Yard Work

I am going to attempt to enter the jungle of my yard and get it cut to a manageable length.  I finally feel well enough to at least use the lawn tractor.  The weed eater may have to wait another week.  I will wear one of those doctor type masks to keep from breathing in the tons of dust and pollen that are lurking in the stalks.  I can get choked up pretty fast still.  

WE have a friend that is in the hospital and is in very serious condition.  At this exact time last year he had the same issues and we almost lost him.  Somehow he has gotten septic and his kidneys shut down and they have to put him on dialysis.  Only problem with that is his blood pressure is so low they can't.  With all the poison in his blood he has pretty much been unconscious around the clock.  They were finally able to stabilize the BP and get him on those machines.  He has improved somewhat but is still out.  We have been trying to support his wife as she has been pretty distraught and is thinking the worst.  Not much we can do but other than be there and she can talk when she wants to unload. You can see the change in her when she is able to unburden.  So don't ever think your presence is not helpful when you have a friend in need.  Just being there does more than you may ever know.  Believe me, from one who has a lot of experience with this.  Sometimes we make excuses to avoid this things because they can be heart wrenching or hard on us.  We don't always know what to say.  But remember, you don't do this for you.  You don't have to say anything, just be there.  They will know and be uplifted by that.  You will feel better in the long run.

Happy Trails.

Falling Behind

I continue to get better from the Epizooti that has taken up residence inside me.  The main issue right now is the coughing has increased as my body tries to expel this plague.  I think I will wait at least another day before I try to tackle the badly need yard work in the jungle of my yard.  The dust/pollen will play havoc with me at this point.

I still am itching to try out the new smoker/grill yet I need to make a trip to pick up the appropriate beef parts to try out.  Sheesh I am just falling behinder everyday.  The house is a wreck and just filthy as we haven't been up to being able to keep up with things for the last few weeks.  Amazing how fast things can get away from you.  I feel a bit overwhelmed with so much on my plate.  It may not sound like much here but I don't list everything.  That's my story anyway.

We took my little fur buddy Buster, to the groomer today.  We have been trying to get him for his summer cut and he just flat out stunk.  He rarely gets stinky but this time, whew.  He got into something sour smelling and we can't figure out what it is.  Neither of us was well enough to give him a much needed bath.  If he was an outside dog, no problem.  But he is right with us ALL the time.  He is more like a piece of velcro stuck to my leg as I wander around the house.  

A photo of Buster from earlier days.

Todays results

We were going to try a new groomer much closer to us but they wouldn't take a dog over ten years old if they hadn't seen him before.  They have only been there a few months so they probably haven't seen ANY dogs over ten years old.  They say the liability is too much.  He is going fourteen.  I guess there is a lot of stress on them and the older they are the harder it is on them.  I know he was pretty nervous when we dropped him off.  His back legs were trembling.  Things like this never upset him before.  Now that he is older we try to be more mindful of the things that cause issues for him.  Who knows, maybe the groomer is something we will do without if he is that nervous.  But once I got him home an on familiar territory he immediately started licking himself.  I flip him over to check him out and he got clipped, in the worst place.  Not bleeding anymore but he is very raw.  He had very long hair and I know it is hard to see those 'parts' on a male dog but geez.  I applied some Neosporin and it seems to be relieved of pain, not licking anymore.   I am not as happy as when we picked him up.  We have our own clippers but they just don't get the job done like we need it to be done.  His aging is really starting to show in his physical abilities.  

Happy Trails

The Caravan

That caravan of immigrants that has been winding its way through Mexico from Central America to the US border has arrived.  Well at least part of them have.  One bus load has arrived in Tijuana, Mexico on the Southern border of Commiefornia of all places. There are four more busloads about 450 miles South still heading that way.  The caravan has reduced from 1500 seeking asylum to 600.  They say that the reduction of numbers was caused by Trump's 'tweets' about refusing them entrance.  Really? Tweets do that?  Well good on him then, he is more powerful than most realize.  Maybe we could supplement our border guards with some electronic signs that show Trump's tweets to those that might be thinking about crossing.  Might be cheaper than a wall.  Just think Jumbotrons all along the border spaced as needed.  *sarcasm voice*

The news has been almost non existent about this caravan for the last few weeks.  Not sure why the lefties have stopped covering it, maybe it was those bad ole tweets that scared them off.  I am guessing a new wave of stories will hit the wires about the dire straits of these folks.  Some may be true but others you will probably find Soros behind or the Governor of Commiefornia.  This could get interesting.

I am doing a ton better.  Almost two full days of those meds from the doc and I fell almost normal.  But I am not pushing it.  I don't want any sort of relapse.  Next week I have a scope procedure.  yeah, that one.  I want that over with ASAP.  A relapse would probably postpone that.  No, just no.  

So the yard is looking like we have abandoned the house and will look even worse by the time I feel well enough to get after it.  I left my garden alone almost too long.  Managed to get some water on it before it was too late but I could tell the plants were stressed.  I do have some small green tomatoes making appearances.  I'll be glad to stop buying those tasteless market tomatoes.  Blech.

Happy Trails

Finally

Well, thankfully I was wrong about the Doc not being able to help me.  He told me that he knew I must be really sick because I never come see him when I am sick, which is true.  I don't usually stay sick long enough to get in to see him anyway.  He gave me a few meds, antibiotic and steroids and a shot in the butt.  I felt so much better by last evening when I had been crashing.  This morning is even better.  I still have several days of meds to complete so I won't do anything to aggravate whatever this is, like doing badly needed yard work and breathing in the tons of pollen and dust.  The wife even offered to cut the grass if I showed her how to work the mower.  That has never happened, not even once.  That is how bad the yard needs attention and she has never been a nag about how it looks and leaves me alone to do my own thing.  She is such a blessing to me.

I am itching to get the new smoker/pit fired up with brisket on the grill.  I am anxious to repay some kindnesses shown to us from our recent surgeries that were done for us.  They are way overdue.  But I want to test if first and I will BBQ one and have the kids over first.  Yes, this will include the Daughter-in-law that is broken, she doesn't like beef.  I may cook her a chicken.  I got some heat resistant insulation for around the lid that seemed to allow too much smoke out during the seasoning of the pit.  I also got a cover for it.  Just need to make a run to the store and get the beef and more charcoal.  Yes, I use some commercial charcoal along with my oak wood.  I get a more consistent fire that way.  The heat is easier to control also.  I also bought some of the rub from Cooper's BBQ in Llano we ate at a few weeks ago.  Not sure at all about this rub, it is very different but I like their BBQ so I will try this out also.  It is saltier than any I have ever eaten and has more black pepper in it and what I think is garlic powder.  No 'reddish' color that I am used to using.  We will see.

Happy Trails

Ugh

I am still so stinking sick.  Today makes a full week.  I never stay sick this long.  I have a doctor appointment at 10 AM.  I was surprised that I could get in that early.  I think I got what K had a couple weeks ago and lasted her almost 3 weeks.  Now she seems to be having a relapse.  I think we are re-infecting each other.  Neither of us have felt well enough to disinfect the surfaces in the house so it is highly likely she is getting another dose of what she had.  So today, if I can must some strength I will try to wipe down surfaces, and must remember the remotes and keyboards, change out toothbrushes.  I am already tired just thinking of it.  I don't think there is much the doc can do for me.  K's was a viral infection and treating symptoms was all they did.  But maybe they can stop if from turning into something worse.  I will update if I find out anything from the doc.

My friends Dad that got attacked by killer bees finally seems to be improving.  He had over 300 stings.  Then got flesh eating bacteria infection in the arm they had the IV in.  Surgery had to be performed to save his arm/life.  Quite a bit of tissue had to be removed and will require many skin grafts.  He has really been through a rough patch these last 2 weeks.

Fiesta

Thursday was the official kick off for Fiesta in San Antonio.  It seems to keep growing as to how long it is.  I think they have added at least two days in my lifetime.  I guess a full week drunk wasn't enough.  It runs for eleven days.  This huge party draws a lot of folks.  If you like huge crowds, don't mind having beer spilled on you and waiting in very lengthy lines for the porta potty and then wading through pools of you know what due to the drunks not being able to wait, this is for you.  

Parades, celebrations of various sorts (most not even related to the reason for Fiesta) concerts, carnival and parades.  The parades are big time parades.  There is the river parade, the Rey Feo (ugly king) parade, the big Battle of Flowers Parade and the huge Fiesta Flambeau night parade (it draws over 4 hundred thousand from what I understand).  I believe it as I marched in it once in the vanguard as a Confederate Infantry soldier.  Glad I did it but I wouldn't want to ever do that again.  They require everyone to wear some sort of lights for the night parade.  We just stuck ours in our haversacks.  We weren't about to add lights to our uniforms.  We got away with it.

These parades used to be a mostly free event and you could just show up and watch with your lawn chairs.  Not any more.  Every inch of the several mile parade route is covered with bleachers and chairs that you must buy a ticket for to view the parade.  They realized they could soak the public even more.

River Parade

Fiesta Flambeau Night Parade.

This is the really big blow out for San Antonio.  There is something to do for just about anyone.  Even neighborhoods have their own events and parades.  One of the main things is fiesta medal collection.  Almost every event has it's own medal.  Even businesses have their fiesta medal.  At about 10$ a pop.  You can see some folks spend a lot of money on the things as they wear them all over themselves.

So why the big party?  Well first, San Antonio doesn't need much of a reason to stage some sort of party.  But this started out as a memorial to the heroes of the Alamo and the victory at San Jacinto over the Mexican Army.  There are a couple of events that still actually do this, mostly it is the older crowd and they are members of the Sons or Daughters of the Republic of Texas.  But most don't even know what fiesta is about other than party everyday.  Me. I don't go, ever.  I did a few times until I as about 19-20 and the one time marching in the parade.  But I avoid downtown like the plague anyway.  I have never liked big crowds and this is as big as it gets here.  I believe it is bigger crowdwise than Mardi Gras, if not, it's very close.

Happy Trails

And Again

I am down sick with another infection in my head and throat.  This makes at least the 5th one since September and 3 since my surgery.  I have never been sick this many times in one year much less few months.  I rarely have more than one illness a year.  This is on top of me trying to stay away from sick people and doing even more washing of hands and using hand sanitizer.  I carry sanitizer in my pocket when we go out and use it regularly.  I haven't even been around my Grandkids to get any bugs from like kids are so prone to carry.  I feel like crap and I don't want to do anything.

A friend of mine's father lives and works on his own ranch just outside Uvalde.  About 2 weeks ago he was attacked by what I assume were killer bees while working in some brush.  He managed to call his son and his son contacted the EMS and directed them to where he was over the phone.  They saved his life, but they still had to airlift him to a hospital in San Antonio.  They kept him in an induced coma for a couple days until the poison was gone.  Now he is battling for his life with an infection in his arm caused by the IV while in the hospital.  He is supposed to have surgery today to remove the infection to save his arm and possibly his life.  Your prayers are requested.

I am sorry to hear about the passing of Barbara Bush.  I always admired her candor.  President HW Bush has been in ill health for some time also.  I worry about his reaction to this.  I saw how the passing of my Grandmother affected my Grandfather.  We lost him one month later.

All I can muster feeling this bad.