November 05, 2015 - Msg 103161: Haha GF!! More later,
mdc
November 05, 2015 - Msg 103162: Well, since RO is cleaning her closet, I decided to clean up the porch!!
November 06, 2015 - Msg 103163:
Romeena, I did not realize that most of the clutter you have are personal items that only have value to members of your family.

To all you Do-It-Yourselfers, I was considering renting a demolition hammer to remove some very old kitchen flooring. Since I never used one before, I decided to search YouTube for some instructions, and this is what I found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujExJN6jYgU

from Poor Horatio
November 06, 2015 - Msg 103164: .... Ha Ha PH, wonder if this comes in a cordless version?...lol
November 06, 2015 - Msg 103165: Hahaha! PH, that's hilarious! Actually, he was making some progress. Imagine what he could do if he turned it on...

Ted used a hammer like that one to remove the old Saltillo tile in my entryway, when I decided to replace it with a light color. The old tile was dark brown, nearly an inch thick - Spanish style. Beautiful, but dark. He said he didn't think the tile had been set, he thought it had just grown there, because it was so hard to get out. It took him nearly two days. The stuff would eventually succumb to the jack-hammering, and a little piece about the size of the palm of my hand would finally break off. It was quite a job. Whoever put it down in the first place meant for it to stay. It was so pretty, but just too dark. It was "the thing" when we chose it, but styles change, and I was ready to lighten up that area of the house.

Well, the office just plunked a new assignment on me, a patient that I'll see every other day for the entire month of November. I've seen him before, and he's a sweetheart, but every other day is quite a commitment. Oh well. He needs help, and I can use the money. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
November 06, 2015 - Msg 103166: Well now, what a dandy tool that Makita is PH. lol Actually I think the way he used it is better than traditional ways with a Makita. I guess you can say I am not a big Makita fan. Now if it was a Bosch.... I love those Bosch tools.
Speaking of tools, I am looking for investors for a new tool I have invented. The worlds first reversible jig saw! I think it will be a huge hit. Anyone interested in investing? :)

Still off work with the gout in my knee. This one has been a bad one. Finally starting to loosen up this morning a bit. Usually the medicine will kick in within 24 hours. But this one has been over 48 hours, with several doses. Oh well, at least it's improving. And GF, If I could get Dixie to look at it, it might be worth the pain. She was a purty thing to gaze upon for sure.

I saw Dennis the Menaces Dad on Adam 12 yesterday. I also Otis Campbell on one, as a drunk driver no less. I guess Andy's scare tactic didn't stay with him.

I have some decluttering to do also. It is hard, because my wife was really into crafts and things when she was healthy. But now she just can't do much of anything. I hate trying to get rid of the stuff, because I think it really saddens her, but it really needs to go. My daughters have taken some of the stuff they can use, but not much. So I have an almost new kiln for firing ceramics I want to sell, and a bunch of molds. I just don't know how to go about pricing the stuff. Anyone have any ideas?

I made a roast in the crock pot yesterday while limping around. Came out pretty decent I think. I just saw a chicken and noodle soup slow cooker idea I may try next weekend. That is one of the nice things about the cooler weather. Soups, stews, and chili all sound so good.

Sorry about your teams loss last night GF. The Bengals are sitting pretty at 8 and 0 though. Every time I see the Browns, I can't help but think of that play-off game they had with the Raiders back in 1980 or 81. Cold and miserable, and one ill advised pass from Sipe that was intercepted in the end zone. A classic game for sure.

Well guess I'll go watch some television for a while. Getting close to watching some Christmas movies. Boo, you better get on here so we can have our movie quotes. Unless you are thinking you are to fra-gee-leeee to participate. :)

Asa
November 06, 2015 - Msg 103167:
Asa, I can tell you how to learn what pre-owned kilns have sold for. Follow the steps below:
#1 - Go to eBay.com
#2 - Click on the ADVANCED link located to the right of the blue SEARCH button.
#3 - In the rectangle of the top section where is says "Enter keywords or item number", type POTTERY KILNS
#4 - Scroll down the page a little and click in the square to the left of SOLD LISTINGS
#5 - Click on the blue SEARCH button
You will get a listing of anything associated with Pottery Kilns that has sold in the past 90 days including the price they sold for. All the sold prices appear in a dark green color.

from Poor Horatio
November 06, 2015 - Msg 103168: Maybe Asa can go into making clay "Peace Pipes"... This world sure needs alota Peace these days!
Could be a good retirement hobby...

Asa I gotta tell you this one, I stopped into one of my sites to say "Howdy" to my old crew.... Guess what their dilemma was today?.... Yep the TACO pump for the domestic hot water went out!...lol. AND they can't get the parts until Monday! I just laughed cuz I ALWAYS had a rebuilt spare on hand... Yep we tried to tell'em didn't we?.... Worse part it is a 100 unit elderly high-rise.... No Happy Campers there today!... But, not my circus, not my monkey!... I feel bad for my residents, because of poor planning on maintenances part. That's what happens when you put people in charge of making decisions that have NO knowledge of Maintenance.....

My favorite saying was, "The cost of the drama is far greater than the cost of the task!".... Feel free to use that one when dealing with your bean counters 💰💰💰

G-Former Maintenance Guy 🔧🛠
November 06, 2015 - Msg 103169: Just stopped by to say " Hey!"- gotta read the archives from the past few days & get caught up. Hope everyone is doing well! I'll sit & rock with y'all later!

***********
possum u.a.r.
November 06, 2015 - Msg 103170: Hey, our resident POSSUM popped out from under her 70s psychedelic rock to say Hey! Well, Hey right back atcha! Good to see you rocking.
GF--similar story, different business...I was an office manager for a 100 employee office for my last eight years of working, kept the office running like a well oiled machine to relate it to your former work. ha Well anyway, I retired about two years ago, and after the first 7 months, I went back to visit, and everyone's first response was "Boy are we good to see you!!" Then came the "this is not working, been thru 3 OMs since you left, two of the eight printers are down", etc, etc! I said the same thing..good luck with all that! haha
Yup, we tried to tell'em GF. Bengals 8-0, wow!
Hey ALL, I made a meat loaf last night, and it turned out pretty good. Now that our weather is colder than Cleveland (per GF) I am back to trying more hot dishes. We had a very cool week in the 60s-70s.
PH and ASA--trivia for ya--How many different Mr Wilsons and Mrs Wilsons were there during the run of the show?
Prayers,
MDC
November 07, 2015 - Msg 103171: Nice to be wanted, ain't it, MDC?

On sort of a related note, just finished watching "Andy The Matchmaker" where Andy tries to make Barney feel important so that he'll ask out Miss Rosemary. Barney had me laughing after he brought in that drifter thinking he was the thief in the robbery of the drug store(which never took place - just the story that Andy and Ellie hatched for Barney), and Barney was explaining the situation, waving the gun in Andy's face as he spoke. Ha ha! Then getting all excited when he found out that the guy was actually wanted in another town for another crime, so Barney shakes the guys hand in his excitement. It's those little things that just happen in an instant and you might not catch if you are not watching close enough. But Don was a master of those little comic touches.

Since I am done watching Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., sadly, I am going between watching Star Trek:TNG and recently just started watching TAGS. And tonight I watched a couple episodes, including the one I just spoke of. I love watching on NetFlix, and am glad TAGS is on there. The picture is pretty crisp, and what I love the most is no commercials, so, I think, the episodes are mostly intact.

Asa, about the arts and crafts stuff you are trying to sell, I was going to tell you to look them up on the internet to see what others go for, but I see Poor Horatio has already addressed that, and his is good advice. Whenever I need to sell something I always look up what others are selling for on places like Ebay.
Prayers for your wife. I do feel for her, watching things she cherished being sold, and for you too because that has to be a tough thing to do when you love someone.

Poor Horatio, thank you for asking about Kai's algebra. I don't really know what to tell you about how it is going. Sometimes she says it is real easy and she even gets her assignments done at school. But she still seems to be having trouble whenever she gets the Slope Intercept Form questions with the graphs. And I don't blame her because those things boggle my mind as well.

Hey possum! Hope you are well.

-Sterling Holobyte


November 07, 2015 - Msg 103172: MDC, Yep your story sounds familiar!.... The problem in my opinion is the work environment these days just contribute to people's I don't care attitude. My finding is your job is what WE make it!.. If you go to work hating to be there, you will get just what you are looking for, but if you have a positive attitude it is contagious. Alota times I felt I shoulda got "cheerleader" pay, but I did find FOOD worked wonders in keeping moral up! Yep, "soup days" sure helped, folks just need to know they are appreciated, and will perform accordingly I have found.
With out that, it's just a JOB for them... If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always gotten....10-4?

Also MDC, our weather is back to Ohio "normal"...lol

Glad also to see Possum pop up from under her rock! I suppose with fall being here, here she's looking for insulated rocks....

Asa, hope you're feelin' a bit better and that "Wheelertime" helped you out buddy...

G-F
November 07, 2015 - Msg 103173: Good morning all.

I hope everyone is fine and dandy.

Yes indeed GF, when you have bean counters running the show, things seem to go wrong in a hurry. I have been blessed for the most part in that my job allows me a certain level of freedom to make decisions that I feel are important for things to function in the correct manner. I like to think that because I have been doing it for 30 years now, and hopefully doing it well, the company I work for trusts my choices. I'm certainly not claiming perfection in all I do, but I have a system I use to organize the jobs I do based on safety, importance, and time sensitivity. And I agree with the good attitude thing. It makes a world of difference. Not just for yourself, but those around you also. Although still a bit stiff, my knee is much improved thank you. I am hoping to get out there today and get these leaves picked up.

Thanks for those nice sentiments for my wife and I Sterling. I appreciate her attitude in that she doesn't spend her time wallowing around in self pity. She will have a bad day every now and then when she gets sick and tired of always being sick and tired. But for the most part, she keeps a stiff upper.

Great to see you Possum. You need to get out from under that rock more often.

Thanks for the idea P.H. I will check that out. I admit that I hate selling stuff. I don't know why. But it just is such a pain. I really need to put it all together and have a garage sale I suppose, but it seems like so much work for so little profit. I did one years ago, and swore I wouldn't do it again. You already have things marked down to hardly nothing, just so you can get rid of them, and yet you still have yahoos who want to try and talk you down even more. I know that's the game, but I tire of it quickly. Maybe once I retire, I can devote more time to it.

Well now MDC, I am no Dennis the Menace expert, but it seems like I remember maybe two different Mr. Wilsons. Wasn't Gordon Gale one of them? I don't know the name of the other fellow without looking it up. And I can only remember the one Mrs. Wilson.

Well better get moving. I need to go shopping this morning. Our store opens at 6 a.m. And I am usually right there when they open the doors. I hate crowds. Then I have washing to do. And take the wife up for an infusion, and then hopefully suck up some leaves.

Prayers for all.

Asa
November 07, 2015 - Msg 103174: Shopping,washing, infusion, suck up leaves, don't forget to cook something to eat... Yep it's a fun day!..
November 07, 2015 - Msg 103175: Good morning, porch! It's good to see everyone up and going this morning. Toye Starr and I slept until about 8, then she decided it was time to get up, so we did. It's hard to sleep when there's a tiny, cold nose nudging you. When she stuck that little nose in my ear, and exhaled a big old warm sigh, I knew it was time to get up! Good grief!

I played bunco with my friends last night, and the hostess has a little dachshund. He is the cutest thing! There's just something about the way a dachshund looks when they're running around. Their ears stick out to the side, and flap around when they run, and their little legs are so short under that long body, so their gait is weird - they're just cute! He's a friendly little fellow too, and figured out that I'm dog-friendly, so I got a lot of his attention. Most of us like dogs, but there are a couple who don't, and they would shy away from him. He soon figured out to leave them alone. I declare, I just cannot understand how anyone can not love a friendly little dog. Or a friendly big dog, for that matter. In fact, a big dog who thinks he's a lapdog can be hilarious, like our Bentley.

Asa, here's how you handle the garage sale thing. You price everything just a little above what you expect to get for it. If it's a small item, worth 50¢, you price it at 75¢, and let them talk you down. If it's a $10 item, price it at $15, and again, let them talk you down. They feel like they've won, and you got your actual price. Once in a while, someone will actually pay the price you marked! It's all a big game.

I remember when the head of engineering retired at the hospital, and a new, eager-beaver took over. Mike had just installed reostats on all the light fixtures (can lights) in our new-mom rooms, so they could have a low-light environment for the babies. The patients loved it! Well, the new guy came in and decided we needed to go green, so he changed all the light bulbs in those cans to the new (at that time) CFL bulbs. Of course, the very first night, the desk started getting calls from the patients that their lights weren't working. "We turn them on, dim them down and they go out." I wasn't working those first two nights, but I heard all about it. Seems they had called engineering and had several bulbs replaced, but they still didn't work right. Well, I had just had the same experience with one of my renters who had changed the bulbs in his fireplace spots and became convinced there was something wrong with the wiring. Ted had checked it out, and told me what the problem was. So when I got to work on that third night, everybody thought I was a genius when I explained the problem! Haha! You take credit wherever you can get it, right? Engineering was a bit embarrassed, but grateful to know what the problem was. They changed the bulbs back to standard floods, and all was well.

Well, gotta run. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
November 07, 2015 - Msg 103176: Exactillioso RO and GF!

November 08, 2015 - Msg 103177: Good Sabbath all. I hope the new day finds you all well.

Yep Ro, them CFL's won't work on dimmer switches. Well some will now days, but the CFL's just aren't that good a light IMNSHO. Especially if you add into the equation they have some mercury in them and so disposing of them properly is problematic. But you pointed out something that I have found to be so true, and that is learning from real technicians on what works and what doesn't and why and why not. I have always looked at those who have worked in the field for years and tried to learn from them. You may have noticed how I am always asking GF's thoughts on things. I know that he, having worked hands on with things for all the years he has, can enlighten me greatly. I have found that most (not all) engineers I have ever dealt with, are highly over rated, especially in their own minds. They think having that degree makes them experts, and I can tell you this, anyone who has that attitude isn't worth a plug nickel in my book. I have worked in my field for almost 40 years, and still learn things every day if I don't get to puffed up with myself and think I know it all already. Usually every time I get that way, I get humbled in a hurry.

And you know me. I love the mini doxies. Barney is our third one. My Son just adopted a rescue doxie that had been abused. I am proud of him doing that.

Well I am staying away from preaching today. Still taking some of the gout medicine, and that keeps me tethered to the porcelain if you catch my drift. If not, ask GF, He's an HVAC guy. :)

Asa
November 08, 2015 - Msg 103178: Lol Asa, thanks for the kind words, I too have listened and watched others who were in the "know". I have found by watching and listening to smart people always was a better teacher than books. It's called "Real World 101" Amen? When I look back to when I started out as a "kid" in the business and to where I was at the end of my career it kinda makes me proud!. Yep, sometimes it's feels good to be "The Man".... Lol
The type of work I did ranged from HVAC to working on those porcelain devices that you spoke of..lol and everything in between.... I guess Gods gift to me was good hands and "common" sense... Yep, the calluses on my hands are worth more to me than a certificate on the wall....Amen?

Take it easy again today Buddy, and get some more "Wheelertime" in, you deserve it!

Have a Good Day Folks.... G-F 👍
November 08, 2015 - Msg 103179: ASA, RO and GF--excellent points! Another term comes to mind..the College of Hard Knocks! ha
A semester or two there always helps. :)
My Cards are off today, and ASU's season is shot,
so it's just me and the missus going to play mini-golf today! Perfect weather for it too. If I could only time my swing to the windmill blades!! harhar
Prayed for all porchsters needs at preachin'. I told my pastor afterwards to keep up the stong words! We can't water down the gospel, we need to be salt and light in this crazy world. amen
Good Sabbath to all,
MDC
November 08, 2015 - Msg 103180: Hey MDC is your mini golf playing like this? ⛳️http://youtu.be/xcITxTZb5FU Good on ya guys!..G-F
November 08, 2015 - Msg 103181: Hi I am good
November 08, 2015 - Msg 103182: Gizzmo......
November 08, 2015 - Msg 103183: Hello gang...we hace had one half of a day without rain in about two weeks and gona get a small break wed then back at it...so dreary and temp in the 50"s with wind whew...well here at work all night salmon pattys and bisquits ready here...prayers to all...hello Gizzmo,Romeena,possum,asa,MDC and all....SPOT
November 08, 2015 - Msg 103184: GF--those two have WAY too much time on their hands!! ha
Hey to gizmo, good to see you. How is TOM?
MDC


November 08, 2015 - Msg 103185:
I forgot to add one important explanation in my Msg 103167. When using eBay to find prices for items, it is much better to search the sold listings rather than the initial listings. All initial listings indicate what the seller wants for the item. But sold listings indicate what someone was willing to pay for an item. That is why when I want to find out what I should sell an item for, I only check the sold listings.

MDC, regarding your Dennis the Menace trivia question in Msg 103170, the first Wilsons were named George and Martha. The second Wilsons were named John and Eloise. I believe the change took place in season 3 after Joseph Kearns (who played George Wilson) passed away and was replaced by Gale Gordon (who played John Wilson). I’m not sure if Mrs Wilson was changed at the same time or a few episodes later. I remembered Joseph Kearns name because I had read his online biography a few weeks ago. And I remember Gale Gordon playing the banker Mr. Mooney on the color Lucy shows.

Sterling Holobyte, I am quite good at solving slope-intercept (y=mx+b) problems, so if Kai needs help, do not hesitate to email me.

Asa, when you mentioned about over rated engineers, allow me to offer a personal example. I have a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree. After graduation, while on active duty in the Navy, I was getting a ride from a fellow Naval officer. When he learned about my degree, he said he had a relatively simple electronic question that he wanted explained. The question was “What is a ground?”. Although I made an attempt, I could not explain the answer in layman’s terms so that he, a non-engineer, could understand it. When I was in school, I accepted the fact that grounding existed and was necessary, but I never asked for a detailed explanation such as how can you have both positive and negative potentials above and below ground. As a result of this embarrassing incident, I did more research and was surprised I could not find a direct answer. However, I was able to discover supporting evidence that allowed me to develop my own explanation that a layman could understand. My friend informed me that every other engineer he has asked this question to also could not answer it the first time he asked them.

from Poor Horatio
November 08, 2015 - Msg 103186: I thought you were in law enforcement. I didn't know you was an engineer PH. I hope I didn't offend you, but I did say most (not all) engineers I didn't have much use for. Most that I have dealt with are very pretentious and arrogant and talk down to us "laymen". Because it looks good on paper, doesn't always equate to a practical application. But rather than admit that, most will try and offer all types of fancy explanations of why their design was a failure that they attribute to an application flaw rather than a poor design.

MDC, So who won the golf tournament. And don't say your wife did because you had rental shoes or some excuse like that. :)

Hey GF, At least an Ohio team won this week in football. I was watching a special on Chip Davis (Mannheim Steamroller) today. Although he today is from Nebraska, he was born and raised in Ohio. Anywhere near you? I'm not remembering where in Ohio.

Asa
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103187:
Asa, there is no need to apologize. My example was meant to support your comments.
And yes, I also did serve as a volunteer auxiliary police officer, part-time, for over ten years. Because there was no funding available to send us part-timers to attend the police academy like the full-time officers were required to attend, we only were able to attend bi-weekly training classes set up for part-time officers. However, I supplemented this training by using my G.I. Bill benefits to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice.

from Poor Horatio
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103188: Globe magazine stupid article about the stars of tags I assume was taken from the new book Andy and Don by Don Knotts brother in law. It would be great if Betty Lynn would make a comment about the truths in this book.
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103189: As far as the Andy & Don book is concerned. .... I'm giving it "The Big Freeze"..I really don't need to know Mayberry dirt... I read a sample of it on iBooks. I'd kinda like to keep the "Mayberry State of Mind" pure, there is already so much trash out there already!... Just my opinion..... I realize that both men were dealing with the same issues, temptations, ect. as the rest of us, that's what makes Mayberry so special, it kept us in a cocoon of a better, and simpler times!....10-4?

Asa, I looked up where that guy was from, he was from a small town in N.W. Ohio. Hope your flare-up is being extinguished and you can get back to a normal day.
BTW it's cold here today so tater soup will be on cookin here shortly, Soooo it's "Soup for You!" 🍲 Just don't yell "MEAT" cuz there ain't none.... Just yell "BREAD" I'll have a loaf of that Frenchy bread to go with it....Ok Buddy? Anyone else, just jump right in and hold on! But no elbows on the table, Mrs. G-F has a wooden spoon....lol

G-F
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103190: Uh-oh, The Mrs. has a spoon and knows how to use it? That's a scary combination brother. I'll be sure to bring my best manners I got for such an occasion as the seasons first tater soup. Such an auspicious occasion as the seasons first soup should be reason enough to be on my best behavior. I'll come clean and reverent buddy. I am going back to work today, although I still have some swelling around the knee, it is much improved. I should be ok as long as I don't have to do anything to much kneeling for a few days. Boy, I can't do much bent over because of my back. I can't do much kneeling because of my knees. I'm kinda running out of options here. If I end up with hemorrhoids I'm gonna be in big trouble. :)

I had heard about the book, but didn't know it had some negative things in it.

It sounds like you are highly educated PH. An engineering degree and one in criminal justice. Cousin Virgil should have consulted you before cleaning up those cell keys. LOL

Well better get going. We have a warm before the storm day going on today. Supposed to get rain and maybe a little snow tonight and tomorrow and cool down bunches.

Prayers for all.

Asa
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103191: ....No Asa, don't be scared.... That wooden spoon is a cooking utensil so you're safe! Lol.
Lord I apologize.....😇 G-F
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103192: Good morning, porch! It's a chilly, gray, dreary-looking day here on my end of the porch. The temp is just 55°, and the house is cooling down. I hate to turn the furnace on, but I may have to. It's silly to sit here shivering, and poor little Toye Starr is cold too, I'm sure. After all, she's on the floor! I wouldn't mind switching over - it's just a couple of buttons on the thermostat - but this cold spell won't last, and I hate to start that on again-off again routine. It will be furnace today, a/c tomorrow, furnace the day after that. Leaves haven't even turned color yet! Our weather is so weird.

Asa, you are so funny! Try to avoid sitting on cold concrete - my grandma used to tell us that would give us hemorrhoids! Not sure where she got her information - probably from her grandma.

PH, no wonder you're so knowledgeable, and I must say, your education was worth every penny!

The squirrels are out in force this morning. There must be at least six of them in my back yard. It's hard to say, because they're in constant motion, but I can see five separate trees from my window, and there's at least one squirrel on each tree. And that's just in MY yard! There are several in my neighbors' trees as well. I think it's an invasion!

My daughter brought me a coffee mug that's just so cute. There's a picture of a chubby squirrel, with his little front paws sort of folded across his round little belly. He's looking up with a cute, somewhat apologetic expression on his face, and he's saying "Excuse me, but your bird feeder is empty!" You gotta love 'em!

Well, Eloise and I are taking lunch and spending part of the day with a friend who had a knee replacement a couple of weeks ago. My Sunday School class has kept a schedule, with somebody going by every weekday with lunch, and staying with her until she settles down for a nap in the afternoon. Her daughter lives here, but works long hours during the week. She takes over on the weekend, but one of our women is staying with her at night during the week, and the rest of us keep her fed and looked-after during the week. This woman had a major back surgery about three years ago, with an incision from the base of her neck all the way to the "great divide." She has rods in her back, and other hardware. Her knee had gotten so bad she was walking with it bent, which threw her whole body out of alignment, and was threatening the integrity of the spinal framework she has. She's already walking much better, and some developing back issues are resolving! Looking after her is fun. She's very upbeat, is a born clown and keeps everyone laughing. Kind heart, faithful Christian friend - it's a privilege to help her through this. She's one of a kind.

Well, better get moving. I'm sitting here shivering, guess I'll break down and turn the furnace on. Oh well. I'm grateful I have a furnace to be turned on! Blessings, friends. --Romeena
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103193: ....Soups On!...Y'all bring your spoons! But it always tastes better the next day as a repeat meal...
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103194: You're right, G-F. Things like soup and stew always taste better the second day, which absolutely compels me to ask this question. If that's true, why don't we just make the meal a day before we plan to eat it, and then it's good the first time, as well as the second time. --Romeena
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103195: Well GF, I just might have a bowl today and one tomorrow and judge it for my own self. (burp)

I have heard that about sitting on cold things Ro. I will try not to do that. Although the seat on my Kubota gets pretty cold on them winter days when I need to move snow. I reckon I just better wear thicker underwear on those days. But I prefer to keep it a whim, so they wont be clean underwear. :)

Survived my first day back at work. Whew!

Asa
November 09, 2015 - Msg 103196: Let us NOT forget our Veterans http://youtu.be/eEs4ke7cdNQ Be sure to thank all the Veterans for their service and sacrifices that we may enjoy the freedoms that we often take for granted.🇺🇸
November 10, 2015 - Msg 103197: Morning gang out first day with no rain in a week ! let me get started here at work..SPOT

November 10, 2015 - Msg 103198:
Wow. Whomever posted that link in Msg 103196 really touched this veteran's heart and made the tears flow. Please listen to the words of that speech as the speaker compares military personnel (who fight the wars) with politicians (who send the troops off to war).

from Poor Horatio
November 10, 2015 - Msg 103199: Yes PH, I thought the same thing when I posted it... Not enough can be said for our gratitude to all ho served!

G-F 🇺🇸
November 10, 2015 - Msg 103200: Amen! I forwarded that address to my address list. You'll be getting a copy, because you're on that list. Thanks for this. It's absolutely great. --Romeena
November 10, 2015 - Msg 103201: Hi all! Happy Veterans Day to all porch vets and Happy Remembrance Day (Canada) This will be the first one with my dad no longer here, but thank God we have Memorial Day for him now! :) Even tho I am not a vet, I tell people that "I missed being one by THAT much!" During Vietnam's lottery draft I got a very low number in it's second year, and i went down to the recruiting station, went thru my physical (tho not quite Ernest T Bass style), and was all set to go. Well, that same month, they started the big draw down, and I never got called up to go.
RO--that was real nice of you ladies to help with the care of your friend from church. Real nice. And to answer your
soup/stew question...it's because it would mess up the whole space/time continuum! haha We may end up eating tomorrow's leftovers today!?! Say what? :)
SPOT--glad to hear that your showers have let up. How are you and your missus doing??
RO--any more word on our project.
Prayers for all,
MDC
November 11, 2015 - Msg 103202:
G-F my favorite line in that video link you posted in Msg 103196 is "Should you find yourself in danger with your enemies at hand, would you want a politician with his ever shifting stand? Or would you prefer a soldier who has sworn to defend his home, his kin and country and would fight until the end?"

from Poor Horatio
November 11, 2015 - Msg 103203: Yep PH, that is a good line!... I often think about all of the "personal" stories that you don't ever hear, the ones lot of Vet's take to the grave with them, those are the ones you Don't hear at the VFW. Because those are the hellish ones that are true!
I know most Vet's just would just like to hear a simple "Thank You!"..... A lot of them never hear those simple words.....

I think it is great that a lot of places honor our Vet's today with a "free" meal just to say: "Thank You"..and I don't mean "C" rations either!....

Just Sayin'..... G-F 🇺🇸
November 11, 2015 - Msg 103204: http://time.com/money/3576323/veterans-day-restaurants-freebies-deals/
November 11, 2015 - Msg 103205:

G-F, I believe why many combat veterans don't like to reminisce is because many times, they were forced into situations where they witnessed, or performed acts that they are not proud of.
Many of us human beings find it difficult to take a life of another human being. Killing an enemy just because they have different beliefs, wears a different uniform, and because our politicians give us the green light can and does bother many of us. It is much easier to pull the trigger than to analyze any encounter. But we all have to live with the consequences of our actions and some of us can't handle that.
Thank you to all my comrades in arms who sacrificed comfort to serve.
In addition to the free meals some restaurants are offering, there is a quick oil change business that is offering free oil changes to veterans.

from Poor Horatio
November 11, 2015 - Msg 103206: I too am glad for the restaurants and businesses who say thank you to the vets by offering free meals or services. Also, if a mother may be permitted to voice a bit of pride - both of my sons will pay for a serviceman's meal now and then. Just last week, Eloise and I were having lunch with David and Brittney, and David called the waitress over and said something to her that we couldn't hear. It was none of my business, so I paid no attention. In a few minutes, she returned to the table and told David, where we could hear, that "the man keeps asking me who paid for his meal - shall I tell him?" David told her not to, and she didn't, but David explained that he had told her to give him the check for a serviceman in uniform across the room. David wasn't even going to tell us, but he had no choice after the waitress asked him in front of us. I know my older son has done the same thing - makes me proud of my boys.

I have had one busy day! I left home at 9 a.m., and got home at 6:20 p.m. Teaching ESL, a home health visit, several errands to complete, and took Eloise into Dallas for a CT scan, because she wouldn't be able to drive afterward. She had to take a lot of Benadryl because of a possible dye allergy, so she was pretty drowsy. I've got some chicken legs in the broiler, and some asparagus and rice to go with them, and I'm set!

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
November 12, 2015 - Msg 103207: I feel kind of embarrassed to bring this up on this Veteran's Day, because I know of the huge sacrifice they made for us, but I could really use some prayer warriors big time right now.
Kai seemed to be ok when I picked her up from school. Then later after my wife got home it seemed to just go downhill. Kai was ornery, my wife got mad at her, which made her close off even more. Then Kai kicked Noah when he was bugging her and then she went upstairs.
Didn't eat supper, even though when I was making it she said she liked it. Then after supper, she said she was going for a walk. I had just thrown my clothes in the wash so I had to quickly get something else to wear(my summer shorts). I took off after her a while later, and couldn't find her. I thought she might just have walked over to my parent's but she wasn't there. Finally called her and managed to find her. She didn't have an umbrella and it was raining, and was wearing a sweater which I am sure soaked up a lot of rain.
By the time we were walking back home it had thankfully stopped raining, because I am sure she wouldn't have used the umbrella I brought her.
She wouldn't tell me what was wrong, but did mention school again, but wouldn't tell me if anything bad happened or anything like that. I asked her if she wanted to talk to someone since she didn't want to talk to me or her mom, and of course she said no. I asked then who would you talk to. And she said, someone not in the school, so that is why I knew it was the school thing again.

Oh lawww, Romeena, if this is because of her hormones I wish they would get done with what they have to do and leave us all in peace.

After she got home, later on, she started throwing stuff in her room, so I came up to talk to her, told her I wished she would eat because that I think would help her thinking some, and also that I wished she would talk to the pastor. She was just negative nelly and said nothing like that, or anything else I suggested to her, would help. She also specified that "mom doesn't help." I told her that different people have different ways of coping with things and her mom is just trying to push her in the right direction. Even though even I don't think my wife's impatience and combatative nature helps with this.
I swear, I don't know what to say to that girl anymore. I try to tell her she needs to stop being negative and think of the good things, but she says she has heard that all before and it doesn't help.
Then again later, she came downstairs(it was almost 11:00 by now) and I thought maybe she wanted to talk some more since I told her we could talk more downstairs if she'd like. Or I hopefully thought she wanted something to eat, but we did talk for a while, and then after I told her if she wasn't going to eat she needed to go to bed, she shook her head no, and said she wasn't going to school tomorrow. I told her yes she is, and have been telling her that she can't run away from her problems.

I went to the bathroom to calm myself, and then came out and told her to get to bed and do not give me any problems tomorrow. I probably shouldn't have but I told her that I have to deal with a lot too, like her mom saying that she is blaming me for mental illness on my side of the family(mostly my sister, emotional stuff), which she did just tonight. So I told her again, do not cause any problems tomorrow. I love her, we will work through this, but do not give me any problems.

She went up to bed, but I do have some dread for tomorrow, especially after she said she wasn't going. Looks like I need to rest on the Lord again and trust Him to keep my own spirits up about whatever happens tomorrow. And pray that Kai gets His strength to get through what she is going through. I picked up her Bible and turned to a favorite chapter of mine, Psalm 27, which I have told her to read before when she was scared about something. I should read it too again.

Prayers for Kai, please.

Sorry for coming here just for that, but it is really late now and I need to get to bed. But first I need to put away the laundry that I had going. Thought it would be done by now, but I got sidetracked.

-Sterling Holobyte


November 12, 2015 - Msg 103208: Morning porch, raining on my end of the porch this morning and chilly. I am awake and vertical tho and at work.

Sterling: I am sorry Kai is struggling so which adds to your struggles as well. I am sure other porch friends have already told you that teen aged girls are a breed of their own. Most are temperamental from about age 12 to about 17 or 18.
Attitude and mood can change from moment to moment and sometimes they don't even know what is bothering them or why they feel the way they do. Some times even simple things can set them in a
mood. In some cases it seems that daughters and mothers have the most conflict during those years. I sometimes thought my daughter had 2 heads and had been possessed (just kidding about the possessed part) but someday's I wanted to run away myself and could not figure out what I was doing wrong but eventually things got better and now at 21 she is a joy to be around. Kai will figure things out and be ok. You have given her all the tools she needs but she has to do the work. Sometimes they do need an objective person to talk to outside their family. I sometimes see teen aged girls in my counseling practice because they think no one else "gets" them. I Know you did not ask for my 2 cents but as a Mom of a daughter and being a therapist for 32 years I thought my thoughts might help a bit.

Hope everyone else is doing well.
Everyone have a blessed day.
Big Maude
November 12, 2015 - Msg 103209: Good morning, porch! Oh, Sterling, you do have a difficult situation right now, and I pray for you and your family. I don't pretend to know all that's involved, but I do know that Kai's age has a lot to do with it. She wants to be so grown up, wants to be treated like an adult and given the freedoms and autonomy of an adult, but she's really still a child, and in truth, still wants to be a little girl at times. A hint is in what you said - "Then Kai kicked Noah when he was bugging her and then she went upstairs." She kicked her little brother? A very childish response, not something a grown-up would do, but very typical of a child. Right now, she's just "stuck in the middle", between childhood and maturity. The worst part is, there's just not much you can do but fasten your seatbelt and hang on for the ride. I remember a tantrum I threw when I was about fourteen, said some awful things to my sweet aunt (who lived with us) and who was never anything but good to me, like a second mother. She just deflected it, left me alone for a while, and later I apologized. I still regret it. The teen years, especially the early teens, are very difficult for a girl. For boys, most of the problems come along in the mid-to-late teens, while girls often reach a decent level of maturity by the late teens. For example, I was married at eighteen, and it was a good, solid marriage. My brother, on the other hand, at eighteen was still more impressed by the roar of his car's engine, and whether any girls were watching, than anything else.

Now, that's not to say that there aren't deeper issues here, and I strongly suspect there are. There's something going on at school, either in reality or in Kai's imagination. Maybe you could go and visit with some of her teachers (without Kai's knowledge) and see if they can offer any insights. If you know a good Christian counselor, it might be time to explore that path. Kai may object, but she doesn't get to choose. Make her aware that her behavior is causing problems in the family, you love her and are concerned for her, and it's your right and responsibility as her father to seek help. And pray. A lot.

Well, guess I'd better get busy. Got more errands to run today, and one patient to see. It shouldn't take long. Blessings, friends! --Romeena