Monday Catching Up

Even with this Hung Chow flu we find ourselves busy.  This week will be significantly slower.  I had a couple doctor appointments, the ophthalmologist and the dentist.  The eye doctor was just my regular diabetes check up and all was well.  The dentist was much more involved.  The tooth I cracked and had removed over a year ago is getting an implant.  Well the space where that tooth was.  It is a bit nerve wracking to endure but surprisingly less pain than the removal required.  I go back in 2 months to get it checked for healing and a mold to be made in order to get the crown made in preparation for final install.  I had no idea what this all entailed, but I had to laugh when he broke out a mini ratchet wrench to screw in the part that that the crown will attach too.  That torqued my jaw and so my joint in my jaw is a little sore.  

'K' went to the memorial service for our dear friend that passed away from cancer two months ago.  It was delayed due to the Rona.  I didn't feel it was prudent for me to attend and made an emotional call to her husband and my good friend to let him know I wouldn't attend.  He knew what I called about before I even mentioned it and was very gracious.  It made it no less hard and I hate having missed it.  'K' was there to serve the food, decorate and clean up.  She took precautions and didn't really interact with anyone in order to avoid exposure to the Kung flu.  Even then, she is 'quarantining' herself at home and we are not having any of the Grandkids over for two weeks just to be on the safe side.  

I have my 6 month visit with the doctor that found my prostate cancer as a regular follow up.  I have already seen the lab results and nothing has changed and I am still cancer free if I read it right.  I assume these visits will continue through the ten year mark and we are just past 5. He also regulates the 'T' I am injecting.  

My garden is pretty much a bust.  No tomatoes harvested.  There is one green tomato on one vine, it's taking it's sweet time.  The bell peppers have stopped growing and are very small and thin walled.  No meat at all.  The late planting and severe heat we have had stopped it from developing.  However our good friends that live in Bandera came into town for some things stopped by and brought us a bag of fresh tomatoes.  Much appreciated and oh so tasty.  It was great to visit with them awhile even though we sat outside in the heat to avoid close contact.  I had n't seen him in over a year I'm thinking, maybe two.  He is just super busy in the medical field and over worked.  I can see that it has physically affected him.  He is still short of retirement by about 5 years.  He needs a break.  He is a true American Hero, and if I could tell you the little he has told me...  He was a 'special operator' is all I will say.

I finished a leather project I was working on.  This was for myself.  I upgraded my Amazon Fire tablet to the Fire HD.  It needed a cover since it's a different size than my old Fire.  My old Fire was out of storage and adding a memory card offered no help as it had slowed considerably due to the storage issue.  It was already pretty slow.  The HD was on sale for 30 off and I had gotten a gift card for Father's day so I treated myself.  It is significantly faster and doesn't have the issues I was experiencing with the old Fire.  I am pretty happy with it.  Sorry, I didn't remember to take photos.  I will and post them here.  It has a 'Texas 1836' theme and I wanted it to look rugged and used.  I am pretty happy with it as I was struggling with ideas.  I am weak in the creative thought process coming up with original designs, but I gathered a couple things I would see elsewhere and put my interpretation in it.  

Happy Trails

More Craziness

I hope this finds you well and safe from the Hung Flu.  We are doing our best to stay healthy.  At this point in our lives health is pretty much the main goal, although we never expected to have to deal with something like this.  

I know that opinions are strong and emotions high in regard to how to deal with this virus.  I see so much information out there and it all conflicts with everything else.  So it makes it hard to get a good read on what's true and what's not.  I have had to 'sleep' close friends on the book of faces because of their continued arguments about this virus.  While I agree with much of what they believe, some of it is just out there baiting others into an online debate.  I don't know why they do this, I can surmise but in the end all their posturing and arguments serve no purpose but to alienate and demean other that don't see it exactly as they do.  I know they have lost friends over this stupid issue.  What's the point, what does it matter if someone has a different opinion.  I think they really are not real sure about what they believe and they are doing the same as others, saying something long enough and loud enough to make others think it's the truth.  A lot of their opinions are internet memes they repost and take for fact.  It's just nuts.  So now even the little time I spend enjoying a few things on FB has been curtailed.  I don't need the insanity.   Who knows when this will all end.  Maybe November after the election, unless the one 'they' hate like no other gets re-elected.  Them we will have even more problems like we have never seen IMO.

I attended a meeting yesterday that I was conflicted about attending.  Let's just say my fears were confirmed and I find myself at a crossroads.  It may be time to relinquish my position and leave room for younger faces.  

We have been having issues with our WiFi.  Intermittent connections and maddeningly slow have been going on for a while.  I called the ISP and got them to send me a new modem and router as mine is pretty old.  That was three weeks ago or more.  I haven't even gotten the tracking number they said I would get.  We are two weeks past the date they said it would be here.  This morning, we have NO WiFi at all.  As soon as I finish this I will reset the modem and hope it gets it back in service.  I am currently on a wired connection, that is why I am still able to connect to the www.  This issue today is something new.  Maybe the WiFi had been going out and has now bit the big one.  There is a local office where I can exchange my equipment.  But if you have ever done that, you know lines are extremely long and I doubt the social distancing guidelines are followed, so I am avoiding doing that.

Anyway, I now have the Nugget in my lap wanting me to take her outside.  Her demands take precedence.  

OK, I'm back.  Just one more thing.  It is crazy hot here.  Yes, we live on the edge of a desert and we can expect it to get hot.  But this is rather unusual.  I live just at the Southern edge of what is known as the Texas Hill Country.  We are about  3-4 hundred feet higher than the highest spots in the big city to the South of us.  So our temps can be a  little different than what is recorded there.  Generally we are 4-5 degrees cooler in all seasons.  This Summer at our place, we have experienced almost identical temps of the city.  For the last 3 days we have hit 103 when we rarely ever hit 100.  Today it is supposed to be even hotter with predictions of 105-107.  OK, I know, it's not Arizona hot or even Dallas hot with their crazy highs and even higher humidity.  The one  thing that makes this a little more bearable is the humidity has been uncharacteristically low.  It has been in the 20-30% range during the hottest times.  Although in the mornings it is generally 80% making my morning walks take a break for a while, not to mention the Africa dust is still here and making me have issues when I stay out too long. 

What a crazy freaking year with still half of it left to go.  I expect even more crazy before this is all over.  Keep your powder dry come November.

Happy Trails

I Don't Normally Do This,

But, I think this is worth your time.  The following is a segment of a column by Rush Limbaugh, on where we go from here, 

'We Must Decide Whether We Want To Save America'

'Going forward, we must decide whether we want to heal or persist in endless conflict and racial acrimony. We can’t legislatively purge evil from men’s hearts — but we can and must pray to the God of all creation and of all precious human beings to expunge racial conflict and distrust from our souls, and to heal this land. I believe we’ve made enormous strides on racism, and let’s not allow the naysayers to take that away from us.'

The rest of his column is at the clickable link below.  While his columns seems to be mostly about how to heal racism, the same process will work for the other divisions ripping us apart politically, pray.  I do, every day.

Rush  

On another note, we had a pretty good July 4th.  It was also our 45th anniversary.  We usually go out and have a nice meal at our favorite steak house.  However, things are shutting down again and we decided to stay in.  At first I was going to grill us a couple ribeyes but 'K' wanted to do something else.  Our kids usually go to another family's July 4th celebration, but this year with the chinaman flu it was a no go.  So we she wanted to invite them over and order some pizzas.  Only problem with that was our favorite pizza place was closed and so were every other one in the area, except Domino's.  Now I remember why we stopped getting their pizza.  Not too good.  But at least we were able to visit and have fun and watch the grands play.  

Earlier last week we availed ourselves of the senior hours at Costco.  We never had before but thought we would try it and see how it was.  I think everyone else had the same idea.  There was a line to get in.  Not long and moved pretty fast.  Later that week 'K' went to HEB grocery for a curbside pickup.  We were trying to avoid and exposure to the increase in the kung flu that has been going on.  'K' did the pick up without me and she says there was a long line to get inside.  It appears the fear of another shut down is causing some more panic buying.  Or at least trying to get more prepared than they were the first time around.  WE are also a little bit guilty of buying extra, but we have been doing that all along.  We also ordered another fridge for the garage.  That is the one are we were probably most weak at, fridge and freezer space.  Nothing extravagant.  It will be here on the 10th and we can then work on filling that up.  

I've got a dental appointment and an ophthalmologist appointment this week.  Just routine visits but I will get set up to have a dental implant started.  I need to get taht hole where that broken tooth filled in.  

Hope y'all have a good week.  Happy Trails

Saharan Dust

I don't know how it is where you are, but over the last 2 weeks or so we have been getting warnings of the cloud of Saharan Desert dust that is headed our way. This is a yearly occurrence here.  It comes right after the smoke from fires burning the landscape down in Mexico.  This year I didn't smell any smoke or suffer the usual effects.  However, they warnings for the impending dust cloud (Am I racist is I say African dust?) was that it was supposed to be worse this year.  Well it rolled in sometime Friday evening.  I didn't really see it as I stayed inside most of the day.  But I started getting a scratchy throat and headache.  Ever since then I have ventured out only to set out our can for trash collection and water my puny tomato and pepper plants plus several philodendrons that we cut out of and over grown pot and replanted.  That's maybe three times.  It seems to have paid off as the effects have lessened.  They say the dust will begin to lessen some today, but just for the day.  How do they know this stuff?  Oh Yeah, science.  

Saturday evening I got an emergency notification on my phone but the wife didn't.  It seems the mayor of the rat hole south of us is panicking about the rise in cases of the China flu.  Of course that set all the social media sites aflame with every type.  Starting today I am getting off most all social media and avoid all the craziness.  The mayor never lifted a finger about all the protests and gatherings of the sort 2-3 weeks ago but wanted the governor to give them authority to arrest and/or fine those that wouldn't wear a mask or social distance etc.  I wonder how many of those that were near those gatherings are part of those numbers.  They claim those catching the flu are now the age group of those that gathered.  So they really aren't invincible.  You should have seen the photos of the rivers near here that are popular with tubers over Memorial Day.  I probably could have crossed the river without getting wet by using them as support.  It was crazy.  Pictures from Padre Island were standing room only and that's huge beach, mile after mile of open beach. Weekends, the beach is to be avoided.  Their hypocrisy knows know limits.

I have a rather long list of things I need from Home Depot.  I guess those will wait a bit.  At least until the dust is settled-see what I did there?  

Happy Trails

Tuesday Update

Today will be a bit of a busy day.  The fridge repair guy will return with the new part and we will finally have it back to normal.  We have done OK without the icemaker/water dispenser, it's just a little inconvenient to have to rely on bottles of water and bags of ice.  They take up a lot of room and we have to move things around to find what we are looking for.  I drink a lot of water and sometimes I forget to replace the bottles I have used and then I am without my cold water.  We also have the pest control coming out for his quarterly visit.  I am not sure how good his spray will work outside since we are currently having a small thunderstorm and a good amount of rain.  At least I can get him inside, which he didn't do on his last visit due to the health restrictions they are under from the chinaman kung flu.  

We will get the baby today and she will stay a day or two.  That will be decided during her stay, how long she is here.  Their dog is sick again.  He was very sick the last time she was here.  We kept her because she won't leave him alone and he just didn't feel good at all.  She lays all over him and tries to play with him.  They are best buds, except he is miserable right now and needs a break.  They have really hit a rough patch here lately.  Things breaking down, sick dog, sick baby, car issues and it all hits their small income pretty hard which just compounds things.  We help out when they let us and it is hard to see them struggle with these things along with all the bad news in the world.  It takes it's toll on a young family.  We know very well how it is and brings back some not so pleasant memories for us.  I try to keep the 'fatherly' advice down as much as possible.  In fact, no advice has been given, I know that it can always be worse and try to stay positive and not interfere.

The weather here will be somewhat stormy over the rest of the week.  We had hoped to head down to Padre Island for a day drip and just sit on the beach for a couple hours and take the kids with us if they could get away.  They could use the break too.  But with inclement weather predicted we will not go and take a look at weather conditions for  next week.  I will need to look for something to keep the sun off of us for a few hours while we are there.  We all have some pretty fair skin and need to avoid the burns we can get down there.

Hope y'all had a great Father's Day and are avoiding the kung flu.  It has hit closer to home here lately.  We are on our guard for that as much as I hate it.

Happy Trails

It's Always Something Else

Finally got the repairman to come out and take a look at the fridge this past Monday.  I had attempted replacing one of the water lines that had sprung a hole and would spray water every time the ice maker would fill or use the water dispenser in the door.  Fairly easy except for having to get the old bones down on the ground to install one end of it.  Well I couldn't get it in far enough to stop it from leaking at the fitting.  So the expert takes a look and can tell right away there is something wrong with the part that the hose fit in to and that is why it won't stop leaking.  Now we are waiting on that part that they had trouble finding.  It is coming from Indianapolis.  They will call when it comes in.  So my simple repair will be come somewhat more expensive.  SMH.

I  did get the garage straightened up anyway and got the old fridge hauled off.  I found a guy I have used a few times now to haul off old appliances/BBQ Pits and he charges nothing.  I give him a 20$ for gas anyway, but he even refused that one time.  He and I really hit it off and we stood around and flapped our jaws for an hour.  That's practically unheard of for me.  When he showed up the first thing he said was that, "I see you more than I do my own relatives."  I told him that I probably treated him better.  We are both the same age and have practically identical outlooks.  That's rare.  I consider him a friend.  Just an all around great guy.

I have been making a few touch up repairs to spots on the siding.  I need to make some more and get some matching paint to cover those up.  Shopping and comparing paints and reviews of paint has occupied some time.  I will go with another brand than I have used in the past.  It seems the one I have decide on gives a lifetime guarantee if applied to a properly prepared surface.  Well I think I can do that.  It's very spendy at 80$/gal.  But if it works better than what I have now, I don't mind paying the price.  I will get one gallon and it should cover most all of two walls that get the worst sun exposure etc.  That should delay me having to hire a painter for a few more years and put my mind at ease about the bad spots.

We hope to take a little day trip today to get out of the house and see something other than each other.  We considered heading down to Padre Island but I can't get any updated info on beach driving conditions.  So now I think a short trip into the Hill Country will happen.

Happy Trails   

Late Post for Tuesday

It's Tuesday afternoon here.  I am just relaxing a bit after tackling the clean up I had planned for the garage.  I needed to get some things squared away since I was planning on calling the refrigerator repair guy for the old one I have in there.  I wanted to see if it was worth fixing or getting it hauled off.  Apparently it's going to get hauled off.  The labor alone was going to be 350$ before they even knew what all was wrong.  They were assuming the compressor from what I told them over the phone.  Not gonna happen.  It was a cheap garage sale fridge and an old one at that.  It had trouble cooling things down anyway for the year I had it prior.  But I will still get them out to fix our main fridge.  I replaced the water line that feeds the icemaker and water dispenser.  However I could never get it to quit leaking at one of the fittings.  In fact, it would blow the hose out of the fitting when I turned the water on.  So hopefully they can get that squared away and we can have ice once again instead of buying bags of ice every week.  This has been going on since late March or April.  It will be good to have ready made ice and cold water once again.

I have been pretty busy around here over the last month or so.  Trying to upgrade things and repair/paint others.  There is still much to be done if I look long enough.  However it is getting hot for outside things and garage things.  So those will wait other than the regular yard work.  In fact they are predicting our first triple digit day today.  Previously they had said a high of 106, but have reduced that several times over the approaching days.  That would be a record for this time of year.  From what I see on my weather station thing is 92 at 2:00 PM.  It may not get to 100 from my experience.  I hope it doesn't.  I am nursing some late planted tomato plants and some bell peppers.  High heat would just about kill my chances for tomatoes.  I had not planned on putting any in the ground this year.  But someone gave me a couple plants and bell pepper and basil to plant.  So I got them in the ground even thought they were more than a month late.  We shall see what happens.  

Now I need to go call my guy to haul off this old fridge.  

Happy Trails