Nuff already!

First there was an early 5 inch snow. OK I can handle that. Then a 10 inch snow last Thursday and yesterday we wound up with 6 inches of little white frozen BB's. It's like walking in sand. Would rather have had the 18 inches of snow than this crap.
But if it thinks it can snow me in NO WAY! If I have to hire a truck with a plow on it to lead me to the Mason/Dixon I will. I'm on the road by sunset Friday. Dinner Saturday at Moms.
Ya know sometimes you think yer full of blog and you sit down and find out it was just a f......
4 days we're outta here!
Zipidee DoDah

Coming soon

In 18 days I head Home. Home for Christmas! Yippee! Where I close out all the crap and focus on family & friends. Back when the boys were younger the rare trip south for Christmas was usually a logistical nightmare. Getting it there and them there without them knowing it was there took some of the 'close out all the crap' away. Nowadays the secret's out (but not openly spoken of) so I can get in the car and drive.
Which brings up the reason for this particular blog. Not a rant but a justification.
I like driving straight through. It brings up so many memories of Dad. I know that when I get there, safe & sound as Dad always did, Mawmaw & Pawpaw, Mamo & Grandad will be there waiting to tell me how special I am. I like to find an old country station at 4 am while my family sleeps then stop as the sun comes up for coffee and breakfast.
Although the
"Clanton
A great place to visit
A better place to live"

sign has been replaced by a nightmare Peach the site tells me I'm Home and really sets my Christmas in gear.
So counting the days soon to be the minutes!

Zipidee DooDah

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Home Again Home Again Jig-Adee-Jig.
We left for Bob & Wendy's (Jacci's sister) house around 4 PM Wednesday. After a 3 hr white knuckle drive through fog and heavy traffic (0 to 80 to 0 to 80 to....) we arrived safely with plenty of time to chat & relax before bedtime.
Thursday was spent sitting at a table watching Wendy cook and working up a bodacious appetite.
This was our second Thanksgiving in a row that Jacci's family has been able to get together for Thanksgiving. Since Gene separated from Lisa there's no more contention between the women folk. Gene's new girlfriend is way normal and fits in so well.
It was the best Thanksgiving we've had in years.
Just a week before I'd finally found the family information on their Mom's side, Weed & Ellsworth.
Seems their 10th great grandfather, Jonas Weed, came to the Mass Colony in 1630. Just 9 years after the Pilgrims at Plymouth. He moved inland and by 1633 had helped found a town named Weathersfield. Jacci's sisters house is about 20 minutes from Weathersfield.
Their 10th great grandfather Josias Ellsworth Came to Windsor CT in 1646. Windsor is about 20 minutes from where Gene lives.
Interesting that after 10 generations those two gravitated back there. There was no known family connections to the area that they knew of until I presented the info at diner.

Hope everyone ate too much and shared enough and hugged with abandon :~)

Zipidee DoDah

Thanksgiving!

A holiday without guilt, just gorging.
So what are you thankful for? I know. Counting all your blessings is truly an endless endeavor. Family jumps up there, Friends, and on through the endless.
Last week my young neighbor (he's a first grader now) came up to me and said " My Pappaw says I should count my blessings. Yer number 12", and walked away.
I'm not sure I could put a numerical equivalent on all of my blessings, you know endless, but all of you that might read this are way up there in the fingers and toes section.

Zipidee DoDah

More Proof !!

Just a quick observation. This goes along with a previous post. I once again find confirmation that I'm improving with age.
The previous post mentioned is the Great Uncle topic which pointed out my improvement by the actions of others. Now these others are related to me and their actions and opinions can be suspect. But I've recently become aware of a group not related that think so much of me they actually print their opinion of me on my Tee shirts. On the label at the back of the shirt it says large, has for years, now it says 'Grande' below that! Isn't that just the nicest thing strangers could say about you?

Zipidee DoDah

WW II doesn't = Iraq!!!!!

Gettin real tired of everyone equating WW II with the illegal invasion of Iraq. If someone questions Dubya's involving us in the quagmire referred to as 'The Iraq Conflict' they're immediately dubbed unpatriotic and unfavorably compared to hero's of World War II.
Does anyone really think there are any parallels besides young Americans being killed?
Hitler, fascism, threatened us and the world and warred on all. We, our allies and ourselves, joined together and defeated fascism. Saddam could barely threaten his neighbors. We, our government, lied to Tony Blair and England and convinced them to enter into this illegal act with us. All others refused. Kinda sticks in the craw to admit that France was --ach--arg !! Right. The crap about WMD has been proven false and Iraq had NO INVOLVEMENT IN 9/11 !!!!!
It's a civil war that we made possible but we can't end it. All we're doing is helping to recruit terrorist and giving them combat training at the expense of American lives.
I call the Iraq quagmire illegal and others say "but Congress gave him approval" that may have made it legal in American law but not international law.
Speaking of laws how do you feel about the illegal wire taping? Doesn't seem to bother many people. They say the guys being tapped were probably bad guys anyway. If the government can tap the phones of suspects without warrants in the name of 'National Security' then how safe are your rights?
They impeached Clinton for lying about a blow job! George W. Bush tramples the Bill of Rights and nada!! What's going on?
Oh well!
Zippidee DoDah

Great Uncle!

Once again I find I'm to be a Great Uncle.
Now I've been a less than stellar uncle to my 11 wonderful nephews and nieces. So how'd I become Great? Through their efforts not mine.
Guess that Grandfather thing comes as easily. OK father becomes Grand when his children .... well decide.
I can live with that!
Congrats to Les & Drew! and thank you both for making me Great once again.
Zipidee DoDah

Goose & Gander

Find it interesting that a lot of people dislike Hillary Clinton because she stood by her man. Tammy sings it and every women in the audience tears up. People vilify Bill Clinton because he couldn't keep his pants zipped but overlook George taking our country to war because some half assed camel jockey threatened to kill his Daddy. THERE WERE NO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION! but there was oil ;~)
There are lots of very legitimate reasons for not wanting Hillary for President look at her voting record and come up with some legitimate reasons. Said it before I'll say it again,"I'll vote for the first Dempublican or Republicrat that promises to run the lobbyist out of the halls of congress and restore my vote to it's meaning.
There's no longer a conversation about stopping terrorist. The talk is about when to or not to pull out of Iraq. There's no longer talk about the cost of fuel in this country. There are alternatives to oil and our President should be promoting them not the oil industry. But there's that conflict between what's good for our country and what's good for his supporters.
We should be exporting ethanol not importing oil. We've had 30 years to see where oil was taking us. You wanna stop terrorist? Stop buying there oil! You wanna create jobs that can't be "Out Sourced"? Create an Ethanol industry. People working to produce and distill the vegetation.
This is such an easy idea. WIN WIN WIN. Good step toward cleaner air, Good step towards balance of payments, Good step towards shutting down the money flow to terrorist.
This isn't hard to see. I'm a carpenter fer goodness sake. There are more of us suffering from this Oil Addiction than are benefiting from it. Kick the jerks out and don't put others in there place that don't promise to get us off the Oil.
Okey Dokey done ranting. BYE :~)
Zippidee DoDah

Better Than Late Than Never

But Even Better Never Late!

It has begun! The much moaned about House is officially started. The excavator cleared the lot last week and is working on the septic system this week. Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have the mason on the job.

You can see progress pics here http://home.ptd.net/~rwest/Burke.htm

If all goes well and there are no long lags between subcontractors I should be able to start trimming in early December. I've already made it clear to my customer that no matter how far along I am in the job I will be in Bama for Christmas.

It's 80 here today. No big deal but we've already had cold enough days to require a fire to warm up. Our rainfall is way down, not as bad as the southeast but down just the same, and that's more than likely going to dull the fall foliage. We'll see.

Here's a cool sunset pic from last month.

Zippidee DoDah

Well the temps have been half of those down home. 53 here and 103 there. It's been rainin off and on for 3 days here, they haven't had rain in over 3 weeks there.
There are no climate problems. There are no climate problems. There are no climate ... My ass! WAKE UP AMERICA! Where is the leadership that will help Keelin and her generation deal with the climate issues that will be her future? They're not Rebublicrates or Demoblicans. All of those guys are ear deep in the public cash trough.
Evans back at school. He went back early to get his portfolio ready. He needs that and his Professors recommendation to apply for the Rome study next Spring. Fingers crossed prayers said.
Lee's burnin up his last couple of weeks before school doin whatever he wants. That's cool.
I'm goin to a document signing on Friday that will hopefully get the BIG house started. fingers crossed Prayers said.
Zipidee DoDah

31 years!!

Yup! Married me a Yankee gal 31 years ago today!!

After both of us sheddin a prior spouse we learned to get along.

The wedding took place in front (literally) of my family. Not just parents and siblings but Granmas & Uncles & Aunts & cousins & OH my! It's a wonder she went through with it. The preacher was supposed to face the hungry crowd but he turned the tables on us and we had to look them in the eye.

My best man was Allen Littleton. He's still a Best Man. His wife at that time was Claudette and she was Matron of Honor. She's since weirded out and Allen now has another saner sweetie.

Jacci's working late tonight. As usual helping others. I gotta go and fix some Hor D'oevres so we can celebrate when she gets home.

Zipidee DoDah

Rapid

There's much to say

but there's no way

that I'll get it said today.



is it lac of time

or slac of mind or

simply sloth of season


So now I've said

as much as this

There isn't any reason


To continue ;~)

Bookwork & Building

Guess there's a reason that Bankers & Lawyers speak one type of English and you and I speak 'Real' english but I've not discovered the reason. Still trying to get this house going. Just spent another hour on the phone with the customers banker having him tell me his institution doesn't want to get into my contractural agreement with our (his and my) customer but wants me to change some wording so his institution will feel better about my relationship with our customer. What a bunch of CRAP! Send me a contract that will make the bank happy and we (me and the customer) will fill in the blanks and sign the damn thing. All we wanna do is build the freakin house. I'm going broke waiting on these pencil pushers to dot there tees and cross their eyes. Brk*flackin#@*.........................................

Our fireworks were held on Saturday cause we had rain on the 4th.

Hot Time Summer in the Country!

4th of July is 2 days away and the high here today is 60 God I love this place. The temp is suposed to be in the 80's by the 4th but this free air conditioning is my idea of great!
Mom, Nan, Mark and Laura Kate were here last week. We went into NYC on Sat. WTC site, Trinity church, Wall Street Then up town where Nan & Laura Kate split off to go to the 'American Girl' doll place or other. Mark and I headed up to Grants Tomb. Long story short found the two Park Rangers in charge drunker than Cooter Brown.
Their visit was great but to short.
Picked up cousin Pam in Philly on Friday and brought her up for the weekend it was to cool to get out much but I think she was entertained and enjoyed the visit. Took her back Sunday night.
My General Contracting is being held up with insurance hassles but should kick off in a week or two.
Hope everyone has a great 4th!
Zipidee DoDah

Tea Lights in the Grotto

Well Summer is getting near. Springs been a roller coaster in temps and moisture. We've already had 85 degree days (Temps reserved for late July and Aug.), drought conditions and downpours. Yesterday I had to wear a Jeans jacket it was so cool.

We did have several evenings that were warm enough to sit out back in what we call the Grotto. We put 'Tea Lights' (Little candles) on the rock wall light em and sit back and relax as they flicker in the breeze. This is the year that our Azalea fully blooms. It's been a real beauty. It finally bloomed on May 30. The picture was taken Monday the 28th after everyone else had headed home. Those that read this know they're welcome to come and share the tranquility of the setting but I know how hard that is to do so just know I've got you here in spirit.

Mom, Nan, Mark and Lura Kate are coming this month. Sitting in the Grotto will be one of the things they must do.

Brendan & Caitlin are coming for the weekend. we're looking forward to their visit. We miss Brendan a lot. Lee most of all. He seems to be enjoying his work and his life and that's most important. Hard to believe it's been almost 23 years WOW!

Saturday evening we're going to a Music festival at our county seat of Milford. Dave Mason is playing. If you don't know who he is do the Google thing.

Well back to the grind.

Zipidee DoDah

Memryz

Ah memryz, sitting with the head sets on late at night not botherin a soul. Head bangin tunes from the 70's, Captain Beyond, Little Feat. OK little Feat ain't no Head bangin group but that Captain Wa Who! How time has flown and the memryz accumulate.
Was livin within site of the worst smell in Pratville, the paper mill, when I first heard Captain Beyond. Dad had bought a trailer for Neysa and I to live in and set it up in a park just off of old 31 near a cement factory. Not a shade tree within a hundred yards! Hotter than *&%#@. So we moved it to the cesspool of Pratville but at least it had shade. within 2 years we had 3 acres and a house south of Montgomery on old 31 in Letohatchee. That's where the Feat came to me. In the person of Mike Martin. Wierder than dirt with a smile. Knew the boy for another 5 years, well into the second wife, then nada. Yep time flies but memryz just creep around and grab ya!

Zippidee Dodah

Succumbing

All of my working life I've either made my living with my skills or my labor or both. Never was interested in making money off of others. Not that I thought it was wrong it just never appealed to me.
This year I guess I'll succumb to the system and become a General Contractor(guess it's what tired old carpenters do). That's were I arrange for tradesmen and materials to come together for a customer to complete a project for them. This project is a $300,000 home. My slice of the pie will be considerable. It's not that I will get payed for doing nothing it's just that I'll get paid real good for doing something that I feel is not very much.
While this house is being built by others I only have to see that the material is on the site for them, take care of the inspections, see that they've done what their contract calls for and pay them.
Between those responsibilities I'll be building a small addition for a family in my neighborhood and an addition on our house.
Gonna be a busy year. Hopefully a profitable one too!

Zippidee Dodah

Took the Time

Well after wrackin my poor ole noggin to come up with all the necessary crap to be able to blog on my blog I let google send me whatever and am now here totally fried and not feelin very blogable.

Looks as though the lake ice will go belly up before Easter. The shore is already open. Just a weekago or so the ice was 18 inches thick.

Think I'll try some of the 'New and Improved" blog buttons.

Well that wasn't too hard. Wasn't too fast either :~)

Spring, though here on the calendar and in certain parts of the country, is remaining dormant here. Slight progress is being made but below freezing at night still just doesn't feel like Spring.

Zippidee DoDah

Home Again, Home Again, Jig a De Jig!

Or should that be Home Again, Home Again, Thank God I'm Home Again!
Guess Jig a De Jig works best 'cause the other sounds as if being in 'Bama was unpleasant and it wasn't.
Spending time with family and friends is always a pleasure. I actually saw my great niece often enough that I became 'Uncle Ric' instead of that frightening looking old man. (actually I'm probably still that frightening looking old man I'm just called 'Uncle Ric' :~) )
Jacci and I entered the 21 century communications by buying cell phones. Really made the month and a half separation more bearable with instant contact. Since being home I've hardly used it at all.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I could barely keep warm. Temps never got above 19 degrees. it's surprising how quick your blood can thin. Today the temps are supposed to get into the mid 40's, We'll see.
Well 'Fat Tuesday' has come and gone! I dedicated all of my fat to the cause but upon waking this morning find it still here with me. Guess you have to be a Papist for it to work though I've seen some of them and they're still totin a load too.
So to you that were so hospitable while I was 'Home' thanks!

Zipidee Dodah