November 01, 2016 - Msg 106026: Good morning, porch. G-F, I'm glad you made it through the service, and I don't know anyone who can watch a Color Guard ceremony and hear Taps played without "watering up." Taps especially will reduce me to sobs and I don't even have to know the person involved! How on earth just 24 notes played on a trumpet can evoke so much emotion I don't know, but it does. You should never apologize for your emotions. I think the dirtiest trick society has ever played on men is to convince them that real men don't cry or get emotional. God gave us tears for a reason. I once saw this on a church marquee - "Tears are a language that God understands." I love that.

Robbi and Richard are here, and we're having such a great time. Robbi is doing the cooking, and let me tell you, that girl knows her way around a kitchen! She made her version of chicken tortilla soup last night, and it was sooooo good!

We had a lot of trick or treaters, and it was fun. We made make-shift jack-o-lanterns out of milk jugs (very cute) and put them on the driveway, and the three of us sat on the driveway in lawn chairs and handed out the candy. We saw some great costumes and some absolutely adorable kids. One tiny girl, with little cat whiskers drawn on her face and the end of her nose blackened with eyebrow pencil - nothing more but she was so cute she didn't need anything else. We had a lot of probable illegals, of course, and they were so nice. The adults were very shy, the children even more so, but not one child was allowed to take the candy without saying thank you. The parents saw to that! They would either say "say thank you" or "dile gracias" but it was the same either way. The children didn't just dive into the candy bowl, either, or if they did reach in, they would take just one piece. We would just scoop up a handful and drop it in their bag, and were rewarded every time with a big sweet smile. After the rush ended, we were still sitting out there, just talking, about ready to call it quits, when one more young dad, looking pretty tired and desperate, showed up, with a little three year old boy, in his little Batman costume. I think we were the only house on the block that hadn't shut down, and he said he was so glad to see us. Seems he had to work late, and had just gotten out on the street with his little boy, who had been waiting all day, and they weren't finding many people still welcoming them. Needless to say, that little boy got a double handful! Such fun.

Robbi and Richard brought their two dogs with them, and I'm so glad. They brought old Whoozit, an elderly but still gorgeous golden retriever, who is just the sweetest old love sponge you could ever meet. They also brought Bexar (pronounced "bear") who is a very odd mix, not sure what she is, but she's adorable. They got her through the Bexar County Chihuahua rescue, but you don't see much chihuahua in her. Several people have said they think she's got some American dingo in her background, and they may be right. Whatever - she's cute as can be, very loving, and a ball of energy. She's about to wear Toye Starr out! All three dogs get along very well, no fighting. When one gets tired of it all, a sharp bark is all it takes, and everybody goes to a neutral corner. Gotta love it!

Well, off I go. Blessings, all. --Romeena
November 01, 2016 - Msg 106027: I didn't do that. I think Whoozit swept it with her big old tail. --Romeena
November 01, 2016 - Msg 106028: Hip replacement, MDC? Shazaam! Praying that goes well. As I recall, when my mom had one at age 85, things went well enough. You should do great at your young age. I also have a good friend with RA who has had two or three of them already and she is 57. She has done well through it all.

Wow ASA! I am impressed. Can you share your chili recipe, or are you wanting to keep it a secret? I would sure like to have it.

Yes, had an ok Halloween. I had worked all day and was tired but only had to make the cornbread when I got home to go along with the soup that I had put in the crock pot. That soup was good! I didn't do a lot after that. I dropped Erin off at one of her friend's homes so she and a group could do some trick or treating in that neighborhood. She really had a good time gallivanting around town and has a big bag of candy to show for it. When I mentioned that she and her friends are a bit old for it, she said that at one door they showed up at, the lady said, "Ya'll look 20. I should have given you whiskey and cigarettes". haha They didn't even have real costumes. They wore white trash bags and went as "white trash". Good grief.

Sean went out last night, too. One of his instructors at school always invites a group of his best students out to eat at Hooters every year (don't know why its Hooters). Anyway, it was an honor so Sean went. He said the waitresses were dressed and there were actually little kids in the place, so it was ok. He doesn't drink so I didn't have to worry about that.

Susan came by and had some soup with me but she didn't stay too long. Pretty calm night, all in all.

Sounds like you had a terrific Halloween, Ro! I wish we got trick or treaters but we don't on our particular street. I sure used to when we lived in Portland in a regular neighborhood. I always enjoyed giving out candy.

Well, been working on Sean with his math and I am getting pretty ready to quit. Still have four weeks of it left.

Better get some chores done around here. I just finished deep cleaning my bathroom and it sparkles. Now, on to the dusting and laundry.

Boo
November 01, 2016 - Msg 106029: Oh, forgot...ASA, Bruce's party next year will not be a surprise...he might have a heart attack or something. ;) Also, I am using LED candles to reduce the risk of house fire. :)

Boo
November 01, 2016 - Msg 106030: Don't feel bad, G-F. As Romeena intimated, Taps is probably the saddest song around.

Take care, MDC, and good luck with your stress test and upcoming hip replacement. I remember when I had a stress test. They told me to keep running until I felt I couldn't anymore, and I sure did. I think I even ran a few miles PAST when I felt I couldn't anymore(male pride, you know).

Our Halloween was pretty normal, for the most part, which is a good thing for Halloween. Kai went out walking around with a friend from school. Her friend made them both up with cheetah spots on their faces, and they both went as those cats, I guess. And Kai wore her little cat ears headband.
Noah went as a Stormtrooper for the second year in a row. Wife had wanted to go and get a whole new costume for him, but I suggested we not spend a lot of money on Halloween this year, especially since I had just paid the mortgage and money was tight anyway. Surprisingly, she agreed, and Noah's costume still fit him well. He enjoyed it a lot more this year since he was older, I think.

There was one disturbing thing, though. *Cue the spooky music.

We had just started going around the neighborhood, and we decided to go to the ritzier part of town since my wife figured Noah might get some nicer candy there.
Well, "ritzy" is kind of overstating it. There are no "Downton Abbey-type" mansions here. In our town, it is just an area where there are some moderately nicer houses. Mostly the homes by the lake.
Anyway, we parked and walked along the street going to some of the homes, and noticing that many other people had the same idea, because there quite a few trick or treaters there.
Upon leaving one of the houses, Noah and I both noticed a house with a lot of Halloween decorations, music and lights down the block. So naturally Noah wanted to go and see it.
As we drew nearer to the house, along with the usual ghoulish decorations you normally see on this day, I noticed a person on the upstairs terrace of the house overlooking the front door where they were giving out the candy. This person upstairs was wearing a big, black bird-looking(or some other furry or feathery animal, but it had a snout or a beak) whole head mask with some weird appendages coming out from the head(not horns, almost like symbols), and they were waving some black fabric or something over the heads of the trick or treaters.

Well, as we walked in the street out front(there was no sidewalk) Noah was not as eager to go there after seeing all the decorations closer and the crowd, and quite frankly, after seeing that weird person upstairs I wasn't either and I told my wife, "I don't think we should go to this one" and we walked on by.

You know that feeling you get, it's almost like God is warning you about something? That's the feeling I got while looking at the goings-on at that particular house. The person in the black animal mask seemed to almost be "blessing" the trick or treaters waving that fabric in the air over their heads, and it seemed, and looked, and felt, satanic to me. On top of that, the music was not the typical Halloween music that we would hear at some of the other houses. It was, as far as I could tell, not from a soundtrack or a collection of Halloween songs. It was just... odd.
Even if the people putting that on were not devil-worshippers and are just nice, creative people who were only trying to create that atmosphere after seeing it in a movie or something, there are some places you just do not want to go, even in jest. Especially with children.

After seeing that, it kind of made me want to chuck the whole Halloween experience in the garbage and call it a night. But we did go to a few more houses around my parents' house and we went to Noah's Jiu-Jitsu gym because they had said they had some goodies for the kids.


Anywho, so that was my spooky Halloween story. Was I reading into something that wasn't there or over reacting?
Maybe, but I don't think so. I've learned to trust God when He gives me those "little nudges", and I hope He never stops doing it.

Boy, give me the Rimshaw situation any day.

-Sterling Holobyte

November 02, 2016 - Msg 106031: Sterling, just to be clear, this time I am doing a "nuclear" stress test (or as Prez Bush would say, new-klur.)ha It is different from the treadmill kind (tho i have done those as well.) As ASA stated, they inject a radioactive fluid into your arteries, and then watch it thru an x-ray type chamber actually cursoring thru your system looking for blockages. Except ASA, my doc's office has more of an 'open' machine that circles around you. He showed it to me. Also, he said that if i drink lots of water after it will help flush out the "blood vessel dilating concoction." Sterling--that stuff "simulates" exercise.
Then, BOO and ALL, my hip will probably be done in January after the holidays. My only fear is that I have to go off my blood thinner several days before until several days after, and clotting in my a-fib heart is a possibility!
Well, I'll cross that bridge when it comes up.
As for hallow'een, our 'hood is 'grown up' now,
and we havnt done hand outs for several years. I'm glad that the little kids have some fun, but in my day there was never the two-month build up to it as it is now. Sterling, yes, there is also that very dark side to it, considering its origins.
Please pray for ITALY! They had another big quake the other day, with much destruction!
US is sending some rescue teams to help.
G-F, I can certainly attest to the emotions of Taps. They were played in my dad's service, and there wasnt a dry eye in the church. Glad all went well and you gave him a good send off. That war took three of my buddies that I find hard to talk about to this day.
POSSUM--dont be a stranger. Set for a spell.
GF-- looks like the big game 7 coming up!
MDC
November 02, 2016 - Msg 106032: Oh, G-F, I have bad arthritis in my left hip. Is that also your issue?
November 02, 2016 - Msg 106033: Good morning all.

Yep MDC. The stress test I had consisted of getting some glow in the dark juice shot in me, then a ride through the tube for pictures. Then all the ekg probes stuck on me while I walked the treadmill. Then back in the tube for another set of pictures. In my case they were looking to see if there were any signs of heart disease that may have been contributing to my bouts of a-fib. It sounds like they are going to give you some medicine to labor your heart as to mimic a workout. Anyway, I hope all is well so you can get the new hip installed.

GF, I am all over the idea of grease zirks. I have thought about that every time my back has a temper tantrum. I hope yours goes well if you decide to have it done also. This getting old stuff ain't for sissies is it?

Boo, yes, that would be bad to surprise Bruce into a heart attack. Yer a wise woman. I am at work, and I don't remember all I put in my chili. But when I get home I will shoot it to you. It really isn't nothing to exotic. I like a selection of different beans and a lot of meat. So it ends up being pretty thick. But I like it, as do my kids. The grandkids are not quite so on board yet though. lol It may be a tad hot for them.

Well a game 7 in the world series huh?

Sterling, I believe very much that the Lord will lead us and inspire us if we are in tune with His spirit. Very much so. It sounds like you did the right thing.

Well better get cracking. Plenty to do.

Prayers for all.

Asa
November 02, 2016 - Msg 106034: MDC, Yep that is my issue too!... A lot of the cold damp days here in Ohio really kicks my butt literally!... Sometimes the med's help but usually I have to limit my walking time which doesn't help my need for walking exercise, what's a guy to do?
But, if the do a re-make of Gunsmoke and need to cast "Chester" I'm your man!...lol

I know what you mean about Vietnam Vet's, there are MANY names on the "Wall" but many, many more casualties that aren't on there, and many more delayed casualties still out there. I offered to take my Brother there to see it but he refused, I think it was just to had for him even after all these years. I have gone there and it was very emotional, watching some of the Vet's dealing with it... I think my Brother was afraid see of some of the name that were on there.

He once told me about a mission where his buddy took his place on a sortie because he was sick, and he was killed that day. (He was a gunner and pilot on a Huey)
How could anyone get over the guilt of that!... He like MANY of those guys rarely spoke of their service, So as I have said there were MANY delayed casualties.....

On a lighter note..... "Go Indian's"..... I think it proper that it goes to game 7 ..... Somebody's long drought or Jinx will be over tonight...... G-F
November 02, 2016 - Msg 106035: Ah, I understand now, MDC. I had wondered what taking pictures had to do with it that someone had mentioned(could have been you, Asa).

Have a good day all.

-Sterling Holobyte
November 02, 2016 - Msg 106036: Im still waitin' for that chili recipe, Asa. ;) Actually I wont be making any chili for awhile. It was 92 degrees here today with high humidity. Yuck. I just want it to feel like fall.

I don't think I told you all...if I did, forgive me, but Bruce has had some extra work to do that requires him to go to San Angelo now and then. His boss told him he may have to even move there in 2018. I'm not really opposed to it except that Erin wants to attend A&M here in Corpus Christi when she graduates. I had always hoped that if I made a move, it would be someplace I love. San Angelo is not exactly beautiful. It is, however, much closer to beautiful than we are down here on the coast. Guess we will see what happens in the next couple of years.

Sterling, we have had some pretty questionable happenings when we attempted trick or treating so I hear where you are coming from. It doesn't hurt to be careful. I don't believe in a demon behind every bush, but then again, I do believe in the powers of evil in this world and it seems to me that they are usually directed towards children and young people.

Hope you are doing well, G-F.

I had a good day at work today..busy but just enough to make the day go by quickly. I heard about something interesting, though. One of the nurses told me that my boss was crying at work Monday evening and having some kind of anxiety. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. The good news is that we have at least one nurse coming on board in the next month or so and two potential hires.

Guess I will go get my shower and chill for awhile..maybe watch some TAGS. Can ya'll believe that Hallmark Channel is already showing Christmas movies??

Boo
November 03, 2016 - Msg 106037: Cubs win! Wow, what a game. G-F--sorry about the Tribe, I guess it is time for them to say "maybe next year." Great baseball tho for sure!
MDC
November 03, 2016 - Msg 106038: WoW what a game!... That's how a World Series is suppose to be like!... Both teams are equally matched, but someone had to win and someone had to lose... Cleveland had a lot to cheer about this year... Cav's & Indians did Great.....Browns,...NOT SO MUCH!... But as Gomer said: "That's life, Through and Through!...

Now the next emotional roller coaster ride comes on Tuesday...Heaven help us!...

G-F
November 03, 2016 - Msg 106039: Amen GF, Heaven help us.
I didn't see the game, but it sounds like it was a dandy.

Sorry Boo, I forgot to look at my recipe card last night. I'm a wretch. I'm going to Nashville! :)

I didn't realize Hallmark was doing Christmas movies already. I think one our local radio stations is playing Christmas songs now. I have to confess and admit I have been listening to some Christmas albums.

I watched the episode last night where Opie is dealing with the bully. That is one of the most powerful episodes IMHO. When Andy picks Opie up and gives him a hug just before the "big event" always gets my allergics running. I imagine everyone of us fellers has had to deal with the "Sheldons" in our lives as Opie did. And what a feeling when you finally overcome that fear, and deal with it head on, and discover it really wasn't that big a deal. I suppose we could use that thinking in every facet of life, not just dealing with a bully.

Now I am facing a fear. A fear of it's time to go to work. But I've got the tools to swing it.

Prayers for all.

Asa
November 03, 2016 - Msg 106040: Wow gang a half acre of broccoli and cabbage...never planted winter crops ...greens ! I cant give it all away !..headed to work till morning..will read Archives.supper will broccoli boiled cabbage and collards...baked ham ! SPOT
November 03, 2016 - Msg 106041: Howdy, porch! Looks like we could get some rain today. Have had a few sprinkles, but right now the sky looks like a big bruise, so maybe we're going to get something worthwhile. The air is very still and heavy,not a leaf moving, and there's zero bird and critter traffic. When they start holing up, something's coming.

That was some game last night! I don't really follow baseball on TV, unless the Rangers are playing, and then sometimes I do, but not always. Robbi and Richard are here though, and Richard was watching the game, and I got interested. Quite a finish! After seven hard-fought games, it all came down to one play. R&R came for the week, to attend the Mecum auto auction which is going on at the convention center in Dallas. Richard buys, restores and resells classic cars, and sometimes I think he just goes so he can look at the cars! He has handled some beauties, and knows what he's doing, makes money with it. There down there now, so all is quiet here. I stayed home with three dogs and my cough. They brought their two dogs, a precious, elderly golden retriever named Whoozit, and a little ball of fire named Bexar. She is a hoot! Just nine months old, and about to wart Toye Starr to death, wanting to play. Start will play for a while, then she gets right in Bexar's face and unleashes the most commanding bark she can muster, and Bexar seems to understand that means "I've had enough!" You can imagine how scary that bark is, I'm sure.


Asa, how's this for a confession? I have never taken my Christmas CDs out of my 6-disc player in the car! I've listened to Christmas music all year. I've got Andy's CD, and a Mannheim Steamroller, and four others that are all beautiful. One is all piano music, and it's so pretty. My player will randomize, so I don't get tired of any of them. I do think I'll swap a couple of them out for the coming season, though.

Boo, you're right. San Angelo is okay, but it's not exactly the garden spot of Texas, and it gets darned hot in the summer. It does get some snow and wintry stuff, which I know you like, and the temp there right now is 64°. Also, it would put you about halfway to Colorado!

I'm on the puny list. I've had a persistent, very annoying cough for about a week now, and today it has blossomed into bronchitis. Still coughing, it hurts, and I have almost no voice. Oh well. This too shall pass.

Well, guess I'll go rustle up a little lunch. Oh, Spot, you do know how good cabbage is when it's just sauteed in a skillet with some bacon and a little onion? I'm sure you do. If not, try it. You'll love it! --Romeena
November 03, 2016 - Msg 106042: Good grief. "They're down there now" - not there down there now. And I can't even blame it on autocorrect, because my computer doesn't do that. --Romeena
November 03, 2016 - Msg 106043: And that's "Starr will play" not Start. I've got to start proofreading! --Romeena
November 03, 2016 - Msg 106044: Just a quick hello this evening. Many prayers for our country right now for sure.
Ro, those car auctions can be fun to attend (as I have done so here) so I imageine they are even more so to be a participant of (or of which to be a participant.) ha
We got rain here today! Very refreshing.
Hey ASA, is the conduit wiring hot yet? Nothing blew up I hope? lol
Go Cubbies. Yes, that game had it all including an extra inning, a rain delay, and several home runs and other records set! Reminds me of when we youngsters would listen to those daytime WS games on our transistor radios!
Prayers,
MDC
POOR HORATIO, Where are you???
November 04, 2016 - Msg 106045: Just insert "POOR HORATIO" into this link...https://youtu.be/S5MkCAwupe0
November 04, 2016 - Msg 106046: There are questions on the Porch,
We kinda been out of sorts....
We need. those daily links,
So we once again can begin to think...

"POOR HORATIO WHERE ARE YOU!!".........lol

G-F
November 04, 2016 - Msg 106047: "NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD FOLKS TO COME TO THE AIDE OF THEIR FELLOW PORCHSTERS!"...
November 04, 2016 - Msg 106048: Yup, GF and Tom, that's why i worded it that way! :)
MDC
November 05, 2016 - Msg 106049: Cuz that is one of PH's favorite old shows!

November 05, 2016 - Msg 106050: Howdy Porch. Hope you are all well these days. I just woke up from the best night's sleep that I have had in months. I had a couple of tough nights at work and then a long day yesterday so I just konked out and slept for 9 hours. Sure felt good! I am looking forward to the time change this weekend because I will get to stay in bed an hour earlier in the morning. Im not crazy about it getting dark early, but it is what it is. I just wish we would get some cooler weather. It was around 90 again yesterday.

I think our car dealer friend found us another suburban at auction last week but haven't seen it yet. It is a 2014 with 74,000 miles on it...black leather and kind of a light goldish/silverfish color on the exterior..couldn't really tell in the photo. I think we can get it for around 22,000 with the trade in of our current one. The comparable 2016s sell in the 50's, so we save a lot of money by buying them when they are a couple of years old. The one I have now had 74,000 on it when we got it and it has been great...now up to over 200.000 and still running.

Bruce and I did some shopping last night for new Christmas lights for the house. We bought new garland for the front porch but still undecided on the lights. we are going to get colored LEDs but wondering about the ones they have out now that you can change from color to white. Having a choice might be nice.

I cant believe Thanksgiving will be upon us before we know it...less than three weeks, I believe. I think I told you all that I will be working evening shift on Thanksgiving, so we are having our thanksgiving on Friday instead. I kind of like the idea. I think it will be more relaxed and less stressful, also a smaller gathering, which sounds good to me right now. Problem is, that we told Bruce's siblings that I am working on thanksgiving, hoping someone would come forward to volunteer to take her on Thanksgiving but nobody will. We have said we are going to have her on Christmas, and still they don't want to take her for Thanksgiving. I know she is really difficult, but come on. We have her for almost every holiday for 10 years now. I think its kind of a shame, and I know she made her bed and is sleeping in it, but now she is old and has some dementia. She is more crazy everyday but she is also more childlike, and I was hoping that would make a difference in the way she was accepted by her children. I'm not holding out any hope that they will change at this point.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, what are some of your plans? I think this will be a bittersweet Thanksgiving for some of us this year, but I will try to focus on all we have to be thankful for. We will be having the usual traditional food and I will get St Susan involved to help me. She will stand around and ask, "How do I make this??" a lot but I am going to try not to take over and just do everything for her this year. :) I already made some homemade cranberry sauce that I put in the freezer. I try to change it up a little each year and I think this batch turned out especially good, and it's simple. In case any of you want to try it (ASA): All you do is get a package of fresh cranberries in the produce section (not the gigantic package, but the smaller one..forgot the weight). Rinse the berries and pick out any that are rotting. Put drained berries in a saucepan and add a 1 1/4 Cup of white sugar (you can use brown sugar but I think the cranberry sauce looks prettier with the white sugar..more of a bright red color when cooled)...add the zest of one orange. Here's where I changed things up a little: I usually use the juice of the one orange and then add water to equal one cup of liquid, but this year I used Welch's pineapple-orange juice instead. I added one cup of it and then brought it all to a boil, stirring until the sugar was dissolved. Soon the berries will start to pop (the fun part). Lower the heat once it starts to boil, and simmer it for at least 10 minutes, until it starts to thicken..stir occasionally during the process. Take it off the heat and let it cool, then refrigerate it.

Better finish my coffee and get myself to work for the evening. See ya later.

Boo
November 05, 2016 - Msg 106051: Boo, just don't be like Clara Edwards and go crazy with the Allspice!...lol It sounds Good!... G-F
November 05, 2016 - Msg 106052: Romeena that is just how Mrs SPOT cooks cabbage..start with a little butter, bacon,sweet onion ..good eating...you can smell it coming from the diner !well my bulldogs won Alabama on a roll...very good game..im here till morning at work will check back on your late nighters ..SPOT
November 06, 2016 - Msg 106053: BOO--good to see a nice long post from you. Don't overwork yourself. We had 14 family members for Thanksgiving last year, and are doing it again this year, but everyone brings something, so all we really cook is the turkey, and all works out without one member trying to do it all. Give it a shot.
Went to a car show here today. Man, we could sure build 'em in the '60s! Very cool GTO that was really "boss." (Remember that word!) ha
Alabam on a roll SPOT!
GOOD Sabbath,
MDC
November 06, 2016 - Msg 106054: Three dual carburetors!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIhYK4cSrQw

November 06, 2016 - Msg 106055: Good One MDC... I always liked "The Boys"... Those "Old Goats" sure would purr!.. ( the cars that is ) Ha!..G-F
November 06, 2016 - Msg 106056: Talking football, Go Buckeyes!.. They put a whooping on those "Corn Dogs" yesterday... As far as the Browns... Romeena, have your "Boys" go easy on them! I feel their streak is going to be intact!....Former Buckeye Eziekel Elliott sure has been running over folks this year, he gets my vote for "Rookie of the Year!"....Both he and their QB are Rookies... Tony Who?...lol

G-F again
November 06, 2016 - Msg 106057: Good evening, porch. Well, my kids (Robbi and Richard, and the two dogs - Whoozit and Bexar) left around noon, and are back in the 'burg tonight. Sure is quiet around here. And I have to cook for myself! (Whiiine!)

Last night, they took Eloise and me out to dinner at Campisi's, an Italian place over in Dallas, and then to the Verizon theater in Grand Prairie, to see a production of PMJ (Post-Modern Jukebox). To my surprise, it was very good. I love stage productions, but am not much on the current music scene. This is very different, it's sort of like the 40s and 50s in a collision with rap and hip-hop (or something) and it was fun. We had third-row center seats, so we got the full load of everything and really enjoyed it. Apparently there are a large number of cast groups that tour the country simultaneously. Just Google "PMJ" and you'll find a lot of information. Anyway, it was fun.

Richard ended up buying two pickup trucks at the Mecum auction. He had one shipped to his storage facility in Fredericksburg, and drove the other one here, planning to drive it on to the 'burg today. However, he decided to just leave it here and have his driver pick it up and haul it to the 'burg sometime in the next week or so. I think it was a wise choice. He knew when he bought the truck that there are a couple of issues with the engine, nothing serious, but could get serious when you're on the highway, thirty miles from the nearest town, and that town is about 5,000 people. So, I have a huge, red and white high-rider pickup, with enormous extra-wide tires, sitting on my driveway. OK with me - if I was an intruder, I'd think twice before bothering a house where somebody who would drive that truck might be staying.

Well, guess I'll go dig through the vast reserve of leftovers in my fridge. Anybody who couldn't find something to eat in there, just isn't hungry. That girl can cook! Both of my daughters are great cooks, and as a matter of fact, both sons can make a fair showing in the kitchen as well. I'm proud of all of them.

Toye Starr is just beat to the socks! Little Bexar kept her busy. Good for her, got her blood stirring. Bexas is like a little kid, goes at top speed when she's awake, then just drops somewhere, goes to sleep and sleeps like a rock, then is up and at 'em again. When she's up and ready to play, she insists that the other dogs play as well, even 12 year old Whoozit. And Whoozit does, arthritis and all. When she's had enough, she gives one big deep breathy bark right in Bexar's face, and that ends it.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
November 06, 2016 - Msg 106058: For those on Facebook, I posted some auto show pics! :)
MDC More later

November 07, 2016 - Msg 106059: APB for just about everybody! He he

Boo
November 07, 2016 - Msg 106060: I guess I need Andy and Miss Ellie to have a Christmas party for me, because I can't stand Christmas music. It happened in a second, one year, when I just snapped, couldn't stand the music I was hearing. The local mall starts playing it the day after Thanksgiving, and I really have a hard time patronizing them because of it. One of the women working there happened to tell me it drove her crazy listening to it 8 hours a day for a month. A few of the relgious ones are always fine, O Holy Night being the best, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, another, but some of the other churchy songs are a bit sappy. I don't really care for the sure bet that we'll sing only Christmasy songs the last 2 weeks of December. I figure if God wanted us to know when the birth was, He'd have told us, so in that regard, I agree with Romeena it should be listened to year round if you want to at all. I know Robert Fulghum wrote a story about finding his Christmas cards the next July and opening them outside in the hot sun, Christmas music blaring. Anyway, I know I have a minority opinion, but there you go.

Billy Ray the Grinchy Postman.
November 07, 2016 - Msg 106061: Minority opinion - probably, Billy Ray, but one to which you are entitled. To some extent, I agree with you. I do enjoy the Christmas music, but it wears a little thin when I'm in a mall, with skanky teenagers being rude and disrespectful, people not smiling, just looking tired and angry, and the sweet music bravely playing along. It doesn't fit. I do so much of my shopping online now, and that's just one of the reasons. Besides, at home, I can click a couple of keys and listen to this: https://www.google.com/#q=fall+softly+snow I think you'll like it.

Sure is quiet around here with Robbi and Richard and the two dogs gone. I've had nothing to do. Robbi left a ton of great leftovers in the fridge, she washed the linens and towels and put everything back right, ran the vacuum, even light-mopped the kitchen. She left the house cleaner than they found it, but she always does.

Well, I think Toye Starr and I will say goodnight. I've got a home health call to make tomorrow, and a few errands to run. Blessings, friends. Prayers for the election tomorrow. I just hope everything stays peaceful. --Romeena
November 07, 2016 - Msg 106062: Prayers indeed Romeena and all. Very strange times. Hope everyone is doing well. I still like to vote on "Election Day," so will go do so.
"Very democratic" of me. (I had to get a TAGS line in there, ya know.) ha
Well, I think we all need a big sigh of relief before whatever reality sets in!
Prayers,
MDC
November 08, 2016 - Msg 106063: Nice video Romeena, but the thought of snowfall makes my body feel sad... But then again I have my "Snow Joe" snowblower.... I'm like MDC I'll vote today, ✔️ but I'll wait and let the people who have to go to work get there first!... I'll go around 10:00 .....

I guess Billy Ray having to carry and deliver all those Christmas cards over the years kinda made him hard, but I do agree with you about how early they "start" Christmas, it's getting earlier every year!...

G-F
November 08, 2016 - Msg 106064: Good morning porch pals.

I hope you are all fine and dandy today.

GF, I agree. Snow is nice to watch falling, but I have a real dislike it for it having to clear it off for almost 33 years in my job. And for us, we need it for water shed. So it's a love hate relationship I reckon. When I retire I think I'll soften on the subject.

Billy Ray, I used to be the same way with the early Christmas music. But that has really changed for me. Can't say why. Even my kids tease me about how I am now compared to when they were young-uns. Go figure.

I could use your prayers friends. My heart has been purring along fine after the last ablation, but here about a week and a half ago it started going in and out of funky rhythms. Skipping beats off and on quite a bit. So I called the Doctor. He wants me to come in the next time it goes wacko so he can do an EKG. I was hoping this was behind me.

Boo, sorry you are not getting any help for the Holiday plans. Just don't over do it.

Well better get working. Has been beautiful weather here all Fall. 42 this morning, 68 this afternoon. Just perfect!

I watched the episode last night with Mr. Wheeler. One of my favorites. I wish they would have made him a regular character. I think they could have come up with some great story lines.

Prayers for all.

Asa
November 08, 2016 - Msg 106065: Good morning, porch. Well, today's the day. We'll find out whether we're going to have four more years of lawlessness, lies and deceit, self-enrichment, and perhaps witness the physical and mental decline of a sitting president, leaving us with her successor, who has made no secret of his Socialist leanings. Or - we may have four years or more of what is essentially an unknown, politically untried individual who is braggadocious, bombastic and abrasive, frequently says outrageous things, and may or may not have the innate wisdom to make critical decisions. It's a very difficult choice for some, (made much easier for me by Hillary's abominable approval of up-to-term abortion), but it will be made by the nation (if the "fixers" don't mess it up) and I guess we'll know tonight. Pray, America!

As for the snow, you have to understand that snow is a real treat, especially at Christmas, for us Texans. Well, not counting the panhandle of Texas, of course. They usually get more snow than they could ever want - whole herds of cattle have died in blizzards out there - but for the remaining 4/5 of the state, snow is a blessing. If by chance we get three inches of snow or more, schools close, businesses close, people build tiny snowmen on the trunks of their cars and drive carefully so as not to dislodge them, and every child will, at some point, bring his mother a snowball and ask her to keep it in the freezer "so I can throw it at somebody this summer." Yep, for us, snow is a good thing, but I do understand that you can get too much of a good thing, and then it doesn't seem so good anymore. My husband was from Michigan, and when he got out of the Air Force, we had to decide whether to settle in Michigan or Texas, where my family was. I told him I'd go wherever he wanted to go. He looked at me like I had just grown horns, and said, "Are you kidding? I've shoveled my last sidewalk, and scraped all the slush off my shoes that I intend to, ever again. We're staying in Texas." Well, all right! I couldn't have been happier.

Well, better get busy. I haven't even turned the TV on yet, too early to tell anything anyway, and I have things to do, and don't want to get distracted. Blessings, porch. --Romeena
November 08, 2016 - Msg 106066: Well gang I'm here at work till 6am, gona grab a bit of food and wait to see who is gona be our next President ! we here in the south aint had any rain in over two weeks now..im using my field well to keep winter crops watered or we would not have any !..hey possum,Romeena,Asa,Boo,MDC I think Bama will run it out..Hurts is a great running QB...well let me go back and ck on election and do some reports ....I got peanut butter n crackers if yall want some ! SPOT
November 08, 2016 - Msg 106067: I can say that anyone who works for the Post Office is not fond of Christmas. It's just really tough.

I can say if I get to pick the Christmas music I want to listen to, when I want to, it's not so bad. The malls just blaring it nonstop.......shudder. Vince Gill has some nice stuff-in small does, mind you.

I can't believe what I'm seeing in this election tonight. But who knows what might happen yet? I share Romeena's position per abortion. I held my nose and voted for Trump. I'll never ever never ever never ever never ever vote for anyone who supports abortion on demand.

Billy Ray the Postman
November 09, 2016 - Msg 106068: Ding Dong, the witch is dead! Yep,I said it,and ain't taking it back! We the People have had enough,and made ourselves heard. God bless America and God bless President- Elect Trump!

***********
possum u.a.r.
November 09, 2016 - Msg 106069: I thought the porch would be a livelier place on the morning following election day. Oh well.

All I can say is that I am very sorry MDC, that you still cannot legally smoke a joint in Arizona. ;)

Boo
November 09, 2016 - Msg 106070: Yep, as Possum said: "We the People" have spoken!... All those Hollywood "entitled" ...The plane is leaving for "Somewhere's Else" right after HER speech..."All Aboard!"..
✈️🛫🚂....G-F
November 09, 2016 - Msg 106071:

I have been absent for a few weeks because I did not have internet service.

Wow, what an election. This is the fifth time in American history where the presidential candidate who had the largest number of popular votes ended up losing the election because of the electoral college.
Clinton received 161,761 more popular votes than Trump but Trump received 71 more electoral votes than Clinton. And because Trump received 19 more electoral votes than the 270 required, he becomes the President-elect.
It will be interesting to watch this business trained republican President serve with republicans in control of both the US Senate and the US Congress. But considering how many republicans did not support Trump, those majorities may not guarantee cooperation.
Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump. And although there won't be a historical Madame President this time, hopefully, a better female candidate will make history in the future.

from poor Horatio
November 09, 2016 - Msg 106072: Good morning, porch. I suppose, traditionally, at this point we should be singing "Happy Days Are Here Again", but I won't go that far. "Hopeful Days", perhaps. "Happy" remains to be seen, but at least we're not facing four years of Shrillery. Speaking of shrill, can you imagine the tantrum her family and her entourage had to deal with when she finally had to admit defeat? I'll bet that big guy with the syringe of medication hidden in his hand had his work cut out for him!

Now, it all remains yet to be seen. Trump is an unknown quantity. We don't know yet what he can or will do, but one thing I know - it can't be worse than what she would have done. If he accomplishes even one of the major things he said he would do, America will be a better place. We'll see. Time will tell. I'm just thanking God I won't be looking at her face, and hearing her lies every time I turn on the TV. I'm hoping we won't hear much more from her, but that's probably a vain hope. I don't think she'll make another presidential run - in four years, her health will probably decline enough to make that impossible - but she can sure take a big chunk of America down with her as she goes. She has a lot of people under her control, people who know her for what she is but who owe her their souls and therefore remain at her command. Then there are the starry-eyed young people - mostly women - who see her as the Woman Who Will Shatter the Last Glass Ceiling for us all. Did you see the sobbing young women in Hillary's gathering last night? Boo-hooing on each other's shoulders, mopping their eyes, stricken expressions on their faces - you'd have thought their mother had just died.

It's true, we don't know, can't know, what we're going to have with Trump, but we'll find out. We knew what Hillary would do, and that's why she lost. --Romeena