Milk gravy on biscuits and other food for thought

Duffer Divots

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:10:08 -0400

Just before the U.S. Open Golf tournament began, there was plenty of concern expressed by commentators for the falling numbers of Golf event viewers. Then, during the broadcast of the Open Tournament, the events share of the TV viewing market shot up higher than it had ever been. Seems everyone wanted to see a wounded Tiger get defeated. Those who care about such things know....it did not happen.

What did happen shortly after the tournament ended was Tiger let it be known that he would not play any more this year because he was going to have more surgery on his bad knee. I could almost feel the public interest in what is believed to be the most boring type of television broadcast available waning to record lows with that revelation.

THEN...I heard reported that someone thinks that Tiger not being able to play in the up-coming Ryder Cup matches IS a good thing. I had to give that suggestion some serious thought.

Could it be that Tiger Woods brings out the best in the opposition's level of play?

If that is true than Tiger must certainly be the best thing to come into professional golf since the first man picked up a crooked stick and used it to hit a rock toward a burrowing animal's den back in the stone age.

YEP! We are gonna miss Tiger until he returns. I hope it is soon.

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QUESTION needing an answer - HELP

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:25:35 -0400

S4300130

See this plant?

Actually there are four separate plants of the same type in this planter which is hanging on our fence.

When I planted them, they had little information tags on them, but being the genius I am, knowing I would never have need to know its name, I discarded said cards.

People have shown lots of interest in them, desiring to purchase some for their own gardens or yards.

I've done lengthy searches on-line trying to fine out what they are called and had no luck at all.

Can any of you tell me what it is called?

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A gathering of predators with blood in the water

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:31:51 -0400

I seldom write anything to do with golf. That's because so few people I know out here have any interest in it. Some of them believe it's not a sport at all; something akin to fishing or curling, etc.

This weekend I was glued to my TV whenever the 108th U.S. Open Golf Tournament was being telecast.

Tiger Woods was making his first appearance after left knee surgery and two months of recuperating. It was clear that he was not one hundred percent physically capable of playing anything like his "A" Game. His competition was ready; ready to take full advantage of any weakness he displayed...or so they thought.

I read somewhere that there is nothing more dangerous than a wounded Tiger. I believe we saw ample evidence that the stated fact is true.

In this old Duffer's opinion, anyone who could beat Tiger in this tournament would have little to brag about considering how much his handicap detracted from his regular play.

But even in Tiger's condition, very few of the other top players stepped up to challenge him in his attempt to win his fourteenth major golf tournament. One by one they succumbed to the Tiger's charge and fell under the onslaught.

It took a rehabilitated Rocco Mediate to give Tiger any lasting challenge at all. A 45 year old, scarred and tested old warrior who only last year was battling a bad back while trying to get back into competitive shape and represent his generation within the ranks of the new, young hopefuls who would become tomorrow's super-stars on the golf circuit before he turned 50 and went to play on The Senior Tour.

The talking heads will give their best efforts in trying to describe the Tiger's mystique and growing legend but they will need to learn another language to do it for they have run out of English words that might do an adequate job of it.

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Friday the 13th really is unlucky I'm discovering

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:39:07 -0400

Maureen and I went to the movies Friday. I'm not normally superstitious about Friday the 13th...still, there's nothing wrong with playing it safe. If that belief doesn't get you, Murphy of Murphy's Law certainly will. I despise Murphy.

We've been wanting to see "The Happening" ever since we saw the first trailers on TV. I should have suspected it was too good to be true. Various actors that are performing in the movie have been making the rounds of the talk shows on TV. They were out plugging their latest movie but would not actually talk about what its all about.

WELL! NO WONDER!

That's because it isn't about anything and not worth the cost of making it.

Maureen and I have never been so disappointed in a movie.

They named it "The Happening."

Everyone who watches it will be left asking "What Happened!"

Nobody knows. Neither will you if you bother to watch it.

It's a mystery on the same level as asking "Where does my lap go when I stand up?"

You've been forewarned.

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A favorite kind of surprise

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:27:23 -0400

I certainly appreciate it whenever any movie surprises me.

I had heard little about this one from any of the critics.

Tuesday I went to the video store and ended up renting six DVDs.

"The Bucket List" was one of that six.

I had seen the trailers for The Bucket List on TV several times.
That resulted in my having an opinion about it that was based on insufficient information.
I believed I was going to be watching a full-blown comedy about preparing to die.
I suppose that would make it a "Dark Comedy."

It was so much more than that.
It was so well done in all aspects, I expect it to win a few awards when all is said and done.

Maureen, Gail and I all agreed...it is one of those movies that many people will purchase and add to their collections of movie "Greats." I know it is one that we will purchase for ours. It will sit right next to my copy of "Dances with Wolves."

If you are one who appreciates a movie that has the power to touch you and restore your faith in humanity...you will love this one.

Now that I've said that, I will go on-line and see what some others think of it. I am prepared to be disagreed with.

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Biggest and best

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:00:19 -0400

Largest Rose ever

I've been trying to grow roses on my property for almost twenty years now. It wasn't until two years ago that we found a variety that rewarded all the effort.

This rose is not only the largest one I've ever laid eyes on but the fragrance it radiates is better than the bloom is big.

Everything about these roses is special, even the color. It's so vivid it practically hurts one's eyes to stare at it for very long, especially close up. It's not pink or coral or salmon. It's a combination of all those colors and more.

Here's a few more pictures of the flowers we have growing in our back yard this year.

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It's never too late to learn something

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:28:27 -0400

Sunday morning I used some of my precious gasoline to drive down to Grant County Park for our traditional family gathering. I did something I haven't done in a long time...I got there early. Early is around eleven o'clock. I also did another "first" when it comes to my family gathering habits; I stayed very late - late for me anyway. It was after five o'clock when I said my goodbyes and headed for home.

Something else I learned is that I like being the center of attention. Hmmmm! I wonder what that says about me? Someone suggested that it's because I don't get to talk much at home so when I get the opportunity I take full advantage of it. I have calculated, using my limitless logic, that Someone might have hit the nail right on the head with that comment. I arrived at that conclusion because I seem to do the same thing when I am visiting with Bob and Sharon. They know who they are and Sharon will be the one likely to read this entry.

What I was surprised to learn is that I can still tell a good joke. I had to brush off a thick layer of dust and expose them to the light of day once more in order to remain entertaining and the center of attention. The laughs just kept coming, some of them so vigorous they were life threatening to my Sister Phyllis, who has acute asthma. She laughed loudest and longest, even during the telling of one. She was laughing so hard she actually missed the punch line to the joke. I repeated it for her and she shared another belly laugh with us. She's one of those folks everyone likes to hear laugh.

I knew someone was bound to bring up politics. I wish they hadn't. It was revealed to myself to some of my siblings consider Barrack Obama to be The Anti-Christ. And, that same morning, my sweet wife prophesied that if Obama is elected as President, he will not complete his term in office due to being assassinated. I had no idea that my wife was a rascist, redneck.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and Monday holiday.
God Bless our troops. May they all return home safely....SOON.

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Another adventure in My World

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:32:30 -0400

Idle hands are the Devil's weapons of opportunity.

Busy hands belonging to an untrained but highly experienced sidewalk mechanic are Murphy's playthings.

Wednesday morning, as I finished off my second cup of coffee while trying to determine what chore was most deserving of my considerable efforts, I realized that this was one of those rare days when nothing pressing was demanding my immediate attention. What would I do with my time then? It was supposed to start raining at some point in time today.

I know!...My old riding mower barely made it back to the storage shed the last time I used it. I suppose I could see what I could do to give it a little more pep. That mower must be something like fifteen years old now and other than regular maintenance such as oil changes, new spark plugs, keeping the blade sharp, replacing broken or worn out belts a couple times; replacing the two front tires was the only repair I couldn't do myself during that time.

I got my tools and started checking things out. I removed the spark plug and it looked like it could use a replacement. Removed the air filter and it also needed changing. I could barely see parts of the carburetor that were not concealed by oil soaked dust and grass debris. The adjusting screws had never been touched by me. If there's one thing I've learned over the years it is that I am not good with carburetors. If I turn an adjustment screw on one it is sure to be turned in the wrong direction and I can never seem to get it back to where it was or make a positive difference in the performance of the engine it was fueling.

It may be a while before I need to use this mower again so now would be the perfect time to have the carburetor cleaned and rebuilt by a professional.

The spark arrestor (or what passes for a muffler on a small engine) was blocking the screws I needed to remove so I took a 3/8 ratchet wrench to the 5/16 Hex Head bolts that were holding it on. Mr. Murphy was holding my hand as I proceeded. The first bolt loosened right away. I backed it out a couple turns....THEN it locked up. That happens a lot to any bolts used in high heat applications like exhaust fixtures. I changed directions and tightened it up again. I've had that help once in a while. Then, as I switched back to the remove direction, it made it to the same spot and tightened up again. My Dad used to say "If it don't fit...FORCE it!" If that doesn't do it...hit it with a hammer...it was probably broken already anyway. I'm not the man I used to be but evidently, I still have a little strength remaining in these flabby, old arms. I was only using a 3/8 ratchet wrench with a 1/2 socket on it...what's the chance that I'll get this bolt out if it doesn't want to come? I gave it one more try and suddenly the bolt was turning effortlessly. As I extracted it completely, that's when I saw that the threaded end of it had broken off in the hole.

MAN! They don't make bolts like they used to...I thought. Well! If it hadn't broken off, how would I ever have gotten the carburetor off this mower? I'll worry about getting the broken part of it out of the hole later. That's what I told myself then. In my mind I'm thinking "Perhaps one bolt will hold it on OK." I soaked it with Liquid Wrench spray in preparation for the inevitable task before me.

I drained the gas from the tank and used that for cleaning parts as I removed them. I finished the disassembly just before the rain drops started falling. I took the carburetor, air filter and spark plug with me to the mower repair shop just up the road. They COULD rebuild the carburetor for me; had to order the spark plug I needed but had the new air filter. I left everything there until they call me saying it was done. I would pick up and pay for it all later.

I don't know how long that will take but it will give some time to attempt to drill out and re-tap that bolt hole before I try to put it all back together again.

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Languishing in the "golden years"

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Sat, 03 May 2008 21:06:20 -0400

I was not aware of the exact time, nor can I be positively sure as to the day of the week; I can however assure you that the event which would follow in the next few minutes has been indelibly etched upon my faltering mental systems. I may not recall where I filed it but when I do rediscover it, it will stand out from most of the files associated with and included among the small number of such memorable events because the depth of the impression will appear so much deeper than any of the others.

We carried our own cups of freshly poured, piping hot coffee outside and sat down where we normally would around the glass-topped patio table. The retractable awning had been deployed all night long, preventing any possible dew from settling on the afore mentioned table or the chair cushions.

The sun had not yet peeped over the tree line in the distance or the horizon thousands of miles beyond that. It was pre-dawn but there was plenty of ambient light surrounding us.

Maureen lit up a cigarette, drew from it deeply, inhaled and exhaled the smoke into the slight breeze, which thankfully flowed in a direction away from myself. I don't try to get her to stop the harmful habit. She didn't treat me that way back when I was still smoking. I'm the same way about that as I have been with my own personal beliefs. I've been a Christian for 24 years now. She knows and accepts that fact. That's enough for me. I can only hope that she has been paying attention to how I've lived my life since then and that one day, she too will desire to ask Christ into her life as He wills it. I've convinced myself that He will deal with her directly in His own good time...not mine.

The coffee tasted wonderful. That first cup is so special. It has a purpose and it does it well. Slowly, we are becoming fully awake and aware of our surroundings. Few words are exchanged between us. We can hear one another taking deep breaths and enjoying the pure elation of simply being alive at such a time as this.

It was a beautiful spring day, all around us was the grandeur of God's creation. The sights, the sounds, the fragrances; "surely it doesn't get any better than this" was the thought that lingered in my own mind.

Then, suddenly, the faint, glowing orange rim of the rising sun appeared in the eastern sky. Both of us had noticed and remained silent because we didn't want to miss one tiny bit of the experience. Her voice was first to break the silence.

"During most of my working life, whenever I tried to imagine what it would be like to be retired; this is exactly how I imagined it would be."

I can't begin to explain how I felt at that moment. I can only say that I was somewhere beyond "Happy."

I pursued happiness just like our constitution assured me that I had the right to do. I pursued it until it caught up with me one day when I least expected it.

Maureen's words impacted me with the force of a sledgehammer striking a soft, lead plate. It left a circular crater with a raised rim. Truth rushed in and filled the sudden void the blow had caused and I sat back, relaxed and realized that at that moment in time, my world was a giant step closer to completeness.

That's all I've ever asked from life. To know that in some small way, I had contributed to the reaching of a life-long goal of someone I've loved more than myself for all these years.

As the sun continued to climb in the eastern sky, I turned to gaze upon my sweet bride and realized that she was now being bathed in the shining light of our golden years together.

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What life is REALLY like when one gets "OLD"

nobody@vox.com(Happy Pappy) — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:27:07 -0400

It has long been said that in the spring, a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love.

I am one that would agree with such thinking...at least as it applies to young men.

However, when one reaches a certain age, like 65 or more and I am now 67 going on to who knows when, my "fancy" still turns to thoughts of love but it's love for something other than the opposite sex.

Sure! I still love my younger wife. I love her as much now as I did on the day I first proposed to her but it's a different kind of love. I don't look at her and think of sex very much anymore because to do so always ends up with me being frustrated...not sexually but still emotionally which is sort of like it.

Thank God for a mind's ability to remember the good stuff from one's past. If it wasn't for my memory, when someone mentions SEX I'd just get this blank look on my face and ask "What's that?"

Alright! Enough of that. I've gone off on a tangent of some kind and got away from why I started writing this entry.

When I say that in the spring this old mind of mine turns to thoughts of love...it's love for the out-of-doors; love for being outside and doing stuff like working in the yard and gardening.

Though my fancy has changed, it still sounds kind of like love and sex.

For instance....I went out and bought myself a new "HOE" this year. That got me a little excited but not in the same way as sex once did.

Actually, my love for yard work and gardening is exactly why I haven't been posting very much of late. When one reaches my age there is only so much energy to work with. Energy is rationed out each day. Use up what you have in your tank and that's all there is until tomorrow. The rest of the time till then is spent laying down and resting, trying to recuperate and recharge the old battery.

Aleve, Advil or generic ibuprofen has become my best friends. If it were not for them, no amount of renewed energy could get this old, aching body up and moving the next day or two after an extended period of exertion outside, playing in the dirt.

Spring and new, growing grass and weeds wait for no man. It's either tend the lawn or have it rage out of control and require professional help to get it back in line. I can't afford professional help, not on our fixed income.

The extended drought last year took a terrible toll on our lawn. We couldn't afford to water it as often and as much as the dry, sunny conditions demanded. I just stopped looking at it and let nature do what it was determined to do. Doing that came at a high cost. Everything outside these four walls suffered because of it. Thanks to air conditioning; inside the house, we were cool and as comfortable as could be expected with the thermostat set at 78 degrees. At least we didn't turn brown, shrivel up and die like the growing plants did outside. We are getting there but it's taking longer than one growing season without enough water and too much sun to do it.

I tried to accomplish something out there each and every day. Some days it was quite a lot and others it was just "something" but it all counts in the end. I have managed to clean up all the dead stuff and planted grass seed. It was so bad, I had to resort to accepting help from a younger neighbor on our block who just happened to have a new "slit-seeding" machine...one that his father gave him for some reason. I tried to run that machine the day he was outside over-seeding his own lawn just to see if it was possible. He said he would let me borrow it if I could deal with it.

I could NOT. That machine kicked my butt and it didn't have to strain to do it. It was so heavy and the fact that my neighbor didn't have enough knowledge or experience to set it up properly didn't help the situation. Also, it did not come with a "User's Manual" for some reason. I wonder what his Dad did with it? I know I scared my neighbor when I just threw up my arms and got away from that monster of a machine and went to the middle of his driveway, bending over, placing my hands on my knees and started struggling for my next breath of air. I didn't think I was going to make it for a minute there. My neighbor agreed...something was definitely wrong. That machine should be that much work to use.

I suggested that it might help to set the slitting blades a little deeper, allowing the friction of them slicing through the soil to provide some traction to the forward movement of the machine as a whole. It did not have powered wheels of any kind. It depended on the operator and something else to move it along. I figured it must have been designed with the moving blades in mind for that purpose and it seems I was correct. I love it when I am right about something.

Even after that discovery, this old man was afraid to attempt doing all the work that needed to be done in this yard. I don't believe I hinted at all about my need for help. Let's just say my neighbor is a sensitive kind of guy with a quick mind and a passionate heart. He could see my problem and simply offered to do it for me if I wanted him to. So, that's how most of my yard got properly seeded. The smaller areas I did with my Mantis Roto-tiller and good, old fashioned manual labor spread out over several consecutive days and rest periods. Of course, I offered to pay him for his help and because of his current financial situation...he allowed me to. Thirty dollars is not much pay for all the work he did but it was the best I could do at the time.

So...there you have it. What my spring has been like...........So far. OH! It's not over with....not by a long shot. There will surely be more of my long-winded descriptions of what life is like for one that is up there in years and hasn't taken particularly good care of himself during that time.

I know it makes for boring reading. Thanks for reading and hearing me out.

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