Stayed up til 1:30am or so this morning drinking margaritas and talking with GI Joe, who surprised us with a visit yesterday morning.
This is always excellent.
Getting ready to head out and spend time with the rest of the family, as well. Everybody is thrilled to death! Can't keep secrets too long around here.
The subject matter at hand was hate. How it occurs, why it occurs and what to do about it.
I guess in a war situation this is important to understand.
Hate is different from anger. Anger can turn to hate if fostered long enough, but mostly hate is taught.
He gave me a lot to think about, that is for sure.
I've missed him and I am very grateful that he got to get here for a visit.
Life just doesn't get any better than this.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Queen Of Procrastination
That would be me. I'm the queen of a lot, but these days procrastination seems to top the list.
I'm told they make meds for that but I have procrastinated getting to the doc, even.
Right now I am procrastinating going to the grocery store and getting some things to go with supper tonight.
We can blame it on the Texas heat. Good lord it is hot here. Not that I am complaining. There should be a saying...if you can't take the heat, get out of Texas.
Of course, I might be whining a tad if we didn't have air-conditioning. And you know I got that sucker turned down as far as is feasibly possible.
Yesterday, it was down to the local ice cream shop to meet with a fella to discuss ways to get more people into our local American Legion.
That was actually a success considering in 6 weeks I've only come up with 2 ideas. Again, that procrastination. I forgot all about it. Hell, I almost forgot to meet with him in the 3 hours I had to remember.
All of said ideas had a lot to do with me sitting in the air conditioning and updating a web site.
Volunteered the kids to make the posters for the 4th of July parade.
Anyway, looking at another trip to the big city real soon to hook up with an old high school buddy of the Senior Chief's. That ought to be fun, too.
Never a dull moment around here, that's for sure.
I'm told they make meds for that but I have procrastinated getting to the doc, even.
Right now I am procrastinating going to the grocery store and getting some things to go with supper tonight.
We can blame it on the Texas heat. Good lord it is hot here. Not that I am complaining. There should be a saying...if you can't take the heat, get out of Texas.
Of course, I might be whining a tad if we didn't have air-conditioning. And you know I got that sucker turned down as far as is feasibly possible.
Yesterday, it was down to the local ice cream shop to meet with a fella to discuss ways to get more people into our local American Legion.
That was actually a success considering in 6 weeks I've only come up with 2 ideas. Again, that procrastination. I forgot all about it. Hell, I almost forgot to meet with him in the 3 hours I had to remember.
All of said ideas had a lot to do with me sitting in the air conditioning and updating a web site.
Volunteered the kids to make the posters for the 4th of July parade.
Anyway, looking at another trip to the big city real soon to hook up with an old high school buddy of the Senior Chief's. That ought to be fun, too.
Never a dull moment around here, that's for sure.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Thoughts on Self Sufficiency
I think many of us agree that the United States is in big trouble.
We depend upon too many other countries for things we need to survive. We depend upon China for too many things, and this isn't even getting into oil.
I think many of us agree that we need to drill for our own oil. We all know that jobs would definitely be provided.
That is one obvious example of what we need to do to obtain some self sufficiency as a nation.
Another way, which is less talked about and I'm really not sure how many people know about it...is the mining of rare earth minerals.
They are in everything. Lightbulbs, magnets, hybrid cars, television screens, nuclear reactors, computers, cell-phones, x-rays, television screens.
The list goes on.
Every piece of technology that you own uses these rare earth minerals.
Right now China holds the monopoly on rare earth minerals, with more than 95% share of the global market. This is bad. Especially since they announced last year that they have decided to restrict quotas and raise prices.
It was once thought that the only source of these minerals was in China.
Recently however, there have been a couple of deposits found right here in the US, in Nebraska and in California. Canada also has a deposit as well as other places in the world. There has also been a huge deposit found in the Pacific Ocean.
Again, we need to mine these minerals and start producing our own electronics. This, I'm sure would help the economy immensely.
Changing the president isn't going to change the economy. The President changing how we do business is going to be what it takes.
We cannot continue to be dependent upon other countries for the essential things that we need. We need to start producing for ourselves.
If we don't, then the economy will never recover. There are sources for legitimate job production that exist. It is time.
Remember "Buy American"? That definitely applies today. Maybe it should be "Produce American."
We depend upon too many other countries for things we need to survive. We depend upon China for too many things, and this isn't even getting into oil.
I think many of us agree that we need to drill for our own oil. We all know that jobs would definitely be provided.
That is one obvious example of what we need to do to obtain some self sufficiency as a nation.
Another way, which is less talked about and I'm really not sure how many people know about it...is the mining of rare earth minerals.
They are in everything. Lightbulbs, magnets, hybrid cars, television screens, nuclear reactors, computers, cell-phones, x-rays, television screens.
The list goes on.
Every piece of technology that you own uses these rare earth minerals.
Right now China holds the monopoly on rare earth minerals, with more than 95% share of the global market. This is bad. Especially since they announced last year that they have decided to restrict quotas and raise prices.
It was once thought that the only source of these minerals was in China.
Recently however, there have been a couple of deposits found right here in the US, in Nebraska and in California. Canada also has a deposit as well as other places in the world. There has also been a huge deposit found in the Pacific Ocean.
Again, we need to mine these minerals and start producing our own electronics. This, I'm sure would help the economy immensely.
Changing the president isn't going to change the economy. The President changing how we do business is going to be what it takes.
We cannot continue to be dependent upon other countries for the essential things that we need. We need to start producing for ourselves.
If we don't, then the economy will never recover. There are sources for legitimate job production that exist. It is time.
Remember "Buy American"? That definitely applies today. Maybe it should be "Produce American."
Twenty First Century
I joined the twenty first century and finally got a smart phone.
I have NO idea what took me so long. Must be age. I hate that when you get older you don't try new things because they old way has worked well enough this long. I'd like to say that I refuse to be that way, but I didn't get the newest model of smart phone...they don't even have 4G out here and they aren't likely to for awhile, so I went with the 3G one.
The thing that makes me laugh my ass off is that I only paid 96 cents for it. I bet some of y'all got that sucker brand new for a couple of hundred bucks.
I watched tv on it last night...just because I could.
I think it just made my kindle obsolete, which kind of sucks. However, I can read at night now without disturbing the Senior Chief, which is bonus.
To say that I absolutely love my phone would probably be an understatement.
Life is good.
I have NO idea what took me so long. Must be age. I hate that when you get older you don't try new things because they old way has worked well enough this long. I'd like to say that I refuse to be that way, but I didn't get the newest model of smart phone...they don't even have 4G out here and they aren't likely to for awhile, so I went with the 3G one.
The thing that makes me laugh my ass off is that I only paid 96 cents for it. I bet some of y'all got that sucker brand new for a couple of hundred bucks.
I watched tv on it last night...just because I could.
I think it just made my kindle obsolete, which kind of sucks. However, I can read at night now without disturbing the Senior Chief, which is bonus.
To say that I absolutely love my phone would probably be an understatement.
Life is good.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Ya know....
I was going to write a blog post. But Live From Daryl's House is on, so I changed my mind. Y'all have a great Friday!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Food and Pets
We all have to eat. I, personally, like to eat.
While there isn't an abundance of fast food places out here in the country, there are many, many places to eat.
You'll just be driving along and in the middle of nowhere is a place to eat.
Sometimes, they are only open on weekends. Some of them are just intriguing, as well.
I mean really...what on earth do catfish and burgers have in common? There is a place out in the middle of nowhere that says "Catfish and Burgers" right on the front of it. Definitely going there to eat.
There is a place in town called Brewbakers. It's supposed to be a pub, and I think there IS a pub in there somewhere, but in all reality, it is a cake shop.
It says pub right on the outside window, but I'll be damned if I can find one.
The make a hell of a patty melt, though. I was going to try the reuben, but I was afraid since the Irish Pub down in Gainesville makes the best damn reuben I've ever had. Besides, I'm not a big fan of corned beef.
Did I mention that we got a wee kitten? I think I did in another post. Our cat that we've had since 2006, we brought with us. The Senior Chief's sister kept her safe for the three months it took us to find a place and then a week after we move in, she disappeared. It made me sad. I still miss her.
Well, the weekend of the rodeo, the local shelter had a big ol' yard sale. Goodness, but there's no lack of yard sales around here, that's for sure. Anyway, in this cage, they had some wee kittens. Barely 8 weeks old. One of them picked us.
My daughter named him Felix, and boy howdy, he sure is a hoot. He wakes me up every morning at 6:30 jumping on my head and playing. He has a real bad habit of running under people's feet, though.
One morning Yabu Jr. was in the kitchen making some breakfast and I hear...."Oh God" and a squeal from the cat. It went on and on. Then he says..."Mom, I stepped on the cat." I thought for a minute it was just his foot or something.
Oh hell no, my life couldn't be that easy. He stepped on his stomach. I swear to the Maker that I never want to experience something like this again. It was awful.
I think it just knocked the breath out of him, however. In a few minutes, he seemed to be fine, but tired. Later, he began playing a very little again. Whew.
The next day we took him to the vet and got him his shots and some deworming medicine. That made him not feel very well at all.
As long as he was hollering for his food, I felt like it was all good....which it was, thank God. That boy would have never forgiven himself if he had killed that kitten. You'd have thought the little devil would have learned, but he didn't. He still runs under your feet when you're in the kitchen.
As a matter of fact, anybody who is in the kitchen is his very best friend. Ha! Ha!
I wanted to name him Diablo, but my daughter was having none of that. He's a fairly typical little kitten, but we love him.
Next is a puppy. That won't happen for another couple of weeks, though. I have decided that since I'm the one staying home with them and providing the majority of the care once school starts, that I am the one that gets to choose the animal. Or rather, I will let the animal choose me.
Anyhoo, I have a stack of dishes to do, so y'all have a nice day.
While there isn't an abundance of fast food places out here in the country, there are many, many places to eat.
You'll just be driving along and in the middle of nowhere is a place to eat.
Sometimes, they are only open on weekends. Some of them are just intriguing, as well.
I mean really...what on earth do catfish and burgers have in common? There is a place out in the middle of nowhere that says "Catfish and Burgers" right on the front of it. Definitely going there to eat.
There is a place in town called Brewbakers. It's supposed to be a pub, and I think there IS a pub in there somewhere, but in all reality, it is a cake shop.
It says pub right on the outside window, but I'll be damned if I can find one.
The make a hell of a patty melt, though. I was going to try the reuben, but I was afraid since the Irish Pub down in Gainesville makes the best damn reuben I've ever had. Besides, I'm not a big fan of corned beef.
Did I mention that we got a wee kitten? I think I did in another post. Our cat that we've had since 2006, we brought with us. The Senior Chief's sister kept her safe for the three months it took us to find a place and then a week after we move in, she disappeared. It made me sad. I still miss her.
Well, the weekend of the rodeo, the local shelter had a big ol' yard sale. Goodness, but there's no lack of yard sales around here, that's for sure. Anyway, in this cage, they had some wee kittens. Barely 8 weeks old. One of them picked us.
My daughter named him Felix, and boy howdy, he sure is a hoot. He wakes me up every morning at 6:30 jumping on my head and playing. He has a real bad habit of running under people's feet, though.
One morning Yabu Jr. was in the kitchen making some breakfast and I hear...."Oh God" and a squeal from the cat. It went on and on. Then he says..."Mom, I stepped on the cat." I thought for a minute it was just his foot or something.
Oh hell no, my life couldn't be that easy. He stepped on his stomach. I swear to the Maker that I never want to experience something like this again. It was awful.
I think it just knocked the breath out of him, however. In a few minutes, he seemed to be fine, but tired. Later, he began playing a very little again. Whew.
The next day we took him to the vet and got him his shots and some deworming medicine. That made him not feel very well at all.
As long as he was hollering for his food, I felt like it was all good....which it was, thank God. That boy would have never forgiven himself if he had killed that kitten. You'd have thought the little devil would have learned, but he didn't. He still runs under your feet when you're in the kitchen.
As a matter of fact, anybody who is in the kitchen is his very best friend. Ha! Ha!
I wanted to name him Diablo, but my daughter was having none of that. He's a fairly typical little kitten, but we love him.
Next is a puppy. That won't happen for another couple of weeks, though. I have decided that since I'm the one staying home with them and providing the majority of the care once school starts, that I am the one that gets to choose the animal. Or rather, I will let the animal choose me.
Anyhoo, I have a stack of dishes to do, so y'all have a nice day.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Birthdays, Rodeos, and Weddings
What do they all have in common? Well, all are a party, in a sense. And goodness knows, all of us in these parts are actually a little tired of partying, but we still have a few more to go.
It all kicked off with the memorial service. I'm hear to tell you that if you ever find yourself at a memorial service where afterwards is mandatory margaritas, then you know you're with some folks that like to have a good time. How lucky am I?
The next weekend happened to mark mine and The Senior Chief's anniversary. Seventeen years! We marked it by going to Billy Bob's.
Oh but wait, I am getting ahead of myself.
The weekend between the memorial and the anniversary, was a local, hometown rodeo.
It was a blast! Those animals were so awesome. Being as how The Senior Chief is now working for a ranch equipment manufacturer, it was interesting from a technical standpoint as well. I just want to know how stuff works. I think it's cool.
The bleachers were a bit scary though. The Senior Chief saved a kid from falling in between. The folks that grew up here didn't seem bothered by them at all. I just hope we don't have to have an accident to get people to look at them.
I also got suckered into a baby kitten, barely 8 weeks old that same weekend. I sure love that little devil, but he's been a bit of a chore. He has this habit of attacking people's feet. He unfortunately attacked Yabu Jr.'s feet one morning and got stepped on. That is something I never want to experience again. I thought for sure for a minute he was a goner. But he recovered and is as ornery as ever and cute as the dickens.
Just as an aside...it sure is windy here in East Texas. And it's not ordinary wind either. I'm thinking about running a rope from the house to the garage so I can get there without blowing away some days. I ain't even lying.
Then we go to Billy Bob's for our anniversary. It was fun, we had a pretty good time and I actually shot one halfway decent game of pool of all the ones we played. There was a band, and the main feature was somebody I didn't recognize. The guys they had before that were impressive. There was a guy playing the guitar that had no arm. And he was playing the hell out of that guitar, too.
I wore some short shorts, a matching tank top, and of course my cowboy boots. I've had those boots for 17 years. The Senior Chief bought them for me on our very first trip to Texas after we got married. We've been planning on going to Billy Bob's for at least that long, but when we were visiting, it was never in the works.
The day after, was our great-nephew's graduation. That was fun, as well. The best part was when they told the graduates to go get a single rose and present it to the person who had the most influence in their lives. The whole entire family was there to see him graduate, darn near, and there were only 4 men of the group represented. There was no way he could have picked any of those women without causing a ruckus. And then there was a ruckus amongst the women because there wasn't a ruckus. I'm not really involved in all that but it sure is fun to have front row seats.
We got exactly 2 days rest and then my number 4 son, the one who's studying to be a minister, came to visit from Georgia. I was worried a little about him making the drive, but he did fine.
He only got to spend the weekend pretty much, though. He was a big hit at church, of course.
Let's see, yesterday was Yabu Jr.'s 14th birthday which we celebrated on Saturday because his brother was here. Now it is Tuesday and I'm exhausted. Kids go to camp at the end of the week and it should be quiet enough to put some fiction I've been working on up here.
A very Happy Birthday to my anonymous commenter who gives me the little kick in the ass I need to finish one of these posts and actually publish it. .
It all kicked off with the memorial service. I'm hear to tell you that if you ever find yourself at a memorial service where afterwards is mandatory margaritas, then you know you're with some folks that like to have a good time. How lucky am I?
The next weekend happened to mark mine and The Senior Chief's anniversary. Seventeen years! We marked it by going to Billy Bob's.
Oh but wait, I am getting ahead of myself.
The weekend between the memorial and the anniversary, was a local, hometown rodeo.
It was a blast! Those animals were so awesome. Being as how The Senior Chief is now working for a ranch equipment manufacturer, it was interesting from a technical standpoint as well. I just want to know how stuff works. I think it's cool.
The bleachers were a bit scary though. The Senior Chief saved a kid from falling in between. The folks that grew up here didn't seem bothered by them at all. I just hope we don't have to have an accident to get people to look at them.
I also got suckered into a baby kitten, barely 8 weeks old that same weekend. I sure love that little devil, but he's been a bit of a chore. He has this habit of attacking people's feet. He unfortunately attacked Yabu Jr.'s feet one morning and got stepped on. That is something I never want to experience again. I thought for sure for a minute he was a goner. But he recovered and is as ornery as ever and cute as the dickens.
Just as an aside...it sure is windy here in East Texas. And it's not ordinary wind either. I'm thinking about running a rope from the house to the garage so I can get there without blowing away some days. I ain't even lying.
Then we go to Billy Bob's for our anniversary. It was fun, we had a pretty good time and I actually shot one halfway decent game of pool of all the ones we played. There was a band, and the main feature was somebody I didn't recognize. The guys they had before that were impressive. There was a guy playing the guitar that had no arm. And he was playing the hell out of that guitar, too.
I wore some short shorts, a matching tank top, and of course my cowboy boots. I've had those boots for 17 years. The Senior Chief bought them for me on our very first trip to Texas after we got married. We've been planning on going to Billy Bob's for at least that long, but when we were visiting, it was never in the works.
The day after, was our great-nephew's graduation. That was fun, as well. The best part was when they told the graduates to go get a single rose and present it to the person who had the most influence in their lives. The whole entire family was there to see him graduate, darn near, and there were only 4 men of the group represented. There was no way he could have picked any of those women without causing a ruckus. And then there was a ruckus amongst the women because there wasn't a ruckus. I'm not really involved in all that but it sure is fun to have front row seats.
We got exactly 2 days rest and then my number 4 son, the one who's studying to be a minister, came to visit from Georgia. I was worried a little about him making the drive, but he did fine.
He only got to spend the weekend pretty much, though. He was a big hit at church, of course.
Let's see, yesterday was Yabu Jr.'s 14th birthday which we celebrated on Saturday because his brother was here. Now it is Tuesday and I'm exhausted. Kids go to camp at the end of the week and it should be quiet enough to put some fiction I've been working on up here.
A very Happy Birthday to my anonymous commenter who gives me the little kick in the ass I need to finish one of these posts and actually publish it. .
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