Happy New Year

If you drink, don't drive.

Good to the last drop

Is there any thing better than the smell of coffee as you open a brand new can?

I wish I had written that

Go read GuyK's rant for today. He is right on the mark. I will add it makes me sick that the MSM cannot accurately report it was HAMAS who was bombing Israel -- these attacks are retaliation.

To what key do you tune a ukulele?

It was a good Sunday. The Patriots and the Cowboys will both be sitting home watching the playoffs. Life is good. The Bears choked away their slim chance, but the Colts won, so the happiness/disappointment see-saw is leveled somewhat.

It occurred to me yesterday I sound like a total hick sometimes when I talk. At 46 it is probably too late to fix that.

Today is ostensibly a work day. I am not sure what I am to do -- every single one of my customers is closed. I am caught up on expenses and paperwork. I guess I will peruse the Internet and look for leads. BTW, do you have the need to buy several thousand bearings or know someone who does? I just thought I would ask...

We had a gift exchange at my wife's family Christmas Eve. It was one of those deals where the gifts are not for a specific person, but where the people are given numbers and you chose a gift in order. When your turn comes you may chose a gift or take one someone else has chosen. It is kind of fun. Anyway, my wife got a scrapbook of her mother's old pictures. It includes a picture of her Mom and Dad together, she has never had a picture of them together before, so she was pleased. Inside are all kinds of old family pictures. Boy my wife has had some funky hairdos over the years. The big hair and glasses in the 1980's are a riot. Of course I look the same as ever; suave skinny and dashing....hah!

Happy Monday to you.

The boring aspect of life

Crazy times. We had January-like weather last week with single digit temps and sub-zero wind chills. This weekend we had late March weather. The temperature hit 67 yesterday! Last night we had tornado watches as a cold front came through to bring us back to near normal weather. It was nice going to the grocery in a t-shirt though.

I scored some tickets to the Colts final home game this season. We will be off in a bit. I got the seats for half of face value. That is OK since the starters will likely only play half the game at best. I know they are not great seats, but my wife and youngest will get to see their first NFL game live.

Some friends came over last night. We went to eat some Mexican food. When we returned, the other guy and I retired to the garage to smoke a cigar and drink a few beers while the women gossiped. Then we played some Euchre. My buddy and I handily won every game. Lots of talking and joking so we played slowly. I made up a batch of cocktail weenies and some brownies. There was dip and snacks as well. I ate too much and had a great time.

As you can see I have nothing of interest or value to report. The seconds and hours tick by, the calender flips its pages and I am alive. That is plenty for me. It just does not make interesting reading for you. And so it goes.

Extreme Pigmy Sex

Good morning blogworld. I trust you had an enjoyable Holiday and a Merry Christmas? Everyone here seems pretty content. I did not get the one item I specifically asked for, I am now 0-20 at least in the Christmas sex category.

Last weekend it was two degrees outside. The weather quack is forecasting a high in the mid-sixties today! The high tomorrow will be back into the mid-thirties. Crazy, I tell you.

Some friends are coming over tonight, so we will have to straiten up the Christmas booty and do some cleaning in a bit. If this warm weather sticks there will be some beer drinking and cigar smoking going on in the old garage.

I had the weirdest dream last night. You all were at my house (it was not my house really, but it was in the dream)for a blog meet. The regulars were all there and some people I did not know. What was weird was that you all knew me by sight, but I did not know most of you. I also had on this most hideous shirt, one I would never wear, so I know it was just my tortured mind. It was weird stuff, I tell you. I guess my mind was telling me I need to post something.

Merry Christmas

Best wishes to you and your family.

This is how you write a post

Fresh coffee warms the mug. My knuckles are cracked and poised above the keyboard. I scratch at my hair and the dry skin on my back. Nothing. I read my blogroll, looking for inspiration, something to steal. They all said it better. I jump to the on-line newspaper. No inspiration there. The furnace and fireplace are working, there is that...yawn...It is cold. Well it is winter fer cripes sakes...I stare at the screen. Blink, blink, blink -- damn you cursor. I hit return to start a new paragraph. Back space a few times. Maybe I will do a quick spellcheck. Only two words wrong so far, a very good day, indeed.

I could post an old picture of my kids. No one wants to see that. Politics, ho hum. I am not in the mood to research and crank out a piece on the bailouts. History?, I can see your eyes glazing over with boredom already. A quick Google search informs me today is Festivus -- I do not need to elaborate for Seinfeld fans. Can we be honest? Festivus makes as much sense as Kwanzaa. Although I suppose every religion seems a little silly to non-believers.

I jump over and check my work emails. I am supposed to be on vacation.

I have a snippet of music running through my head. I cannot identify it. The words are just da da dit dit di-ditdit da da. It is just that same short line looping endlessly. Some times I find my self singing along: da da dit dit di-ditdit da da. Do you know that tune? Maybe it is a sea chanty. I have been deep into P O'B again.

Walker, one of my long-time readers has had a terrible Christmas. Go offer support. She has lost her house to a fire. She is safe, her pets are safe.

My coffee is gone. There are words on the screen. I guess you have to be satisfied with quantity over quality -- nothing new around here. What you see is a morning's work. I guess I will not quit my day job for a columnist gig. Have a good day.

poijuewrty

Damn its cold. The home page says it is a blistering 1 (one) degree outside. That is -17 C for you Canuks and Euro types. That does not even include the windchill! Now the good news -- my furnace is broken again. It is a whopping 60 in the house right now. The wife is really pissed because the gas fireplace will not work. I had the gas turned off last summer because I thought it was ridiculous to pay $12.75 a month for a product I did not even use (the furnace is forced air electric only the fireplace is gas). I never got around to having it turned back on. I told her C'est la vie, baby. She was not amused.

Some of you have read the mushy story of my first date with my now-wife. Well that fated night was thirty years ago today. I told her last night that one of us sure looks a lot older now. When I tried to fool around she rebuffed me. Can you believe that? Maybe she was just cold (see above)?

I have to see about lighting a fire in the wastebasket, my fingers are too cold to type any more...

A new MeMe, play along

You always see those big list Memes on what have you done, where have you been. Here is a different list. I have compiled a list of things I have never done. I make no promises about the future though:

I have never been ice skating.

I have never been snow skiing ( have you seen the pictures of the mountains of central Indiana?).

I have never visited a Bangkok whorehouse.

I was never successful at learning to ride a unicycle.

I gave never read any of the Ayn Rand books.

I have never bowled a perfect game or shot a hole-in-one.

I have never visited New York City. I have been around it a lot, driven across Manhattan, but never spent time "in the city".

I have not eaten the liver or still beating heart of my just vanquished mortal enemy.

I have not been to Australia (but I might go later this year!)

I have never attended a blog meet, and likely never will. I have met three bloggers and talked to one or two others on the phone.

I have never had a STD, but I caught the crabs once when my college roommate let a skank sleep in my bed one weekend while I was home. I have tried to block it out, but I am reasonably certain he screwed her on my bed. No one bothered to tell me I should probably change the sheets. I do not mind he got lucky on my bed, but courtesy says I should have gotten a heads up.

I have never seen the Grand Canyon.

I have never admitted publicly to snorting coke in my youth. I am still not saying either way. Apropos of nothing, LSD is scary shit.

I never shot a man in Reno, just for snoring. I have also never been arrested.

I have never pissed on the Jefferson Davis Memorial at his birthplace in Kentucky.

I have never been deep sea fishing.

I have never been to Vegas.

I did not have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinsky.

What haven't you done?

LHJGsgoranma

Good morning Blog World. I sure spent a lazy day yesterday. I watched several movies, including Jeremiah Johnson. This movie is on the approved HB list of "movies you outta see". I think I am going to pop in The Great Escape to view later this morning. I might even get to The Blue Max later today, unless the wife comes up with some projects (she will). I did not sit on my ass all day, I did make a pit of chili for supper.

My wife and daughter made a ton of various Christmas candies and are going to make Christmas sugar cookies later today. I promised to make a batch of Pecan Tassies, so I will have to get on that this morning some time as well.I also have to finish my Christmas shopping at some point. I guess my movie watching might be limited after all.

Have a great Sunday.

Ghost of Christmas Past volume II

My oldest son, he was around three here. Santa ticked him off by not knowing the names of particular Ninja Turtles and bad guys. I know this because we have it on video as well.

Urgent Update

Listening to classic rock, surfing the web and smoking a fine cigar (Rocky Patel vintage 1992) is not a bad way to spend a Friday vacation day.

I did answer one work phone call I wish I hadn't, and I have made a few work phone calls as a result, but still all in all a fine day in the heart of Indiana.

Return of the Friday Five

It is probably too late for that last minute Christmas gift, but here are five good reads for the history buff in your life. I consider these to be some of the best works of history because they are well researched, factually correct, and most importantly, very entertaining. You cannot go wrong searching for these at your favorite bookstore, on-line seller or the local Library. I am such a pal I have even provided the amazon link for you.

1. The Washing of the Spears by Donald Morris.

You saw the movie Zulu, now read the definitive history of the Zulu Nation. Shaka, Chelmsford and Rorke's Drift -- they are all in there, and as is often the case, the truth is better than fiction.

2. At Dawn We Slept by Gordon Prange.

The story of Pearl Harbor as seen from both sides.

3.The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses Grant by U.S. Grant

Simply one of the best autobiographies ever written. I would also recommend the Memoirs of Wm T. Sherman, it is harder to find but offers unique perspective from Grant's.

4. D-Day by Stephen Ambrose.

I think this was better than Band of Brothers.

5. The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman.
In my opinion Tuchman was one of the greatest historians of all time. She was able to couple history and storytelling in a way few have been able to duplicate. This book details the events leading up to and the opening month of WWI. This is one of the finest history books ever written.

I would also recommend The Frontiersman by Alan Eckert. This book is a highly researched work of fiction, but the narrative sticks with painstaking accuracy to historical fact. This novel is the story of the opening of Kentucky and the Northwest Territory. If you think a dry historical narrative is not your cup of tea, I suggest you start with this book. Then try the others listed above and I bet you will find them just as fascinating.

Ramping Down

Today is the last day of work, I am on vacation until January (use it or lose it). I got most major stuff out of the way this week. Expenses are caught up. Emails are answered.

The wife and I did a boatload of Christmas shopping last night. We blew through a serious wad of cash, let me tell you. Since she had purchased exactly two gifts prior to last night, and we got almost everything bought, it was a pretty good night.

Let me pause here to explain to Sammy The Dude that the previous two paragraphs are not related. I am aware of it. When I want your remarks and opinion on English Composition I will email you.

I fixed a dish for my wife to take to work for a pitch-in. Now my hands smell of green onions.

As I will be coasting the next few days, I may or may not have posts worth reading. My best advice is to check back often.

Maybe more later.

A very long way to make a point

There is a low long black wall on the Mall in our nation's Capitol that lists the names of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Southeast Asia. Over 50,000 names are inscribed on that Wall. The war in Vietnam raged while I was young boy. I was 13 when Saigon fell. I know people that served in this time, but none of my relatives died for their country in the jungles or mountains fighting the spread of insidious Communism.

For most families of the 1960's, our daily lives were not changed by the war. It was five minutes on the evening news. Contrary to popular belief, only a minority of college students were actively marching on Chicago or planning to bomb the Pentagon in cahoots with William Ayres. The only time the War really intruded into the lives of ordinary Americans was when a neighbor lost a son, or when Cronkite lied about Tet. If we look at our families in the time of the Civil War we would see a much different effect on everyday life.

There was hardly a family that did not have at least a son, a brother, a father or uncle serving in one of the Armies. There was real hardship and suffering on the home front. Foodstuffs were scarce, especially in the South. The toll on the young men who fought in the four years of war was huge. Over 500,000 men died. An estimated 1/4 of the youth of the Southern States died. A generation destroyed. The carnage was exceptional. 53,000 at Gettysburg. 27,000 at Antietam. 6,000 Federal soldiers were casualties in just hours at Marye's Heights in the assault on Fredricksburg. The Battles of the Civil War are now legend. Bull Run, The Seven Days, Shiloh, Perryville, Vicksburg, Antietam, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, Chicamauga, Missionary Ridge, Cold Harbor, The Wilderness, Atlanta, Nashville, Petersburg and Appomattox recall death and destruction the likes our country has not seen since.

To put it into perspective, if the casualty rates for the Civil War had been duplicated in WWII, the US would have lost 6.2 MILLION soldiers! Think on that.

Now ponder this. In the effort to distribute wealth, to elevate the working class, to make sure every citizen was guaranteed equal success (as opposed to opportunity), Lenin and Stalin killed an estimated 20 million Russians. It is estimated Mao murdered an even greater number. When Hillary Clinton and Obama describe themselves as Early Twentieth Century Progressives, these are the people they are trying to emulate.

You should sit down and seriously think about your freedoms. Is the America where the Government tries to force you to drink a certain kind of soda a country of Freedom? Is this what our families suffered and died for in the hills of Tennessee or the jungles of the Mekong Delta? Did your grandfather live through the trenches of Petersburg or France to see a nanny state usurp your rights without a fight? The next time you drop your vote into the ballot box you should see just what your candidate means when he boasts a progressive platform. Hope and Change just might not be the future you thought it was.

Maybe I should make this more simple. The Sons of Liberty threw tea into Boston Harbor over a 5% tax. Where are the howls of outrage in New York as the Governor tries to impose a 15% tax on a soft drink? Is this what we have become in America? Why isn't there an immediate call for impeachment?

Are we going to stand by as the President Elect proclaims he will destroy the one source of abundant energy in the country, promising your heating bills will skyrocket? I can only pray our ancestors who died for the freedoms of all Americans are not in the jury when we come before judgment.

Heroes

General George H. Thomas defeated and routed the Confederate Army of Tennessee under the command of John Hood at the Battle of Nashville on December 15 and 16, 1864. Thomas effectively destroyed organized Confederate resistance in the Western Theater.

Most of you have probably never heard of General George Thomas. Sherman said Thomas was the best General on either side of the War. Known as the Rock of Chicamauga for saving the Union Army at Chicamauga, Thomas was an able general. He took command of the artillery at the center of the Union lines at Stones River and was commander of Union Forces at the Battle of Mill Springs -- the first significant Northern victory of the Civil War. Thomas was beloved by his soldiers.

General George Henry Thomas was a graduate of West Point and served in the Seminole and Mexican Wars. A native of Virginia, he sided with the Union when Virginia succeeded. As a result, Thomas was disowned by his family and it has been reported that his sisters turned his picture to the wall, never to see him again. After the war his family refused money from Thomas.

George Henry Thomas is one of my heroes. My oldest son bears Thomas as a middle name in honor of this magnificent American.

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Someone is sure not happy about having to share the rocker, or the picture, or something. The particular pursing of the mouth is famous on my Mother's side of the family. Otter does the same thing when he is vexed.

click to largerize.

Hope and Change: A New Dynamic

I am no Luddite. I embrace change when it brings good to the world or more importantly to me. I am not in favor of change for change sake. I guess that is why I never fell under the swoon of The Obama. Hope and change needs to be a bit more defined before I jump on that bandwagon.

I recently picked up an important purchase at the local WalMart. Emblazoned on the package was a flashy banner promoting the most recent changes to the product. Why do marketing people feel the need to tinker with a perfectly good foodstuffs? I ask you, dear reader, do we really need hourglass shaped marshmallow bits in our Lucky Charms? Back in the day we had the obvious depictions of luck-inducing items: hearts, moons and clovers. The fine folks at General Mills added rainbows. Then they decided we needed horseshoes. I thought that was going a tad far, but at least they were symbols of luck. But an hourglass? What are you thinking, Lucky Charms guy?

I challenge you to name one culture that looks upon the hourglass as lucky. Was Dorothy pleased when the Witch dropped off that big-assed hourglass high in the tower? That red sand and evil portal to a grieving Auntie Em back in Kansas is the stuff of little kid nightmares. When playing Boggle do you view the hourglass as anything but an enemy as you frantically search the random letters for a word that no one else knows? As a child I was struck by the ominous voice of McDonald Carey intoning the mysterious "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of our Lives". Time is not our friend. Tick tick we grow older every minute. The seconds and minutes turn to hours and days, a never-ending reminder of our mortality. Every grain of sand in life's hourglass is a kiss you missed, a hug, a laugh, a tear gone by. Nothing good or lucky comes from the idea of an hourglass.

I look at a handful of Lucky Charms -- the weird-shaped Cheerios rejects interspersed with the hearts, the moons, the clovers and the rainbows. I see the hourglass marshmallows and the questions nag my active mind. Why? Why? Why?

Things I wished I had written, volume 103

Due to the current economic conditions I won’t be celebrating Kwanzaa this year.

--James Old Guy

Putting tips for beginners

Have you ever behaved in a complete boorish manner? Have you embarrassed your kids or your wife with your lack of patience? Do you know you are being a jerk, but just cannot help yourself?

Me neither.

Weekend Funny

Quote of the day:

"Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her

Sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you

A home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give

Her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what

Is given to her.

So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

I need answers now.

What is it with you people on the west coast? Those who live in the Central time zone spurn me as well. I am one of you. Look at this, 65% of my hits come from the Eastern Time zone:

Some one has some explaining to do.

Thought for the day

It occurs to me that every time I think I have the world by the tail, it is just an opportunity for it to circle around and bite me in the ass.

In other news, the wife still cannot talk. It was fun at first, but now I find having one-sided conversations is a little boring.

A solution

We were at dinner yesterday. I took the family to rare meal out. There was a large group next to us, and is often the case, the discussions were rather loud as a person at one end of the table talked to one at the other end. The discussions were centering on the auto bailout. "What we outta do", says one guy, "is just give Michigan to Canada. Detroit is just a hellhole, criminal drain. The Canadians love that socialist health care and government industry concept". He added "Shit, most of Michigan is north of Ontario anyway, it just makes sense". The man opined we would still get the cars, as a lot of assembly is already done in Canada. He regaled his table with the story of his one and only trip to Michigan, including the decrepit Holiday Inn,witnessing a robbery on the 'mugger mover' while heading for dinner in Greektown.

I thought about some of my trips to Michigan and Detroit. Maybe the guy had a point.

The greatest invention ever

Keesie has a picture of the most perfect invention. My two mostest favorite "B"s together. The stuff of fantasies I tell you...

Here is a thought

Here is an idea, if the American Taxpayer is providing the cash to keep the Big Three pumping out cars, part of the provisions should be that all of the big three-owned component and assembly plants for cars and trucks must be located in the USA. All plants in Canada and Mexico must be shuttered and the half idled plants in the US retooled to build American Cars in America. If the Canadian Government wants to keep the Windsor Assembly plant open they can contribute to the bailout loans.


Here is another point of view. CLick this link.

Two ways to improve your short game

The wife has been fighting a nasty cold for several days. This morning it has settled in her chest and throat. I offered to give her a deep chest massage last night, but she turned me down flat.

Anyway, this morning she can barely talk. All she can muster is a husky whisper. As she left for work, I advised her to try to talk as little as possible. I also pointed out that a wife that cannot talk is a man's dream.

I am pretty sure she flipped me off.

Surely not?

Conundrum

I spent the day at a big three automotive plant yesterday. The talk of a bailout was a hot topic of conversation from the management to the engineers to the UAW guys on the line. Most of them felt just as we do, pissed off it is necessary. Further, they do not understand why there is so much anger when all they are asking is for loans. The Government gave, and continues to give money to banks and insurance giants, with no strings attached. No banking Czar has been appointed, no one is telling them to manage their business in a certain way. The large Wall Street firms have reported they will be paying bonuses to mid and high level executives this year. The Big Three are asking for loans and they will only get them if we allow the government to tell them how to run their business.

Should we be bailing out the big three? I do not know. Bankruptcy will kill little vendors like my company if the automakers only pay cents on the dollar for the widgets we provide. Do they need to change the way they do business? Sure, but we need to face reality. One, Americans do not like to drive small cars, no matter what the press tells you. Statistics show that Truck, SUV and van sales are UP since the price of gas has fallen. Environweenies can suck it, that is the way it is. Two, does anyone really believe a government official is the person to tell the automakers how to run a business? The people who brings the BMV, the Social Security Admin, the IRS? The same Congresspeople who have created the foreclosure/lending mess that poked the holes in hull of this foundering ship of economics? The same Government that brings us $20 hammers and $50 toilet seats? The same Congresspeople who approved the Bridge to Nowhere? The same geniuses who think it is good business to pay farmers not to plant and refuse to drill for our own oil?

At this point we have to look at it as a loan, it worked pretty well for Chrysler thirty years ago, why not try it again. What is a few billion among friends?

A day that will live in infamy

A day that shall live in infamy
On December 7, 1941 the United States was attacked by an unprovoked antagonist against military and civilian targets in the territory of Hawaii. The death and destruction was even greater than that at the WTC and Pentagon attacks of 9/11.

Killed and Missing

Navy 2,008
Marine Corps 109
Army 218
Civilian 68
total 2,403

Wounded
Navy 710
Marine 69
Army 364
Civi;ian 68
Total 1,178

Grand total of casualties = 3,581

This attack brought the United States into WW II, where the greatest generation saved the world for Democracy. Our thanks: hatred by the French and Germans, desecration of American graves in Normandy and displays in our own country that blame the US for Japan's attack. I have not forgotten the lives and sacrifices made by my forbears. Thank you.

I will not forget Pearl Harbor.

Three tips to improve your golf swing

I am up early this Sunday morning. I was having some strange dreams again. There were no wolves this time, it was far worse; I was dreaming about work. Nothing ruins a night of slumber like dreams about work. It makes me one pissed off boy when I get up. I blame the horseradish I had on my prime rib for dinner.

I have been travelling virtually non-stop the last three weeks, I got home late on Friday, I have to leave tonight on another trip and I spend my Saturday night dreaming about work! No wonder I am depressed and angry.

So how is your weekend going so far? Is your shopping done yet? I have the trees up and decorated, the wife has most of the house decorated inside. I still have to do the outside. At this point I think I am going to just string some lights in the bushes and be done with it.

I went and put on some pants. I was cold. You did not know I was blogging in my pajamas did you? Don't get yourselves all hot and bothered ladies (and guys who lean that way). I sleep in an old T-shirt and cotton gym shorts. The shorts do have small holes in the back where they are falling apart from age. You can see my tighty-whities if I bend over. You are panting with desire now aren't you?

As I look out of the living room window I see a pink tinge to the sky. I guess we might see the sun today. It is supposed to be anti-Gore cold again today. I am rambling, so that is a sure sign to quit typing. Enjoy your Sunday.

A post for you

It has long been my policy to let people spout off here. Sometimes what they say is offensive. I have ridiculed idiotic commenters by changing their comments from time to time.

Recently a comment was posted that went beyond good taste. Individuals were attacked that were not even part of the discussion. As such that comment has been removed. I was delayed in this action for various reasons.

I appologize to you for leaving the said comments for too long.

whooah

Here I sit on a dark and gloomy Saturday with nothing to write about. I had three scrambled eggs for supper and there is no bacon to make me happy this morning. I even skipped the coffee. I watched a couple of old ski comedies from the 1980s on TV last night. I think I am going to pop an Esther Williams flick into the DVD player in a bit. Some of you may know Ms. Williams was my first lust.

I was looking through my archives earlier this morning. You can find much better stuff there than the crap I have published lately.

Here is an Idea. I will tell you something about me, and you tell me an intimate detail about you in the comments. It will be a crazy way to start a dialogue.

I am completely hopelessly addicted to Chapstick. I carry one with me at all times. I especially like the one with the blue label.

What quirks do you have?

Lucy, I'm hoooome

I am back form my business trip this week and getting ready to leave in an hour or two to see another customer. When things are slow I get really busy. I guess customers have more time to to pester me. This week's trip reminded me of everything I hate about airports and flying. At least after all the delays and flight cancellations I flew home late enough that the flight was not full so I had all three seats in my row to myself. The plane was only a little more than half full, I am surprised it was not cancelled to to "mechanical issues".

Anyway, I hope to get a real post up this weekend. Not that I have anything to say, but I bet you are all tired of looking at the juggler picture,

Self portrait

I have so many things in the air something has to drop. Posting will be light the next few days as life and work use up my creative juices.

Of course long-time readers should know by now such a statement usually results in a flurry of posts. Life is sure funny sometimes.

So there

I kicked myself in the ass and slapped the shit outta my face. No more bellyaching. Life is good. As Jim sings in Holiday Inn (the greatest Christmas movie ever), I've got plenty to be thankful for...

It snowed on and off all day, but there wasn't much accumulation. Now it finally feels like winter and the Christmas season. The wife got a lot of the house decorated. She has a ton of Christmas stuff and replaces every trinket and wall hanging with a Christmas-themed item. The house is very country and filled with primitives and "stuff" so that is a lot of work. The place foes look good when she is finished though. Maybe I will take some pictures when it is finally complete. She has so much stuff that she takes pictures of the arrangements so she remembers how it all goes the next year.

the balance was edited. I should not post late at night when I am tired...

questions

What is the deal with the whole "office of the President Elect" thing? He even has a special placard for his lectern. The Obama sure loves the trappings of office. Since he will be Commander in Chief, will he take to wearing a fancy uniform after he takes control? Why not, all of his socialist buddies do it -- Fidel, Chavez, Mao...

Monday

I fried up some chicken last night. I added some mashed spuds, some excellent gravy, green beans and biscuits. No one can be down and depressed when facing a platter of fried chicken and a bowl of white gravy.

The Colts pulled out an ugly win over the hapless Browns, and the Bears blew it in Minnesota. I guess the East Coast pundits have to eat it a little, maybe they crowned the Jets a little early?

I have always been a superstitious cuss. It occurred to me yesterday that the worst events in my life all happened after I started this worthless excuse of a website. Are the two related? My brain says heck no. My superstitious voodoo fearing insides say quit now before things get really ugly. I know what you are saying, is he really that crazy? Let me put it this way, I used to make decisions by flipping a series of wooden nickles I kept in a cotton bag. Should I ask that girl on a date? Flip, flip, flip. I got my wife that way.

Of course I could be making it all up. I could be a 350 pound transvestite typing away in the library before heading off to work as sous chef at the local Dennys. It is the Internet people.