Toppin' 100

It was nice at 5:30 this morning, watching Jessie get ready for, I took Guinness out for the morning pee. The sun was climbing up the other side of the Gila Mountains as dog and I walked around the desert. We came home and I eat my cereal and made a cake. Tequila cake with a glaze of brown sugar and tequila and grand marnier. Sure smells good, but I'm waiting for later.
Then I went to work on Rob's car. Not new, but 99 Honda Accord, I changed the spark plugs, easy as 1,2,3,4... then I attacked the cabin air filter, well that was a challenge. But I managed to get it done and I'll tell you, it has never been changed before. Then came.... the dog groomer. Right to our house. And Guinness was none to impressed. But he sure does look cute now. Not that he didn't look cute before. He is not a good patron.

Last but not least, no pun intended, what is up with Burger King and those sponge bob adds? It's true, the liberals are in charge and I can not lie. Please, don't go to that joint, until they clean up their act.

Tax Day Tea Party

What better way to send April 15th than sitting around the court house waiting see if they want you on a jury. Well, I got picked. So far any how, they aren't done asking questions. I figure tomorrow will get that finished. Then we will see.

After that I met Jessie and we went to the Tea Party by the Ocean to Ocean Bridge along the Colorado River. They figured perhaps a couple hundred people would show for the event. Looking around the area it was more like 2,500. We didn't stay for the entire thing as Guinness was home alone and he hates that. It was nice to see that people are fed up with that club in Congress. They had Fox News on the tv in the jury room, so we all got to follow it around the land today. Funny don't you think that the LA Times called anyone going to a tea party an idiot. Not surprise, them being a progressive paper and all. CNN berated someone on air, Keith Olberman of MSNBS did much the same. Once someone starts calling you names, you have won the arguement. That is all I have to say on that.

Most importantly, on my drive home tonight, my son Mark called me and said he will be a father for the first time. Hahahaha, this will be an eye opener! I hope they are ready. My father was very happy about the news. He is going to be 81 this year on Christmas, the baby is due December 19. I hope they get to meet.

Night Out

Yesterday was a quite day, but that was because we had tickets for a concert last night. It has been a long while since we had a night out on the town. A new casino open this month in Winterhaven which is on the way to Mexico. We had not gone there before this because every single snow bird did. We went a little early to check out the place and Jessie loves to play the slots. No me though, poker is my game. I never have any luck on those machines. Well, having said that, I had two $5's, and 3 $10's in the wallet, I got a players card and they game you $5 for signing up. I put it in the machine, lo and behold, $554 within 10 spins. I took the winning ticket and cashed it in. I gave 20 to Jessie, and I put 20 back into another machine, lo and behold, $155. Cashed that in too, bought a fork, and I was done. We went to dinner on that note. Then we waited to get in to a Dwight Yokem concert. Good old hillbilly style muzack. Louder than I could take. Our ears and eye rang long into our sleep. RIIIIIng, 4:30 a.m. the alarm is going, snooze or you looze. Twice more, then up because Jessie had to work today, bummed about that.

On a side note, our neighbor told me he was selling his Honda Accord, and it is in great shape. I phoned Rob and talked to Jessie, and we did it. Rob now owns a 1999 Accord. We will keep it here until he can get it. Needless to say, he is stoked!

Monday April 6, 2009

Today Jessie and I drove Rob to San Diego Airport. He is heading for Ft. Riley Kansas. We don't know how long he will remain there, because the chances are good that he will get deployed to Afghanistan. Needless to say, it was a hard good bye. We don't know what will happen, but we hope and pray. We don't talk about what might be, it would do no good. But I could see in Jessie's eyes the fear for her youngest son. We waited in the terminal and said good bye. Hard for us to leave there. Rob looked back twice, I remember that vividly. I saw some longing in that look. Not knowing what he was going into, I'm sure he is afraid. A new fort, knowing no one, wanting to do good. 20 years old! Where were you then? What was your biggest concern? Would I be alive by the end of the year? These days will be long.....

Back from Korea

Jessie's youngest son Rob has left his duty station in Korea and is now home here with us for a few day. Needless to say we are very happy to have some time with him before he reports to his new post at Fort Riley, Kansas. Fort Riley is the home of the First Infantry Division, also known as "The Big Red One." Rob volunteered for this assignment knowing full well he will get deployed to Afghanistan. April 1st he will receive his promotion to Specialist which he received for winning the Company challenge over all his and the other companies at his post in Korea. Most soldiers don't get this promotion this fast.
Well Rob's friend RJ is here for 5 days and on Saturday about 5 more are coming and the neighbors too as we are doing a BBQ. Should be fun times. Tomorrow we will either fish on the River, or go to the range and shoot some boxes dead. Neither Rob nor RJ have fired a pistol before. Should be fun!
I've got some red sauce cookin' for dinner tonight and had better get to it.

We Did It

This morning at 10:00 a.m. I paid in full the last SallieMae student loan on my daughter. Only took 8 years and it's done early. I am now happy to say that we are Debt Free! Well except for the house, and with any luck it will be paid off early too. It is sure a good feeling to be rid of that financial cancer. There are better ways to finance our children's education and young parents need to know that information before it's too late. Now we are on to 'Baby step 6'. You have to know Dave Ramsey to know what the Baby steps are.

Spring Begins

It's 6:23 a.m., Jessie just left for work and here I sit with my dog by my side. The birds are singing outside the window as they wait for the sun to rise over the the Gila mountains. I will get hot today though the moon is shrouded by a thin sheet of cloud. So, those butterflies will be on their way north again and the birds will feast. Guinness and I will leave soon to great the sun as it climbs into the desert sky. With luck we will meet up with Mike and his dog Gracie and she and Guinness will have a play time running and chasing each other. We will get home and fix a breakfast, then I'll be off on my bike ride. Not too far yet as the traffic is just thinning as snowbirds find 90 to much to take. Brian said he broke a sweat yesterday just opening a beer. The golf greens are drying out and they say they can't play like that. "Hard as asphalt" is what he called them. And it is true.
Still it's spring today and I'm glad to be able to enjoy it again. I enjoy every day now more than I use to. It's from getting old I guess. I know my days are numbered and they are running out. We all need to make sure we enjoy each day we get here as we never know which one will be our last.