2012 - Day 335/31 - Friday...

Yep, it is Friday once again, and I love that.  Not only that, it is also the last day of November.  That is scary.  Soon this year will be over, and we will wonder where this one went.  It seems like only yesterday we were worrying about Y2K.  Does anyone remember that?

Here is the secret picture of the day.  This was a nice little field trip with a few colleagues of mine.  Kind of TOP-SECRET stuff, so I am not going to tell you much about it.  BUT, there are lots more where this one came from.  Following this top-secret rendezvous, we all went and had a nice luncheon, although there were some challenges because (since the first part was top-secret, the 'leaders' of the group seemed to be directionally challenged) we drove for (what seemed like hours) around and around to keep anyone from following us.  Even the lunch place was top-secret.  NO DOORS!  There was some kind of secret pass-word kind of thing and suddenly the place opened to us like a mirage in the desert.  Okay we were still in Austin (I think) but it was interesting.  Kind of like a drug deal in Jamaica, but that is another story.  Ask me if you have five or ten minutes to kill.

Here is another reason that Austin traffic has a few problems.  Not only are there totally TOO MANY cars on the roads, there are too many FREAKS on the road as well.  I stayed behind these people for several miles while they carried on their conversations, and it did not get any better.  Speaking of texting while you are driving, is it only texting that is banned?  SO that means it is okay to play Words with Friends, and it is okay to check and answer my e-mails, as long as I am not texting one of you?  How about editing photos on my phone?  Is that okay?  That does not involve any texting.  And looking up agents names in the data base, what about that?  Checking listings on one of the iPhone apps?  That does not involve texting.  I don't think I am as big of a criminal as I thought I was.  There seem to be all kinds of things that I can do while not paying attention to my driving that are perfectly legal and within the law.  What do you think?

Okay, one last thought before I call it a night.  This one is for Emily.  News of my obsessive compulsive tendencies is not really 'news' to most of you, but when I get home each night, I have certain rituals I must perform.  Checking meters is one of them, and tonight I got home before dark, and as usual, many of the girls come running, mainly because they are nosy, not because they have any real fondness for me.  HOWEVER, some of the girls are friendlier than others, and these two in the foreground are two of the original girls.  They will be going on four next year (Vera appeared after I was going back to the car), and that is pretty good (I think) for farm chickens.  The chickens are pretty tame, but they are not stupid.  When they are in large open expanses of land, they do not waste any time finding cover of some sort.  ANYWAY, I just wanted to share this photo for Emily.  I put the girls to bed after it got darker, and they were very surprised to get good night wishes from you.  They said to tell you 'Good Night, Emily'.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GOOD NIGHT GIRLS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 334/32 - Thursday...

This is a photo of K this morning holding on to her breakfast taco for dear life during the PM meeting (in the AM).  Pretty interesting!

I got a tremendous amount of work done today, but had to miss my Meals-On-Wheels route, but Chris got it done for the two of us.  Even though this is the end of November, the month of December is looking pretty darned jam-packed for the first three weeks.  Then it will be time for a break.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BUSY, BUSY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 333/33 - Wednesday...

There are lots of 3's in today's day info.  I wonder what that would all mean to someone that studied numerology?

I was lucky enough to be able to head off to the city this morning a little bit later than usual, and this is what the Moon Set looked like.  I think last night was the full moon and it set nicely this morning.  The moon is still pretty darned bright tonight.

Today was a day full of meetings; first one from 9 AM until 2:30, then to the office for some power real estate, and then another one from 6:30 until just after 8.  Even though they closed down a CRITICAL portion of the Interstate tonight and diverted traffic onto the service road, it was not nearly as bad as it could have been.  I got in the left lane and stayed there and kept on barreling through and made it just fine.  I did not even come close to a full stop, so I was glad of that.

I have been home for about ten minutes, it is way past my bedtime, but I think I will stay up long enough to see if I won the big lottery jackpot tonight.  Fingers crossed.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, LUCKINESS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 332/34 - Tuesday...

I wonder how long I was walking around, here and there today, with my fly open?  I wonder why no one bothered to mention it to me?  Even worse, does that mean no one is even paying attention.  I remember the day; 'Your fly is open.'  'Thanks for noticing!'  It seems like such a long, long time ago!

It was a busy day, got to the office about 7:30, left for a meeting about 9:30, got back to the office at about 11:30 and left again for another meeting at about 1:30.  Tomorrow will be another early meeting, then I have another meeting tomorrow night beginning at 6:30.  My day (tomorrow) got MUCH longer when I realized that a (critical) portion of the Interstate will be closed tomorrow night, beginning at about 8PM.  I doubt that I can get out of my late meeting before that time, but maybe it will not be too bad.

It is chillish here this evening, and we have had a cloud layer (keeping us cooler according to the climate gurus) that was just starting to dissipate when I was going to put the girls to bed.  Just minutes after I took this photo, the skies were considerably clearer that this, which I expect will cause us to lose some of the warmth tonight.  Maybe a little bitty freeze tonight, then warming up throughout the rest of the week.  Up above, where I use the words 'climate gurus', I had originally used the words 'meteorological prognosticators' but you would not believe the havoc that caused when I was trying to publish this post.  The extremes I have to go to just to make this journal pleasant to view for all my (tens of) loyal fans...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, COOLISHNESS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 331/35 - Monday...

I have been known to stand out in the (light) rain in the middle of a thunder and lightning storm with my $99 digital camera trying to get a photo of the lightning flashes.  In the past, the best I did was a digital image of darkness, that is until today.  TODAY I was able to capture the tail lights and head lights of vehicles on the Interstate.  No lightning, but I do have documentation of vehicles that were preceding me heading north.  I remain amazed by photos I see on the local weather forecasts that have been sent in by viewers.  How do they do that?

4:39 this afternoon was prime CostCo shopping time.  The place was deserted, I got a parking spot three spaces away from the front door.  You could have shot a cannon off in the place and not hit anyone.  There were not hundreds of shoppers concerned that they would never have another meal going back for thirds and fourths of the free sushi.  That is actually kind of gross, you never know how long that sushi has been sitting out.  I hesitate to even eat oysters if I am out of town...if I am going to get sick, I want to be sick close to home.  ANYWAY, it was a pleasure.  I wish I had been in the market for something besides chocolate and coffee.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, COSTCO, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 330/36 - Sunday...

Every single thing on my To-Done list is crossed out (the To-Done list for the house, not for work).  AND MORE!  Today was a really good day as far as getting things done around the house was concerned.  In large part, this accomplishment was due to Miguel coming out and helping.

I got the rest of the dead bamboo cleared out, PLUS I got a lot of stuff cleared around trees (wisteria, vines of various descriptions, weeds).  Things are looking much better.  We got one LARGE stump uprooted from between the house and the front barn.  We also got the tree that fell over (into another tree) removed and cut up for firewood.  Another dead tree that was looking like a candidate for totem-poleness was removed and NOT cut up for firewood.  It is now in residence in one of the back pastures waiting for a windless day when there is no burn ban.  I found this little bottle with just its' neck sticking up above ground.  It is really kind of iridescent and really pretty.

Miguel also found the chain that has been missing for about six weeks.  It was just laying in the grass back in one of the pastures.  It is a REALLY GOOD strong chain, so I am glad that it has reappeared.  It is amazing how many occasions come up that require a good chain.  Interesting.

As the evening approached, two of the original girls were very interested in what I was doing, and they decided to pose for the camera.  These girls are going to be four next year, and in my opinion, that is pretty darned old for house chickens.  Next year I think I am going to get some exotic chickens (mail order) and some guinea hens.  The guineas will not need to be cooped, I understand that they will roost in the trees.  I also understand that they will keep grasshopper and snake populations in check.  Time will tell.  I wonder if they will be in competition for general grazing by the chickens.  I expect so

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GOOD DAYS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 329/37 - Saturday...

I took a new tack on the day today, and actually got some work done around the house (and its' surrounds).  I did stay in bed as long as possible, doing my best to ignore the moans and groans of the dog boy and the wailing of the cat.  It seems they remain on Daylight Saving Time even now.  I think Jody got up around 6 or 6:30 and I stayed in bed til about 7.  When I did get up, I lazed about and got the paper read and let the chickens out of their coop.  It was extra chilly last night, so they were 'cooped up' and did not have access to their pen.  They were ready to be free rangers.

I made a pile of eggs that were very good, and then I went out into the yard and dd something, but I honestly cannot remember what I did.  Jody and I took the dog boy for a ride, and when we got home, I went out and fed the cattle.  I took them two bales of hay and some cattle cubes mixed with sorghum and cotton seed.  It has been a long time since they have had actual cattle feed, they have been living on grass and hay.  BUT, since it is getting cooler, the feed will be good for them and the sorghum and cotton seed helps them keep warmer in the cooler weather.  Both the calves are doing nicely, still not 100% on what to name Victoria's calf.  Now I am leaning to 'Giblets' since he was born on Thanksgiving day.  If you can think of anything that has to do with a Thanksgiving Tradition that starts with the letter 'V', let me know.

After getting that done, we went into Georgetown and had our usual Saturday lunch at the fast food chicken outlet whose name shall not be said.  We left there and went to Tractor Supply where I bought myself a wood splitter.  More about that later.  Then we stopped at the drive-through at Schlotzky's and got a Cinnabon Classic to split for breakfast tomorrow morning.  Don't get me started about waiting in line for 'fast food', I'm just saying...  BUT, as we were waiting in line for that single fast food item, there was this little moth playing in the lantana.  It almost looks like a Monarch, but it is SO small, I am thinking it is a moth.  ANYWAY, it was cute, and pretty is where ever you can find it these days.

When we got home, Jody went down for a nap, but I stayed vertical and did more stuff outside.  I did get a lot of various piles of brush picked up from the last two or three weeks of clearing.  I am good at clearing and piling, but not that great with picking up and hauling.  ANYWAY, most of the dead bamboo has been cleared and hauled back to the fire pile, and I will get that finished tomorrow.  I also split some of the firewood logs that have been piled up since late in the summer.  I split a log or two, then went and did something else for a while and came back and split another log or two.  Really, there is no hurry to get this wood split, I have plenty of stove wood to last most of the winter, but it will be nice to get it split and moved.  AND, while I took an occasional break, Ms. Vera would come around to see if I had anything on me that she could eat.  Sorry dear.

Tomorrow should be another relatively successful day.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SUCCESS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 328/38 - Friday...

Black Friday that is...Black Gold...Texas Tea...

Well, we did out part, and it took hours, and we only hit one store...  I have been having problems with the Mule, and it has been in and out of the shop for the past six or seven months.  The last time it was in the shop, they kept it for three weeks, did a few things to it, did not charge me for any of the repairs, and declared that there was nothing wrong with it.  Except that it will not run, not go forward, not go backwards, it just won't.  But there is/was nothing wrong with it.  SO, today we took it in and traded it for a shiny new Polaris Ranger Diesel.  So far, so good, but I am still in a little bit of shock.  But, it runs nicely, and hopefully it will continue to do that.  That is the plan, anyway!

Early this morning (after we had decided to trade in the Mule) I drove back to hitch the trailer up to the truck, and lo-and-behold there was another new calf.  I originally thought it was a Mimi calf but upon closer inspection (and taking the new vehicle back for a test run) we realized the calf belongs to Violet.  Violet was our first born, and this will be her third calf.  He (I am pretty sure it is a bull calf) is almost identical to the calf that Orchid had last week, except Orchid's calf has a little bitty white dot on the left side of her forehead.  Here is a photo of mother and child.  I expect (cannot be 100% sure) he was born yesterday (Thanksgiving Day) so I am thinking about naming him Tom.  Or Gobbler.  Drumstick?  How about Cranberry Sauce?  Maybe Giblets?  Give it your best shot and let me know.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CALVES OUT THE KAZOO, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 327/39 - Thursday...

We hope you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.

Today was an excellent day with a few minor exceptions.  I did very little, then I took a nap.  Did very little again, and took another nap.  Did very little and Jody and I drove into Georgetown to find out that Dairy Queen was closed.  WHAT?  Dairy Queen is closed?  Dairy Queen is open on Christmas Day but it is closed on Thanksgiving?  Whatever.  Wal-Mart was open though.  We did not go shopping but I did get two cans full of diesel for the tractor.  When we got home, I went down for two more naps.

Last night we were invited to share Thanksgiving dinner with our friends Lynda and Michael.  It was a lovely dinner and it is always a treat.  When we got home there was a package on the front porch from our friends Carolyn and Joe Mac.  Longhorn branded wine glasses.  They are great, but I tend to be a little bit clumsy, but I will try them out before too long.

I plan on trying to do a little bit tomorrow.  Not a little bit more, just a little bit.  We shall see.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, LITTLE BITS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 326/40 - Wednesday...

One of my dearest friends used to say 'Dogs is different than cats'.  I wholeheartedly agreed with his statement.  In this case, vistas of clouds and (a near) sunset in an urban setting are different than they are if you happen to be near the edge of nowhere (which is further away than the middle of nowhere).  I'm just saying.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CLOUDS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 325/41 - Tuesday...

Sunrise...

I was a little bit late heading into the office this morning, but to the best of my recollection, I did not come to a COMPLETE stop on the Interstate, so that is always a good thing.  Some local schools have already started the Holiday Break and I am not sure about UT and the other schools of higher learning in the area, but I suspect they are still in session.  Once they are on break, traffic will be a BREEZE comparatively speaking.

My BMFF Dawn delivered a pumpkin pie to me this afternoon.  She has a tradition of delivering pies before Thanksgiving, and I am honored to receive one again this year.

We had a new fabulous front desk person start at the office today, officially the Executive Assistant, and I think she will be doing a great job for us.  There are LOTS of details, and my hat is also off to Carrie for knowing all the little detail things about the computers and all that stuff.  I (personally) am helpless!

Jody called me this afternoon to report that one of the smoke alarms was chirping as if it needed a new battery.  AND the dog boy cannot stand that sound, so he was all agitated.

Sunset...

I got home this afternoon about 5:30, and the first thing I did was to try and figure out which smoke alarm it was that was unhappy.  Jody thought it was the one in the guest bedroom hallway, so I took that battery out, and that did not solve the problem.  I SWEAR there were two or three alarms chirping.  I finally reset the entire thing and was within range when the alarm in the den chirped.  I took the battery out of that one (and left it out) and so far there have been no more complaints from the alarms.  I do however have a SOLUTION.  Tomorrow, I am calling an electrician and having ALL NINE of the smoke alarms in this house replaced.  That ought to fix them.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ALARMS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 324/42 - Monday...

As Mondays go, this one could have been a lot worse.

There was a really pretty sunrise as I was on my way to work this morning.  I really like these cotton-ball kind of clouds.  It was actually much prettier than this photo, but I was driving down the Interstate, and I had enough distractions.  Pulling over was not an option.

All was good, in fact one of my meetings was cancelled today, so I gained three hours.  Better than falling back, I can assure you.  Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse after I left the office.  Disgruntled tenants, outrageously priced vendors and calm and logical Landlords and property managers do not always make for a great combination.  But it will all work out, but I fear at least two of the concerned parties will NOT look back on all this and laugh!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PLUMBERS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 323/43 - Sunday...

A nice calm day today.  I stayed in bed even though the dog boy wanted company again, but I ignored him and Jody got up instead.

After breakfast, I went out and fed the cattle.  I only took them one bale of hay, and I will take them another one on Thanksgiving Day.  They for sure will not be going hungry.  Mother and calf are doing very well, thank you for asking.

After that, I headed into town to do a bit of volunteering for this years Austin Empty Bowl Project.  It was another good crowd and everything seemed to go very smoothly.  There was some concern that the F1 crowd would cause a few problems, but that did not seem to be the case.  Overall, I think it all went well, and it will be interesting to see how much was earned to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank and Meals On Wheels.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BOWLS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 322/44 - Saturday...

If it hadn't been for the dog, I would have stayed asleep longer than I actually did.  The dog decided (at 5:30 or so this morning) that he was lonesome and wanted someone to comfort him.  I thought maybe he was hungry or that maybe he neeed to go outside, but neither one of those was the case.  So I went back to bed and I am sure I dozed off, but it was not the good kind of sleeping I was (I think) enjoying before he started to whine.

I finaly got out of the bed about 7 o'clock, and did a few things before I made us a pile of eggs and split a cinnammon roll for us.  After that, I went out and cleaned the bed of the truck out, because we were going to use it in the afternoon.  Then I started cleaning the dead bamboo out of the area up close to the bee yard.  It is much friendlier up there since we have relocated three of the five hives.  AND it was chilly so the remaining bees were pretty much inactive.

After a while, Jody and I took the dog boy for a ride so he could bark at the other dogs in the hood (which comprises about a ten mile radius from here) and after that we went into Georgetown for lunch.  On the way back we stopped at Berry Creek Park, where we had an appointment to buy some pecan wood for the stove.  They have green pecan wood (better for smoking and cooking) but I wanted the seasoned and split pecan to put in the wood burning stove.  A good truck load full (ten wheel barrels full) for $100 which I think was a pretty good buy, compared to the firewood I bought the last couple of years. 

When we were pulling in from getting the firewood, I told Jody there was a new calf in the back field.  I could see her from the driveway and I could just tell it was a new calf.  Orchid (the mama) has been a good mama cow as long as we have had her, and this new calf is really prety and a heifer at that.  Last year (I think) we had almost all bull calves, but this is a good sign that this first calf of the season is a heifer.

Tonight we went to the Austin Empty Bowl Project and met up with our friends Lynda and Michael, and it was a nice surprise to see Ben and his wife Leslie.  This was the first time I had met Leslie, and it was really a nice evening.  Much fun.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NEW CALF, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 321/45 - Friday...

Yes indeed ladies and germs, it is Friday, and although I am (also) indeed doing my little Happy Dance to celebrate that fact, I am choosing to downplay that fact and instead focus on food that is mass produced, some of it with a more guaranteed future than others.

Yes, I know that Hostess is shutting down its' operations, and everyone is talking about Twinkies, but I want to spend some time talking about one of my real (from the past) favorites.  In my jaded youth, there was nothing I liked more than stopping on the way home from the bar and purchasing a Hostess Fried Apple Pie, a Hostess Fried Cherry Pie, and a pint of chocolate milk.  Yes, I bought TWO fried pies at a time, one of which was consumed en route, and the other was consumed after I got home (if I was conscious for that long).  The way to do it was to take a bite of pie and a slug of chocolate milk, swirl the contents of your mouth around (much like sampling a fine wine except the quantities were MUCH larger), chewing a little as possible, and swallowing.  Repeat until either the pie and the milk were depleted or you passed out and drooled all over yourself, only to wake up the following day wondering if the car was indeed parked outside.

One of these days I will tell you the story about waking up in my bed wearing my mother's dyed mink raccoon coat.  I flung the covers off me and bubble gum balls went flying in all directions and ricocheted with deadly force against the walls and ceiling of the room.  It is really a great story, remind me to tell you!

Okay, now let's talk about another producer of mass food stuffs.

My experience today at McDonald's, #1.  I really love to eat at McDonald's but I am honestly too old to do it with any regularity.  It is just too hard on my pipes.  I have not been to a drive through at McDonald's in (probably) a year or more, but I was in a hurry today, and there was one conveniently located.  BUT, when I got in line and made it up to the ordering thing, the drive through menu INCLUDED calorie counts for the food.  THAT WILL RUIN YOUR CULINARY EXPERIENCE.  I will bet you a dollar that sales at the drive through have gone down since they started letting you know how many calories are in a double cheese burger.  I figure you ingest 2 calories for every penny you spend on the food.  That is about what my caloric intake amounted to today.  SHOCKER!

My experience today at McDonald's #2.  My total at the drive through came to $3.45.  I gave the man at the first window and $5 bill, and he handed me $2.55 in change.  I pondered this for a moment and I told him I thought he had given me too much change.  He told me my order was $3.45 and I gave him a five, and he said he owed me $2.55.  I told him no, you gave me the 55 cents, that makes four dollars and one more dollar makes five, not two more dollars.  He said LET ME SEE YOUR RECEIPT.  It says right there that I owe you $2.55.  And, yes it did, but I kept trying and he kept insisting that he had given me the correct change because that was what it said on the receipt.  I finally convinced him that (somehow) there was an error, and that he needed to take the dollar back, and he FINALLY begrudgingly agreed.

My experience today at McDonald's #3.  I am not sure, but I do not think lemonade and Coke are anywhere close to the same thing.  I ordered a SMALL Coke (see two paragraphs above about caloric intake), and I was handed my drink that did not seem to be the right color.  I asked the man at the SECOND window what's this and he said it's Coke.  Nope, I'm thinking this is not the right color for Coke, and after another two or three minute discussion, it was determined that, yep, I was right, that was not a Coke.

Remind me to tell you about the time I put my car in park at the Second window of a McDonald's drive through in New Orleans and walked inside to speak with the manager.  Progress at that drive through came to a screeching halt, and there was not enough the could do for me to get me back in my car and leave.  It's a really great story, remind me to tell you.

Oh, here is another story you should remind me to tell you.  1958 in Southgate, Michigan where they are building the first McDonald's I had ever seen, and my friend Dennis Lescinski and climb up in a tree to watch the construction, wonder what a french fry is and practice our cuss words.  It's a really great story, remind me to tell you.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ADVENTURES IN MASS PRODUCED FOODS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 320/46- Thursday...

What a concept.  Imagine...I left for town this morning and it was light outside.  I think that was quite an accomplishment.  I left about an hour-and-a-half later than normal, because I had a 9 o'clock breakfast meeting, and I thought it would be crazy to go into the office and then head back north an hour later.  I had contemplated trying to get home before dark as well, but that did not happen.

Once again, the city if full of freaks.  Except now, the freaks have private planes, helicopters, furs, jewelry and they are not opposed to conspicuous consumption.  We are just on the cusp of our first F1 race here in Austin, the first F1 race in the United States since 2008 (I think).  There are lots of people in town, dropping lots of money.  I will let you know how it all works out, but rumor has it the financial impact on the city should be in the range of about $100 Million per day.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, MILLION$, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 319/47 - Wednesday...

I am not sure if I have an office or if I should just work out of a mini-warehouse.  A mini-warehouse would really be a lot cheaper, but I guess I will hang in here for now.  Maybe a little down-sizing is in order.  I know, maybe I could take all this crap to A mini-warehouse.  BUT, then it will just sit there forever, and gather up dirtier dust.  At lease here it gets dusted every now and again.

It took me 40 minutes to go five miles today.  We really do need to control the traffic on the Interstate.  I even let a woman cut in front of me (she thinks she pushed her way in front of me, but I really let her merge) and she did not even give me a thank you.  SO, when I got into the lane she abandoned and passed her, I thought it was pretty good.

Warmer tonight that it has been the last couple of nights.  We are letting the fire burn out.  I will clean out the stove this weekend and then be ready for the next cold snap.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WAREHOUSES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 318/48 - Tuesday...

It turned chillish yesterday and continues today.  We had a nice fire in the stove, and it is still going strong.  The stove really does put out a good amount of heat, so that is nice.  I also have flannel sheets on the bed now, so bring it on!

Last night I pulled my (recently unpacked) suitcase down from the shelf in the closet, and as I turned another suitcase fell from the shelf and whacked me on one elbow.  There was not as much blood per level of pain as I would have expected, and today it is just really sore and tender.  I actually writhed in pain and for a while it would not have surprised me in I had cracked or chipped a bone.  Man it hurt.  It makes me a little bit concerned that an ongoing series of minor inconveniences and challenges are presenting themselves to me.  I don't like it.  I wonder what will happen next?  I also realize that (I repeat this a lot) that much of the population of the world would like to have my troubles.  I am a lucky man and I know it.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FIRE IN THE STOVE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 317/49 - Monday...

And the saga continues...

SO, thanks to Chad for picking me up at the Hotel this morning and getting me to the airport with plenty of time to spare.  It took almost forty minutes to get through security, which is probably the longest it has ever taken me to get through security ANYWHERE.  It was kind of like a visit to the Post Office; everyone is complaining about the inefficiencies, but I was not in any hurry, and I could either wait while in line, or wait at the gate.  Everyone around me also seemed to be in a big hurry, their planes were leaving.  Maybe you should have considered leaving earlier and getting to the airport earlier.  File that for next time.  I understand that not everyone can be as perfect as me.

The dentists office opened this morning at 8:30, which would have been 9:30 Orlando time, and my plane took off at 9 o'clock.  So, I asked Jody to give them a call to see if they could get me in to re-cement my crown, and I got a 4 o'clock appointment.  All is cemented back in place even if it is just going to be a temporary thing.  I have an appointment for late December to replace the crown, so hopefully this temporary repair job will last until then.

When Jody and I got home from the airport, the garage door would not go up.  One of the springs on the door had sprung (broken) and my car was trapped inside and Jody's car was outside.  We gave the repair guys a call and they came out and got it fixed and I was able to get to my dental appointment on time.

I wonder what the next thing will be?  Just in case you are wondering (or concerned) the pimple on the end of my nose (covering approximately the same mass as the city of Cleveland) seems to be in remission.  Thanks for asking.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CROWNED UP AGAIN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 316/50 - Sunday...

Newsflash!  Not only am I wandering around Orlando sans-a-tooth (I hope I will be able to get an appointment for late afternoon tomorrow) but now I also have a zit on the end of my nose the size of Cleveland.  I am falling apart!

The Conference is over for my part.  There is still a Board of Directors meeting tomorrow, but my flight leaves at 9 AM and I am hoping to be on it.  I have done more walking here than I have done (cumulatively) than I have done in years.  Someone told me that one of the NAR Staff had a pedometer, and that they had walked seven miles in one day.  I really honestly think that on Friday I probably walked at least four miles.  There has been a lot of walking.

We all gathered up for dinner this evening and we all had an excellent meal.  Once again, I had a filet, and it was 10 ounces of (possibly) the most delicious meat I have ever had.  The problem is, once again, I could not eat all the food that was presented, and I sent back about half of the meal.  I HATE WASTING FOOD,  and I guess I need to get a better grip on that in the future.  This is a photo of the cocktail Chad had during the dinner.  Unfortunately, it smelled like the disinfectant that is placed in a urinal.  So, there you have that.  BUT, he did drink it, but he also said it tasted the same as it smelled.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DONE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 -Day 315/51 - Saturday...

Well, this is just perfect!

Still in Orlando, attending more meetings and meeting up with lots of folks I know.  I was having a late lunch this afternoon with Cathy and Leonard and my ornery crown came off again.  I already have an appointment in December for a cleaning, and I was going to get the process started to have the crown replaced, but I guess I will get that started a little earlier than expected.  Actually, if I get my way, I will just try to get the dentist to cement the crown back on, and I will get the process started in January.  Not sure how much free time I will have between now and then.  BUT, I could get it worked in after the middle of December.  Time till tell.  This is a photo of Cathy and me after the event.  You can't really tell the crown is gone, not even while I am talking too much.  Just no smiling, plus I am super-self-conscious about it, so maybe I can learn to just keep my mouth shut.  Maybe not.  No pain, nothing like that, I just have to avoid smiling.  That should not be too much of a problem.  Again, we shall see...

When is the last time you saw a pay phone (not one in an antique shop or a museum) and especially one that is still functioning?  I was on my way from the Hotel to the Convention Center this afternoon when I walked past this alcove with a couple of house phones and a couple pay phones.  I walked past it and then the realization hit me about what I had just seen.  I turned around and took a photo for documentation, and here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Tomorrow evening will finish my meetings for this go-round, and then I will head back to Austin on Monday morning.  The NAR Conventions are always great, and there is a lot of knowledge shared for the members; not only education classes, but lots of information sharing about governmental issues and issues pertinent for maintaining association relevance and forward thinking leadership training.  Always a worthwhile thing to do.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DENTAL CROWNS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 314/52 - Friday...

Yes indeed it is Friday, and I really do need a weekend!  BUT, I am not going to get that until next week.

Still in Orlando.  Today was a day of education and governmental sessions, along with a couple missed sessions because I was in the wrong place.  Disregard the fact that the STAFF of the wrong places told me I was in the right place, I found that the staff of the wrong places were not even sure where they were, so they had no business telling me I was in the right place when they were obviously in the wrong place.  Had I been told I was in the wrong place, I could have made my way to the right place, but instead, I wandered around in the wrong place (along with several other people thinking we could wander the desert for years to come) until I finally admitted defeat and went to the bar.

Whatever...

Tonight's function was the Realtors® Night Out at Universal's Islands of Adventure.  The place was open for our colleagues only, and even with that, the place was packed.  I hung out with several Austin friends, and we had a great time.  No matter the gender, there was a lot of screaming like a bunch of girls going on, as some of THEM (not me) went on various roller coaster type rides and another one that (in very small print) even afforded the riders to have a little bit of a shower.  And it is kind of chilly here, unseasonably chilly in fact.

This is a picture of me along with a Dr. Seuss character along the route.

The highlight of the evening was the Harry Potter Island.  It was pretty darned interesting, and included more girl-like screaming.  There were interesting little shops that were selling a variety of Harry Potter stuff, including candies and magic wands.  Cool, but I resisted.  The one ride I did go on was like a roller coaster ride, even though it was all done with animation and special effects.  It was like you were flying around with Harry Potter and it was pretty darned cool.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, INTERESTING STUFF, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 313/53 - Thursday...

And now for something completely different...

I'm in Orlando.  I left Austin early this morning to attend the National Association of Realtors® Conference.  I will return to Austin on Monday.  In the meantime, I was a little bit of a tourist when I got here, and I attended the Duck Parade from the fountain (not in the main lobby but in a 'bar' lobby, and had to take a couple photos.  Typical tourist stuff.  The Realtors® have pretty much taken over this end of the city, and most of the convention center area.  This is the third conference I have been to in Orlando, and so far, this one has more promise than the others.

Going to go to sleep now.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DUX, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 312/54 - Wednesday...

Today is the day after the election, and I was surprised that there were actual results to be had when I got up at 3:30 this morning.  And that is all I am going to say about that.

I have not posted a chicken picture lately, one reason being that many of them are molting and another reason they have just not been where I have been lately.  BUT, they were all hanging around the front barn this afternoon when I got home (and it was still daylight) so here you are.

On the way home from the office today, I called my friend Mike that lives in Florida.  They are allegedly still voting in that state, and should have results posted in the first quarter of 2013.  Really, why is it always Florida that cannot count?  I don't get it.

I am going to bed now.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ELECTIONS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 311/55 - Tuesday...

Beginning immediately, I am going to make a concerted effort to quit grunting (and/or groaning, take your pick) whenever I sit down or (try to) stand up.  It was brought to my attention last week during our retreat (by a much younger person than myself) that she used to think it was kind of funny when she was (even) younger that OLD PEOPLE would grunt and groan when they sat down.  She made that remark after hearing me do that, but said that she understood it because she now catches herself doing the same thing.  BUT, starting today, starting now, I am going to try to quit.  It worked when I decided to quit biting my fingernails, it worked when I quit smoking, it worked (several times) when I decided I needed to lose weight.  This should work equally as well.  We shall see...

I was walking down the sidewalk in front of our office today, minding my own business, when I spied a passel of pennies at the corner on the sidewalk.  Why do you think someone chose this corner of this sidewalk to abandon a bunch of pennies.  I have not counted them, and I would bet that if I go back down there in the morning, I could probably find more pennies in the grass that I overlooked during the initial rescue.  I am not above picking up pennies, thank you very much.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GRUNTING, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 310/56 - Monday...

If this is the First Monday in November, it must be Wurstbraten.  Wurstbraten at the Zion Lutheran Church in Walburg, that is.  We think we are starting our fourth year here on the edge of nowhere (which is further than the middle of nowhere), and this (we think) is our fourth year for Wurstbraten.  I have to admit, this one was tastier than I recall, so that is a good thing.

I am still complaining that I did not get an extra hour of sleep with this return to Standard Time.  Jody recommends we just go forward a half-hour in the spring and forget about it.  I am all for that.  The older I get the less accommodating I seem to be with the forward and backward thing.  Isn't that what everyone is complaining about this election year, flip-flopping?  I say make a decision and stick with it.

CRAP!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WURSTBRATEN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 309/57 - Sunday...

I don't know about you, but I don't think this 'fall back' and get an extra hour of sleep thing is all that it is cracked up to be.  I'm just sayin...

We got .69" of rain yesterday, so that was great.  The only problem was, it made the fields too muddy to bring in the hay bales, SO, they will stay out in the fields until next weekend.

I am in direct competition with Earl (our resident squirrel) and I will admit defeat right now.  I went out to gather pecans this afternoon, and there are still plenty on the trees to fall, but I also think Earl has been mooching on them for a while now.  It is not unusual to see him going from here to there with a nut in his mouth that is almost bigger than he is.  BUT, I will not begrudge him the pecans, he (I am sure) will put them to much better use than we will.

Tomorrow will be the beginning on an interesting week.  Trust me...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PECANS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 308/58 - Saturday...

I can tell you for sure, looks can be deceiving.  I thought I was going to get a LOT of hay from this third cutting, but we ended up with only 19 bales.  Relatively speaking, those 19 bales will possibly be the most expensive bales of hay in the history of hay bales as well.  Between the expense of fertilizing several months ago and then the cutting, raking and baling, it is some pricey cow feed.  In all honesty, I think it would have been (okay I KNOW it would have been) a better yield if we would have had even a little bit better rainfall.  BUT, I guess it was just not meant to be.  Not this year anyway, and the promised El Nino affect has yet to prove itself.

I did go early this morning to Georgetown and retrieve the Mule.  AND I have driven it a couple times AND so far it has not stalled out on me.  I am, however, now running PREMIUM grade gasoline in it AND putting Stabil (a gasoline additive) in the gasoline as well.  I am still a little bit skittish about it, but we will wait and see how it does.  In the meantime, I will just think god thoughts about it, and hope it will continue to run.

It actually does look like we could get a little bit of rain today, and while I was out talking to Hubert a little while ago I saw some lightning off in the east.  There are some really lovely clouds rolling in, and as I look out the window right now there is one particularly dark one making its presence known.

Speaking of 'its', a friend of mine (if you are reading this, this is a shout out to you Jill), I always try to be very careful of 'it's' and 'its' and 'its'', so if you (that really means anyone, not just Jill) find I am mis-using a particular 'its' at some point, please feel free to point it out.  I was never really that good a diagramming a sentence, so I apologize in advance!

I think we are heading out to dinner this evening, so I wanted to get this post out early.  Have a good evening.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, EXPENSIVE HAY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 307/59 - Friday...

Yes in deedy do ladies and germs, it is Friday.  That longed for day of the week that announces the weekend and heralds the couple days of rest (or not) that is so sought after by one and all.

BUT, while I am exhorting over the fact that tomorrow brings a day of not going into the city, let us not forget the folks in the Northeast that may have lost all track of time.  Keep them in your thoughts and try to send them some positive karma.  They can use it.  They could use electricity too, but I am sure those that are working to get that restored are doing the best they can.

Today was the last day of my retreat, and it was a good session.  The facility is a very nice one, and the programs were good and the participation was great.  Now we just need to go and take what we have laid out for the coming year and put it all into practice.  This is a photo of the Hill Country from the patio where we had lunch today.  Very nice.

I hope you all have a great weekend, and I will check back in with you tomorrow.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FRIDAYS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 306/60 - Thursday...

Alrighty then...  Spent the entire day at a retreat for the Austin Board of Realtors*.  It was a really good day, and it will continue tomorrow.  Today was all about Association relevance and team-building.  I have to say, the team-building exercise was a good one.  There were schwag-bags for the attendees, and one of the items in the bag was an ink pen (with the capability of writing with your choice of three different colors of ink depending on your mood) and interestingly, the pen included a set of directions for use.  Really?  I am relatively confident that the attendees of the retreat can operate an ink pen.  Perhaps it was more of an exercise in culling the herd, but I am not sure of that.  One can hope.

After all the meetings, we had about an hour to chill and then met for drinks and dinner.  After dinner, we all set out for the bar.  That was most likely the best part of the retreat (as it was last year).  There is as much  good work done in the networking of the attendees during those dinners than you can really comprehend.

I really enjoy the work I do with the Board, and I am rewarded (intangibly) a hundred times over for my participation.  I particularly enjoyed a great conversation tonight with Emily (SHOUT OUT), our Director of Governmental Affairs.  The election year is a really interesting time and next years Legislative Sessions (on the State and National levels) are going to be interesting.  It is very interesting and rewarding work, and Emily knows her stuff.  Thanks!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DIFFICULT PENS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!