Stopping By

That's what this feels like, just stopping by, not staying long or for any substance.  Preps are taking place for the big feast tomorrow.  I have the turkey in the smoker right now.  The others liked my last one so much they want it again instead of a spiral sliced ham.  Thing is, I don't remember year to year how I smoked it the last time.  How long, basting etc.  So I just fake it.  Somehow it turns out OK.

All the kids and Grandkids will be here along with my Mother.  The first thanksgiving without my Dad.  We have been struggling to get her to commit to coming.  There are several things she throws out that make it seem like she won't come for some made up reason.  I think it is because she will feel so different without Dad this time and is afraid of how she will react.  'K' disagrees with me and thinks she is alright about coming.  I know it's a long way for her but we try to make the arrangements so she doesn't have to drive.  Son #2 lives the closest and would pick her up and take her home even if she wanted to leave early (she always does).  She doesn't want him to have to leave early so she wouldn't do that.  Now we have her coming over to his house and following him out.  Since every road and highway is under construction out here she would most likely get lost coming the alternate routes.  She did like the idea of following him better than any other.  She could leave when she wanted and not have him take her home.  She hates to put anyone out.  

Had to take the Explorer in to the shop this week.  One of the dual horns quit working and it can hardly be heard, but now it's fixed.  They had to take the grill off to get to them, not something I wanted to do like I would have years ago.  It's all under warranty anyway.  Then the Sync thing (that's the fancy computer/media screen) acted up one day.  It locked up and when I shut the car off it started flickering and flashing.  It finally started working again but I wanted it checked out just in case.  I couldn't change radio stations or anything else.  It made me realize how much of the car is connected to that thing.  All it needed was an update it seems.  Hopefully that is all.  At least it's documented if it happens again.  Then more drastic measures will be taken.

There are a lot of other things we are dealing with, trying to help some others that is taking up some time.  I won't talk about it here other than that it takes the fun outta posting here sometimes.

Happy Trails

Midway....The Movie

I rarely ever go to a movie, maybe once or twice a year for something I may be interested in.  This one was on my radar despite how hokey the trailers looked.  Son#1 and I go to one together on occasion, usually it is a war movie.  The Midway story has been told on film several times.  I don't remember any names or specifics, but I dare say they are not like this one.  

This one gives more detail on what transpired in regard to the intelligence leading up to it.  The film actually starts 4 years prior to WW2.  It does a good job of setting up the climax and characters.  The Pearl Harbor scenes were very intense and more graphic than others I have seen.  That holds true through all the action shots.  I think the story was told well on the Japanese side also.  When the main battle gets going....wow.  I don't want to give anything away so that's all you get.  

This movie made me reflect more than most any other that I have seen.  Especially during the Midway attacks on the Japanese fleet.  The were so intense.  I had to fist pump when they finally got the Akagi.  It was pretty emotional for me as I reflected on the type of people our country produced in that era.  I couldn't help but think about, what if for today?  I don't hold any illusions that we have enough of the sort that would or could do what it took to do what they did.  I'll stop there as I could go on and on.  

Go. See it.

The next movie in my sights is 1917.  Strangely enough, the wife says she was very interested in that one.  Go figure. 

Happy Trails

Grands and Food

The older Grands spent Friday night with us.  Their Mom and Dad were going out to celebrate Mom's birthday.  We don't see them much anymore.  The older they get the more things they have on their plate.  Plus it's not as cool to hang with the Grandparents, even though they seem to enjoy it while here.  I had bought one of those birch chunk of log I had seen at the grocery store.  Mostly out of curiosity.  This was the perfect time to try it out.  So we did and it was pretty cool and burned easily.  Yes, we made s'mores.  I had never had them before but knew about them.  Very tasty but of course being diabetic I should leave them alone.  I had to try one, wanted more.

And a close up of the log flaming.  For 10$ it was worth it.  Burned a little over an hour.  

Today I am trying something new (to me) on the grill.  Pollos Asados.  The literal translation is roast (grilled) chicken.  But, this is a very Mexican way of cooking it.  This has a seasoning called achiote.  AH-CHEE-O-TAY.  Unless you go to a truly Mexican restaurant that specializes in this, you won't find it anywhere except a very weak version at Pollo Loco.  It really doesn't even come close.  There are about 3-4 of these places in all of San Antonio.  A city that has a Mexican Restaurant on nearly every corner.  This is as close as you can get to real Mexican food without going there.  It has a citrus season that will char up really nice.  These chicken quarters were pre-seasoned at the store.  I found some of the seasoning and I will be trying it myself.  I'm not a huge chicken fan but this....I have fallen in love with this style.  

Happy Trails

Just Life

Nothing to report.  The weather is the big news for this part of the State.  It's mostly the 40 mph winds.  It really isn't all that cold until the wind is added.  I had 29* this morning and it's supposed to be colder tomorrow.  We did get cold enough to freeze and we had some scattered precipitation, rain, sleet, maybe snow.  I don't know I didn't see any here.  We have a coating of ice on the car and anything else that is outside.  Not a lot, just enough to cause damage to the plants.  We covered our plants like we do every year but the wind won and uncovered the biggest part.  So we will likely lose some.  I hear reports of accidents in town on bridges that get a little iced up.  The drivers here aren't too bright when it comes to ice on roads.  Having been in the road business for over 30 years I have seen it all and how the locals deal with ice.  Due to the idiot drivers our agency tended to overreact in protecting them from themselves.  We closed bridges and then roadways.  This caused major traffic issues and tons of criticism.  But the over reaction came from seeing people die on the ice and getting sued because they thought we didn't do enough.  It's impossible to protect idiots from themselves.  I was and still am of the mind the drivers are responsible for their own actions.  Warn them of the danger repeatedly yet let them decide for themselves.  The Darwin effect.  The problem with this approach is they endanger others that are taking precautions.  It's a lose lose situation.  It will never be perfect as long as people are involved.

The wife worked at a friends business last week, like she did last year, making calls to customers to let them know about their annual big sale.  Mind numbing work but it gives us some extra cash for the upcoming gifting season.  Last year we scored a lot of deer meat from the owner.  Not so lucky this year as he sold his ranch.  But since our extra fridge quit earlier this year, we don't have room to store any.  

The Granddaughter (the youngest-I call her Nugget) is here and stayed last night.  We may try to keep her an additional night.  Trying to give Dad a break as he is working hard to get a new comic funded.  The second in his series.  She was a little fussier than usual so we were glad to get her off his hands.  His deadline is coming soon so we will try to keep her at least one more night to give him some extra time.

Happy Trails

Results

The tree guys finished just like he said he would.  I was skeptical since there was so much left to do.  But he and his crew threw it into overdrive and knocked it out.  I am very impressed with what they did.  Even though it was a great expense I believe it was well earned and now all these trees (35-40 of them, all oaks) look better than they ever have.  Here are a few before and after shots.  The pictures don't come near doing it justice.  One issue was that the before pics were done in complete cloud cover, the after pics brilliant sun and it sorta blows out the pics.  But now you can sere sunshine on the grass underneath where you couldn't before.

I know it's really hard to tell but there was a huge lot of limbs and at least 4 trees taken out.  The wife is thrilled and that's really all that matters.  Today I will cut up some of the  wood left for firewood and stack it.  They almost forgot to leave me some.  

Happy Trails