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.

Here's my sweetheart. This is Macy or as my granddaughter used to call her Macy Facey. She has her own bedroom (otherwise known as the utility room) where she sleeps on a bed with a memory foam mattress and has a heater in cold weather (prevents the pipes from freezing) and air conditioning in hot weather (keeps the freezer from over heating) . It's a dogs' life.
I've got duty this weekend watching out for maintenance needs for Spinx's 85 stores throughout SC. It requires me to log in every 2 or 3 hours and handle any situations that pop up. I seldom go out myself anymore, I just have to dispatch other people to take care of the needs. All for now.

Here's one of my technicians ready for his morning service calls. The first time one of our techs, Tim, was down in a gasoline sump to replace a pump there was a short in a wire and the sump caught fire. Tim is a large guy but it took only microseconds for him to get out of the sump and appear on the sidewalk. In ten years at this job that was the only time I've ever known of a fire. Naturally, it happened to the new guy. That was also the fastest I've ever seen a person move. all for now

This is where I work. This was taken last week when it was 33 degrees. Today it was 68 and felt really fine. My window is the one between the bushes. We are in the process of instituting a new dispatch platform and the growing pains are really fierce.
Deborah and I will celebrate 38 years together this year, she said the other day that she would feel lost without me.....ditto. She is working on a 500 pc puzzle right now. That is the secret to our long marriage..her patience.
I refilled our bird feeder last week and the cardinals have really appreciated it. I will post pictures when I get them. I watched a frustrated squirrel last night trying to figure out how to get to it. Last year I shot 23 of the furry tailed rats in my yard.
I thought that when I inherited the property everything would be cherry. Taxes and insurance quickly put that thought to rest. Well, all for now.

This is the nerve center of our operation. I sit here most of every day. The best part is I don't have to get out in the weather, Today its snowing and 28 degrees and I'm in a heated office telling other people what to do. Fanfreakingtastic! The downside is that it is 31 miles to my home. In the snow. Just had a call from one of my guys that the roads near Travelors Rest were getting impossible so I'll have to ignore service tickets to that area unless they are "critical". In the background is a screen showing where all my trucks are in real time. GPS is great! Well, that is all for now.

well, here I go again. it's been a while since I posted. I am in a new job with the same company. I now handle all dispatching for the technicians. I also handle warehouse operations. Mom passed away a couple of years ago and I inherited all the property along with the taxes and insurance payments.

Twice this week I finished my day by driving home down Highway 11 also called the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway. It's a nice way to finish your day.
I had quite a week. I had to change a leak detector on a pump this week that really hard to change. Thankfully the calls were light this week and I was able to get one of the other guys to help me.
I visited Mom this week. She didn't recognise me and when I pressed her to tell me who I was she offered to "Slap your face."

We got our garden planted today. Looking forward to fresh veggies. We ate dinner out on the patio. When I went to unfold the chairs I found a birds nest with 4 little mouths looking up at me. I folded that one back up and left it alone. Above you can see what I face nearly every morning. Thanks for reading.

What a choice, gay or strait? Nothing is sacred in politics. Anyway I'm enjoying a lazy Sunday. I went to visit Mom this morning. She rambled quite a bit and told me she and several dead relatives had planted a garden. I can only imagine what kind of garden ghost plant. I'm getting ready to plant my own garden. Tilled the soil yesterday and got it ready to plant. We are going to plant tomatoes, squash, bell peppers, jalepenos, and cucumbers. Our garden is a raised bed 8' by 8'. It's not much but we have a vegetable stand next door to our house and a generous neighbor running it. We never lack for fresh vegetables in season. Our little side by side freezer is always stuffed with frozen vegetables.

DUCK!

Last year I had just passed the end of the runway at GSP when a twin engined plane hit the gaurdrails and crashed right beside the road. Now I look for airplanes every time I pass by there. It's bad enough to have to watch out for the crazy drivers out there now I have to drive defensively for aircraft.

ugly ones

I bet it's more like the other way around. Home again today. Worked on the old homestead. Youngest son is moving in but wants it just so before he does so. Stripped and varnished floor today. His wife said "wow".

Wyoming

Nope never been there but it looks like the people there have a sense of humor. I've been off today and worked in the yard all day. It was kind of like the Martin Mull song Normal. I spent all morning getting it going. Seems like everything I own needs to be repaired. Using my vacation days this week. I have to use em or lose em. Of course I'd much rather be at work(ha ha).

Nap time

I was going to work the remodel tonite but the youngest son is out of town and this is probably a good time for a nap. When he's home he brings the kids over and naps are out of the question. The older I get the more I enjoy a good nap. I like to get rested up before I go to bed.

new stuff

There's not a lot new. My youngest son and his family are remodeling our old home to live in. We're gonna have all our grandchildren living right next door. It's going to be real difficult to take a nap with 3 wild children running in and out. Oh well.

Been really busy lately.Mom has been in and out of the hospital with a broken hip and a broken knee. I've also been involved in several projects at work that require 13 hour days. The fun never stops.

Long time, no sea

We recently vacationed in Charleston, SC. We took our grandson along just to keep us from getting bored(and to make sure we wouldn't bring any money home). Here he is holding the Ravenel bridge up. thanks for reading.

Stone Mountain

The wife and I went to Stone Mountain in Ga. for the fourth. There were about 30 gazilion people there. We were with her brother and his significant other. Wall to wall people for about 9 hrs. What a day. I think the place would be a lot of fun on any day but the fourth.

Just coming off of a ten day vacation. Really dreading going back to work. Oh well, life goes on.

New Tattoo Parlor

My oldest opened his second shop last nite. I am very proud of him and wish him the very best.

I've really had a stressful couple of weeks lately and am looking forward to my vacation next week. I've got 10 days coming and might actually rest a little.

Mom is about the same and is going to be in the same place for the remainder of her days. She is on Medicaid now and we are relieved. I just wish I could afford to keep her at home but it's just not possible. She has to have 24 hr care and we can' t do that and work also. Alzheimers, the damnable desease.