Bar-b-que in January ? ? ?

You betcha, I realize I'm rushing the season but it got to 58 degrees today AND the Fairway store in Burlington had their T-bone steaks on sale! I just couldn't resist. I started out with a flannel shirt and no jacket. Before it was cooked I had to come in the house and slip on a jacket. I normally extend the season as long as possible, but I believe this is the first time I ever fired up the grill in JANUARY.

I've decided I owe Cindi an apology for "getting on her case" about not blogging. I've found out it's sometimes pretty hard to find anything to "blog" about!

I GOT PEOPLE

I recieved my last tax statement yesterday, so this morning I called H&R Block at 9:00. At 11:00, I was back home and waiting for my refund! I was surprised that I could get a "same day" appointment. I will have to say I was hoping for just a tad larger refund than I'll be getting. I didn't miss my estimate too bad.
We had a BEAUTIFUL day yesterday, today the temp. is dropping like a rock and it WINDY.

No new tire (YET)

I didn't achieve my goal today (of getting a new tire on my pickup). I went out about 10:oo this morning to take off the old one. I jacked up the pickup and removed the lug nuts. That is where the fun began.

I pulled, tugged, hammered, and pried - trying to get the wheel off. After two trips to Mt. Pleasant to try different ideas and drowning the hub with WD40, I went to Burlington and bought an eight pound sledge hammer and finally was able to get it knocked off...just about the same time Mt.Pleasant Tire was closing for the day. I DO have it ready to go the first thing in the morning!

A better day

I'm having a better day today. Yesterday was Linda's birthday. Jan.18th and Dec. 16th (Matt's birthday) are always days of feeling depressed, and wishing i could go back and do a lot of things differently. And wondering ' why not me instead of them!' I don't pretend to second-guess the Lord, but I can't understand why he chose to take them and leave me alive. I'm sure one day it will become clear why!

On top of that, I ran out of "puppy food" so I hopped in the pickup and headed to Wal Mart. En route I ran over something that cut into a tire. By the time I realized it wasn't just Ice dropping off, the tire was TOTALLY shredded. I had intended to replace the tires - but not quite yet! No more procrastinating - I WILL replace that tire!

Today has been much better, I went to Burlington (in the car) without incident! I picked up a 'decent' jack now tomorrow I have every intention of getting the pickup 'mobile'. The weather is even supposed to be a little more conducive to working outside.

I could have used that old HEE HAW song to describe yesterday, "Gloom, Despair, and Agony on me - Deep Dark Depression, Excessive Misery . . ."

Ending Hybernation !

I ended my "hibernation" today, going into Mt, Pleasant. That was the first time I'd left home for 4 days (too cotton-pickin' cold). Prior to leaving I observed 7 deer walk across my front yard, like they owned it! I would guess that was probably the first time out of the protection of the cedar trees in my pasture ground since it got so cold..

I never heard how cold it was in Mt.Pleasant Thursday night, But according to channel 6 in Davenport, it was colder in the Quad-cities than it was at the north or south pole! by 3 to 5 degrees! According to Moline Airport, a new record cold temp. was set, But officially, it was 1 degree short of setting a new record - I guess it depends on who you believe.

I had my waterline freeze, but I don't feel too bad about it. I talked to Adam Raub at Hy Vee today and was informed His NEW house had pipes freeze too. Today wasn't too bad - it got up to 31 degrees for a high today,and we got just a touch of snow this evening.

Attempt no. 2

This is of course my 2nd attempt at blogging. First problem was getting the "new blog" screen called up. Second is figuring what to talk about!

I went to visit Molly and Gerald this morning and attended church with Molly, Gerald wasn't feeling up to attending with us. Richland Church had a better attendance than I'd seen in the last few times I attended. I was impressed by Pastor Mike's grandchildren and "Mandy". Mandy is a collie dog that attends with her owner and "announces her arrival" with a couple low volume "Woofs" when she enters the church, then lies quietly at the end of the pew that her owner occupies until the service is over then greets everyone to be petted and talked to! I was surprised when I first saw her but she is fully accepted by all the members of the congregation.

After the service, I had a real nice time chatting with Pastor Mike, swapping stories about the late Rev. Billie Joe Connell (The preacher that married me and Linda). Joe was Pastor at Knox City (Mo.) and a co-worker with me at the I.A.A.P.

Molly, Gerald, and I then went to the "Main Street Diner" for dinner, I was not impressed with them - mediocre food and very expensive! We all MISS "Keith's Cafe"! Memphis will be hard-pressed to come up with a restaurant as good as Keith's was!

One more comment: THANK YOU Cindi for making my first blog more interesting by adding the pictures. I decided I should ALWAYS wear a hat, those pictures showed how bald I'm have gotten!

Happy New Year

I had a FANTASTIC birthday and New Year. I arrived in Chicago wednesday evening via Am Trak and was met by Mike and taken to their apartment where (as you have read on Cindi's blog), I collapsed well before 'ringing in the new year.'


The next morning, Mike and I (Cindi passed in favor of recuperation) had a great breakfast a IHOP . Later in the day, we were joined in our visit by Sarah J and Lyric ( Mike's 3 year old sweetheart) I was well entertained by Lyric - coloring with her and being amazed by the how far she can count and she knows all the letters.

I sat on the floor with her at the coffee table and enjoyed tacos - then I provided comical entertainment (unintentionally) in my effort to get back on my feet. I'm gonna have to learn the limitations of old age! I did have a wonderful time though.

I returned to Mt.Pleasant on Friday evening. Saturday, I "played Santa" delivering Christmas gifts to Caleb from Mike and Cindi then visited Molly and Gerald for the remainder of the day. Today I'm taking a R&R day. In fact I haven't left the house at all today.