Save Our Dogs!

     I don't normally say much about political causes or suggesting legislation but I am going to do that today.  No, I am not going to say a thing about our beloved President or the state of political issues in the United States.  No complaints about Obamacare either. I have something much more important to discuss here.
     This is an issue that is of critical importance, and laws must be passed to prevent this tragedy.  I am talking about the number of dogs riding in cars killed in traffic accidents each year. They are not restrained, and in a crash they are totally vulnerable to injury, or even worse death.  There must be laws passed to remedy the situation.
     We need doggy restraining devices, doggy car seats if you will.  These poor creatures are totally incapable of protecting themselves. We must take responsibility for man's best friend and protect them. They must be placed in car seats so that they are protected in a crash.
     The days of Fido sticking his or her head out the window to enjoy the wind rushing through their fur, or no fur in the case of a chihuahua is over. We must limit their rights in order to protect them, they cannot protect themselves

A Car Seat For Every Dog

He'd be too big for a car seat.  He's not a dog anyway.

Remember, Its up to you.  Call your legislator!  Save Basher's life.  Go ahead, you do it.  He's not my dog anymore.

     I am only talking about dogs.  Let cats fend for themselves.  They look at you like they know something you don't anyway.  Dogs are kind of dumb and can't take care of themselves.  

That's A Great Idea To Write About!

     How many times has it crossed your mind to ask me where I get my ideas for my blog?  The burning question you have asked yourselves many times (or maybe not) is where do my topics come from.  After they come to me, where does the brilliance come from? I guess my answer to that would be, I don't know. They just kind of flash into my brain, and I have to seize them quickly. Some wonder how I function--as do I-- with the brain I have, so I do have to act fast.
     Most of the time, I use the "blank wall technique", which I talked about before. I don't meditate on the wall or anything, as that would be a bit demonic but sometimes an idea just pops into my head after a few minutes of starring at the wall. You might say that many of my posts are truly "off the wall", as I look at the wall when I am thinking.  Again, The "Dogs Playing Poker" poster and the window out to our back yard do come into play here as well.
     Most of the time I just start writing with no topic at all.  What comes out is absolutely meaningless, but sound good.  Maybe I should consider another line of work.  One that really suites my talents, such as politician.  Yes I did see the "State of the Union" Address last night and that is a good demonstration of what I am talking about.  I not just talking about what the President said either, but also the Republican response.  And, after watching for a while, I have decided I would be a good newsman as well.  They took nothing and turned it into ten hours of commentary.
    What I said in the last paragraph kind of scares me.  What I wrote there is kind of what I mean.  I said absolutely nothing about anything, I just wrote.  It did sound good though, you have to admit.
     The world is awash with ideas.  You just have to look for them.  Keep your eyes and ears open.  See what is there and be able to chuckle.

I have no caption for this. How about this is what the underside of a piano looks like? I don't know.  Be creative in your mind.

Yes! I'm Back In Business.

     It came in yesterday's mail.  This was something I have been waiting for a long time after the last one was compromised. Thank God it came, I'm back in business again.  How can anyone live without it.  Its almost like being without a cell phone and not being able to check today's stock quotes. Its here, my new plastic bank debit card and I will use it.
     Now, let's do some damage.  What shall I use it on.  What purchase can I make to make me very happy, not that I am not happy now.  Ah yes, let's try the internet.  How about yachts.
      Here's a nice little yacht that catches my fancy.  Seven hundred and fifty foot with a pretty generous beam.  What are the amenities, let's see.  Ocean going capabilities with a completely modern navigation system, seems pretty good already.  You know how much I love to cruise.  The boat comes equipped with five decks, a gourmet galley, seven bedrooms in which the master suite takes up half a deck, a pool with a hot tub plus an indoor hot tub.  It cruises at thirty-five knots and can go anywhere in the world. Oh yes, don't forget the helicopter which can land on the helicopter deck which comes with the yacht for an asking price of $25 million. Does it come with the girls in the bikinis? (I didn't mean that Denise. I only threw that in to get a chuckle.)  I'll take it!
     Let me get my card out.  Excuse me, I have to call and activate it first, done.  Now, let me fill out the purchase agreement, card #XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-3210...done.  I'm waiting back...What?  CARD DECLINED? Why?  See if that yacht company will get my business again. Let's try something else.
     How about a sports car?  I miss my black 350 Z.  I think I will upgrade on this one.  I think I will try a brand new 370Z, I'm worth it.  Originally I thought that I would try to buy a Lambroghini, but I can't spell Lambroghini and that would be a bit gauche, so I wont even go there.  I will stick with a 370Z.
     Ok, here is one, brand new at the dealership here in Merced with an asking price of $62,000 out the door. Just what I want. Its black with black interior, just like the one I had before the disaster.  It has everything I want, and Denise and I will look fine in it.  I'll take it!
      This will just take a minute.  I need to fill in the blanks of the purchase agreement.  Let me put in the card numbers here, XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-3210, that should do it. CARD DECLINED? That's twice that has happened.  What's wrong here?  Its a new card and I just activated it.  It should work.  Let me try something else.
      I need some golf balls.  I won't go new on this.  Here is a sleeve of reconditioned Pro-V 1's for ninety-nine cents.  Let's try that.  I'll fill out the order, I always wanted some reconditioned Pro-V's.  Here is the number, XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-3210.  CARD DECLINED...What is this? I'm going to call the bank.
       Let me call the bank to find out what's wrong.  They are on the phone now.  I've got the recording that tells me my totals. "Your available balance in savings and checking is seventy-five cents."  Does that mean I cant use my card? Nuts!

There's the yacht I wanted to by.  Oh well.

   

             
   

Under Pressure

     I'm under pressure this morning.  I don't know how good this post is going to be because I am trying to hurry and get it out.  I have nothing to write about, no witty or humorous thoughts to share or topics to cover. I have to go down to Fresno to take care of some business and have to leave soon so don't expect miracles on this post.  I haven't showered yet and most importantly, have not had my coffee.
     I am getting spoiled living here in Merced.  The town is so much smaller and has that small town attitude. Life is so much slower as well.  Everything is so close, within a two minute drive, that you really don't have to hurry as I am doing now to get this out. We've saved a lot on gas because it is not eleven miles across town.      There is a lot to talk about today, but I am not going to because I have to go.

Pace of life in Fresno

Pace of life in Merced.

 

I Apologize!

     I apologize.  I really did think that nobody read my blog on the weekends.  I am sorry for making that assumption. I was very wrong. Thank you very much for tuning in. I truly appreciate all of you who read my blog.

Please don't put me in front of a firing squad.  I said I was sorry. 

I Think I Got It Figured Out...Maybe Not

     O.K., I think I have this posting thing figured out--well maybe.  I noticed that I don't get as many page views and hits on the weekend as I do during the week.  With that in mind, I think I am going to take today off and not post.  It is Saturday after all, and very few of you will be reading this.
     I truly understand this.  You are probably doing something away from your computer or relaxing and the last thing you need or want to do is to read one of my strange posts.  I totally get that, and am OK with that.
As I have made no bones about, I would be somewhere out on a golf course if I wasn't posting right now. It is going to be in the mid seventies today.
     I'm done now. Have a great weekend.

A beautiful clear day here, with highs in the seventies.

Oh Look! A New Spot On The Wall

      Denise looks at me a lot and I can see she is concerned.  Sometimes that look she gets of concern conveys a real caring on her part, especially when it comes to my mental health.  She looks at me a lot with that look, and I understand her concern especially when I am starring at a blank wall or blankly out into space.  I want to assure her, and I have, that I am somewhat all there.  That stare only signifies that a proce

ss is going on in my brain.  The wheels are turning and I am either creating or digesting all the sensory inputs my body is sending me.  I would rather be digesting a pizza, but that's just the way life is.  Wait, sometimes--rarely lately though--I am digesting a pizza.
     Much can be said about starring at blank walls. It sort of clears the mind.  What is there to look at when a wall is blank--nothing?  It kind of leaves you free to think clearly, especially when the T.V. isn't on. Sometimes the T.V. is on but if the experience of starring at the wall is truly productive and deep, you don't notice. I guess I am talented in that way as I can have the T.V. blasting and still stare blankly off into space at the wall. this really does take talent and a special gift.  Some people, I won't mention any names, just don't believe it.
     We have several blank white wall in our house right now.  There are a lot of things that we can put up on the walls to decorate them, but we just haven't gotten around to hanging them. There is a plus in this.  There are more blank walls to stare at and I can stare at any of these walls and that will stir my creativity. It gets my mind wandering and thinking.  What an opportunity.
     My favorite wall to stare at is not blank at all.  It is the wall above my computer in my office.  This is my work desk.  Above the desk hanging on the wall is my beloved "Dogs Playing Poker" poster and a lot of other junk.  The other junk is superfluous--I like that word superfluous--and is basically only clutter.  But the
"Dogs" poster really inspires me and gets me going.  I wonder if the guy who painted it and though of the idea starred at the wall for inspiration. He probably did, and carried his stupid ideal all the way to the bank.
     I guess I am just weird.  Wait a minute, not weird but different. That's a new spot on the wall, isn't it?

Not a wall in the strictest sense, but still good for starring.

I do stare into this wall, but its not blank. 

This wall is in the bedroom.  I don't stare into it much. That's all I will say. 

Where most of my starring takes place. What an inspiration! I know its not blank but it inspires.

         

Forest Gump Was Right!

     It is Wednesday and I am here at my desk writing this for you.  Yes, today is the day that I am going to write this and post it, as I had promised last night.  To my left is my coffee cup and I am ready to drink it, so I'm OK.  Where my mind was going last night, I don't know. I do know that I have to go to Fresno today, if that counts. I still have to go out of town, but that won't be until later. There will be no talk about when this will be published or what day it is.  It is still Thursday in Japan though. Let's get started, shall we?
     Forest Gump was right when he said, "Stupid is as stupid does." I saw that quite clearly demonstrated last night as I was filling up my tank on my Galant.  Why a Mitsubishi Galant could be a question you may ask, but that's not what I am going to talk about here.  It is old, a '95, and has been a great car. That's another story and back to the gas station.
     As I am pulling into the station, I pull up to the pump.  It is a small station with a small convenience store. Just outside the door I see and employee taking a break.  She's smoking.  I don't smoke and that could be included in this as far as the sanity of smoking.  If I have offended you with this, I apologize and will still love you but I still wonder about smoking. Back to the story.
     So, she's smoking right outside the door of the station.  She is sitting on a trash can I think, and right next to her is one of those Rhino propane tank displays.  You know, the ones where you bring your empty propane tank in and replace it with a full one.  No filling of the bottle, just give your old one to the station and take a new full one. She's not sitting but a foot away from the huge display of full bottles smoking.  Does she not see the huge "FLAMMABLE" sign written all over the display?  How about the very large "NO SMOKING" sign written in VERY Large letters and in red. I guess the propane business is exploding, but not in a way that could get us all killed. Takes a lot of brains, doesn't it. I really like a good laugh, but not one that I literally would get a big bang out of.
    I do know that we all do stupid things that we can look back and laugh at.  That's part of life. However, smoking in a gas station, especially next to a propane tank display is another matter.  You were right Forest.

Before there were gas stations and propane.  

     

Disregard This Post...Maybe Not

     You can disregard this post.  I was going to go out of town tomorrow and not post tomorrow, but I was going to write the post I was going to post tonight and schedule it for tomorrow. You wouldn't know if I wrote it tonight and I wouldn't tell you.
     You can write something and schedule it for a future release. Not going to do that now, as I am going out of town later than I expected tomorrow and can write the post tomorrow morning.  I will be home working in the morning. However, it is morning to some of you now in a different timezone, so you will be getting this post now, but it will be tomorrow if you live on the East Coast. If you are in Japan, you won't get it until Thursday. I am posting this today to explain that you are going to get a post tomorrow that was truly written tomorrow. Don't worry though, if you live in the Pacific time zones you will be getting this post today and tomorrow's post tomorrow. You will be getting this post which was written today and tomorrow's post which will be written tomorrow, unless you read both posts

OK, I'll admit it.  This post is a real turkey.

tomorrow. You will just have to suck it up East Coast and receive two posts tomorrow.
     No, I haven't lost it.  It may seem so, but I am in full control of my faculties.  I haven't had my coffee yet though.  If I do, I won't sleep tonight. I will save that for tomorrow morning when I will really need a cup or two. That would have caused a problem because I normally write just after having my morning coffee.  How can I wrote if I can't have coffee at night and I have to schedule a post that I have written the night before for the following morning.
     Think about Nigeria.  By the way, I want to welcome my viewer in Nigera.  Thank you for tuning in.  A word of advice, don't try to figure my posts. Most of the time I am confused by them. I don't know if you will be reading this today or tomorrow, but I do know that you will be reading it in the summer.  That's because its summer down there right now.
     What am I trying to say? I don't know, you try to figure it out.  I'm going to bed.  What time is it anyway?  Is it tomorrow yet?

I Gotta Be Me...I Gotta Be Me...

     When I told my last bad joke Denise said, "You are very weird." She said that in a sort of loving way, I understand, but it got me to thinking.  No, I'm not weird, I'm just different.  What's wrong with that.
Let's take a closer look at that.  Am I weird or just different?
     The dictionary has this definition for weird. This is out of The American College Dictionary.  "Weird: startling or extraordinarily singular or odd."  No mention of different. I may be a bit odd and walk to the beat of a different drummer, but I don't think that the degree of my oddness is particularly extraordinary. I don't know.  You decide.
     I like to think of myself as just being a little bit different. Is it wrong to look at the world in a way other that that accepted by everyone else? I refuse to. Why not see humorous side of the situation and what could be a very difficult life here on Earth.
     I look at life through a different set of filters.  No matter how bad the situation, and we do need to be serious most of the time, why not see it from the humorous side.  Does that make sense?  Why not throw in some crazy behavior to lighten the load? Not for every situation and all the time, but to maintain sanity.                What's wrong with a good pun or play on words to lighten things up. My brain just works that way, and what good is it if it is not shared with someone else? That someone else happens to be Denise most of the time and the frequency of those comments seem to be coming a bit too often for her, but what the heck?  I need someone to bounce these things off of.  I know most of them are misses, but I have hit some home runs as well. Its the process, and a groan is almost as good as a belly laugh. After all, it is a process.
     I'm sorry.  "Dogs Playing Poker" inspire me.  I admire the person not only that painted the work, but thought of it and probably made a lot of money on it. Was he or she different or weird? I don't know but I'm guessing pretty rich. Which brings me to "The Three Stooges".

Denise, I love her so much! She's going to kill me for this--Oh well.

 
         

Today Is Saturday

     Today is Saturday, I think. It is the weekend, the time most people take off to rest up for the next work week. It is a time to do the relaxing things people do on their own time such as golf or tennis, take a walk, wash the car, mow their lawns, do their taxes or just sleep in until noon as Denise is doing today.  That's OK though, she has earned it and she is not feeling well--More power to her.  I'm retired, so everyday is a Saturday to me, not really.
     I know that I have mentioned this to you before.  The Japanese live on the other side of the International Dateline, so it is Sunday over there. I also feel that I have beaten this difference between us and the correct time in Japan so much in this blog that it is like beating a dead horse--sorry animal lovers, that's just an expression and I would never beat a dead horse.  
     As I have said, I am retired and proud of it.  Being retired is a bit of a misnomer however.  Yes I did retire from teaching and receive a pretty good pension--at least it was pretty good until the disaster hit.  Not having to go to a "job" has allowed me to pursue other interests and occupations.  That's why I write. As a writer, I must pursue other "life experiences" such as being a starving artist. That is all right for now and explains why I am working on a Saturday.
     At least I am doing what I want to do--and starving at it.  That experience is good for me and is an indication that I am on my way to becoming a successful writer.  All the greats did it and became famous, especially after they died. I am getting closer to "making it", I just hope that I don't take the posthumous route. In the greater scheme of how the world works, the question could be asked, "Who cares?"
     This probably has been the stupidest, most disjointed post I have had for a long time. It most likely is.  Just remember, Its Saturday and I am in here working.  Today is going to be a whopping 70 degrees and I should be on the golf course because I am retired

Oh, Baby.  Where I should be this warm sunny day.

Where I am right now, slaving away on this beautiful Saturday morning.

.

Man Cave!!!!

     I wasn't going to post today.  I know that after posting four in a row days, you are pretty tired of me, but I went on Facebook and a good friend of mine's post inspired me. Here's the thing.  Some ladies just don't understand the "Man Cave". I really don't want anyone to get the wrong impression either

Generation 2 "Man Cave"

Generation 2 "Man Cave".  Another view.  Generation 4 is a complete improvement as recreated in Merced.

.  I don't say that in a derogatory way toward women.  I love and respect women, but there is a difference between man and woman. What a boring world this would be if men and women were the same.
     The first thing that needs to be understood about a "Man Cave" is that it is a totally individual thing.  This place of refuge is an expression of that particular guy. He is the one who establishes the true meaning of this hallowed space, no one else. It can possess a deep spiritual meaning as seen by its creator, or it can be totally random in its construction. It can be an orderly and tidy space, or it can be a recreation of the explosion in Hiroshima. Again, this is up to the guy who inhabits this wonderful space. It is also up to the person who dwells here as to who "The Cave" is shared with or who enters "The Cave".
     Many people who would come into my "Cave" would gaze upon the elements I have chosen to display in my cave and say, "Wow, that's bizarre." But I would beg to differ with them.  Each bit of memorabilia and possession has a meaning and a reason for being where it is placed. There are a lot of them. I have my golf section.  I have my baseball memories section.  I have my cruise section and my "Mr. Laid Back" section.  I have my cups collection which I have collected in my travels and my nic-nacs on shelves.  King Kong even has a story and a meaning.  Where the white elephant comes from and its meaning is still to be determined. My wife calls me weird, I just say I'm different--but I will save that discussion for another blog.
     Yes, I will admit that it may seem cluttered and disorganized, random at best.  To some it is a demonstration of a mind that is seriously suffering from ADD, but what's wrong with that? I do suffer from ADD and this is my space, so there.  One last thing.  Thanks's Carl.  
         

A PHONEY Post

     After I posted yesterday about phones, I remembered something that also gets my juices flowing as far as the phone is concerned. The new smartphones talk back to you.  I am not talking about the person on the other end of the line.  I am talking about the phone itself. Why?
     I will never use that feature on my phone. I have so many people and gadgets talking back to me right now that I am in voice activated shock. The gadgets in my life almost talk more than I do, and that is saying a lot. I don't mind Denise talking and giving me directions, but my phone.  That is a bit much.
      What happens when the phone gets tired of searching and doing things for you on the net or whatever. Does it get testy? I can see it now.
       Search "good pizza restaurants in Kolpucky, Nebraska." (I really don't know if there is a Kolpucky I just made that up.)
       The phone comes back with, "Excuse me, I'm not your mother. You lazy sucker, can't you use a keyboard and search it for yourself? Why do I have to do all the work for you? I'm busy, you can do it for yourself.  How many times have I searched something or dialed something for you today? Sorry, I'm done.  Do it yourself."
      What has happened to this world of ours.  I also didn't say yesterday that a phone is for dial-talk to the person on the other end, or ring-ring, pick up the phone and talk to the person on the other end of the line.  That's it, nothing more. Someday, the phones of this world will rise up and make us slaves.  The world will be run by phones and we will be just those stupid humans to them.  Machines will take over.  Remember the Cylons in Battlestar Gallactica. Oh my gosh, its happening.
     Excuse me, I have to make a call to wish my daughter a Happy Birthday---on my new smartphone.

I probably could use one of these right now.  I don't drink though.

   

E.T. Phone Home...Why?

     What is a phone for? Do we really need to be in constant communication with the world around us? No! A phone is basically a communication tool to talk to other people, and not constantly. The next thing you know, they will be implanting a phone in our heads. No Way!
     OK, its confession time.  Yes, I do own a Smartphone. Do I go on the internet constantly-- the internet is another thing that we may be looking at in the future--especially from my phone?  Do I need to write down notes to myself on my phone?  How about dates?  Do I need that electronic calendar that is included on my phone? Why should I write a text to someone when I can call them and talk to them directly?
      Now there's one that really bothers me. A phone is for talking to, using voices by the way, another person over a long distance. Why would you want to write what you are saying when you could talk to them directly.  Oh, and couldn't what you have to say to them wait until you get home and use the landline phone?      Whatever happened to being incognito?  Why would I want to talk to somebody when I am out on the golf course. Don't bother me, I want to be left alone. No, I don't owe you that five bucks, the check is in the mail. Would I really want to know if the house is burning down when I am having the round of my life at several strokes under par and about to win a two dollar bet from Steve? I don't think so. Just save my "Dogs Playing Poker" picture. Let's face it folks, there is nothing you can do in that situation.
     A phone is a tool to be used for communicating, but not constantly. It is not something that you abuse by not hanging up. A phone's best use is for ordering a pizza to be delivered when you are watching the game. I refuse to let my phone control my life.
     By the way, hand me my cell phone please, I have to make a tee time for Saturday. Let me go to the GolfNow Ap. Let me call the guys and make sure they will be there. Now, let me see.  Where do they keep the Chocolate Cherios here in Walmart?


PS:  Happy Birthday Holly!  I love you.

Ah yes, bring back the good old days!

   

Chocolate Cherios?

     As you know, I am famous for coming up with "Questions for the Ages". As I was writing my post for yesterday, one struck me.  Why do we need 20 different flavors of Cherios?
     Now I know that there are brilliant minds somewhere pondering some very heavy questions such  as "How do we cure cancer?" or "How are we going to feed seven billion people?", but we also need to keep our eye on some not so important questions.  Incidentally, as far as feeding seven billion people do we really need another flavor of Cherios.  Is that an efficient use of our resources? I don't know.
     When I was growing up, there was only one Cherios. It kind of tasted like sawdust as most cereals do, but I ate it.  Actually, I am kind of a Frosted Flakes kind of guy but when mom bought Cherios after the Frosted Flakes were gone and Cherios was all we had it became a sort of life and death situation.  I needed to eat the Cherios or die of starvation. After all, as mom would say, there were starving children in Outer Swombania who would kill for a bowl of Cherios.  Nevertheless, in order to survive and stave off starvation I choked down my Cherios. They still tasted like sawdust, but great for your heart.
     Then came the break through. The world was thrown off it's axis with the invention and introduction of Honey-Nut Cherios and the stupid little bee. Viva la'difference and hooray for choice.  Cherios became palatable and had flavor. They were pretty good, but I was still a Frosted Flake guy.  My allegiance was to Tony The Tiger, not that stupid bee. It may have been just a guy thing, but I was still a kid. The world now had a choice.
     Things are getting a bit our of hand.  I went to the store and saw that there were many forms of Cherios.  Let's see now.  There was regular Cherios, Honey Nut Cherios with that stupid bee, there was Dark Chocolate Cherios and regular Chocolate Cherios as well as the new guy on the block, which really takes the cake, Honey Nut Cherios Crunch Medley with flakes.  There's that stupid Bee again.
     Honestly now, do we really need Fruit Medely Flavor Cherios? Excuse me but I think that I will stick to Fruit Loops.  I know that they are made from a different grain and don't have the heart benefits, but really? Give me a bowl of Fruit Loops or Cocoa Puffs any day over a bowl of Cherios.
     What about Wheaties?

Cherios NO! How about a nutritious bacon wrapped corn dog?

  

She's Always Right---Most Of The Time

   Why does it continue to be abundantly clear that my wife is always right?  Well, to say always is not exactly true.  Let's just say a majority of the time.  It has taken me a long time to come to that conclusion, but it is a solid one. Many times it is a man's way or the right way, which the right way in most cases turns out to be his wife or girlfriend's way. Such it is in my case most of the time.
     Take this morning.  We are in the process of setting up our house, and as such we are working in our pantry. Yesterday I bought breakfast cereal, which takes up a lot of space.  The boxes are large and odd sized.  Denise also likes to transfer the different cereals into plastic pouring containers. That is a fantastic idea for cereal, by the way. Whoever thought that one up should receive the Nobel Prize for usable technology.        One of the containers was one-third full of dark chocolate cherios. At the store, I purchased a box of chocolate cherios and we had another box of honey-nut cherios partially eaten stored up in the pantry. Why not consolidate all three boxes of cherios into one plastic container?  What a great idea!  So, I poured the new box of chocolate cherios into the plastic container along with the partial box of honey-nut cherios.
    It was a very pretty sight, almost like the things you make at the fair with colored sand in bottles. Each layer of sand you pour into the small bottle is a different color, creating a pretty bottle.  You have several layers of different color sand which makes a colorful pattern.  You don't want the sands to mix because they will become an ugly shade of brown.
     With the cherios, I wanted the layers in the container to mix. Being an egalitarian kind of guy, I didn't want separate layers of cherios, but wanted a mix so that one type of cherio was not better than another. That's kind of stupid, so I will drop that line of thought.  Let's just leave it at the fact that I wanted the cherios to mix in the container. It's just easier that way. It was kind of pretty though, the different layers of cherios in that plastic container. No fruit flavored, that's another story.
     Time to mix the cherios.  Well, the easiest way to mix the cherios is to shake the container, right? Let's shake!
     Denise saw this and said, "You might want to hold the lid down when you shake the container.  Believe me, I know this from experience that the lid will come off and you will have cherios everywhere."
     She said that in a very non-threatening way and I said, " OK." and kept on shaking with my hands firmly not on the lid of the container.
      Ooops was the only word which could come out of my mouth as I reached for the broom and dust pan. I actually was proud of Denise.  She could have said something.  Even more, she could have had a look on her face that clearly stated "Why did you do that stupid when I told you exactly what would happen?". That look never materialized. She knows me very well and loves me very much so she just kind of shrugged her shoulders and walked away.  I think she was laughing, and hard, but I can't prove this as I had my head down sweeping up cherios.  
     Yes, Denise is always right.

Yep, That's my beautiful bride and I love her so much. She's a heck of a golfer too!  

   

Space, The Final Frontier

     Don't worry, I am drinking my first cup of coffee for the morning and I am lucid. I even put the dishes in the dishwasher and started it. I have energy to burn right now. After I post I will do my exercises and make the day count. How I don't know, but it does sound good, doesn't it? King Kong says hi by the way.
     As I said in yesterday's post, I set up my office. All the pictures are up, nic-nacs are on their shelves waiting to be dusted and the furniture is set where I want it.  Don't worry, I am fighting very hard the call of the recliner I have in my office to take a break, not yet.
      Even though this house is four bedroom and has more square footage than the house in Fresno the bedrooms are smaller. The master bedroom is huge but the other bedrooms are smaller.  My office is about 2-3 feet shorter in wall space. Question was, where do I put my beloved stuff?
     Denise said that I would never get all my stuff in and the wall hangings up.  Oh ye of little faith, watch me. The furniture is in, including the recliner, table chair and new book case. My nic nacs have a new home, although they have been rearranged slightly.  I didn't loose a travel coffee mug or a drinking tankard.  Wow, I'm good.  I had to go vertical on the wall hangings and spread them out, but they all fit.
     Everything is up.  Denise is always amazed when I pull something off like this. My "Dogs Playing Poker" is up as I said yesterday, and my "Two Lovers In A New York Bar" panels are also up. "Two Lovers In A New York Bar" is two particular paintings and present a challenge because they are two paintings which need to be hung right by each other at the same height no further apart than two inches, not to mention both need to be level. This is quite a feat. So is hanging "The Dogs".  Bottom line is, I did it.  I know most of the hangings are not exactly level, but the wall is crooked.  OK, that's not necessarily true but I had to come up with some sort of explanation. How about I have one leg shorter than the other so I don't stand level.
     Where's that recliner?

I don't have any of my pictures of New York. How about St. Louis instead?

   

Catchin' Up

     Just like General Mac Arthur, I have returned. It has been a long time, I know, and many of you I have disappointed as you miss my humor and witty comments. My posts make your day and if I don't post your day is not the same. I also have to come to grips with the majority of you don't care that I was gone.  That's OK too. At any rate, I thought I would catch you up on what has happened since November.
     It has been an eventful few months. I wish I could say that I have lived out a Country and Western song, but that would not be true. There were no trains, guns, prison stints, whiskey related bar stories, dead dogs, swimmin' holes, pickup trucks, cowboys or cheating ex wives.
     Wait a minute, that is not exactly true either.  After further review--this is almost the end of football season afterall, and I like it when they do an instant replay when the officials come back and say, "after further review'" so I am going to say that here--there were trains and pickup trucks. We moved from the huge megalopolis of Fresno to a small town north of Fresno called Merced. Anywhere in Merced you are near the train tracks and can hear them rumble through town at all hours. When we moved here from Fresno, we borrowed a Dodge Ram Diesel pickup truck to haul a U-haul trailer.

King Kong in happier days.

That's kind of country, isn't it, both the pickup and the U-Haul trailer? By the way, I didn't get to drive the truck. There was even a cheatin' ex wife, but I won't go into details here.
     What did happen?  Moved to Merced, Dad died, some family issues with step-children and my own children, worked on the book that I am co-authoring, sang in our church's Christmas program, had a run-in with a golf pro, picked up a new commercial client, worked on the group cruise I am putting together, and landed in the hospital for five days due to congestive heart failure. Did I mention we moved to Merced? It was quite an eventful few months.  I only played golf twice. What is this world coming to?
     I am writing again, the fact that I am posting my blog today is testament to that fact. We have moved and I am in my new office which is almost put back together. King Kong is looking down on me and my priceless "Dogs Playing Poker" poster is in front of me giving me inspiration. My coup collection made the trip safely and I am in my nest. The rest of the house is a mess, but my space has been resurrected. All is well with the world.