try to do a little outdoor work then . I need to get my Flag down and replace the rope , the recent storms really took a toll . Anyhow , I have to make sure our son is up at 4:30 , so regretfully this post is truncated . Good night , God bless , and be careful out there .

 Merry Christmas to one and all as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ , the King of Kings . May God's blessings follow you wherever you may be , and have a wonderful Christmas Day .
  I just wanted to put this up early for those of you who might not be visiting later , and I intend to post more later today .

  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/20/1264354/-Duck-Dynasty-is-a-Fake-Yuppies-in-Red-Neck-Drag-Con-Job? 
  Christmas Eve , back from our little family gathering and settled in trying to stay warm . I came in second in the ugly sweater contest , my nephew didn't wear a sweater but dressed as Cousin Eddie from the Christmas Vacation movie . Blue leisure suit , yellow shirt with holiday motif , pink and white narrow suspenders , and white patent leather shoes , he was the winner . Voting was by our facebook family and friends . Tons of food and desserts , so everyone left with full stomachs . Quite a pleasant way to kill a few hours on a cold winter day . Tomorrow we will be here at home , having a simple ham dinner with our signature sweet glaze , which makes amazing gravy . We only do this twice a year so we really look forward to it . The ham gravy , that is . I will eat ham for a week or two , but this is waaayyy better than deli or lunchmeat ham . Anyway , it is 10:30PM now , it's been a long but good day , and I'm tired and lazy . Buenos noches y via con Dios , amigos .

  Funny how when creativity and imagination slump , we can always revert to talking about the weather , as it occurs everywhere and always . Today is cold here , sunny and breezy . 2 days 'til Christmas , advance cooking pretty much finished , home made chicken soup for supper . We always have Christmas Eve day at our oldest daughter's house , with my wife's family . This year we are doing ugly sweaters , should be fun .

Studies that back up my theories are always interesting .

  Good afternoon , everyone . This is a holy day in many religions , Sunday , set aside for worship . In my thinking , every day can be a day of worship , and anywhere on Earth a Temple . Had a good day , wife baked and made candies all day , had visitors this evening , overall very pleasant . I'm going to cut this very short , good night , God bless .

Well here we are , the winter solstice , the shortest day of the year , and I'm still up at 7:30AM . I just made myself breakfast of potato and ham scrambled with eggs , diced tomatoes and chilies , and cheese . Served in tortillas , the only thing I was missing was picante sauce . I decided to try sriracha for the first time ever , and it was great . Then my wife says it's good for my heart too . I think I will be employing this on more than just breakfast . Slept a few hours , helped a friend with a government application , been reorganizing my office still . We have our 5 year old grandson tonight so his parents can attend a company Christmas party . At this moment he and my wife are returning from WalMart and getting him a happy happy happy meal . There's the thing with Duck Dynasty , McDonald's wouldn't ink a deal for Phil to endorse kid's meals , so the alternative marketing strategy was to stir up a controversy where there was none . They sell lots of branded merchandise , made in China , all get a little richer , e'r'body happy , happy , happy . Except conservatives who don't understand the Constitution or our country's laws regarding workplace behavior . As far as the interview and the "firing" , explain to Phil what he said that was a problem , come to an agreement about future statement's content , go on with your business and your lives . As I have said already , much ado about nothing , take advice from the GOP playbook , stir up the sheep , reap profit from the added attention . The only ones doing wrong here are the folks judging anyone involved without knowing the facts , or the insignificance of the whole controversy . What's really happening while you are distracted by this manufactured legal and spiritual crisis ? On an unrelated note , a court in Utah declared the ban on same sex marriage unconstitutional , and a Congressman from Utah promptly married his long time boyfriend . This makes many people unhappy , but they are in the minority , as far as the general population .
  So enough kvetching about intolerant folks rising up to attempt to perpetuate intolerance . Outspoken bigots are just another form of bully , so combat the bullying with patience , tolerance , statements of fact , and if unavoidable , a smack upside the head . Not really , violence is not the answer , and will probably obscure the original issue . Remember , peace on Earth , and goodwill toward men isn't just for the holidays , it should be for always . Be excellent to one another , good day , God bless .

  Well , here I am and suddenly it's past 11:30 PM , been trying to decide what tonight's topic might be for about 4 hours . Seeing my news feed literally swarming with posts about Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty , I'll state the facts here . Phil made some statements in an interview , that his Bible doesn't condone homosexuality , but he doesn't judge . Whatever he said , that statement was protected speech under the 1st amendment of the U.S. Constitution . That's where that part of the controversy ends , he can say anything he wishes , it's the law . As to his issues with the A&E network , they are his employers , and have every right to treat him as such . They have a binding legal contract that details the Robertson family's duties and responsibilities , which I would assume to have some clauses concerning their actions and speech in the public eye , as representatives of the network and the show . I seriously doubt Phil thought his statements were anything other than an honest profession of his personal beliefs . If the network has an issue with Phil's deportment in a radio interview , that's between those 2 parties and their legal representatives . If the people in charge have decided the contract was broken , the consequences should be up to the parties involved , or the Dept. of Labor . If they caved to special interests , then they are more concerned with profit than people . In my personal opinion , the whole kerfuffle is a marketing tool , they'll sell a buttload more Chinese sweatshop t-shirts and gee-gaws over the holidays , and everyone concerned will have a new summer house and boat , or whatever it is the very wealthy buy to demonstrate their skill at acquiring more than any ordinary sinner could ever use . And I really think attitudes will change at Duck Kommander when they learn that one of the grandkids is differently oriented . Regardless of the justifications for either side , it's a rigged game . Why didn't they send Dog the racist murdering coward , and his homely hateful sugar mama packing ? In every case , it comes down to marketing and money .
  Again , these are my own opinions , protected by the same laws that make Phil innocent of everything except maybe poor judgement . Once more , i say good night to you all , and may God's blessings follow you wherever you may go .

I don't know if it counts as a milestone or not , but this is my one hundredth post from the Porous Canoe . Today I received my Certificate of Ordination as a minister , so it was an all around good vibe today . We got an early gift of cash so I paid a couple bills , and got fried chicken from the deli , served with side dishes left over from the past week here at home . Trying to get my sleep schedule under control , it's 10:45PM , I'm calling time out , good night , God bless .

  I may be late , but here I am . To continue on the subject of racism , as long as uncontrolled greed rules the hearts of men , they will try to maximize their income by limiting the power of others . Racism is generally denied these days , because of occasional repercussions . However , in practice , the limitation of the power and voice of "colored" peoples is quite effective in maintaining the racist's status quo . When we assert , whether openly or covertly , that the "other" is evil , or lazy , or dull , we expand and increase fear and anxiety in ourselves as well as in others . This process , fueled by greed and abetted by a desire to control the "others" , becomes self fulfilling if not decried by those of us who know right from wrong . As I have observed in my own life , racism springs from neither nature or nurture , but from lack of courage and compassion of the soul . In other words , once you know the facts and observe the action , to continue to be bigoted is a character flaw of a high order . I still occasionally am surprised by racist thoughts of my own , and I chastise myself after , as I know and believe all are created equal in God's eyes . None greater or lesser than another , unless they strive to make themselves less .
  Now , down off the spiritual soapbox and into my own mundane universe , where chicken helper is a nutritious meal we all eat and enjoy . A can of corn on the side , wheat bread and butter , very "comfort" . For a late snack , hawiian sub rolls cubed and toasted under the broiler , with dill dip from the deli . Quite tasty if you like that sort of thing . Any way , don't be a hater or a destroyer , treat each other well , buenos noches , and trust in the Lord our God .

  Today's topic is racism , why it is still extant but mostly unacknowledged in today's America . I'm sure it exists in all races and societies to some extent , but it is a serious problem in our country . Regardless of the denials , almost every restriction and limitation presented by the Republicans and extreme "conservatives" has it's basis in racism and greed . Greed is the dominating factor in most racist laws and policies , because so many have fallen under the thrall of "more" . First , more money enables all the other "more"s demanded by greedy people . The "more" ideal always seeks more of everything , except the sharing of Christian , or any peaceful doctrine's , tenets of how to treat your fellow man . Now , I must freely admit , I was raised in a racist environment , meaning pretty much the world in the 1950s and 60s . At least in the Midwest where I was brought up . There were many derogatory titles for people of skin color other than "pink" lily-white folks of mostly Anglo-Saxon origin . There was a time when Indiana was a hotbed of Klan activity . It's not like the community was extreme or too vocal in their bigotry , they were mostly church going , upright citizens . I wasn't exposed to any black people , or much black culture other than what we picked up from mainstream media . When I was a freshman in high school , we moved to a town with some industry and mining , that had a black community in it's population . Interacting with people of color on a daily basis , it wasn't hard to learn that people are just people , no matter what the prejudiced say or do . At that time , the little town was flushed with the prestige of being the location of a major motion picture a couple years before . Jim Crow hadn't completely flown the coop , but the "colored" part of town was generally nicer than the railroad shacks where some of my peers lived . And many people didn't realize the cultural debt they owed to Sidney Portier and Rod Steiger . When we moved to the country again , our rural , consolidated high school and jr. high had a few black students , and most students had no problem with that . When I joined the Navy , the mix of races was pretty much a cross section of the nation . And , over the intervening years I became more sure of the fact that people are just that , people , and with no real differences in the wants and needs regardless of race . We are all one species , with no plausible  reason to hate or fear "the other" , regardless of skin color or other physical attributes . That " dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal " idea wasn't original to Pres. Lincoln , it is a basic philosophy ingrained in the human soul , the desire to see beyond peoples outsides , and understand their souls , and know that we are all children of one God , or whatever Deity you respect . So in summary of today's lesson , " Why can't we all just get along ? " , there is nothing to hate or fear in the color of a person's skin . We are all the same in God's eyes . Believe it , live it .
  Tomorrow I will try to continue this thread , as I have more to say , if I can remember any of it by then . So good night , remember the Golden Rule , And may God bless you all .

  It warmed up quite nicely today , and a large portion of the snow has melted . The city is working on a water main break by my house , took about 3 hours , in a state highway . They have it repaired at 8PM , now refilling the excavation . At a few minutes after 9 they are done and gone . These guys can get it done day or night , and have earned all the overtime they'll have for this month . And they do it with traffic "hot" so as not to inconvenience too many .
  So enough babble about what's happening in my immediate vicinity , I must lead a truly boring life if this is the best narrative I can come up with . To expand on an item from a previous post , I talked about wanting to solemnize weddings . I intend to offer this service to all adults who request it , regardless of race , color , sexual orientation , or any other characteristics . You must have a license , for a legal union , and I will be happy to perform spiritual or religious ceremonies as long as they are in agreement with the teachings of Christ . I'm sure I will happen across some who for one reason or another I am not comfortable with blessing , I pray for wisdom to deal with this if it occurs . Anyway , I have many friends who are "differently oriented" than most hetero people . If I can help them become as one spirit in God's eyes , that will satisfy me . And not just friends and people I know , but anyone who wishes to participate in the sacrament .
  So , suddenly it's midnite , and I am tired , and I have to make sure my youngest is up at 4AM . Good night , and God bless .

  Just went to the laundramat in my pajamas and slippers . Can't decide if I'm a hipster or a housewife . Have both boys home for tonight , so it's work clothes in the commercial machines . Gonna go check them soon , then try for early bed as I need to do job hunting tasks tomorrow . So , good night and go with God .

  Good morning , one and all , even though it's nearly 2PM here . Trying to keep up with everything sometimes just feeds the whirlwind in my mind . I always have dozens of projects and ideas turning in my head , and there are times I can't seem to start anything . I've just settled back into my desk chair after an electronics installation project . I was gone from the keyboard maybe 7 hours . I put in a post to hold a wall mount tv bracket at the corner of my office area . With this I will be able to actively monitor news and weather , and my surveillance system from my desk , or turn it toward my sitting area to watch local channels simultaneously with cable channels .
  Now for something slightly different , that I have been thinking about and researching for a while now . Yesterday , I became an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church , no , I don't need a tax dodge , I just wanted to be able to perform marriages for friends and family . It will be about 3 weeks before I receive my actual credentials , then I can register with the county clerk as a wedding officiant , and legally sign marriage licenses and perform services . You all know I preach a little on here , but I want to be thought of as a minister , not a preacher . This is the first public announcement I have made of this , as this is where I express my faith and my philosophies . I have to guess that a lot of you know that I believe in Jesus Christ and His teachings , and that He is the Son of the One God . I try to apply this to my words and deeds , but freely admit that I am imperfect , a sinner , and an ordinary human being . I don't subscribe to the hate and negativity that many so-called religious folks use to justify their fear of the unfamiliar . We need to be positive in our thoughts and actions , and trust our Lord to lead us in the right direction . Now I'll wish you all a pleasant good night , and may our loving God bless you richly .

  Got up about 5 hours ago , just now starting here . Today is our 29th wedding anniversary , but we have no special plans as we are both inclined to stay home for enjoyment . I calculate that by the time my next birthday rolls around , I will have been with her longer than without .
  More snow , atop fresh ice and sleet . The police scanner is going steadily , collisions and slide offs , and it really just began an hour ago . I guess these folks don't remember last week's weather , or didn't learn anything from it . And really , the time to stock up on staple goods is not after the storm starts . For our romantic dinner we had grilled sandwiches , and I had a juicebox of black bean soup . I don't remember the brand , it came from a discount store , but it was good . The snow didn't last long or leave much , but tv atmospheric prognosticators say more is coming overnight . When I was younger it was not too unusual to have snow on the ground continuously from December 'til March . It seemed much more pleasant then than now . Again I bid you all adieu , treat others well , follow Christ's teachings , God bless .

  Got up a little later than I would have liked , about 10:30 . I was hoping to have a reasonably quiet day at home , as the youngest child was in and out yesterday for a Dr.'s appointment , and got up at 3:30 to go back to work . I always set an alarm as a back up for the kids when any are here , so I got up at 4 to check , and back to sleep around 5 . At 11:30 or so , my wife called to say the clinic will be faxing a page here , turn on the machine . We use our voice landline as our fax number , so the machine stays off until we need it . Somewhere shortly after , I was thinking , for reasons I'm not now sure of , of the " noon whistle " in Hutsonville , on the Wabash River . As a child we heard this signal for lunch hundreds of times , but I can't recall if it blew on Sundays or not . So , today at noon , the clinic's fax tried to call mine , but the answering machine picked up . I got up to take the 3 steps to turn that machine off , but before I could reach it , it was ringing again on the redial from the incoming fax . I called my wife back , to tell her to ask the clinic to resend , when the phone rang again , my cardiologist's nurse , to give me test results from my last fasting labs . While I'm acknowledging her , the call waiting beep starts . Sudden sensory overload , not sure if that's an actual term but it is descriptive of the sensation of losing control of the situation you're in . In other words , I very nearly lost it , my wife on one phone , a nurse on the other , I maintained until I got off line with the VA , and my wife suggested I take an anti-psychotic to calm down . These do a wonderful job , but the " hangover " from these is terrible and long lasting , at least it doesn't include nausea . So I didn't take one , I twisted things back to my usual semi-normal state , and after maybe 10 minutes I was all right , fairly calm , and had the fax ready to receive . I called my wife back and let her know the fax could be sent , but she said she would just pick up the page later , in person . The problem with the fax ? A button inadvertently pushed , probably by me . I think I'm going to finally call my medication professional , yes , I have someone just to oversee my pharmaceuticals , and increase my daily antidepressant . The results call ? My liver function is good , my various cholesterol numbers have improved but not met goal , same medicine , same dose , until the next 90 day labs . I thank the Lord that my state of physical health is improving , and control of my mental functions should be reasonably easy to regain .
  Our youngest came in again tonight to facilitate the transfer of an extra company truck . So I will be up again at 4AM to make sure he is up . I fried cheeseburgers and baked steak fries for supper , one of my favorite meals even if I have to cook it myself . So , please don't assume from posts like this one that I am batshit bughouse crazy , I'm just learning to deal with issues that I blame mostly on a traumatic brain injury , or TBI , that I suffered in 1997 . Some days are better than others , obviously , but suddenly being assailed from multiple fronts can be disturbing , at the very least . Anyhow , I'm publishing this and getting some rest while I can . Good night , God bless .

  Took a lazy day today . Two days of running halfway across the state has me a little frazzled . I don't feel bad , per se , just fatigued . Had leftovers for lunch , hamburger helper for supper . No coffee today , I think I over did it yesterday . Our friends and their son stopped over while doing laundry , and we had an hour's pleasant visit . I am chopping this off short again , and assure you I will return . God bless , good night .

  Today was a long , drawn out day left here before 10AM and just got home at 7:30 PM . Our older son has been trying to get his unemployment started for almost a month now , with conflicting instructions from the 2 states involved . We dropped him off at IDES , 60 mile trip since our Governor closed many local offices . Then we went to Target to pick up a hard-to-find toy our daughter wanted for our grandson . Stopped at Goodwill looking for ugly sweaters , tons of $3 sweaters , no ugly ones . Back at the U.O. , his number is 49 , they are serving #32 . My widowed sister is there waiting on her friend , so we had a pleasant visit while sitting in the parking lot . They had been there longer than us , his number was 46 . We had gotten there about 11:30 , but there was only one person receiving and directing clients . At around 15 minutes between numbers being called , I didn't know if our son would be seen before they closed at 4 . He finally came out at 5 til 4 , and still doesn't know if Mo. will pay his benefits , or Il. . Closing offices , and laying off or encouraging early retirement (force reduction by attrition) has resulted in additional hardship for working people who already have it tough . When I went in to use the restroom , a wastecan  , and a spare , to catch waste from a leaking urinal drain trap . This Governor may not be tainted by corruption , but he is totally lacking in common sense , compassion , and communication skills . I hope someone who can make positive changes is being groomed to occupy the Mansion . Let's not have any delusions that the big issues are not settled behind closed doors , over whisky and cigars , or whatever has taken the place of those vices . Especially , who will be the next Golden Boy .
  After leaving , we had a nice buffet meal along the way . My plans to set a personal smorgasbord record were thrown off by not having eaten in 16 hours . The best I could manage was 4 plates , but to my credit I didn't skimp , and I don't leave scraps , excepting bone or husk . We then went a short bit out of the way to visit my aunt and cousin , her middle son , who has been my trusted companion on many an adventure , which I am sure will be covered in a future post . After this , it was back south to take our son to Nurse Ratched's , where he stays now when he's not working . Another tiny river town where I once whiled away a large part of my twenties . Back home , boots off , work station on , and back to babbling semi-contentedly to my readers .
  Speaking of readers , thank you all for taking time from your busy lives to consume the thoughts that survive the hurricane here in my head . I truly hope you find some thing here that entertains , or informs , or incites you . Sometimes I slack off on participating in this , but when it flows , as it has tonight , it can be very therapeutic . Again , thank you all , may good things happen in your lives , and may God bless you richly .

  Got up this morning , showered , then drove an hour to give one tube of blood to be tested for cholesterol levels . Came home and broke my 14 hour fast with bacon , eggs , and toast . (Breakfast , you see .) The highways were all reasonably clear , but most city streets were crappy . Some of the roads here in town are still pretty funky , but some business parking lots are ridiculously screwy . If these folks paid contractors to remove ice and snow from their lots , they got shafted . Especially when there are large grassy areas adjacent to the parking areas . Now , 8PM it is turning from flurries to light snow here , and a possible "real winter storm" is being predicted for later in the week . And less than an hour later , light to moderate , and accumulating . It's beautiful to watch , fun to play in , and a royal pain for most other activities . I pray the weight doesn't collapse anyone's roof as the build up continues .
  And while we're dealing with God's weather patterns , let's not forget the rapidly approaching celebration of the birth of His Son , Jesus Christ . I don't care if you say Merry Christmas , Happy Hanukkah , Happy Holidays , or whatever . If you are expressing to me the wish for a pleasant holiday season , I will return a greeting in the same spirit . Let's make one issue clear : there is no "War on Christmas" , no matter what some human manure spreader says . Most folks just want to make it through the holidays as best they can , no matter what you call the season . So say whatever you are comfortable saying , if some are offended in some way by your expression of peace and goodwill , it will be their loss . So now I feel good about today's productivity , taken as a whole , and I can log off here without guilt , and wish you all , my growing audience , Merry Christmas , and God's blessings .

  " Throw my brain in a hurricane " - John Prine .  Mine has been there for many years now , spinning around , barely touching the ground sometimes . Some days everything I hear , my brain twists things around until the result is comical , unrecognizable , or sexual . Maybe all three . Sometimes I enjoy this , other times not so much . I try to keep it muted except when I'm home and in a good mood .
  So , I have a fasting blood draw in the morning , 12 hour fast , so I have about 10 minutes to take my night meds and begin . My cardiologist wants to check my cholesterol since changing my statin . Good night , God bless all .

  We went to eat in Missouri , and the road conditions were horrendous . The long hill on the highway was spotless , most of the other 15 miles was 6 inches of ice and hardpack snow . In the town , which has a huge tax base , there was not much improvement , unlike our little town where maintenance crews work day and night until the job is done . However , the restaurant was open , the food was fresh , and I ate 4 plates of delicious , MSG-laden chicken , beef , and imitation crab . Maybe some tabby or persian too , but who cares , it was good . Many thanks to our son who footed the bill .
  This is going to be a short post , as it is the second today , but I will return tomorrow to regale you with more hillbilly weather reports , rants , and/or some such . Good day , take care , and follow the Golden Rule . God Bless .

  A bright , sunny day here , 16 degrees at noon . The city finally got around to plowing my little street , and did a beautiful job . The business owner next door has plowed his lot , so it will be easier for us to get in and out now . I'm going to shovel some more this afternoon , no matter what my wife says . Shoveled the back walk , except around the stoop where it is packed down . The square nose shovel will take care of that . Have the car warming up for a trip to the store . Now , back from the store , it will take a while to normalize my blood pressure . People who don't know the rules , or understand common courtesy , shouldn't be allowed out of their homes , let alone put in control of a vehicle . And probably 80% of today's truck drivers shouldn't be operating pedal cars , much less calling themselves "professionals" . My wife now says if I can drive without screaming we will go to dinner at our favorite Chinese buffet . I'm all for that , so I'll try my best . I am closing this now so I can shut everything down , I may or may not post again tonight . God bless you all .

  Slept about 3 or 4 hours , woke up to more of the same . We have about a foot on the ground , and it's 22 degrees outdoors . The drifts I can see from home are 3 feet or more , all my vehicles are drifted to the tops of the tires , and the Chrysler sedan I have parked across the highway is drifted to hood level . Before I lay down this AM we had a good breakfast of sausages and home made waffles . For lunch we had broccoli and cheddar soup from scratch . Comfort food on a stay indoors snow day . It's still snowing steadily but is now finer , drier flakes . When this ends this evening we get a short respite until Sunday when it starts again . Of course it's forecast to drop to single digit temps tonight . 6PM and I went out to clean off the car windows so I can drive our friends home . They walked the 4 long blocks up here to buy cigarettes , which is difficult in knee deep snow . It stopped around 4PM , and removal crews are making progress on the main roads . Our son shoveled the front walk , and I did the back stoop , but I'll wait until morning to finish . My wife doesn't want me to shovel at all , but when I use common sense I don't have any problems . At 7:30 it is 16 degrees out front . About 10 I drove our visitors home , the rods were plowed but still pretty nasty , didn't have a problem till I got home , quickly resolved . Good night , God bless .

  Good morning , as I type this at 6AM , we have over 9 inches of snow , with no sign of letting up . Pretty much all schools are closed , and many businesses as well . Those who don't absolutely have to get out , shouldn't . The plows are not making a huge difference despite their best efforts . I have been up all night , doing maintenance and watching the snow . Now at 7:30AM I am going to lie down for a while , and publish this for the purpose of communicating my observances . Be careful in all you do , may God keep you all safe .

  Second post of today , it's been a while since I've done this . Going to do inside projects and enjoy the storm as much as is possible . It has gotten me into more of a Christmas season mood , but I don't need the music until about the 22nd of the month . It has been steady snow since about 5 , the state's plow trucks are out but it doesn't appear to be making much difference on the highway in front of my house . It's quarter after 8 and in the middle of this sentence I stepped out back and took readings . It's 21 degrees , and we have 3-1/2 in. of snow on top of 1/2" of sleet on .2" of ice . We will just continue to observe and relax , and pray all make it home safe from their travels . At 11:30 pm , it is still coming down steadily . We now have 5" on the ground , drifting in places to double that . My mercury thermometer , mounted to a post in the open yard , 20' from the house , still says 21 , both of the digitals say 23 , and the bimetal unit on the front (north) porch is on the low edge of the 20 mark . As this is predicted to continue until tomorrow evening , intensifying in the morning , it could get truly bad . As long as all I have to get out of the house for is to shovel sidewalks , and the lights stay on , I can't complain . Good night , stay safe , God bless , and we shall continue tomorrow .

  11AM here , it's been "winter mix"ing all morning . When I walked next door half an hour ago , ice was forming on every surface . In a couple hours it will be too slick to walk . !2:30 everything is becoming coated and the temp is still dropping , about 26 now compared to 31.5 when I got up . We hope the dynamic load on the electric power lines doesn't cause any outages . Having "breakfast" for a late lunch . Biscuits , home made pepper gravy , and cayenne/brown sugar baked bacon . Meanwhile , at 2PM , the precipitation has changed to mostly sleet with flurries mixed in . I hope we don't get any more freezing rain . We can survive an electrical outage but I'd really rather not have one . I kind of enjoy being trapped at home occasionally , when it's warm inside and cold outside . As long as we have lights , heat , internet , and food , I'm all good . At 3:30 I just shoveled the back walk and the thermometer reads 26 , and my rain gauge has a 1/4 in. of sleet in it . At 5:30 almost completely snow , streets in town are treacherous even after plowing and cinder spreading . Our friends went to the store when she got off at 4 so they very kindly picked up a few items for us , saving us a trip so thank you J and J . I am looking forward to an uneventful evening , but just in case I will publish this now , go fix supper , and maybe post further later tonite . God bless and be cautious if you must venture out .

  Here at a more normal time today , got up earlier than I have been . Aaaanndd , suddenly it's 7 PM . Didn't do much today , brought up shovels and push broom in anticipation of a winter storm . And played FarmVille all afternoon . This game is designed to waste your time and wear out your mouse , but I still enjoy it . Even though they shove a new farm at you every few weeks . I now have seventeen , and have to have a whiteboard to keep track of everything . I refuse to spend money to speed things up , I just work at stuff a little at a time until it all works out . I've been playing this a few years and it is addictive , and annoying .
  I haven't written much about the larger spiritual world , and a phenomenon I call " the weight of moonlight . I occasionally have feelings and visual inputs that have no simple earthly explanation . I just had one when I got up to urinate , a very odd visual , but I don't think I will describe it right now , until I ruminate on it some . Besides , all but a very few of you would think me batshit insane . So once more I say good night , be good to each other , and God bless .

  Very busy day , no exertion really but mental challenges all day . That doesn't mean I'm mentally challenged , just busy . I'm still trying to eliminate drafts around the house , especially in the master suite area , which besides our bed has a sitting/tv area , my office , and our security monitoring . Our first 4 years here we paid insurance deductibles 5 times for vehicles that were burglarized or vandalized . I upgraded to better surveillance and alarm systems and haven't had any problems since . We've been here 10 years now so I think it has paid for itself . I'm waiting until our son goes back on the road to finish up the living room wall repair . Not real sure what to expect this week , weather-wise . Some forecasters say up to 8 inches of snow , others up to a quarter inch of ice . I would much rather have snow , even a small amount of ice makes travel treacherous . It's going to get cold starting tomorrow and stay that way at least a week . At least I have warm clothes .
  So now it's midnight and I'm tired , sleepy , and stiff in the joints . Good night , follow Christ , and may God bless you all .

  A nice day again , to lower our guard for when it snows later in the week . I haven't done much again today . We had our grandson this morning so our daughter could go to the dentist . Sometimes he can be a little hyper but is generally well behaved for a 5 year old . He is also extremely smart , so he is fun to converse with . And he can't be deceived by spelling out words , as he can read and spell , as well as add . He had lunch here before he left for preschool , because he really liked my turkey and stuffing . The kid has good taste , I suppose . I had leftovers myself , turkey sandwiches for lunch and turkey with sides for supper . This is one of those meals that I don't mind reheating , it's just as good the 3rd or 4th time around .
  Well , my blood pressure this morning was perfectly normal still , so in a couple days I'll probably rule that out as a cause of constant fatigue . If I can't resolve it in a few weeks I'll make an appointment with my primary M.D. to see what can be done . Yes , that means I'm cutting you short again tonight . Good night , God be with you .

  Just woke up after 4 hours napping in my chair . I had a late breakfast of scrambled eggs with mushrooms and cheese , and toast . Then I was freezing so I covered up and was out not long after . Started this , then fried hamburgers for supper . Our youngest had friends here so I cooked for all . Now , after eating 2 burgers and baked beans , I am just dragging . I wish I could get out of this phase and back into being active . I need to start monitoring my blood pressure again and see if I need adjustment . It's usually lower in the late evening , and tonight is no exception , I am right in the normal range , so I'll check again in the AM . Meanwhile , it has gotten late , and I still have daily maintenance to get done . So , good night , my readers , pleasant dreams and God bless .

  A beautiful fall day , sunny and warm for this time of year . Home made lasagna , and garlic rolls for supper . Had a few visitors this afternoon , went to the grocer , and the auto parts store . Fixed a serious exhaust leak on my wife's car , some other minor chores , and called it a day . Not really having anything to say , being exhausted from my small labors , and wanting to go visiting tomorrow to see the family members I missed on the holiday , I'm calling it a day here , too . Remember to treat each other with respect , good day and God bless .

  A long , busy , and very pleasant Thanksgiving day , yesterday . A few years ago we stopped roasting whole birds and went to Butterball whole breasts . This cuts way down on the waste and cooks more quickly . I think this year is the best I've done as far as flavor and juiciness . We did two breasts , in an oval granite ware roasting pan . I rubbed them well with softened butter and seasoned them with salt , black pepper , and Steak 'n' Shake seasoning . I added a scant 1/4 cup of white wine to the pan and covered it tightly with foil . I prefer this to using the roaster lid as it is easier to remove about halfway through the cooking time , which at 325 was about 2&1/2 hours total cook time . After the proper internal temperature was reached we increased the temp to 425 for about 20 min. to enhance the browning . Always use a probe or spike thermometer to check the internal temp of the meat ! Poultry that is not thoroughly cooked can make you very sick . We had our youngest son and daughter , her husband and son , and my son's friend who had no place else to go . We had a very nice meal , a pleasant visit , and pie for dessert .
  Today we had leftovers , one of the few meals I like that way . Yesterday evening my wife went to WalMart to help our daughter get a few items on the flyer . She had our 5 y.o. grandson in her cart , and had one item to grab . Seeing several people with sale items in their buggies about 10 minutes before the designated time , she put a Batman toy in the cart . As she started toward the registers , a female "associate" shouted at her "it's not time yet" , ran over and grabbed the toy from the cart . My grandson looked at my wife and said , " Nana , she's like the Grinch , isn't she ? ". My wife was laughing too hard to complain much , but it's a sad commentary on the attitude of retail employees . My daughter said she watched several people put on coats and other clothing from the sale items and just walk out the door in the midst of the chaos . My grandson said , " Nana , I've never seen WalMart so crazy ! Personally , it's good I didn't go , she'd be trying to gather bail money today . Even with the mood-enhancing drugs I take , I have almost no tolerance for willful stupidity and arrogant assholes .
  I know it's early , but I have managed a few words here , and I take my leave with these : Good night and God bless , all .

  Spent most of the day taking it easy , some light housework and a late lunch . My wife made little smokies sausages wrapped in bacon , marinated overnight in pineapple juice and brown sugar then baked . We call them "puppy peters " , a carryover from my biker days . We make them as a holiday appetizer/snack a few times a year . Tomorrow we will collaborate on a traditional Thanksgiving meal , minus the cranberries . Speaking of Thanksgiving , I am thankful every day , but I will list a few things here in keeping with the theme of the day . And also note that tomorrow I am taking holiday from the blogosphere to spend the day with my loved ones and unwind .
  Firstly , I am thankful for my faith in God and Jesus , which helps make all other things possible . I am thankful to have a large wonderful blended family , a beautiful and loving wife , and amazing children and grandchildren . I am thankful for the blessed life I live , and for all the great modern conveniences that make it possible and comfortable . I am thankful my parents , both still living , imbued in me confidence , conscience , and common sense . I am thankful to live in this huge beautiful country , where God demonstrated his glory in landscape , flora , and fauna . Lastly , but certainly not least , I am thankful for this opportunity to share some of my thoughts and concerns with you , my fair readers , for whom I am also thankful .
  And so , thank you , Happy Holidays , good night and God bless you all .

  I have finished the dining room part of my project , and scraped part of the living room . Then I finished cleaning the d.r. and put everything back together . Thanksgiving dinner can now proceed as planned . When that is done I will scrape , patch and paint the west living room wall . I used a can of spray insulating foam on voids under the baseboard , wasn't really satisfied with the application . I need another can to finish up , but this time I will buy Great Stuff and not the store brand , and use it right away . I'm feeling a little more communicative tonight , even though I didn't log on until after 7 . My wife has been baking pies all day , and made chicken cutlets for supper . For dessert I had banana bread and honey butter made a couple days ago . I suppose it might be completing my repairs well before deadline , even with a few minor setbacks . Along with finishing the living room phase of this project , I need to hang Christmas lights .
  As it's now almost midnite , I'm going to say good day , may God smile upon you .

  Way late getting started tonight , somehow little jobs turn into big projects . I'm truly sorry I haven't been able to put more down in these posts lately , and I assure you that will change in the not too distant future . I'm jumping ship once more , but I will be back . Be good to one another , good night and God bless .

  A late start again today , as the plaster didn't cure like it should , being on an outside masonry wall . Tried heat from the halogen work light , not satisfied with the result . Now I have a small fan blowing on the patch , maybe that will turn the trick . I believe the problem is in how quickly it dries . So sorry to cut you all off short again , but Sundays are always busy . Good night and God bless .

  Starting this at noon today , a bright chilly fall day . If you've been paying attention to the way this blog is written , you know this is kind of a random posting over the course of the day . I'll be back and forth all day , as I continue my cleaning project . Tonight sometime after 7 or so I'll finally close and publish . This seems to work well for me , and the earlier I start the more out put I have . Creative output , I say at 3:30 , having gotten things moved so I can begin the actual cleaning . Now it's back to work after this short break .  Now at 4:30 I have added a change order to include plaster repair and primer coat . As long as I'm done by Thursday we're in good shape . At 8:30 its been cleaned and the first coat of patch applied , I will continue in the morning with finish plaster , and in the afternoon after it's dry and sanded I'll seal it up with waterproofing primer . I just went out and cleaned the spider webs from my surveillance cameras , it is positively frigid . The thermometers say 19 in front of the house , 23 in the back . The wind makes it absolutely bitter .
  This morning we went with our friends for a smorgasbord breakfast , which was quite good . Amongst the four of us we probably went through 5 pounds of bacon , so we definitely got our money's worth . Saw a couple of our favorite waitresses , were lucky to catch them both on the same day . Just a can of vegetarian lentil soup for supper , and a piece of pecan pie . Physically I have been feeling well except my knees , for several years I have had trouble getting down to work at floor level . The bad part is it doesn't get any less painful even when it's a regular action .
  Here it is , 10 o'clock already , almost time to prepare for bed . Good night , remember to praise the Lord in all things , sleep well and sweet dreams .

  The temp has been falling , it's really beginning to feel like fall . I'm still doing little things to "tighten up" the house , putting up storm glass , etc. . I've also been cleaning , getting the dining room ready for Thanksgiving . My wife has hundreds of pieces of Coca-Cola memorabilia , most in the dining room , so cleaning there is sort of a major project . Having worked on this most of the afternoon , and only about 20% done , I'm going to leave you short again tonight . Please take care of each other and yourselves , and may God bring joy to your life . Good night , one and all .

  Aaaannddd.... I said I'd be back , and here I am . Maybe I can keep myself energized enough to think of something to say . Headphones on , the Led Zeppelin station turned up loud on Pandora , enjoying the flow of the music . Hendrix , 'Stones , just keep it coming . What I have to write tonight will not be easy , saying goodbye never is .
  Charlie Phelps was a man of the kind you don't see much of these days . He was a jack of all trades , master of many , and a union carpenter . He taught me most of what I know about working with wood , building houses , and generally getting along in life . He also told me , every carpenter makes mistakes , but the good ones can hide them . A few months ago , at 80 years of age , he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer . The doctors told him he could gain a few months by treatment , but he chose to go home and live as God allowed , without the pain , discomfort and sickness of chemotherapy . I spoke with his nephew a couple months ago , he said he was better some days than others but still getting around . I learned this morning that he had passed Tuesday night , The man who had buried two wives and a daughter from cancer , finally succumbed himself . Charlie was a builder , a logger , a farmer , a mechanic , a mentor , and an honest man . Rest in peace , my old friend , you've earned it .
  It's been a gray , dreary , rainy day , and I don't have the inclination to write more now , so good night , God bless , take care .

  Hi , folks  , I'm still here , still thinking , still tired , still empty-headed . I don't have anything to say , and I don't feel like pretending , either . I'll return tomorrow , good night , God bless .

  Here I am , late again . Good day , all in all . Youngest left for Utah again this morning , again they say a couple day's work , but we shall see . I spent a good part of the day eating leftovers . I call it cleaning out the fridge with a spoon . For supper we had fried chicken from the deli , and potato wedges , no cooking today . And again , did a few things around the house , haven't been out today but feeling pretty good in general .
  As you may remember I fit into the "angry old white man" demographic , but not in the sense the GOP would like . I am a Christian , which to me means worshiping and following the teachings of Jesus Christ , the Son of God our creator . This pretty much runs counter to the "conservative Christian" ideals promoted by the political "right" . When you believe "love one another as I have loved you" means " Screw 'em , let them starve , freeze or whatever lets me keep mine " , I wonder if you're really that obtuse . I fail to understand the logic that brings you to this interpretation . Not to mention the sheer greed demonstrated by those who have more than they could use in a hundred lifetimes , but think it unfair for them to pay taxes on what they "earn" . In order to cut this short , before my blood pressure rises too high , I will summarize what makes me "not your average angry old white man" . It is not my place , or my job , to tell you who you can love . Within your own species , that is , but all humans are the same species . This is why the "other/inferior" argument doesn't hold water . Which is number 2 , all men are created equal , no matter their race or place of birth . It is the duty of those of us who are able to help the young , the poor , the infirm , and the veterans who have defended us . Private charities and religious organizations are a great help , but they are overwhelmed when times are tough , and the government can't help because some pompous asses have taken the government's control into the abyss of madness . Don't try to control women's body parts if you don't have them , and remember the gender of the person who bore you . In other words , if you are bigoted against gays , women , people of colors other than lily white , the poor and downtrodden , and don't wish to help or even tolerate them , I am not your supporter , or your friend . Go somewhere else if you don't think America's freedom and justice for all creed is in line with your heart or soul .
  So , once more I leave you with my best wishes for all of you , and may God brighten your lives daily .

  I've got to stop putting this off until late in the evening , when I'm already tired . I just can't seem to find my motivation some days . It's not that I'm not interested in communicating , but that I have a hard time collecting and organizing my subjects . If I am distracted by trivial and everyday things , I have a tough time winding up to write . So , after a 2 hour break , I still don't have anything to say , so I'll just do the obvious advice thing . Look both ways before crossing streets or entering relationships . If you can hear thunder , you can be struck by lightning . Or a car with no muffler . Electricity is our friend , but we don't fool with it without getting to know it well first . Unless you're young , attractive , and feminine , spandex is not flattering . The size of your wiener is less important than the size of your heart . Or your checkbook . He who smelt it , dealt it . Do unto others as you would have done to yourself ! See how I stuck the most important part at the end ? Take care of yourselves and trust in God . Good night .

  Just sitting here watching the sky turn black outside my west-facing office window . Tornado warnings everywhere , these late fall warm spells always stir them up . Now , 15 minutes later , blue skies and fluffy white clouds , but the wind is still extreme . The radar shows just a narrow gap in the storms , right over our little town . It passed by rather quickly , now really nice except for the wind . Now it's almost 8pm , and it's still around 60 degrees and windy , we got maybe a 10th inch or less of rain here . Some other places not far away got hit pretty hard . We will be praying for those impacted by these storms . Brookport , New Minden , and Washington in Illinois were some I heard mentioned .
  A couple of days ago I made a note to myself to bring up grammar . I don't have any English or related class credits beyond high school , nor am I a "grammar nazi" . I try to use proper American English grammar and spelling to the extent that I am able , and I have learned that "spell check" isn't nearly as reliable as programmers would like you to believe . I know and freely admit that I write a lot of run-on sentences , use slang and colloquialisms , and phrase things in a first person stream-of-consciousness sort of style . That sentence illustrates this somewhat eloquently , if I say so myself . Oh , yeah , just did . However , I know when I'm doing this , it's part of my style , and I try not to detract from the conveyance of my message . What bugs me most , and inspired this lesson in creative writing , is , of all things , memes . If you're going to paste some witty homily over a random character photograph , at least take the time to research the proper spelling and phrasing to communicate your message . If you don't , not only does it make you look intellectually inferior to those of us who can read and write , it always detracts from the message you are trying to express , except those too stupid to care or know the difference . And that's all I have to say about that . For now , anyway . In proofreading this last paragraph I just edited 3 mistakes of my own , hope I got 'em all . Good evening , be thoughtful and kind , and God bless .

  Another late start to the day and to logging on here . Yesterday our "unplanned diversion " was a stop for a good meal , and today it was mercy and tattoos . We took some health care hardware to my wife's sister , then went to our older son's GF's house , where she covered up an old tattoo on my wife's chest . Very good work , and it didn't take long . It's about a 45 minute drive each way , and we took my old van for ease of loading the medical equipment . Having not driven much in the last 6 weeks , not at all the first 5 , my right calf and my forearms are at the point of pain . That being said , I am cutting you short once again . I plan to stay in tomorrow , and will try to start earlier and have more to say . I don't post from mobile so when I'm away from my desk I'm not even doing drafts . Again , good night , take care , God bless .

  Another good day , physically and mentally . This afternoon we went to Aldi's to use a rare $10 off $40 coupon that they pulled down but decided to honor for a limited time . Stocked up on some things we needed , took our friends along and gave them a copy of the coupon . We made a couple extra copies and gave to other shoppers while we were there . On the way home we stopped at South Side Ribs for sandwiches and had a pleasant meal , it had been a while since we were all out together . I love their sweet potato fries because they come with a praline sauce that makes them extra good . After we got back home our youngest daughter came over with our youngest grandchild . At 5 he is quite precocious and very intelligent . The other grandkids all call me PawPaw , but he has always called me Pop . Our friends took their groceries home and came back for a short visit , and our eldest daughter and oldest granddaughter stopped by . All in all a pleasant evening .
  It has now become rather late for a fat old man , whose wife is asleep in her recliner . Therefore , I wish you all sweet dreams and a pleasant tomorrow . Good night , God bless .

  Here I am , back at the word grinder , trying to turn pigshit into bacon . I don't have anything stirring my mind or body up so I just don't know what to say . Let's talk about fearing God , just for the sake of His redemption . If God loves us , and we know he does , why should we fear his wrath ? If we are not going against his Word we should have no reason to fear Him/Her . It is my belief that God indeed loves us , and unless we turn against him there is no necessity of fearing His wrath . If you believe you must fear your creator and protector , you probably aren't following his rules . And if you fear God , how can you truly come to know him ? Let's break this down by my reasoning : God loves you , period . What he expects in return , from you , is love . Not fear but love . God wants you to come to know him as well as he knows you .
  That's today's lesson in religious motivation and what I think about it . Just one more verse in the river's guidebook . Have a pleasant evening , one and all , and may God bless your lives and take away your unwarranted fears . Good night .

  Good day , health wise . Chilly day , weather wise . I didn't do much today , but I plan to put some applications in tomorrow . My wife put an Italian beef roast in the crockpot this morning , and for supper I toasted the rolls to serve it on . Our youngest came in this morning from Utah , so we'll be making different meals for a few days , he eats out almost exclusively when he's on the road . I love eating out but there's nothing better than home cooked . Tomorrow I think it's pork loin , which is always very good .
  Kampsville was a quiet little village , most of the residents knew one another . Even though we were only there a few years , I knew many of the people . It was here that I first learned the true finality of death , and the fragility of life . We hadn't been there long when our dog , who had come with us in our travels from West Union , disappeared . I found her a couple days later on the creek bank , a small bullet hole in her side . One boy , a little younger than me , sledded out in front of a car and was killed . Another , a sixth grader in my class , shot himself while climbing down from a deer stand where he hunted with his father . Our class made a field trip to the church for his funeral . And then there were the car accidents that were so commonly fatal in those days when cars were not built with safety in mind . One , when I was in grade 8 , was driving his father home from the bar in Pearl , where both had been drinking . He might have been 14 , and they were in a 1959 Chevrolet . On the way home they ran off the road at high speed and flipped into a marsh . Both were ejected and killed . Another died when his older cousin lost control and broadsided a tree , while street racing .
  My friend and I would sometimes take a .22 rifle into the woods south of town . On the river's edge was a concrete monolith that I have always wondered the purpose of . I assumed it must have been something to do with river navigation , but I really just don't know . I seem to remember a similar installation on the east side of the river but I'm not positive . I can't find anything on either side on google's satellite map images , maybe someone who knows could comment .
  I kind of doubted my ability to produce much story tonight , but once I began it got easy . Yesterday I posted here for the 60th time , and I've barely started the autobiography stuff . And rest assured , come election season I will be stirred up over liars , cheats and thieves on the campaign trail . So if you enjoyed reading my mid-life whine so far , please encourage others you know to click us up , the Porous Canoe is intended to stay semi afloat for some time to come . So , do something for your fellow humans , pay it forward , help someone in need , be excellent to each other . Good night and God bless , one and all .

  Quite cool this morning , but I think probably rather mild compared to what the winter has in store . I think the high here was about 36 degrees , I know it was too windy not to wear a coat . Now at 9:30 pm it's about 28 , but by the weekend there's a warm-up on the way . I'm not feeling the mood to communicate so much tonight , so I bid you adieu , my internet voyeurs , may God's love keep you safe and well .

  As promised , I have returned to post a second time today . We went to Golden Corral where I took advantage of a free meal , 3 plates worth . When we left there we went to Little Caesar's where I bought a small pepperoni pie to have for lunch tomorrow , and a free order of crazy bread . If the young veteran behind the counter knew me better , he might call it psycho bread . It was sad that he couldn't take advantage of all the free meals today , because he is at work , hustling $6 pizzas . Then , as we had no urgent activities awaiting us , we stopped to see my cousin , who is a fellow veteran , and his mother . We try to visit family at every opportunity , because you never know when it might be the last available chance .
  So , on the trip home I encountered several reasons for a minor rant . Why is it so difficult to dim your headlights , especially in misty rain ? Are these people arrogant or just oblivious ? If it's the first , I don't feel bad at all high-beaming you back . Go suck one , azzhole . If it's obliviousness , you don't have any business operating a motor vehicle , at all . Then there are the "driving lights" that people leave on at all times , they are ubiquitous on newer vehicles . They are usually aimed not to add to your driving view , but are perfect for blinding oncoming drivers . Maybe their owners just don't care , or maybe they're not smart enough to find the switch to turn them off . Either way , as I grow older , my night vision becomes less effective , and these arrogant dumbasses are not only endangering other's lives , but their own as well . Basically , this is all about common courtesy to your fellow travelers , and why it is so rare these days . When I learned the rules of decency in driving , well before I was licensed , 42 years ago , things were quite different . Maybe it's the proliferation of cellular telephones , and people are distracted . If that's the case , these folks fall into both of the above categories . Probably no way to avoid it , except stop driving at night . OK , rant over , adios , buenos noches , y viya con Dios .

  Today is Veteran's Day , set aside to recognize all the men and women who have served in our armed forces . I would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to all my fellow veterans , living and dead , for their service and sacrifice to defend this great nation . And I pray for an end to all war , and peace for all mankind . If everyone were to follow the teachings of Christ , no one would need to make war on their neighbor , or defend themselves from the warlike . Regardless , thank you to all who have served our country , in peace and war .
  Today is going to be a multipost day , so that I can have this out early , and still accomplish some other things . Meanwhile , contemplate whether spell check is that unsophisticated , or if I'm just making up words . Take care and have a great Veteran's Day . Later .

  Really good day so far , nice outdoors , feeling pretty good , think maybe I'll get something done .As you can tell by now I don't usually supply a timeline for these posts , just put down a little as I go through my day . It's just now getting dark , and I wrote that first line about 4 hours ago . I spent a couple hours in the garage putting things away and straightening up , I hadn't used things in a while but my youngest son had . Made cheeseburgers and fries for supper , think I'm getting my mojo back , slow but sure . Also did some winterizing on the house , sealing up windows and such .All the predictions I have heard are for a rough , cold winter .Hopeful to find work close by so weather doesn't keep me from getting there . Actually , paying work , period , is the first order of business .
  Kampsville , Illinois . My life at that time was fairly uncomplicated , and mostly idyllic . Summer was riding my bike for miles in and around the little town , and hiking the woods behind town and along the river . Winter was sledding the many hills in the area , and playing on river ice as it broke up . I worked occasionally at an auto body shop there , the man who owned it was a member of our church . My Dad bought a 1966 Ford hardtop that had done a slow rollover into a creek , and we rebuilt it at Paul's shop . We also put a custom paint job on my Sears 3 speed bicycle , which was semi-chopped and ridden daily , until it was stolen , and presumably thrown into the river . Of course , by that point in my existence , there were older girls who had access to motor vehicles , which led to more pain than payoff .
  We'll pick up our tale of growing up in rural Illinois at a later point , but for now , be good and be blessed .

  Another good day , very little discomfort except some mild when I urinate . Had 1 glass of coffee and 2 iced tea , been having about that the last few days , still regular . Had a late lunch at our favorite Chinese buffet  , got my fill of chicken prepared 6 different ways , shrimp 3 ways , and "crab" 3 different ways . After we got home I did some vehicle maintenance and cleaning . This evening I did some re-arranging and cleaning here in our suite , and put the outdoor cushions into the attic for the winter . Our friends came over so he could hand things up to me through the small trap door . Had a nice visit as well , even though not very long . Now our sitting area is much more usable , and I have better access to the shelving .
  This morning , I had large intentions to write about Kampsville some more , but after more exertion than I've had in over a month , I'm bushed . Like a gynecologist after a busy day . So , you know the tune by now , I'm closing this post with another request about your behavior . Be kind to the earth we live in , it's the only one we have . Human-caused climate change is real , we need to be developing renewable energy sources , and conserving our dwindling resources . And while you're at it , treat each other with kindness and understanding . Good night , God bless .

  Two good days in a row , pain wise . Went to the liver specialist this morning , he says cysts on the liver are quite common and nothing to worry about . They will set me up for another cat scan in a year or so . But , one more very specific blood test because of family history . I checked in , saw the nurse then the doctor then the nurse again , got my paperwork and was back in the elevator in less than 30 minutes . Then I waited that long in the lab waiting room for a blood draw that took less than a minute . Still not too bad , in and out in not much more than an hour . On the way home we stopped to eat and had to wait 20 min. or so for the restaurant to open . Real gyros , it was worth the short side trip and the wait .
  Except for 2 trips to the hospital I hadn't been out in 5 weeks . I drove the 100 and some miles today , had some cramps from the unfamiliar position . Took the scenic route home for portions of the return trip , nice fall colors . Other than some minor discomfort , a really good day . Now that I know I'm not eaten up inside it's time to try to get back into the working population . Going to have to start conditioning my body to prepare .
  Well , folks , I don't want to spoil you by suddenly becoming highly productive , so I'll say take care and remember , life is what YOU make it most of the time . May God's love light your lives . Good night .

  Hello , all , I am back . I didn't have a very good day , pain wise , yesterday . Today was much better , very little discomfort . Got some small things done , ate good twice so far , walked next door for a short visit . Our friends came by for a bit , he is going with me for my next appointment . I haven't driven in 5 weeks , I may not remember how . Joking , of course but it'll be nice to have someone along just in case .
  I still have issues with my energy level , sometimes I can barely keep my eyes open . Hoping to get more energetic and get back into the workforce . Any how , sorry about yesterday's lack of a post , and the brevity of today's . Good night and may God bless you and yours .

  Still some stone pain today , but of shorter duration . Comes and goes , but I haven't needed a pill yet . Sometimes quite severe but not long lasting . I may take a hydrocodone before bed tonight . At least these pains are in my penis , not my prostate , which I hope means the stone is slowly coming out . So , being quite tired and not really in the mood to write , I take my leave and wish you all the best .

  Had to take a pain pill this morning , other than that not too bad a day . Had a visit this morning from my oldest sister , who lives in MO , about a 6-8 hour drive . She was on her way to pick up sister # 5 , to accompany her on a trip to Montana to her (sister # 1) younger daughter's . In my teens and twenties I would have considered this an insignificant distance . At my current age I would dread it . After going to MT and back , then bringing her sister back here , she plans to be back home by Saturday . I hope they make their trip safely .
  As for the rest of my day , I showered , dressed in jeans , and had a fairly comfortable afternoon and evening . I cooked supper for my wife and I , our good friends came by for a while , and we had brownies for dessert . Now I'm having some penis pain , too bad it doesn't provide a gain , but I am about to take a pill for bedtime .
  To clarify the timing of this blog , I log on anywhere between 9 or 10 am , and publish and log off around 10 or 11 pm . I know readers are visiting me here , but I don't know how many actually read the posts . Feel free to comment if you have suggestions or criticism . Any way , good evening and God bless .

  Same story as yesterday , severe pain . After an hour or so I took a hydrocodone , it took a while to work . Now , 6 or 7 hours later (3pm) I am much better and hoping to be all right the rest of the day . Another 3 hours , still under control without more medication . Got out in the yard to pick up trash and was pleasantly surprised not to find much . With a state highway out front and a 24 hour business next door , some days I could spend hours picking up other people's trash . I know the light exercise helps speed the recovery process but I'm still somewhat short on energy . I hope tomorrow is manageable physically , maybe I can accomplish something productive .
  I haven't talked much yet about Kampsville , so as I have days of comfort I will try to enlighten you , my transient audience . On IL Hwy. 108 , you cross the Illinois River by ferry . This saves miles of travel when open , which is daily except in times of flood or heavy ice . The ferry landing was about a block and a half behind our house . In between was a slightly upscale restaurant/bar/rooming house on the southeast corner of the street behind us , and a small cafe across 108 and slightly closer to the river . Directly across 108 from our house was a gas station/garage , not sure of the brand but maybe DX . My first job , at 12 years of age , summer 1967 , was on a test plot for Funk's "G" Hybrids , a seed corn grower . I got a Social Security card and began contributing to the U.S. Treasury . Funk's was located west of Eldred , IL , and about a mile or so east of the river . To get to work I would ride the free ferry across and walk to the plots . I also mowed lawns for a genuine small businessman . Paulie Sevier was a dwarf , whose daily transportation was the Ford riding mower he used in his work . I pushed a mower and did most of the groundwork .
  I've done well this evening , and this narrative will continue in the near future . For tonight , live , laugh , love , be happy , and may God truly bless you .

  Slept late , felt pretty good when I got up . 45 min. later , pain , somewhat severe , from what I believe to be a stone that hasn't yet passed . This break was about 3 hours as the pain has been very intense , off and on , sometimes lasting 10 to 20 minutes . I'm thinking of changing my name to Dick Hertz , but I really had my heart set on Scar Scrotum . Calling it a night . God bless .

  Had the best day so far , the 4 week anniversary of my biopsy/surgery . Mostly pain-free , mostly normal urination , normal BM without prostate pain . Put on jeans and real socks and shoes , even though I didn't leave the house . Felt well enough to do dishes and make cheeseburgers and fries for supper . Had visitors for a short while this afternoon , planning to just relax and chill tonight .
  As I said , 4 weeks today , one more until I can resume sexual activity , 2 until I can lift again . Let's just hope the liver consult doesn't lead to more disability . It's after 10 pm , and I'm still pretty good , so I think I'll retire early tonight , as it seems the better I rest , the better I feel the next day . Once again I take my leave , good evening and be well , and trust God .

  Had a tough night , or early morning , as it were . The pain was extreme , I think I fell asleep in my chair around 5 am . Didn't sleep very well there , so crawled into bed at 7:30 , and slept soundly until 1:30 . Still having some pain today , not as severe . My urine stream is weaker and more sprinkler-like than last evening , but it feels like the irritant has moved past my prostate . Still way better than I was 2 weeks ago .
  Today , Halloween , is the 10th anniversary of our first night here . We made arrangements to move in a week before closing . From that first night , this house feels like I'd always lived here , it has been very much "home" . Not many kids this time , the rain has been fairly steady all evening . At least it's not bitter cold or snowing . Many other towns moved trick-or-treat to tomorrow because of the forecast for this weather .
  It's getting late , I'm having some pain and discomfort , so good night , peace .

  Having a much better day than yesterday , bowels more settled . I had lain back down for a while this morning when I had a knock at the door . Our closest friends had to evacuate their home , so they came to us for refuge . The problem was resolved quickly and they were allowed home after an hour or so . I always enjoy their company but to have it in the middle of a weekday was pleasantly different . I made coffee for my guests and after they left decided to have 1 glass myself . This is the first in almost 3 weeks so I'm hoping it doesn't upset my digestion too much . Wow ! A few hours later I am doing well , when I get a sharp , stabbing pain in my nether regions . I don't know if I'm trying to pass a stone or what . It's a completely new type of pain , and it is excruciating . Thank goodness it doesn't last long , and it's only been twice so far .
  Well now , this evening I had another pain episode , thankfully very short . None of these has lasted long enough to justify medicating but shortly I'm going to take a preemptive Tylenol . I don't have much choice in over-the-counter analgesics because of the other medications I'm taking . The acetaminophen works ok but I worry about it's effect on my liver .
  The game is on and it's do or die for our beloved Cardinals . In the 5th inning 5-0 Red Sox , there is no joy in Mudville . And , at a score of 6 to one the Boston Red Sox win the World Series in game 6 . And sudden serious pain in the lower abdominal area . This one lasting much longer , after my first really normal urination since the 4th of this month . This leads me to believe the cause is a stone and the healthy flow has moved it a little . The pain is slowly subsiding but this was the longest duration , maybe 5 minutes , but not quite as intense as earlier . Whatever it is , I hope it resolves soon . Being able to make a stream without forcing it is more comfortable than what has been happening the last 4 weeks and I hope it continues . Having not slept well in several nights , I'm logging off . Good night , God bless , and treat others as you wish to be treated .

  Kind of a shitty day , diarrhea , rain , overcast and bad puns . Sorry , but words whirl inside my head constantly , and tend to arrange themselves in strange ways . Since this morning's runs , every time I feel the urge to pee , I also have to crap . I think this is because of muscle confusion from having a catheter in for 2 weeks , without re-training the bladder before removal . Anyway , I'm putting on a diaper and going to bed . Good day , all , and God bless .

  Having company , watching game 5 of the World Series . Our friends are over and our oldest daughter and youngest granddaughter . Now that my moods are chemically controlled I enjoy having visitors more frequently than before . Today has been quite pleasant , weather wise and pain wise both . My discomfort while urinating and defecating is at the lowest level so far , but I'm still working on muscle control for both functions .
  Well , the Cards lost game 5 , so the series moves back to Boston . I still think we'll take it in 7 . Having been a little distracted I haven't put much down here in the 5 hours or so it's been open , so I leave you disappointed once again . Good night , take care , God bless .

  Still in occasional pain , but it's a really nice day out . My youngest and his friend bought and grilled strip steaks and pork steaks , and we heated up the week's left over side dishes . This made for a wonderful lunch , thank you , boys . Then another of his friends came over to eat and mowed the lawn , probably for the last time this year . Thank you , Bobby .
  I believe I have mentioned before that my bowel movements have been more regular . They have also been firmer than they had been . The downside to this is that as each turd passes my poor injured prostate , it feels like a whack in the sac with a ball bat . Urination has become less painful but I seem to be using different muscles than before to force my bladder to empty . It feels like I am pushing in another direction or place to compress it . I hope no one has been offended by my candid postings about my medical problems , but it's a part of my life right now , and perhaps someone can benefit from my experiences . In a couple more weeks I can test the equipment to assure it's in working order . At that point I'm sure my whining will at least diminish some .
  My youngest has been home this week , they worked themselves out of work in New Orleans after a week . He leaves tomorrow for a short job in Utah , which will probably require more driving time than actual work hours . Utah being one of our beautiful United States I haven't visited , I'm hoping for a souvenir when he returns .
  Having been slightly more productive today , I am logging out and asking once again , be kind to one another , and to the earth we live in , and be thankful you have the opportunity to do so . Good night , and God bless .

  Yes , I know my productivity has been pretty low on here , not sure how long it will be before it picks up . I am really tired of always being tired . I haven't done much today but am thoroughly exhausted . I hope as I heal this goes away . Anyhoo , I will be lurking here while watching our Cardinals play in the big show . We have friends over so it will be a pleasant viewing experience .
  Our guests left early so we have the house to ourselves again for a while . The game ends in controversy and a win for the Cardinals . We need 2 more wins if we can , I just hope they're able to win them on skill , not Red Sox stupidity . Good night , all , and sweet , not sweaty , dreams .

  Another fairly good day , put on jeans for the first time in 3 weeks . Got up and did a few things around the house , and made hot rolls to go with supper . I had to go back to the smaller "shield" or sanitary pad , the pressure from the bigger ones was uncomfortable . Peeing good most of the time , but having some pain . Bowel movements put pressure on the prostate and can be fairly painful . I'm sure this will all go away in time . Looked over my medical records , labs , pathology and treatment notes , all is indeed benign . After we see about the liver , hopeful to get back to normal . Tired , again , so good day and God bless .

  My plumbing is working better every day , and the pain is gradually lessening . Mostly just a strong burning that I believe to be from my prostate , and when I'm sitting an occasional twinge from my testicle . All the involved muscles seem to work better if I walk around some before I try . I was up and down a lot last night , not sure but I guess this will balance out in time . The urologist hasn't told me yet if the Flomax is a continuing thing , but the script was for 30 days worth so probably . It seems to help in my current state , so maybe a continuation will be good . I am just thrilled not to continuously pee in a suitcase . I checked , I have 2 refills left .
  Had our granddaughters over for a while tonight , which is always pleasant . They are always so good for us , as are all the boys . Of course , none of them are "little" any more , the youngest grandson turned 5 yesterday . And the oldest at 16 plays football on an undefeated high school team , and bench presses 375 lbs..  Well , I'm going to close this out tonight with my fondest wish , that you all be excellent to one another , and lift up the less fortunate when you have the chance . Good night , God bless .

  Some pain today , generally not too bad . Had a few visitors today and expect some to return later . I haven't gotten out much so company is a delightful diversion . My next scheduled appointment is with the liver specialist , which is a consult so it will probably lead to more . That isn't until next month so I plan to spend a couple weeks in rest and recovery . There is much I need to be doing but most of it requires lifting and vigorous physical activity so those things will be on hold for another 3 weeks or so . I have been doing a little each day of things I can do , so as to occupy my mind and hands . This blog is one of those "light duty" things . At least when religion or politics doesn't have me all stirred up .
  Have friends over watching the World Series , I'm just listening as my desk is around the corner from the tv . The Cards aren't doing too well tonight , but I think they sometimes "sandbag" a little so their opponents don't look too bad . Have to let the Red Sox win at least one at home . We'll be able to tell more after a couple games . Once again , I leave you , fair reader , so long , good night , God bless .
 

  Having a much better day today , no catheter , no pain pills , and no uncontrollable urination . I can feel God healing me . I am indescribably thankful to be unattached (from the piss bag) , and having only occasional instances of pain . I feel more normal than anytime in the last 3 weeks . Yesterday afternoon I truly thought I might have to go have another catheter inserted ( it's not as gentle as that sounds ) , and I REALLY did not want that . Like I said , I'm doing much better so toughing it out was worth it . Hopeful to be able to sleep in larger increments tonight . Last night they varied from 10 minutes to as much as an hour , becoming longer as the night wore on . Had Campbell's chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches w/ onions for supper , courtesy of my wonderful wife . Took my Flomax and can already tell the difference .
  I hope this is the beginning of an upward trend in my health and vitality . I need to be more productive in many areas , not to mention my creation and distribution of malarky on here . Good night , I have to practice sleeping without peeing , and peeing without screaming . Be kind and generous , and may God bless you .

  Got the Foley catheter removed today , almost no pain to that . Now having a painful evening trying to make the right muscles relax , after 2 weeks of no use . Getting better the last hour or so , hope that's a trend . I will be just phoning this one in , praying for a better day tomorrow . Also for my father , fighting his own health battles , and for my neighbor who was severely injured in a car crash last week . So , good day and may God bless you all .

  Boneless pork chops , potatoes and gravy , and asparagus spears . That last should make for lovely smelling urine . Slept away a part of the afternoon in my chair , got up to visit with our older son and his girlfriend , Nurse Ratched . Had that delicious supper and now feel I could sleep some more . I'll try to stay busy so I can rest tonight .
  Just below this post is a Google street view image of our Kampsville house . It doesn't sit nearly as close to the street as it once did . At the front was maybe 8 feet , with a hedge by the city sidewalk . On the north side , next to Rte. 108 , it was even less . The back yard was maybe 40 ft. deep , and at the alley corner was a small one-car garage . The full block contained a grocery/general store , an insurance office , a feed store , a jeweler , a barber shop , a roller rink with roll-up canvas walls , a telephone switch building , and a couple vacant commercial buildings . In the late 1960s the town was already in decline , we just didn't see it .
  Having written more today than I anticipated , I hope to be able to increase my output as my health improves . Literary output , not urinary . Good night , take care , and be good to each other .

  The house we lived in , in Kampsville ,IL . This is not it's original location , it was moved a half block south when the historical society bought it . It was at the south-east corner of the intersection of IL 108 and IL 100 .

  Had another pretty good day , slept late again , no more blood so far , discomfort not too bad . Seriously looking forward to being set free from my attachment . The only change I've made in my diet so far is to cut out coffee , which used to be my only daytime beverage . The last few days I've been having a glass or two of tea in the afternoons , maybe one soda every 3 or 4 days , but mostly water . The upshot of this is that my bowels are now more regular than they have been in years . I think for now I will limit my caffeine intake to no more than a cup , no more than 2 or 3 times a week . My appetite has been good and I have been eating my usual quantities , but have lost somewhere between 5 and 10 lbs. over the past week or so . Don't know if it's the trauma or the regularity but I won't complain . Gonna call it done for the day , God Bless .

  Got a call this morning from urology , I can get my cath out Monday . Still no official biopsy results , I will check that at the same time . Took my Flomax last evening , a couple hours later had some blood in my urine , I have to believe there is a connection , I was normal this morning and all day today . We shall see . Hope I don't have the same tonight .
  I need to ask about this fatigue , too . I am just constantly tired , for no good reason . I know this is short but I am out of energy , good night and God Bless .

  Good news at last ! I finally got the prostate meds I waited a week for , and await the nurse's call with a time to come over and get decathed . This medicine is for bph , or enlarged prostate . Some of the side effects include dizziness , drowsiness , chest pains , and painful , long-lasting erections . I just hope that last one waits until after the removal , I don't think the catheter is compatible with an erection . Theoretically , this will reduce the urgency of my need to urinate , which would be good . The brand name is Flomax , the generic is Tamsulosin Hydrochloride  . I assume this will be a maintenance medication that I'll be taking as long as it works .
  Had potato soup for supper , made by a friend of the family . Excellent choice for a cool fall evening . No matter how healthy I try to eat , I still can't shake the extra 50 or so pounds I'm carrying . Good day , all , and God bless you .

  We had some news today from the urologist's office , the Dr. has to read the results tomorrow before the nurse can officially inform me , but as nearly as she can tell my prostate is enlarged but not cancerous .  I also confirmed that the prescription the Dr. ordered last week was finally mailed . Hopeful to be set free by Monday . So , on top of the catheter discomfort , my rectum goes painful at times  , a burning sensation . Bet you were glad to hear that , right ? Anyway , this is one of those times , so I will continue my ramblings tomorrow . God Bless .

  After calling the urologist's , and being transferred to the pharmacy , my wife was told they were mailing my prescription today . That's what they told her last week , too . She asked about biopsy results , they said the nurse would call me . No call . I am beginning to feel frustrated . At least another week of having a plastic ball and chain secured to my winkie . I will be like a kid in a candy store when this comes out (my catheter) , able to dress normally and even leave the house .
  So , back on memory lane , we move to the little Illinois River town called Pearl , where there was another coal-fired electric generating plant . This in time to have some summer vacation , and start 6th grade . We rented a small house on a hill above the town , which had a big back yard for hide-and-seek and catching fireflies . My one strong memory of Pearl is the local undertaker , who everybody called "Coon" . He always dressed in a tuxedo and top hat , like a Dickens character , even for trips to the grocers . When we would encounter him , we would always say , "Hi , Coon , how's business ?" . His reply was ever the same . With a melancholy frown he would shake his head and say "Dead , just dead ." At the age of 11 I found it hilarious . We weren't in Pearl but a few months when we bought a grand old house in the next town to the south , Kampsville , just a block from the river . I will expound further on this place later , for many of my fondest memories were made there . Until next time , Good Night and Best Wishes to all of you .

  Well , hello . It's nearing midnight and after napping away most of the afternoon , I find myself awake and in the mood for music . Pandora , over-the-ear headphones , alternative one thing and another . I love music of all kinds , but it's not always convenient , or conducive to productivity , to listen . I have my ipod in my car , over a thousand songs of several genres , and I enjoy it while I'm driving . Around home , I hate to disturb the others so I don't listen loudly but leave the headset plugged in , so only I hear it , even not wearing them . Because of a certain paranoid fear of missing any odd sound , of not being fully aware of my surroundings , I seldom actually put the phones on my head . However , when I do indulge my desire for pure music , it's so enjoyable I find it hard to know when to quit . Right now : Sister Hazel  ,  "All for You" , what Pandora kicks up next , who knows ?
  After a week with the Foley catheter I truly hope the meds come tomorrow so I can see a firm date for it's removal . It is nice not to have to get up to urinate but my body still tells me I need to , so every so often I have to stand up and let the equipment think it's doing the job . The worst is when the actual catheter tube twists , ever so slightly . It feels like having a red-hot probe stuck into my urethra , which is especially annoying when it happens in the middle of the night . Anyway , maybe tomorrow I can get started on the new meds , and learn some lab results .
  In trying to reach some kind of "normal" sleep/wake cycle , I bid you adieu once again , until the morrow . Take care and treat others well .

  Feeling all right today , no real complaints , so I'll do a little more personal history . I've been trying to keep these fairly chronological , but may occasionally jump forward or back as memories return .
  Having completed 4th grade at Marshall , IL , north of West Union , we moved to Poole , KY . My Dad went to work for a small electric cooperative at a plant called Sebree . I don't remember much about living there as we were only there a short time . By the end of summer we had moved to a new house in a subdivision outside Madisonville , and I started 5th grade at Hanson , KY . By the time we left the next summer I had acquired the slightly "southern" accent I carry to this day . This was a new house , partially unfinished , 2 baths ,a master br. and a long dorm-like room all us kids shared . The attached garage was a single , with a narrow door . I say narrow because my mother scraped the fender trim off our new 1965 ford station wagon on that door opening . Not much here in the way of strong memories , except a couple incidents I may or may not talk about later .
  Took my last prednisone tab of a tapering dose series , prescribed for my all-over rash the same day I got cathed . That was this morning , spent most of the afternoon asleep in my chair . Still very fatigued , so I leave you for now . Good night , one and all .