Today is visit Nanny day. Deb's Mom is in a local LTC facility and we always visit on Friday afternoon. I hope she is in good spirits today. When she is upset or depressed it gets Debs down. Afterward we always go out to eat in Greenville. Friday night date night is something we have done for over 30 years. Even years ago when we were struggling financially we would at least go for a hot dog. Finding time for each other is one of the things that makes a marriage last.
    I had a pleasant surprise yesterday. Even though I had officially left my job the company paid me the annual bonus. I got home with almost a thousand dollars I wasn't expecting! I bought Debs tickets to Celtic Woman at the Peace Center in March. She said she could mark that off her  bucket list. I think I was more thrilled to be able to to that for her than she was to receive it!
    God has richly blessed me and continues to do so.
    I applied with NASA last night to be a guest at a cargo ship launch in April. They are looking for people who are active on social media and can give a personal look at what they do. I have never seen a launch in person even though I have followed the space program closely since I about ten years old. I was excited to see the confirmation of application in my Email this morning. They only choose 50 people and I'm sure there are thousands more qualified than I. Still, it's exciting just to be considered and to know that my name will be mentioned in a meeting somewhere.
    I have a friend on Facebook that I have missed lately. He lives in California and I'm going to message him this morning to make sure he hasn't been flooded out. He was a regular poster and it's really unusual for him too go several days without posting.

    Well, all for now, thanks for reading.

    I worked part time the first weeks of January. I had to buy Market Place Insurance for my wife and was advised by my insurance agent to quit work entirely. The insurance rates would go up if I continued. Basically I would be working just to pay for her insurance. So here I am depending entirely on SSA benefits. Fortunately I am in pretty good shape financially. Still. it's a shame that because of government regulations I can't afford to supplement my income.
    I've got to admit, though, that I have been pretty busy. I have started to reconnect with old friends and, in between rainy days, have done yard work long neglected. I also have taken over household chores that Debs doesn't have time for. Perhaps I will even learn to load the dishwasher to her satisfaction. My company still has my phone number and calls me occasionally for advice. I intend to have the best garden this year that I have ever had. When I think about being retired I often just start laughing out loud.
    I have a large reflector telescope I bought several years ago and now I have time to renew that old hobby. Fortunately nowadays there is a vast amount of stellar information free on the internet.
    Here is a picture of me on the last day of work as I turned in my van and tools.

Retired at last!

   I retired December 12, 2018. The first week I wondered what I would do to keep busy, now I wonder how I ever got anything done while I was working. Getting through all the SSA paperwork was a daunting task. I'm looking forward to warm weather so I can get outside and work in my yard.
   I went through a long illness the past two years and lost 35 lbs.. By the grace of God and good Doctors I am now in perfect health and can enjoy my retirement. I'll try to write here more often now. Thanks for reading!

      This is my sweetheart, Lucy. She is either partially deaf or very aloof. She has a routine of going outside each morning at 5:30 and hunting all day and then coming in at 2:30 in the afternoon when I get home and having a snack and a nap. She then goes back out until dark. She loves her Daddy and will generally take a nap on my lap till bedtime. Debs thinks I spoil her. She's just jealous.

 

Tis the season

     I saw this tree on the side of the road today. In all I saw three decorated trees on highway 80. Someone does this every year. In the background is the runway for Greenville Spartanburg International airport. 

      My youngest son called me today with a hot stock tip. This stock comes with an invitation to the annual shareholders meeting. The upshot is that you get to pick the brains of some of the greatest financial brains at the meeting. My son wants me to buy the stock and then let him use the invitation.

     I've been on Hulu and Netflix recently watching old sitcoms. My favorites are Frasier, Cheers, Newhart, Mr. Ed, and Dick Van Dyke. All for now, thanks for reading.

 

     This is my grandmother and all her children. The handsome man on the far right is my father. Simpler days.
     November 22, 1963 I was in the fifth grade and they let school out early. The principal got on our bus and announced that the President had been shot. I was confused and didn't really understand what he meant. Just like on 9/11 the world changed that day. Things haven't been the same since. The age of innocence was over.
     I am off today and tomorrow for Thanksgiving and I'm cooking the turkey in my smoker. Debs got Thursday and Friday. We can't have two Techs off at the same time so I have to work Friday. If you are travelling this holiday I wish you safe travels.
     All for now, if you are reading this please take the time to comment, sometimes I think no one reads and I would really appreciate your comments. Thank you.
    

 

     That just about covers it.
     Debs and I were both off today. We planted a bed of tulips and Debs cleaned house. Last night we went shopping for shoes. We couldn't find what we wanted at three different stores. We found the style we wanted but no one had our sizes. When I get through with this posting I'm gonna look at Amazon for shoes. I used to buy shoes by mail all the time.

      This has to be a government agency.
      I have the day off today and I'm spending it trying to get over a headache. If I get to feeling better I will do some chores around the house. I try to help Debs out as much as I can. She works full time and then has to go care for her mother before she comes home. Thanks for reading.

     Having serious problems at work. It's a shame when you want to just go to work each day and do your job and you  have to put up with someone who gets pleasure from constantly asserting their authority.
     The neighbors chickens are in my yard again. Last Spring they dug up my newly planted garden. Someday soon I'm going to have fried chicken.
     Am I in a mood? Yes, I guess I am.
     Tonight is Halloween. For 30 years we have always had hotdogs on Halloween. I think it started when the kids were young and we needed something quick and easy for Dinner. Anyway it got to be a tradition and we still have it every year. Debs has a recipe for chili and she follows that recipe religiously. I, however, am a dash of this and dab of that cook. Debs gets beside herself when she watches me throw together a meal by reading the recipe and then ignoring it. She always eats it, though and then usually compliments me on the taste. Well, anyway, I hope you all have a Bootiful evening!

 

 

     I remember Spring. It seems like only yesterday. Time flies when you are having fun.

     I saw something today that I couldn't believe. I noticed a pickup truck with two American flags flying from the tailgate and then saw the driver. A full size Panda bear was driving the truck. Whatever you saw today, I got you beat.

 

 

     This is my aunt Mavis, 92 years young with my grandson, Landen and my granddaughter, Chloe. they are the oldest and youngest in our family. Family is important to us as it is to many of you. They may judge you but they never forsake you.

     Fall is in the air, I used the heater in my truck for the first time this fall today. A girl I used to know said it didn't count if you couldn't see your breath. It counted this morning. The okra is about played out and the turnip greens are growing. The leaves are falling and I'm looking forward to cool evenings out on the patio with a fire in the fire pit.

    We recently travelled to Arkansas for a family reunion. 600 miles each way but worth it to see family we had not seen in a while. We stopped and visited Graceland in Memphis on the way. Everyone should make a visit to the home of the King of Rock and Roll. While in Ark we stayed in Searcy and met everyone at the Red Feather Ranch in Pangburn. Our thanks to my cousin, Bobby and his lovely wife Patrice.

    On a sadder note, we recently lost our little Macy. She was hit by a car and died instantly. Our cat, Lucy, sat by her grave and meowed pitifully the other night. Tm his cat, who rarely lets us pet her, would put up with the dog nibbling on her any time. Go figure.

    I'm still a technician working on gas pumps but I hope to retire next winter. More later.

   I got a double knee replacement 18 months ago and then left my comfy office job. Back on the road servicing gas pumps. I really enjoy the freedom on the road and really, really enjoy the lack of stress of the office job.
   We welcomed into the family a new addition last summer. She is solid black and of the feline persuasion. We named her Lucy. She was about six weeks old when she was found under a tree in our friends back yard. If she had been a boy we would have called her lucky. She enjoys hunting in the yard, eating and taking lots and lots of naps.
   My beloved bride has a birthday next week and I have to think of something special for her. Maybe Ill cook her a meal. No good, I already do that. Maybe Ill take her shopping. No good, I already do that. Oh well, Ill think of something. 

Statistics  finally caught up with  me Christmas Eve. I was travelling up I85 and ran into a wreck. I hit debris in the road and my air bag deployed. I lost control of my van and hit two other cars. I ended up slamming into the concrete barrier. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. I had bruised ribs from the seat belt and small friction burns on my hands from the air bag. I spent the rest of the day in doctors offices getting x-rayed and checked out. I've travelled that highway for 11 years without incident so I guess my luck finally ran out.