You can't believe the news media?

ABC Owned by Disney – Some of the corporate holdings are in broadcasting and cable, film, music, theme parks, internet, toys and clothing.

In 1998 their chairman had a ten year contract which paid $750,000 a year along with a maximum $15 million a year bonus for financial performance, PLUS shares worth about $550 – $600 million.

While at Disney World the starting salary was $5.95 an hour, after 3 years $13,541 a year. At Disneyland Paris France an average yearly salary of $13,000 - $15000. Also while people in Haiti toiled to make the clothing for Disney they were paid an average of .28 cents an hour. And how many other countries are they in in some way! And there is much more, find out for yourself.

CBS, CW Owned by CBS Corp., Warner Brothers, Westinghouse – Yes from light bulbs, batteries, electric motors, TV's, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, flashlights, garage door openers, heating, ventilating, air conditioners, solar panels and even books, to providing nuclear energy worldwide, they are involved. Not just the Radio Television news and sports. And there is much more, find out for yourself.

NBC Owned by General Electric, Comcast – Not just Radio and TV, but aviation services, transportation, financial services, real estate, GE Americas. GE Asia, GE Europe, GE Middle East and Africa, Power Electronics, Power Components, Critical Power, Power Conversion, Digital Energy. Gas and Oil, GE Power and Water, GE Appliances, Electronics, Lighting, Electric Insurance Company, GE Health Care. And there is much more, find out for yourself.

FOX Owned by Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. – It's just so much easier to say, what don't they have their fingers in. They own the news worldwide. Their fingers are in Technology, Food, Pepsi and Coke, McDonald's, Wendy's, Wal Mart, lighting and electronics, building automaton, security systems, medical solutions, power generation, transmission and delivery, transportation, General Electric, just to name some. And there is much more, find out for yourself.

All American Multinational Conglomerates.

All big corporations with many more holdings who only care about dollars and how they can get more. NOT about who gets hurt by their filthy greed and NOT about those who struggle trying to make ends meet or who struggle to put a meal on the table...

How can we even begin to expect they will tell us unbiased news without a filter in place to ensure we believe they have nothing to do with the whys? Have nothing to do with the reasons people of other countries think bad of us here in the US?

Look deep enough into their holdings and you'll find gas and oil.

Gas and oil are what have us in many other countries. The rich and powerful of the oil companies went into the other countries and convinced the powers there to take away the land of the people who wouldn't cooperate in taking their oil from under their ground. Eminent Domain.

The left behind citizens revolt and we have war. Wars that we are now involved in because our rich have something to loose and have ?donated? big money to politicians for their campaigns. Politicians who now vote in favor of bills that will benefit the big money donors who helped them. Like it or not, it's bribery. It's selling your soul to the devil, and to hell with the people you represent.

These are not the principals our country was founded upon. This is where we the people have allowed our country to be taken to.

WHO IS YOUR POLITICIAN SELLING OUT TO?

Don't just listen to their words, seek, research and look deeper behind the person and find the truth.

And with the battle that's going on here in the US, with some saying drilling for gas and oil is bad for the environment and research saying it's not.

Who is starting the this?

My truth seeking cynical mind fears a time coming when the big companies take away our land through Eminent Domain to take the oil and gas at a higher profit. And of course, with the governments blessings.

I knew of this from living my life, but I started this writing with only an idea.

I researched before writing.

That research and this writing only took about two and a half to three hours.

Please don't let time be an excuse for you not to seek out your truth. Thanks to the internet it really doesn't take as long as you might fear.

Who AM I ?

What a question! Who can answer it?

I've never met anyone that has a reasonable answer if any at all. I'd guess that each and every one of us if we could find an answer, would have a different answer to that question.

Myself, well I can only say I've spent a lifetime only really seeking peace and happiness. Some days I feel both, some days not. Many days I only find moments of both or even moments of one or the other.

Why must it be so hard a task... I was in a really good place for a long time, but several years ago I lost that. Those who did regularly follow and read here can probably figure out why and I am not going to get into it. At least for now.

So for the past two years I've really only been existing and trying to get out of a funk I allowed myself to get into. (again...) I've been pondering life, pondering love and pondering myself. Just going through the movements of life, stumbling along and existing. Trying to have fun and entertain my weary being.

What have I come to discover and learn? Much that I had learned before but lost sight of.

Peace can not be found without contentment.

    Life is like crossing a log over a stream. On one side is a calm, peaceful pool of water filled with happiness, on the other are rushing waters full of turmoil and sadness. The quicker we climb back on that log where we are content, the sooner we can continue on our path of life. Our journey.

   Falling off of the log of contentment just happens. There can be no happiness without sadness. Without sadness we wouldn't be able to recognize happiness. Without happiness we wouldn't recognize sadness.

    Staying in happiness too long makes sadness tougher to deal with, we become complacent. Staying in sadness causes us to become mired in self pity which causes us to miss out on or not thoroughly enjoy moments of happiness.

    Striving to stay in contentment helps in accepting whatever happens in the moment.

Nothing lasts forever, and everything is changeable.

We are able to give up desires.

Self control is not a punishment. Self control is not torture.

    Learning self control is freedom.

    Freedom to be able to see, learn and understand.

    Learning self control helps to learn the world doesn't revolve around us and

    our expectations of others are always too high.

                                   (They are in their world, I am in my mine.)

    Everything we get from others is only temporary. What we get on our own

    lasts, even if only through what we've learned.

                         (I must find for myself what we I am looking for.)

All ambitions can be abandoned or changed.

    Our past is our history.

    When we get quiet and alone we can examine and question the past to learn

    how to shape and change the future we want.

        (I've found that being alone in nature helps me best when meditating.)

I am not my past, I am not the world around me. It is myself that has the ability to shape and form my life.

Things Learned

The path to what you want begins right beyond your excuses.

If you really want it, you need to step over the excuses.

Like what I'm learning

Where my home is, winter is a beast.

It wasn't so when I was younger. Winter never bothered me. I enjoyed being out in a snow storm plowing snow, shoveling snow or playing. Very seldom did I ever have to really bundle up. The cold was something I could laugh at.

As this body has aged, been beaten up by me and has broken down in some ways, that same cold now causes pain. Pain in the joints and pain in my mind.

So some time back I had decided to start looking for somewhere to spend my winters. Somewhere not quite as snowy or cold, yet somewhere not too warm.

When I was in Southern Indiana before I fell in love with the rolling hills. Liked the people I had met and those I talked to in passing.

Asked people here about their winters. What they explained, sounded like the worst of my spring and fall back home.

So I finally decided on my adventure. A adventure to seek a place to spend my January's and February's away from my normal winters. Also a trip and time away from the normal to see if I could once again discover my mind and myself.

This being the absolute worst winter in many years may have made this an insane idea. But in my pea brain it made sense. If I find the worst and can tolerate that, I can certainly tolerate anything better during normal winters.

Well, it's down right cold here. A whopping 27 degrees this morning. Slight wind too. So I finally had to don more than a short sleeve sweatshirt. I had to put on a long sleeve shirt underneath.

Hey, it's above 0 degrees! Less than that is what I left. This feels great to me.

I may not get much more fishing done while I'm here though because the ice won't melt from along the river banks. And I have no desire to fall. I did have a slight slip on Tuesday which had me looking for a chiropractor yesterday. With what's left of my back that is nothing new for me. Yet pushing my luck challenging ice wouldn't be a good idea.

I had the time to check out a cave where the guy who started this town stayed with his family when he first got here. It's not so much a cave as a deep hollow cut into the rock cliffs. Yet I can understand how it would have made good shelter and protection. It does have a wonderful view of the river also.

I'm hoping today to find some access areas along the river with good accessibility where maybe I can fish and not have to challenge steep banks that are muddy and ice covered.

I've already felt the affects of my escape on my mind. I'm feeling more relaxed, more open already. Maybe creativity will return. Maybe desire will return. Maybe, maybe, maybe...

I'll be leaving here in a few more days and heading farther to the south. Will that be the area I find I like more? Who knows, but instead of fighting the old, I am attempting to understand the new and build on that.

Ball Shadow? Smile

So the groundhog saw his shadow...

Well when I left home early yesterday morning it was in the 40's. No snow, no rain, no clouds. I guess it could have been possible for that rodent to see his shadow. With all the lights from the cameras on him, how could he not see his shadow?

You can check out Phil's site at groundhog.org

On the way out of Pennsylvania I did find some rain. Didn't mind that since there was a lot of salt to be washed from under my SUV. Then almost to Columbus the weather got dry. It was still overcast which I appreciated. It's nice to not have bright sun blinding you.

It was great until I passed Louisville. It really greeted me to Indiana.

Ha, ha! Here drive in a snow globe.

I drove around after checking in at the hotel to make sure I still remembered my way around since the last trip here.

Amazing! I do.

Heck I even made a turn and thought I went the wrong way but quickly found what I was looking for anyway.

It's definitely warm here as compared to home. I e-mailed someone I know here to ask about some backroads I intend to travel on and ask about their condition during the winters. Got the answer I had figured on. Mud rut city. This should be fun!!!

The ball went well.

Danced a few slow dances with my grand daughter and then chatted with the other dads and grandpa's while the young girls were busy dancing with each other.

I am still trying to decide whether or not to put some pictures here. Something inside is telling me no. Maybe it's because she is so young. Maybe it's just something that will come to light in the future. I just don't know why I'm feeling no. But I've learned to listen to that voice inside.

Well, I'm off to play in the mud and snow and see what kind of orneriness I can find to do today for some smiles.

Teach a while and make a smile

My daughter who is alone now, raising two children by herself, needed a new light hung above her kitchen sink.

Normally my son helps his sister when she needs something done. He was working when she called so feeling this bad case of wintertime blues I knew I had to leave the warm comfort of home and do something.

When my son helps he's like many people and does it for her.

I on the other hand believe in the old saying:

“Give a man a fish and he eats for the day. Teach a man to fish and he eats forever.”

So instead of just doing it for her, I had her come and help. Did what I could to teach her as I was doing and left her do much of what I felt she could. All the while she watched, helped and learned.

Some believe women can't or shouldn't do home repairs and remodeling.

That is just not true.

Over the years I had women working along with me while running my business. After teaching them, they often outworked men. Did a nicer job and were cleaner while working. Paid much more attention to detail.

When tasks demanded strength I'd ask them to use they're minds to figure out how to handle it. Sometimes I'd help them along while learning to use their minds instead of their bodies. I'd enforce what I believe in.

“Anything the mind can conceive and believe in, can be achieved.”

Need to lift a heavy item that is too cumbersome for one? Levers and blocking, raising one end at a time is the way to go.

There are times when it takes two to move some things. Then is when you seek help. Of course there are times when help is handy that you simply ask for that help to move the job along faster.

I and my son are still here to help but by teaching her, should the time ever come that she needs to do something alone she can.

Why do for, when you can teach how?

Teaching and helping others helps builds their self confidence. Along with that self confidence comes a healthy attitude and smile.

Teaching your daughter helps show she “needs” no man, but can have one if and when she wants. And that she doesn't have to settle for a sorry excuse of a man just to have one to do things.

That too should allow her to keep a smile.

A Ball?

Six days before I leave. Wouldn't you know it would have to get so cold the grandkids have no school! And of course, who gets to watch them.

I have preparations to make, bags to pack, fishing equipment to finish getting ready, arrangements to make and who knows what I haven't thought of yet.

Oh well, there is still some food that needs used up before I leave. Wouldn't want to come home in a month to things growing in the refrigerator...

I was planning to leave the last day of this month, but a very pretty young lady asked me of all people to take her to a ball. 

A BALL!

Me who doesn't even own a pair of real dress pants let alone a torture suit. Hasn't looked at his hangman's nooses in years. Had to wipe years of dust from his dress shoes. At least they still looked good under their protective coating of dust.

I promised myself many years ago I would never again don clothes I couldn't feel totally comfortable getting dirty in.

But oh no, a cute little girl had to come along and make me break that promise.

Yet what can a guy do when his grand daughter asks for him to be her date...

So it was off to torment shacks err stores, to look for and buy new clothes. Clothes that I swear will only be worn once!

Hunting through styles that look goofy for five hours until I finally found something acceptable.

Maybe I really did outlive my lifetime...

Why can't I just wear a T shirt and jeans? What's wrong with my comfortable black Nike's? Why in the name of humanity do I have to put on a hangman's noose to choke my Adams apple and make my neck itch?

Grand daughter, that's why.

Somewhere out in the cosmos there is a gang of angels laughing. Holding their stomachs in pain from the laughter. All dancing around singing “We gotcha, we gotcha, ha ha haa ha haa ha.

Yes they knew there was no woman who could convince me I ever had to dress up again. So they blessed me with a wonderful grand daughter. A sweet young thing with a smile that could light the darkest night.

And she even delayed my escape from the bone chilling cold and my fishing trip.

Ugh, wonder if I can still remember how to dance with anyone but myself while out in a field when the mood strikes to nothing but the music in my head!

Oh well, she'll only be young once.

So smile as you imagine an old, broken down fool on a dance floor.

I will be : )

But she'll have this memory and smile forever.

Privacy

It's not that I have no expectations of privacy. But heck if the government or anyone else wants to keep records of my phone conversations they're in for a very boring book.

A recent call I made: Hey, whats for dinner today? Daughter sounding very ill, I don't know. Hmm, you don't sound very good. How bad is it? Not too bad, I think the worst is over. Well I have dinner almost finished, so sometime around noon you and the kids come on up. OK, see you then.

Another call I made: Hey, before you come home can you pick up... Yah, I can do that.

These are two examples of the majority of the calls I make. Could you imagine records after records of that kind of conversation?

There are some business type calls, but not a one where I say anything I wouldn't say in public. There are many calls I say no thank you and hang up. A few with over zealous sales people where I may say something nasty and then hang up. When I say no, I do mean no after all. When I'm in the middle of doing something and a sales person I didn't ask anything of calls or in the midst of a warm meal, I do not want bothered!

Heck, if I don't look for something I don't want called asking me to buy.

I learned a long time ago that if I want anything really kept private, I have to keep it locked in the recesses of my mind.

Trusted friends have a way of leaking things. Trusted lovers have a way of blabbing what was said in confidence when they tire of you. Even to the point of using what you said against you!

Bullies way back in the young school days would use what you said to bully you.

Anything said that you think is in private and will never go anywhere can and will. Often faster than the speed of light!

The only way to keep what you want to keep private is to never allow it to escape your mind.

Use it against me. Been down that road and I'm still here and laughing.

Use it as a book? Well at least send me a share of the royalties if there is someone who will ever buy it.

What I don't like though is that you will be using a huge amount of the tax payers money to warehouse all the dribbles of useless information.

Change. Thanks I needed that?

She was comfortable in my fingers. She made me feel good. She kept me company. She kept me informed. Was always there when I needed her most.

I enjoyed her body and never had desires for another.

I would keep her with me all day and sometimes never utter a word. She would lie beside me at night always ready. She went fishing with me and often never bothered me as my mind would wonder off into the distance pondering the matters of the world. She'd be there as I gardened waiting patiently as I paid her no attention. Ride quietly at my side all day as we rode the fields on the tractor.

So what if she was getting old. She only needed more time warmly sleeping in her cradle. Waiting for me to awaken her and take her in my hands.

We had years together wondering through the fields and woods. Shared time together, images of what we had seen.

But alas, she's been rudely replaced.

What part of “I do not like change” do you not understand son?

I'm old too! Are you going to replace me?

Just because I was looking at pretty new models, doesn't mean I wanted them. I was only looking to see if they had changed. If there could even be another I could possibly want in my life.

Oh well, even after spending hours preparing her for a life with me. Even though I had to take all that time learning her intricacies. Getting to know her and explaining how I preferred things to be between us. Touching her in places to make her respond. Eyeing her and learning her desires of where and how she wanted touched. Observing her reactions when she didn't like my moves.

I do appreciate the new cell phone.

But I still stand by what I said. I DO NOT LIKE CHANGE!

Can't wait to get out of here

It's bad enough that crops won't grow and there's little to do. Bad enough that an older body hurts from years of overwork and abuse and can no longer tolerate nor enjoy the cold of winter.

Yet being somewhat confined to your home becomes feeling imprisoned. Time passes, plans for spring have been made, thought about and re planed. Then all that's left is realizing how alone you are.

The loneliness grows.

The emptiness flourishes.

For Valentines day I've decided to ask the first mermaid I catch while fishing along streams, rivers and lakes to come home and be mine. : )

When idle the mind does tend to wonder to that which we feel would make life better, then dwell on what we long for.

Yes. I simply can't wait to get on with my month long escape!

Getting out and doing what you enjoy doing always helps to appease the mind. Brings out the smiles instead of tears.

Finding someplace...

What do you do or intend to do to to keep your mind from crying the blues?

Frrrrrigid Thoughts

Just some dumb thoughts while living in and surviving the deep freeze of the past week.

Flash freezing while getting the mail from the box is in no way fun. I'd rather be flash dancing.

Polar Vortex sounds much warmer than it feels.

How fast can one scurry to the mailbox?

While watching the news and seeing many cars stuck in ice.

Hmm why can't the mailman who brings the darned bills get stuck like that...

While seeing my reflection in a window.

40 pounds fatter? No, 4 layers.

Wonder if the chickens would be considerate enough and not use the carpet as a toilet if I left them in...

Went to feed the chickens, not a one came to greet me. I opened their door to make sure they weren't frozen. They didn't even look at me while they were perched like sardines under their heat lamp.

Wonder if I could squeeze in between them...

Just where are those Florida like temperatures Al Gore promised me?

Is hugging a radiator lewd? I don't care, this warms me up more than Playboy did as a teen.

Cabin fever? No. Pillow fort fever!

I refuse to answer the phone. Want to talk to me at least come share some body heat.

Went to the basement to get a few things from the canning cupboard. Peeked at the fuel oil tanks. Nooooooo! I need to order more heating fuel and it's not even February.

Who needs a cold shower when you can just get a warm one and then freeze when you get out.

When I took a black ice skid on the sidewalk and was laying there taking a mental parts evaluation before trying to get up.

Hope no one saw that.

Huh, if I was knocked out I'd have been well preserved.

Man this is going to hurt tomorrow! And it does.

Someone needs to invent a dog ejector to get them outside so they don't use the floor as a potty.

Yay! 0 degrees feels like a heat wave!

Heard people from the south complaining about cold while watching the news.

Want to swap homes for the winter?

I just know it's going to warm up here next month when I leave for the south...

Forgetfulness

Wow what a night.

After taking Rowdy and dropping him off at the Vet for surgery last evening, I actually got a night of having the bed to myself and not having to fight for space!

Have to say though that I kinda missed having that lummox staring at me when I woke up. Kinda wonder too what was going through his mind last night while being away from home for the first time.

When I dropped him off at the Vet's I made the remark that I could have saved a lot of cash if I'd have left him outside the night before. They all chuckled.

Two mornings in a row I had to thaw pipes for my kitchen water. I have an idea of how to ward off that problem but when the weather is warm who thinks of freezing pipes? Besides that what contractor or retired contractor has a house that doesn't need some work...

When you have done something every working day, you just don't want to do it when you are home.

Simply re-plumbing those two lines and moving them only a matter of inches I'm certain will stop them from freezing when the weather gets below zero and the wind howls. What's causing the problem is when they were run way back in the twenties, they were run right against the outside stone foundation wall.

Later when grandma wanted her kitchen remodeled the pipes were hidden by new carpentry. Ever since the pipes have not been able to take advantage of the heat inside the house. So every year since, someone from the family has had to thaw those pipes on days when the weather gets to be it's most bitter and miserable.

Seriously all it would take is about two hours of work and a few new pieces of iron pipe. Rerouting them straight up instead of over the top of the wide stone foundation to the outer wood wall and turning them neatly higher under the cabinet would fix the problem. Only a few new short nipples would have to be purchased. Two holes would have to be drilled and two old holes plugged.

But will I remember to do that once the weather warms and I get busy outdoors? Probably not. It will come back to me next winter though and make me want to give myself a kick in the rump.

When the sun moves higher in the sky and warms things up it's so easy to get lost in the farming and gardening. Taking hikes in the green fields and spending time with the wildlife. So simple to forget about the things indoors that bother you and aggravate you during the winter.

Hmm, maybe I should get a huge piece of fluorescent orange poster board. In big black letters write “FIX THE PIPES DUMMY” on it and tape it over my favorite kitchen window.

He Was Warned

I told him if he didn't behave what would happen. I told him when he acted up that I'd do it or have someone else do it. He's heard it so many times I think he doesn't believe me!

Well last Monday I took Rowdy to the vet. Had his shots updated and he had a pre surgery check up. He goes back in later this week to have his load lightened. Neutered, castrated. Yup, to have his family jewels removed.

Hopefully that will drop the testosterone levels enough that he's not so pushy and aggressive with Lakai. He's also beginning to pick up on the far away scents of little girl dogs wafting through the air. I don't want to be a doggy grandpap!

With all the unwanted, unloved, uncared for dogs in the world I also feel it's the responsible thing to do as a dog lover and owner.

He may not feel so loved and wanted when I drop him off for his stay. Might not feel very cared for when he doesn't get to shove me out of bed sleep with me for a few nights.

But these feelings too shall pass.

I asked the vet if I could also drop off my son. He said if I can get him in there he'll take care of that too. Somehow though I don't think I can drag that gorilla through the door...

There was a day I could or had to pick him up and take him everywhere. Those days are long past now. Heck, as I've grown older he's grown stronger and bigger! And wow does he have a mind of his own. Too bad he so seldom seems to use it... Ahh, but there was a day I was young and foolish myself.

Bet there were some who thought I should have been castrated.

Heck there are some I think should be neutered. Bet ya there are some women who think their guys should be castrated!

At least think about having your pets neutered.

Do you want puppies or kittens?

Would you want the offspring of your pets running wild in the streets?

Sure it costs some cash to have it done. But in the long run isn't it better than having puppies and kittens in your home to only end up being unwanted and unloved?

It is the responsible thing to do.

Mental Clutter

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years eve. I wish for everyone of my dear readers to have a prosperous, happy New Year full of good health and smiles.

I had planned on being here on the blog over the holidays, but some unfortunate things were happening with some wonderful people I know through my daughter. Things that bothered me. Things I tried my best to find words for which would help.

Things that at this time I won't mention here on the blog.

But what do you say when you have nothing to say? What do you blog when your mind is a log?

The past year plus has been a constant struggle. Maybe well over three hundred sixty five struggles. I don't know about you, but when I'm struggling it's hard to get the rampant thoughts together to say anything even half way sensible.

Materialistic things have cleared up remarkably well, yet this mind is still full of absolute junk and jumbled thoughts. There are plans for this year now that things have straightened out. One last piece of newer equipment to find and purchase. Some new calves to buy and raise which are always great company for a lonely ole guy. Fences to mend and some to replace before the calves can wonder the fields. New chickens to buy since the old girls have quit laying eggs.

With all the mess of the past year plus still boggling my mind it's difficult to focus. I really need a vacation.

Time to get away and hopefully clear the mind. Time to sit along waters hoping the fish don't get to hungry. Time to allow the flowing waters to wash away the fog and carry the problems of the past away. Time to let the sunshine warm my bones and chase at least some of the aches and pains out of this timeworn body.

Time to meet some new people and share stories to get a new or better perspective of what an old single guy should do to enjoy the rest of his life.

The grass is never really any greener on the other side of the fence. Yet on journeys to the other side of the fence I usually find new respect for what I have on my side of the fence. Yes, it's always great to get home.

So I'm still working on the plans for February. Checking prices and just about ready to start scheduling hotel rooms. Reading local fishing reviews for the places I intend to travel to. Checking maps for best routes to travel. Wondering if I'll get lost once I get there and start traveling backroads while fishing... Lost can turn into lots of fun and smiles though.

Looks like it's going to be one week fishing along the Ohio river in Southern Indiana, one or two days spent visiting Nashville just to see the place, one week visiting and fishing the Chattanooga area, then off to central Florida where I'll be visiting and old and dear friend and doing even more loafing on banks while fishing. After a week there I'll be heading towards home. Probably driving through Shenandoah National Park just because I hear it's a beautiful drive. Hope there isn't going to be a snowstorm...

After that it's very possible I may be making a right and heading east since I received a very nice invitation to meet a reader and her husband. No promises though as I do have to get home to start the garden seeds for the year and I don't know for sure just exactly when I'll be heading home.

After all this decision making and planning is done and I'm on the road, the mind should begin to clear. While sitting along the waters fishing, the past year and a half should begin to flow out and away.

Only bad thought I've had is that maybe I should subject myself to a darned flu shot before going on this trek. Well that and wondering about an old guy doing all that alone.

Yes I know better than to go fishing alone, but what's a guy to do...

Trust in the universe to protect me and smile while I go out to play.

That's what.

Balls and Smiles, Give

Big balls, little balls. Hard balls, soft balls. Red balls, green balls, white balls, blue balls, pink balls. Shiny balls, fluffy balls. Whats a guy to do...

There I was searching shelves and racks for a gift I wanted to buy. Well there were two ladies looking at balls and discussing them. Holding some in their hands and remarking on them. Now tell me, how could I not laugh when one said, these balls are so soft and fluffy?

With them giving me strange looks I said, I only have old Shiny Bright balls. They too busted out laughing.

I haven't even gotten my tree and decorated it.

I did set out other decorations, did hang decorations, even my glass balls in the windows. Not the tree though.

After starting to buy at least one new glass ornament each year years ago, I'm now finding it hard to find and purchase glass ornaments. This year even Hallmark didn't have much of a selection.

Used to, when I started out, hang them in the tree. I managed to gather so many over the years that it became too much for the tree. So the old fool that I am thought how nice they would look hanging in the windows when the sun would come up and shine on them. With ornaments of clear glass and colored glass they twinkle and glisten as the suns rays shine through or reflect off of them.

Sadly I guess I may have to find a new hobby for the holidays if the stores are not going to carry them or someone doesn't start making them any longer...

Another holiday hobby I have is to buy a gift for someone I really don't know. This year a little girl who has a single mother who doesn't have a very good job but at least makes an effort, will be receiving a gift from Santa.

We can all do that.

Spread the joy by making sure some child has a toy or something that their parents just can't afford. We all know people in bad situations who have children and struggle to keep them in the things they need but really don't have the money for extras.

Heck, how much would it hurt you to spend and extra forty dollars or so to get that child a gift that will make them smile?

When I drop that gift on their doorstep, I also intend to drop off a ham and some groceries for a Christmas dinner. After all, with the store specials even a small ham and the fixens don't cost that much.

I'm not wealthy. Some months I struggle too. There have been times in my life I've had to do without or accept less than I wanted. There are times over the years that a Santa would somehow grace me. People who just helped because they saw need and poured help from their hearts.

They put a smile on may face.

Now I find that doing things like I mentioned before puts an even wider smile on my face. A warmer smile, a smile from sharing and caring.

A smile that spreads smiles to others who are having a hard time smiling.

People don't believe in Santa anymore. I say Santa lives on in the hearts and souls of all of us who are willing to put forth a little effort. Who are willing to part with a few dollars and a little time while we're already out shopping anyway.

There are people in every community who are having a tough time. Finding them is just a matter of opening your ears and listening.

Please join me.

Give one child at least one day of a year, a smile that will last in their heart for their entire life.

Snowstorm in my mind

I certainly wasn't the worst snowstorm I can recall. Maybe a little early in the winter for a snowstorm, maybe early for it to be so cold, but we only got about seven inches of snow over the weekend.

It was enough to keep many shoppers out of the stores though, as I suspected it would. Not me.

In the end of October I bought a new four wheel drive SUV. It's a Nissan Pathfinder. It's so loaded with electronic junk I wasn't sure if it was good or bad. I've had it for several tries through dry and wet fields. Tried it and played with it in a light snow we had during November. I picked up a new trailer with it so I can haul the bigger things I used to haul in the pickup. It even handles that well. I think I have all the electronic gadgets figured out.

This weekend the roads were covered with slick snow and some ice. I went ahead and did my Christmas gift shopping. I kinda thought the weather may keep many from venturing out to the stores and where I went, I was right. The parking lots were only about a quarter full. One could walk the isles without ducking for cover because of inconsiderate people. Being not a huge fan of shopping I certainly appreciated that. The few people I did speak to were full of happiness and smiles just like me. What a relief.

I climbed up and over the mountain on the slick snow covered roads just fine. Not once, but twice in the same day. Traveled some four lane highways that were slick with snow and ice. Traveled the back roads covered with up to six inches of snow and even had to bust some small foot deep drifts on my own road. Navigated my long drive that has all the snow that has fallen with about two inches of ice underneath. That Pathfinder did a wonderful job. And that's coming from someone who drove big pickups during the winter! This thing did less spinning and handled better than any of the huge four wheel drive pickups I've owned and driven over the years. I do doubt though that it will bust through six foot snow drifts. Doubt too that I will even try.

So now that this new fangled buggy of mine has impressed me and put my mind at ease and the Christmas shopping is almost done. My thoughts are turning to my intended trip in February.

It'll be interesting to try that buggy on the highways from here in the snowy mountains of Pennsylvania to Southern Indiana where I'll spend a week or two. Then on to Nashville for maybe a day, maybe longer if I see some place I'd like to fish. Then to Chattanooga for a day or so. And then on down to see a dear old friend I haven't laid eyes on in fourteen years in central Florida where I intend to spend a week and am sure I'll do some fishing.

I've told my kids I'll be gone at “least” three weeks.

Hey, I have nothing better to do but get out and about since it's nasty and cold here during the winters. If I find places where it's a little warmer that I feel like fishing, I'll stay longer and fish. If the back gets to bothering me along the way too much, I'll just check in somewhere and stay a few days and relax.

Kinda wish I had someone to take the trip with me, but... What's meant to be will be.

I'm sure I can find people to laugh and smile with. I do that every time I'm out anyway. I'm sure I can find people to just sit and talk with along the way and hear some stories about their lives. I do that too when I'm out.

These plans are all just loose plans. If I should meet someone I'd like to hear more stories about life from I just may linger longer. If any of the people I've had the pleasure of getting to know on line who live within reason of my planned route wouldn't mind meeting me in person I just might pay them a visit.

It may get cold in the south, but it's no where near the below zero weeks we have here and I'll be more than happy to extend my trip.

What might be tough to do is return here if I hear it's still below zero cold with snow measured in feet.

And I just may have found someone, or my son has, that I can coax with a few dollars to start my garden seeds for next spring so that won't be eating on my mind while away.

Yup, there are loose plans to be made, routes to be determined and fishin waters to be seeked out.

And I'm sure many smiles to be shared along the way.

I'm not going to live forever, so why not.

Rambling Cold Thoughts

Twenty degrees below normal...

That's where the temperatures here lately have been hovering.

I think I need to build a sauna! Big enough to have my entire house in it.

Rowdy, remember Rowdy? The bed stealing monster that was such a cut little puppy two years ago. The one who now has grown into a snack begging horse.

Well it's so cold that even Rowdy doesn't want to venture out the door into his huge yard to take care of business. Even the opportunity to bark at deer, bunnies, pheasants and the chickens won't entice him to spend more time than absolutely necessary outdoors.

Even Lakai the red nose pitt bull and cohort of Rowdy refuses to wonder out for more than a few minutes at a time.

When I feed them during the mornings and then open the door and tell them to go they just look at me with that are you serious look. Begrudgingly, with tails hanging low they pass by me and onto the porch. Before jumping off of the porch into their yard they turn and look with a please don't make us do this look in their eyes.

I told them though that if they learn to use the toilet I won't make them go out.

Their water bucket has been frozen for a few weeks now.

I had emptied it but some rain had filled it one evening and overnight it froze solid and has stayed that way ever since.

Now when I put them out they don't wonder their yard searching for critters and things to bark at. Instead they quickly take care of business and scurry into the hay filled dog house. Yes house, not houses.

About an hour later I open their gate and they come rushing back in like lightning.

They have two houses filled with hay, but they both cram their huge bodies into one dog house. Not a dumb move when you consider they help keep each other warm that way.

It'd be nice if I had someone to help keep me warm too. Instead I have to rely on the electric blanket...

This is the time of year when being single does get to be it's loneliest.

Less daylight, we're down to about ten hours a day now. Less time outdoors working or wondering through the fields and woods.

More time to spend looking at walls and wishing they could talk.

More time cooking much more food than one person can eat before having to toss moldy masses and globs into the wood burner. Darned wood burner won't even tell you it tastes good...

This weekend though with more snow predicted, maybe six inches, it may be time for me to get it in gear and do that thing I dread. Christmas gift shopping. With a snowstorm predicted for tomorrow there may be less people wondering out to the stores.

Probably by next weekend the sales will be close to their highest and the prices close to their lowest, but the weather might get nicer and bring out more people to shop for the last minute deals. So paying a little more this weekend instead of dealing with hordes of people next weekend just might be my best option.

That way I can keep my smile while I get the gift buying for the grandkids done.

Come Back Santa

Just why is it so many people say they don't want to lie to their children by telling them Santa is real?

Some of those same people wear push up bras. Some wear padded bras. Some even go to a surgeon and get implants. Some have surgical procedures done to make them look younger. Is any of that real?

Some wear shoes which make them look taller. Some spend more than they can actually afford to buy fancy cars so they look well off. Some spend ridiculous amounts on clothes that make them look like something they're not. Many purchase expensive fancy jewelry to make them look like what they are not. Is that real?

At least Santa was based on fact of Saint Nicholas. He had a reputation of secret gift giving which led to the role model of Santa Claus.

That is much closer to real than people who live fake lives.

Maybe the reason we have to spend so much wasted time shopping at this time of year is because we have hurt Santa's feelings. Possibly he's sitting at the North Pole sobbing in his depression because so many people are denying his existence.

STOP IT!

I don't like trekking to the stores over snow and ice covered roads to toil for hours to find gifts I think someone will like. I dislike the bloodsport of holiday shopping. Don't like the gladiator event of finding a parking spot and having some ignorant, I don't care about nobody but me, butthead steal that spot just as I'm about to pull in.

I disapprove of the feeling I get seeing people capable of walking take the disabled spots close to the door just because they are lazy and feel so entitled. I am disabled. Yet I know many who are much more disabled than myself. Even I don't take those parking spaces set aside for those who have not got the ability to get around well.

I for one would love to see shopping centers and malls buy their own tow trucks and hire full time employees to man them, who would tow the vehicles of those who can walk without difficulty when they park there.

Would appreciate if those ignoramuses would have to pay for the towing, the storage of their vehicles and have to pay a thousand dollar fine. The fine could go to paying for the tow trucks and employees who man them.

So maybe if we all apologize to Santa, maybe if we all leave him an extra large plate of cookies, maybe if we send him some love, just maybe he'll start bringing more gifts so I don't have to wonder out in this nasty weather to the malls to find gifts.

It's worth a try isn't it? : )

OK, I've got to start making a list now.

Baby it's cold outside

Winter seems to have moved in early this year and I am not happy about that.

Normally we get a few light snows but it stays warm enough that they melt and it's still nice enough to want to work outdoors.

Want being the key word.

I certainly recall early snows that would accumulate up over the knees. Even then it wasn't this cold. Or, am I just getting soft in my old age...

My joints in my fingers ache. My knees ache. My right hip is almost too much to take.

I recall days of hanging siding in a snowstorm that closed the state and local governments down. I can remember having to break ice and sweep snow from scaffolding while working to be able to keep working. I know of a time we had to sweep snow as we laid shingles on a roof.

I have fond memories of taking hikes in the snow. Cross country skiing. Coaxing the kids out and building snowmen and women. Digging tunnels in the snow. Sled riding, toboggan riding, laughing and playing in the cold as if it didn't exist.

Now it seems all I want to do when the cold comes is hibernate indoors.

So what does one do when they refuse to wonder out into the icy chill?

For me over the weekend it was reading recipes for many kinds of stuffed mushrooms.

I like stuffed mushrooms, so it just made sense to me to play with them and come up with ones I could call my own.

Well I had to make a trip out in the cold so I could pick up a few things I didn't have and some I don't normally keep around here.

Even trying to handle the steering wheel was painful for my aging fingers, but I toughed it out recalling days before power steering and wondering how that would feel on old fingers that have been abused over many years.

Remembering some vehicles that blew no more than tepid air when the heater was blasting. Thinking how many times I had to scrape ice from the inside of windshields just to be able to see the road while driving. Even remembering the time a side window got broken and I had to drive with snow falling and high wind blowing just to get home to the garage so I could work on it.

It never seemed rough back then. Matter of fact there were many laughs while doing those things. Times of looking for reasons to venture out in the cold in search of adventures to thrill the mind.

Now! I'm looking for any excuse NOT to venture into the cold and snow.

Heck I'm even beginning to think about starting a pick up and delivery service for groceries and stuff and hiring people just so I can have someone to do that for me while I sit at home and languish in the heat from the furnace and wood burner.

So here I am, dreaming of a green Christmas and seriously thinking about just driving south past all my usual haunts and not stopping until I get to some place with a warm climate where people don't know what a winter coat even looks like.

Anyway, I tried three of my ideas. Sausage stuffed, Cheese and spinach stuffed and beef and spinach stuffed mushrooms. I even invited my daughter and the grandkids over to sample them. My son was already here, I swear he smells me cooking from 20 miles away and always shows up when there's something tasty to eat.

Well they all liked my latest treats. I was the only one slightly dissatisfied with them. So I'll keep on playing experimenting and perfecting them and then I'll post them here for your opinion.

What do you do during nasty cold weather to keep your smile shining?

Rough Summer, Rough Times = Discombobulation

Hmm, I haven't been here for awhile have I?

Wish I could tell you I was on an exotic vacation. Even on a safari. I wasn't.

Life was just routine and maybe even stuck in a rut.

In July when I last posted I was struggling. I was so burned out that it was a loosing battle to when trying to write. I was fighting the weather, fighting weeds in the garden and was honestly becoming very depressed with a rough turn my life had taken.

A huge business deal was taking much, much longer than I was ready for. Things were breaking down and the cash flow was way down. Just as in the past I was alone and didn't even have anyone to discuss the disgust with. No one to help take my mind off of bothersome things.

The dogs just are not into profound conversation. Heck, the only time they listen is when I mention food...

When I wasn't busy working I'd try to write. Well all that happened was senseless thoughts chasing each other all over. I couldn't compose an entire paragraph and stay on a subject. I was a mess.

I'd try to write about one thing and ten other things would be eating at my goofy mind.

Weeds, rain, broken down tractor, broken down me, more rain, more weeds, crops not getting enough sun, crops getting too much rain, lawn needing mowing but it's raining again, more equipment needing more repair, the house needing repairs and on and on...

Top that off with me becoming the full time babysitter for my two youngest grandchildren.

Now let me tell you, when you get older you begin to realize just how energetic kids are. Just how much they need fed. Just how hard it is to keep them busy so they don't find trouble to get into. Heck, I have enough trouble keeping me out of trouble.

As for food, I eat when I get darned good and hungry. I have no set schedule for meals. Quite often I'm busy enough that evening comes and I realize I haven't eaten all day. Not that missing a few meals hurts me at all...

Well that eating schedule does not work with growing children.

Energy? Well lets just say this guy is in a perpetual energy crisis. Somewhere around noon I just fall into trying to keep one foot in front of the other so I don't fall down and become Rip Van Winkle.

The garden did well in spite of the rain and the war of the weeds. The crops did well. Finally the business deal went through! There's still a lot of work to catch up on before the winter gets too bad, but things are getting back to their abnormal normal.

I've been able to slow down, calm down and take a breath.

I'll try to get back to my normal blogging. It still may be hit and miss for awhile, but I am on my way back.

One thing that never left me during this time of angst is my continuous daily search for smiles. I even managed to laugh at the predicaments I was in.

I certainly hope all of my wonderful followers were able to keep finding their smiles over the past several months.

And to the few who cared enough to e-mail me, Thank You and Bless You