A very smart teenage girl told me and her dad one day that we were being foolish talking about a birthday being special. She said, "Every day is the same. You aren't getting a year older, you're getting a day older." Pretty wise for a pimply-faced teen. She did grow up to be a successful physician though, so I guess she had some degree of intelligence working for her even then.
Tomorrow will begin another year. In the words of pimply-faced teen it's just one more day in a continuing saga called life. Our family will gladly kiss 2012 goodbye and look forward to a more promising 2013. A lot of bad happened for us in 2012 and we hope things are better next year....tomorrow....one day later. Life isn't going to majically improve starting tomorrow unless we RESOLVE it so. So, right now I hereby resolve that 2013 will be better. I resolve to be happy in 2013. Life is not going to beat me down to the bloody, miserable glob I am right now. I will walk straight, without a limp. I will not groan every time I get out of my chair. I will not feel sorry for myself, no matter what happens. I'm going to be the Mr. Peppermint, Sunshine Boy, and Pilsbury Dough Boy all rolled into one. You are very welcome....enjoy.
Now, back to reality. I really am going to be a better person...unless Debbie keeps looking at puppies on the internet and saying, "OH, HOW SWEET. I THINK I WOULD REALLY ENJOY A BIGGER DOG." I'm sure you all remember the previous three disasters with pets and us. I'm going to take away her computer priviliges and insist she seek counseling if she dares try to talk me into another pet. I'm also going to be happy and helpful all year long unless Debbie doesn't take the posting off Craig's List for my beloved scooter. Why should I give up my scooter just because I fell off a ladder and broke my leg. That had nothing to do with the scooter. It shouldn't have to pay for my stupidity. She better back off is all I have to say.....in a kind and loving way.
I wish you all a very happy New Year. However, you will have to be the one to make it happen.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Buyer's Remorse
I didn't really want to buy another pickup. I have driven my little red truck for over ten years and planned to drive it into senility. This broken hip and leg caused me to rethink my plans though because I can't work the clutch in the truck without considerable pain. I don't like pain. A widow lady down the street decided to sell her late husband's Toyota Tacoma with an automatic transmission so in a moment of weakness I bought it. Now I have two old pickups sitting in my driveway. I'm really depressed. As much as I dislike pain, it in itself is not so bad compared to my misery in spending money. And, why is it a vehicle looks pretty darned good while you are looking at it in the neighbor's driveway and turns into a beat up old wreck in your own driveway....and no, Debbie hasn't driven it yet. I'm sure I'll feel okay toward the new old truck as soon as I sell the old old truck. Until then, I will be slightly nauseous and depressed every time I wander outside and see my fleet.
Today was beautiful. The sun was shining, the pain meds hadn't worn off, it was SATURDAY. Gracie was spending the weekend with us. I was in a great mood after spending the morning visiting parents. Then the pickup thing happened and as I was standing in the driveway coming to terms with my natural stupidity another neighbor yelled at me. "Hey Russ, what's up with all this water seeping up in your front yard? You got a leak or sumthin?" Stupid neighbor....
Today was beautiful. The sun was shining, the pain meds hadn't worn off, it was SATURDAY. Gracie was spending the weekend with us. I was in a great mood after spending the morning visiting parents. Then the pickup thing happened and as I was standing in the driveway coming to terms with my natural stupidity another neighbor yelled at me. "Hey Russ, what's up with all this water seeping up in your front yard? You got a leak or sumthin?" Stupid neighbor....
Friday, November 9, 2012
Thank you Thank you!!!
Wow, its been just one day and I already have FOUR followers!! Thank you Debbie, Monte, Terri, and Kitty!
Kitty, your photo does not do you justice. You might want to apply some makeup and give it another shot. Back when life was simple I started a Facebook page and added my photo. Many people responded on how much I resembled a young Troy Donohue. I can see how that mistake could happen so since then I don't bother to add my photo to anything I post. If you want to enjoy this pretty face you will just have to come visit me. Debbie can take a look at it any old time she wants to of course but the rest of you are welcome to visit any time....call first so I can hide the wine bottles Debbie leaves strewn about the front yard.
I have been sitting around this house since I was released from rehab back in September. I thought I would enjoy my unexpected retirement but its not all that great. Hobbling around on a walker limits the things I can do with all my free time. I can't drive my pickup because I can't work the clutch with this busted left leg. I can't ride my scooter for the same reason although even if I could Debbie has hidden the keys. I can't even dig a hole in the ground for Deb to plant the bushes she plans to sacrifice to next summer's heat and drought.
I planned to do something really significant during all this down time....I really did plan to try to publish my "book" and I had another in the works before the accident. I haven't touched it since then though and have lost all interest in working on it. I'm not sure I have ADHD since its never been diagnosed but...never mind, I forgot where I was going with that. Oh yeah, I had all kinds of worthwhile plans for my recovery time. I got word from the doc this week that I can go back to work a few hours a day toward the end of November. Did not do one thing on my list...not one. I didn't even polish my new dress shoes I bought for Jamie and Jennifer's wedding. I read about a hundred mystery novels and slept more than a human should be allowed. I did all my required exercises and built up my upper body strength. I'm not going to brag but I did overhear Debbie and the therapist talking about me the other day and the word "BUFF" was used more than once. I think it was buff....I hope it was buff.
I'm looking forward to going back to work. Its been nice having this time off to spend with my family but I'm not ready to slow down this much yet. I can't afford to slow down this much yet. I want to work another three or four years and officially retire. Maybe by then I will have figured out an ending to that second book and maybe I'll have enough money to have an actual hobby. I am going to have a definite plan for my retirement years though. I'm for sure going to get those dress shoes polished.
Have a great weekend.
Papa
Kitty, your photo does not do you justice. You might want to apply some makeup and give it another shot. Back when life was simple I started a Facebook page and added my photo. Many people responded on how much I resembled a young Troy Donohue. I can see how that mistake could happen so since then I don't bother to add my photo to anything I post. If you want to enjoy this pretty face you will just have to come visit me. Debbie can take a look at it any old time she wants to of course but the rest of you are welcome to visit any time....call first so I can hide the wine bottles Debbie leaves strewn about the front yard.
I have been sitting around this house since I was released from rehab back in September. I thought I would enjoy my unexpected retirement but its not all that great. Hobbling around on a walker limits the things I can do with all my free time. I can't drive my pickup because I can't work the clutch with this busted left leg. I can't ride my scooter for the same reason although even if I could Debbie has hidden the keys. I can't even dig a hole in the ground for Deb to plant the bushes she plans to sacrifice to next summer's heat and drought.
I planned to do something really significant during all this down time....I really did plan to try to publish my "book" and I had another in the works before the accident. I haven't touched it since then though and have lost all interest in working on it. I'm not sure I have ADHD since its never been diagnosed but...never mind, I forgot where I was going with that. Oh yeah, I had all kinds of worthwhile plans for my recovery time. I got word from the doc this week that I can go back to work a few hours a day toward the end of November. Did not do one thing on my list...not one. I didn't even polish my new dress shoes I bought for Jamie and Jennifer's wedding. I read about a hundred mystery novels and slept more than a human should be allowed. I did all my required exercises and built up my upper body strength. I'm not going to brag but I did overhear Debbie and the therapist talking about me the other day and the word "BUFF" was used more than once. I think it was buff....I hope it was buff.
I'm looking forward to going back to work. Its been nice having this time off to spend with my family but I'm not ready to slow down this much yet. I can't afford to slow down this much yet. I want to work another three or four years and officially retire. Maybe by then I will have figured out an ending to that second book and maybe I'll have enough money to have an actual hobby. I am going to have a definite plan for my retirement years though. I'm for sure going to get those dress shoes polished.
Have a great weekend.
Papa
Thursday, November 8, 2012
First thing Papa has to say is "I hate the title of this blog". I was messing around with possible names for my page and somehow locked this one in...can't seem to get rid of it so I guess it's mine.
My little brother, Glenn, was always around. Sometimes it was nice and sometimes I longed for a few minutes to myself. Five kids growing up in a house with less than 900 square feet made it hard to find any time for ourselves. Oh sure, you could hide in the workshop for a few minutes but eventually you would be discovered by one of the others seeking solitude. They would go back inside and tell Momma you were hiding in the workshop studying the lingerie section of the Sears catalog. You would be hauled out by your ear while the tattling sibling slipped into the workshop. Anyway, as I was saying, Glenn was always around.
Glenn was (and still is) one of those guys everyone loves. He was funny, mischieveous, and 'cute' according to Momma and a few of the little girls in the neighborhood. All I could see was this little guy who wet his pants a lot and sucked on a bottle until he was old enough to play football with us. As we grew older and discovered girls, cars, and general teenage good times, Glenn and I had less and less in common. He had his friends. I had mine. By the time I was in college I didn't feel like I knew Glenn all that well. When he got into college he let his hair grow and started on an impressive set of sideburns. He became a hippy. He wasn't a very good hippy though because he was raised with morals, a disgust for tobacco, and strict adherence to an alcohol free body. He wore the sandals, sloppy jeans and tee shirts. I think he had a couple sets of beads and he flashed the peace sign to anyone who made eye contact with him.
While the world watched thousands of young men shipping off to Vietnam, Glenn and I enjoyed the relative safety of the college deferment. We wanted to serve our country of course but we did not want to get shot.....of course. We figured the longer we stayed in college the better the chances that particular war would end and we could serve as officers in a good old peacetime army. My world evolved into a marriage and two little kids before the war was over. Glenn's turned into a marriage and a job he hated. We both felt guilt for not serving our country but we had obligations now. People to care for....One day while Glenn was working a co-worker got seriously hurt. Glenn watched the drama unfold and without another word stood up, walked out, and never looked back. He went straight to the Air Force recruiting office and signed up. Glenn's hippy days were over.
The Air Force transformed Glenn on the outside into the man he already was on the inside. I won't go into detail about Glenn's military career....after all, he may decide to blog one of these days. I will simply say Glenn spent most of his adult life serving our country in various parts of the world. He took his family with him and they all gained educations in life unavailable to those of us who remained stationary all our lives.
After his retirement, Glenn started his new career in education. He had hoped to work in a high school setting but the only opening he could find in his small district was for a second grade teacher. Oh well, it was a foot in the door. He discovered quickly how much these little students needed a daddy figure in their precious lives. As much as he wanted to move on up to the high school, his heart was captured by the little ones. He still teaches second grade today even though he swears each year, "this is the last time I'm doing it"! He is a wonderful teacher and takes his role of educator to young minds very seriously.
I am so glad I have had the chance to be the big brother to Glenn. I am very proud of him, his achievements, and especially his selfless life. It's my prayer his golden years will truly be golden.
My little brother, Glenn, was always around. Sometimes it was nice and sometimes I longed for a few minutes to myself. Five kids growing up in a house with less than 900 square feet made it hard to find any time for ourselves. Oh sure, you could hide in the workshop for a few minutes but eventually you would be discovered by one of the others seeking solitude. They would go back inside and tell Momma you were hiding in the workshop studying the lingerie section of the Sears catalog. You would be hauled out by your ear while the tattling sibling slipped into the workshop. Anyway, as I was saying, Glenn was always around.
Glenn was (and still is) one of those guys everyone loves. He was funny, mischieveous, and 'cute' according to Momma and a few of the little girls in the neighborhood. All I could see was this little guy who wet his pants a lot and sucked on a bottle until he was old enough to play football with us. As we grew older and discovered girls, cars, and general teenage good times, Glenn and I had less and less in common. He had his friends. I had mine. By the time I was in college I didn't feel like I knew Glenn all that well. When he got into college he let his hair grow and started on an impressive set of sideburns. He became a hippy. He wasn't a very good hippy though because he was raised with morals, a disgust for tobacco, and strict adherence to an alcohol free body. He wore the sandals, sloppy jeans and tee shirts. I think he had a couple sets of beads and he flashed the peace sign to anyone who made eye contact with him.
While the world watched thousands of young men shipping off to Vietnam, Glenn and I enjoyed the relative safety of the college deferment. We wanted to serve our country of course but we did not want to get shot.....of course. We figured the longer we stayed in college the better the chances that particular war would end and we could serve as officers in a good old peacetime army. My world evolved into a marriage and two little kids before the war was over. Glenn's turned into a marriage and a job he hated. We both felt guilt for not serving our country but we had obligations now. People to care for....One day while Glenn was working a co-worker got seriously hurt. Glenn watched the drama unfold and without another word stood up, walked out, and never looked back. He went straight to the Air Force recruiting office and signed up. Glenn's hippy days were over.
The Air Force transformed Glenn on the outside into the man he already was on the inside. I won't go into detail about Glenn's military career....after all, he may decide to blog one of these days. I will simply say Glenn spent most of his adult life serving our country in various parts of the world. He took his family with him and they all gained educations in life unavailable to those of us who remained stationary all our lives.
After his retirement, Glenn started his new career in education. He had hoped to work in a high school setting but the only opening he could find in his small district was for a second grade teacher. Oh well, it was a foot in the door. He discovered quickly how much these little students needed a daddy figure in their precious lives. As much as he wanted to move on up to the high school, his heart was captured by the little ones. He still teaches second grade today even though he swears each year, "this is the last time I'm doing it"! He is a wonderful teacher and takes his role of educator to young minds very seriously.
I am so glad I have had the chance to be the big brother to Glenn. I am very proud of him, his achievements, and especially his selfless life. It's my prayer his golden years will truly be golden.
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