Autumn

Autumn

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Bits and Pieces

It is extremely hot and humid here this morning. These hot and damp days are perfect for breeding blood suckers. When either of us return home and hit the garage door the mosquitoes fill the area before its shut.

Last night I went out to my reloading bench, which is located in the garage, to change the rusty rounds I had in my brass polisher. I was covered in mosquitoes within seconds. Mosquitoes remind me very much of democrats. Both are blood sucking parasites.


*****

I shall play bachelor this weekend. Sweet Wife leaves tomorrow evening for a very long weekend in South Carolina. We have a niece determined to ruin her life. She plans to wed a fairly nice young man, a missionary of the Baptist faith. My niece just recently returned from a life in France. I'm sure it softened her brain, hence the wedding. 

Oh well. I hope their lives together are filled with happiness and wealth.

I will miss Sweet Wife. The next few nights will be very quiet in my home. It's a good thing I just received  a three DVD boxed set of the movie, John Adams. I wanted to watch the movie over Independence Day weekend but my order didn't arrive in time.

So this weekend, in the quiet of the night, I shall set my books aside and be entertained with the richness of our countries forefathers and their fight for our independence.


*****

The old timer came in and with a heavy sigh and took a seat. He squirmed around a bit, shifted this way and that, adjusted his trouser legs, retied his boots.

I waited.

"You know, Stephen, this damn country has gone to pot."

Me, "Sure has."

"Are you aware these damn kids," his waves his arms as if to encompass the whole of them, "can't even read and write?"

"I know." I'm brief like that while engaged in conversation.

He continues, "And, it's that damn Obama's fault."

"Yes Sir."

"You don't talk much do you."

I chuckled, said, "Not when I'm listening."

"Good. Can't abide a smart ass or a man that just runs his mouth all damn day."

He's seventy-six, give or take a year.

I nod, said, "Neither can I."

Then, "Okay, now here's the big one. What do you think about that Yankee, Romney?"


"Not much to tell you the truth."

The old man rubs his belly, checks his fingernails and then gives me a very stern look - you know, like an old man about to lecture your butt. "You're a dumb-ass, you know it."  Like that....

I only allow old men and women to speak to me in this manner. So, I said, "Yes Sir, I am."

He smiled. "Stephen, you are aware he's the only man we have to replace that Arab in the White House."

The old man had to raise his voice as I'd moved back into my office to pour my tenth cup of coffee. I yelled back, "I am aware of that fact. What's your point?"

Out of left field, "You have any new used guns for sale?"

"No, not today." He mumbled. Then, "What the hell is wrong with you. You're acting awful strange."

"Nothing, just a lot on my mind." I'm still in the back where I stand at my office window and watch a squirrel  as it climbs a tree.

I hate politics.

The old man stands and walks inside the office. I offer him a cup of coffee and he takes one of my spare cups into the restroom and gives it a good wash, returns and pours.

Then, "Well, answer my question. Do you not believe he's better than Obama?"

I turn to the old fella and place a hand on his shoulder - Its bony, his skin loose under his shirt. I like him, but not today.

"Bubba," I say, "At this point in time I'd be willing to vote for a yellow dog over our current president."


The old man slams down his cup, walks back through the shop and out the door. Didn't even say good-bye.

Some days are like that around here.

*****

Think I'll change the channel on the shop's television and catch a few minutes of the Tour de France. Its the only sporting event I like and watch. You can keep your football, compared to the bike riders in this event football players are a bunch of wussies. Baseball, boring. Basketball players, give me a break. Put them all on a bike and tell them to ride flat out for a hundred and twenty miles, much of it uphill, and see how long they last.

Besides, I like the shots of the French countryside. Its a beautiful place, even if its people are a bunch of Socialist.


Later.

Stephen

37 comments:

  1. If you are watching the HBO series, John Adams, you will so love it! Was a great series! Wish they would do more of these.

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    1. Beth, I've seen it before when it was first released but wanted a copy for a second and third and, well you get it...thanks, Dear Lady.

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  2. As Glenn Beck, who's really not a Romney fan, likes to say often, "Vote for the non-Communist"

    Looks like Boss JWR decided to mention you again, I bet you get a BA-zillion hits today.

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    1. Matt, I like that quote..thank you, guess I need to steal it.

      Mr Rawles has been very nice to me over the last year or so...I owe him, and Tam, and a couple of others a big thanks. Take care my good friend.

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  3. I am pretty fed up as of late myself. Had to rant on my blog today as well. I hope we are not finished.....the country might be but I'm not.

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    1. Bubba, as you know, I read your rant and agreed completely. Nice chatting with you today. Hate to say it, but this country is lost. Thanks, old friend.

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  4. Some of the best conversations are those left unfinished.

    Who really wins the tour probably wont be figured out for a year or more. Drugs, drug testing, lawsuits, etc. I stopped watching it years ago... besides, 20 miles on my bike is plenty and I don't need more inspiration to push another hobby into OCD land.

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    1. Max, very true. It's always the drugs. Thanks, my friend.

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  5. If the wife runs into probs up here, give me a shout.....I am always available to help.

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    1. Thank you, my friend, I will. I make sure she has the number in her purse....it goes both ways. If you ever need help down here I have a small army available and at your disposal.

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  6. I'm of like mind re: the election. In fact, that yellow dog sounds pretty good, 'bout now.

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    1. At least the yellow dog has class. Thanks, my good friend.

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  7. what yellow dog - bahahahahahahah! i hope Sweet Wife has a nice time at the wedding and i hope that you enjoy your series...i haven't seen it but Beth above says it's great and you can always count on her for telling the truth! she's good like that!

    your friend,
    kymber

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    Replies
    1. Find a copy, kymber. You'd like it. Thanks, sweet lady.

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  8. My usual reply is that I'd vote for a poodle with diahrea bevore the Big "O". No doubt I'll vote for Romney - but it saddens me that that was the best the Republicans could do. The good news is that there is a pretty good crop of conservatives coming up the ranks. I am praying he picks a strong VP and not some place holder. Time will tell.

    As for mosquitos, I would almost trade you a few for some water. We are dry beyond belief. I gaze out my office window across thousands of acres of corn whose leaves are now rolled to about the size of a cigar. It's going to be a devestating year here for my neighbors.

    I wish I could find an optomistic glimmer somewhere - it really escapes me. Perhaps after November.

    Hang in sir, hang in!

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    1. I'm sending rain your way, my good friend...we agree on much.

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  9. The last election has shown that nothing really changes. Presidents aren't in charge.

    When my lovely wife leaves me alone I treat myself to zombie movies. She can't stand them.

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    1. I too like zombie movies, and books with zombie themes too. You're correct about the presidents....they're all a sorry bunch of bastards.

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  10. The yellow dog is definitely better looking than O or Mittens, probably nicer too.

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    1. And smell a heck of a lot better too. Thanks, dear lady.

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  11. You'll really like John Adams. I thought it was very well done.

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  12. Phyllis (N/W Jersey)July 11, 2012 at 2:30 PM

    A time to reflect, a time to put life in perspective, throw in a wee bit of soul searching and a time to be alone. Every person needs to do this once in a while. Gets rid of the cobwebs. Relish the sunsets and sunrises.
    Enjoy the true wonders of God and count your blessings, Stephen. You have many of them. Peace.

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    1. Thank you, sweet Phyllis. We all need to be reminded time to time.

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  13. Reminds me of a joke:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjtU6-Dnay8

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    1. I'll check it out in just a few minutes...thanks, Bubba....which in Southern parlance means, 'brother.' Take care.

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  14. I've watched the John adams show it is very good. The fella who plays Adams ( I can remember his name) is a great actor.Before I watched it I didn't know Adams and Jefferson were such close friends.

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    1. Corey, Adams and Jefferson were indeed very close and even died on the same day, July 4th. Thanks, my friend.

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  15. Hey, Bub.This is off topic, but do you know of any good free, online prepper/survival type fiction online out there? You always seem to be in the know. I read the last ones you posted about several months ago and enjoyed them immensely. My reading addiction sometimes over rides my wallet...

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    1. Indeed I do, Hillbilly. Go to AR15.com. When there check at the top of the page and you will see a button 'Outdoors.' Click it. Scroll down just a bit and click on 'Essential Survival Guides & Fiction.' Enjoy. Now much of it has a zombie theme...still good reading but there are tons of other fiction based on Survival skills too. Here, http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_10/20_Essential_Survival_Guides_andamp__Fiction.html

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    2. And, I almost forgot. Our friend http://reflexionesfinales.blogspot.com/, has hundreds of great books with survival themes not only listed but critiqued...check him out.

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    3. You're a good man, Charlie Brown.I'll check it out.

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  16. John Adams the book was excellent. I've always thought that Adams would be one of those people I would adore and be driven crazy by at the same time and he is just below George Washington in my admiration. The movie had some historical errors in it, which was annoying. Things like the scene of Abigail commenting about Ben Franklin's wife are irksome - Franklin's wife was years dead by the time Abigail joined John in Europe.

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  17. Now I am going to do my breakfast, after having my breakfast coming yet again to read other news.
    Here is my web site ; Lauralee

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