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Photo Friday – The Letter H
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Sep 24, 2010 9:47 am
1296 Views
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The following are photos of the first house my ex and I purchased after we were married. It was an old farm house that set on ten acres and backed up to a small man-made lake just east of the then small town of Terrell, TX which is located about 30 miles east of Dallas.
The Farm House starting from the top left:
Photo #1 is taken from the driveway as you approach the house.
Photo#2 is a shot from the Farm to Market Road down the graveled driveway that led to the house. It was a long walk to the mailbox.
Photo#3 is taken from the front of the house. The property in front of us was used as a grazing pasture for a ranchers heard of cattle. The herd really didn’t belong to the rancher, but he didn't know that. If you look closely you can see Fritz our German Sheppard sitting along the fence line. Once we moved into the house, Fritz immediately took charge of that heard of cattle and every morning the first thing he would do was go get those cows where he wanted them. After that he would sit in the shade along the fence and made sure those cows stayed where he put ‘em.
Photo#4 the driveway was a circular drive in the front of the house this shot is taken from the turn in the drive way as you approach the garage. You can see the car parked in the rear of the house.
Photo#5 is the front of the house. That screened in front porch was the largest room in the house. There was no A/C in the house and no window units. The porch was the coolest room in the whole place during the summer months.
Photo#6 is our first Christmas tree in our new house.
For reasons I can’t explain we never took a picture of the lake but it is located to the right of the house.
I apologize for the rather inconvenient photo layout and narrative setup. I'm just not quite as polished as some of the other contributors..but I'm workin' on it. 
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14
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When Insults Had Class
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Sep 23, 2010 9:40 am
1285 Views
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“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” –Winston Churchill
“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.”–Clarence Darrow
“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” –William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)
"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?" —Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.” –Groucho Marx
“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” –Mark Twain
“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” –Oscar Wilde
“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend... if you have one.” –George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
“Cannot possibly attend first night; will attend second, if there is one.” –Winston Churchill’s response to George Bernard Shaw
“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.” –Stephen Bishop
“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” -John Bright
“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.” –Irvin S. Cobb
“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” –Samuel Johnson
“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.” –Paul Keating
“He had delusions of adequacy.” –Walter Kerr
“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?” –Mark Twain
“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” –Mae West
“Winston, if you were my husband, I would poison your coffee!” –Lady Astor to Winston Churchill at a dinner party
“Madam, if I were your husband, I would drink it!” –Winston Churchill’s response to Lady Astor
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." —Moses Hadas
"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure." —Jack E. Leonard
"He has the attention span of a lightning bolt." —Robert Redford
"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge." —Thomas Brackett Reed
"He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them." —James Reston (about Richard Nixon)
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." —Charles, Count Talleyrand
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." —Forrest Tucker
"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of anyone I know." —Abraham Lincoln
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than illumination." —Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." —Billy Wilder
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” –Oscar Wilde
"You, Mr. Wilkes, will die either of the pox or on the gallows."–The Earl of Sandwich
"That depends, my lord, whether I embrace your mistress or your principles."–John Wilkes's response to The Earl of Sandwich
"A modest little person, with much to be modest about." —Winston Churchill
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9
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Regrets…I've Had A Few
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Sep 22, 2010 5:29 pm
1545 Views
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Sometimes when you’re busy living life you get lost in what it’s really all about. You make decisions based on the information you have at the time, or sometimes just because it seems like the right thing to do at that time. Occasionally you make decisions based on nothing more than what I call a severe case of the “Dumb Ass”. Often it’s not until later you realize the effect some of these decisions had on other people involved in your life at the time. Sometimes these realizations don’t come to you until many years later. Of course by that time it’s too late and there is nothing you can do about it now. Hopefully you’ll learn from the bad decisions you made and not make the same mistakes twice.
I remember once while I was in Germany before I met my ex I was the only one in my room that wasn’t working and I had some time to just lay on my bunk and think. A lot of things must have run through my mind but the one thing I remember most is thinking about what kind of life I wanted to live. I saw myself leading one of two lifes. I thought about what we all perceived to be a “normal” life. You know the one, a wife, 2.5 kids, a house with a white picket fence, a dog and a two car garage; and a job.
Then I thought about just being a man of the world; foot loose and fancy free. I could see myself roaming around Europe, from country to country. That was about as far as I got on that one. I quickly realized that somehow you had to have a source of income to be able just to wander around the world and if you were out wandering around from adventure to adventure, when were you going to find time to make any money.
Shortly after having that little bit of unrealistic day dreaming, I met my future wife and eventually I had life number one with a few minor changes. We had three kids instead of 2.5, no white house it was brown and no picket fence. Not only did I have a job but my ex had one also. And at one time we had four cars around the house as the kids got old enough to drive.
I lived that life for 27 years and strange as it may seem because of it I lived a bit of the other life also. I chose the military as a career field and as a result I ended up traveling not only because I was a soldier but because of the job I had in the military, even when I was home I was gone.
It wasn’t an easy life on any of us. It was especially hard on my ex and the kids and listening to them talk today it’s obvious it left some indelible scars that may never heal. I don’t regret the life I’ve lived; just some of the things I did that caused others pain and anguish.
These are some of my regrets I’m sure there will be more before all is said and done. We all make choices; some become unavoidable regrets; just as some of mine did when I did it my way.
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16
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If I had My Life To Live Over (A Man's Point of View)
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Sep 19, 2010 3:01 pm
1227 Views
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MsTurtlebug posted a poem by Erma Bombeck with thesame title as above title.Several years ago I took a shot at writing poetry and such. But I never did get really comfortable with it. But I did happen to read this same poem and I thought about what I would say. This is what I wrote. I thought some of you might enjoy reading "A Man's Point of View".
I would have talked more and listened to you better.
I would have understood your need to have friends and not complained every time you asked someone over for dinner or just to visit.
I would have cleaned up my own messes in the living room after watching the ball game instead of leaving it all for you to do.
I would not have listened to my daddy when told me that big boys don’t cry or show emotion and always had to be strong.
I would not have complained about the windows in the car being rolled up, but understood how important it was to you to look nice when we arrived at our destination.
Maybe, if I had paid attention, I would have reminded you about the pink candle sculpted like a rose that was melting in storage.
I would have sat with you and the kids in the grass and enjoyed your company, instead of sitting in front of the television watching every sporting event it had to offer.
I would have cried and laughed with you more, instead of acting like it was just a woman thing.
When you were sick, I would have insisted you go to bed instead of complaining about all the things that didn’t get done.
I would have allowed you to be frivolous sometimes instead of always reminding you that money doesn’t grow on trees.
When you were pregnant with our children I would have been more attentive to your feelings, about your concerns and especially how you looked.
When you wanted to talk, I would have taken the time to listen instead of telling you we can talk later.
And there would have been more “I love yous” and more “I’m sorrys”, but mostly there would have been more sharing and communicating, because without those two things……nothing else works.
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15
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Photo Friday - Baby Picture
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Sep 17, 2010 3:03 pm
1404 Views
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I always wanted to be a cowboy.
I guess I was about 3 maybe 4 years old when this was taken. We were living outside Dallas, TX at the time and my Dad was working for a company manfacturing airplane parts doing his part for the war. He was classified 4F for some reason and couldn't be drafted or volunteer.
My mother told me that this old man came around the neighborhood with the pony and costume and would take your picture for anominal fee. It must have been pretty nominal; I'm pretty sure we didn't have a lot of money back in those days.
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21
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A Follow Up To Yesterday’s Blog…..Sorta
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Sep 14, 2010 7:21 pm
959 Views
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Yesterday I whined about how all this new modern technology we have today was leaving me way behind. Today I did something about it and in the same move set myself free from those never ending contracts that most all wireless phone companies make all their money from.
For quite some time now I have had two cell phones on my account. At the time I got the additional phone I also got an upgrade in equipment (a new phone) those wireless companies so graciously give you at a supposedly generous discount. Somehow when I did this I got away from my basic plan which had included unlimited texting.
When I got my first bill it seemed to be in the general vicinity of what the salesperson told me it would be, so I wrote ‘em a check. When I got the second bill I noticed a slight increase but didn’t really take the time to figure out what or why I got the increase.
I didn’t pay much attention to my bill for several months after that. But when I got the last bill I took a few minutes to review it. I was surprised as to what I found. My phone was being billed $9.99 for Data Package 25MB-email, plus $5.00 for a 250 message allowance (texting). My second line costs me $9.99 which was as advertised, but they also added an additional 500 message allowance for a mere $10.00. Add all that up, subtract the cost of the extra line and that comes out to about $25.00 I didn’t ask for it nor was I told about it.
Of course naïve me, figured at the time I got the extra line, I was only going to get charged the $9.99 cost of the extra phone line. Oh I should add that I got a generous discount on the second phone I got.
I decided it was time to axe the extra phone and get an explanation on the charges for texting, so off I went to my local friendly wireless office. What I got was a very short explanation to the effect that when I added a line, I went under a “shared” calling plan.
“What happened to my unlimited text?” I asked.
“Obviously you didn’t ask for unlimited text and if you had it would have cost you more.” The salesman curtly replied.
“Obviously the person that sold me the plan realized I might not make a purchase at all if they told me that.” I snapped back.
“Either way this is what you got.” The clerk replied.
I was beginning not to like this jerk. I would have asked to speak to his supervisor but I knew the supervisor. He and I had a run in on a different matter a few months ago, so I knew I wouldn’t be getting any support from him.
“Ok, I would like to cancel the second phone and have it removed from my bill.” I said.
“That will be $145.00.”
“Wait a minute; you want to charge me $145.00 to stop providing service? What’s that for? In the time I’ve had that phone I’ve paid more than twice what you sell it for retail.” I said.
“You had a two year contract. To opt out of your contract it will cost you $145.00.” He replied.
The other customer next to me at the other register started backing away from the counter. I think he saw my nostrils begin to flare. I didn’t need this; my COPD was beginning to act up.
“How much will it cost me to opt out of my contract completely, both phones?” I asked.
The clerk did some calculating and came up with a figure of $295.00. I thought about it for a few seconds then I reached in my pocket, got my wallet and tossed the clerk my debit card and said, “Cancel my account.”
The clerk said he had to get his manager. I told him to get him, I’d wait. The manager came out. He didn’t say a word and didn’t even ask me what the problem was. I’m sure he recognized me and probably figured good riddance.
I left that store drove two blocks down the street to another wireless dealer. They offer a no contract deal. The phone costs me a little more initially but it’s mine I own it and I only pay them $39.99 plus tax every month for service. That is less than half of what I was paying the other jerks even if you discount the second line; and I’ve got as many hours as I had and unlimited texting. The phone I picked out is pretty basic but I have what I want, talk, text, and pictures.
So in conclusion, I don’t have all the technology that I don’t want anyway and I’m paying a lot less a month. And the best part…if I don’t want this company’s service anymore at anytime…..I can walk in and say I’m done, and there is no contract to opt out of.
It may cost me a little more now but I think I’ll make that up in the future. I feel smarter already.
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9
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I Think I’m too old for…….
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Sep 13, 2010 3:52 pm
1245 Views
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This modern technology world we live in today. I probably suffer from a severe case of RTC (Resistance to Change) but I just think all this technology stuff is eventually going to blow up in our face. Maybe I should clarify this before I go any further. I’m not talking about progress in medical technology; if it will save lives or prolong lives then I’m all for it.
I’m talking about communications. We have come a long way since smoke signals, and the Pony Express. Now we have telegraph, telephone, television and tellawoman. Actually we probably could have stopped with the last one; they still haven’t come up with anything to beat it yet, only provided methods of enhancements.
We also now have computers, including desktops, stand alone desktops with no tower to worry about, laptops, IPads, NotePads, NoteBooks but aren’t they the same thing? Is a PDA a computer or a cell phone? (Don’t answer that…I really don’t wanna know.) Now you have wireless communication so you can carry your laptop around the whole house so you can stay online and never miss a beat.
You can send email on your computer, you can chat one on one on your computer. You can join or belong to a multitude of group sites on your computer. They call it social networking. The most recent thing to come along is Twitter. Now I haven’t figured Twitter out yet but then I haven’t really tried. How do you get Twitter? Do you buy a Twitterer? How do you twitter? Or do you Tweet on Twitter?
Now it seems they are trying to put your whole computer in your cell phone. I don’t know about you but I really don’t like these new “do it all” cell phones. In the first place they are too small for me to work with and I don’t have big hands but I can’t type on one of those things, even the ones with a full keyboard. I got an upgrade in my cell phone a few months ago when I renewed my contract. You can scroll up and down your contact list or whatever other list you want to use with just the touch of your finger…..yeah right!!!
I had to synchronize “my touch” so the damn phone would respond. It still doesn’t work. Whose ever name I put my thumb on to begin my scroll is going to get a phone call. SAPD sent a patrol by my house to find out why I kept calling them and then hanging up. They wanted to arrest me for making harassing phone calls to the Police Department.
I don’t want a cell phone that does what my computer does and I don’t want a computer that does what my cell phone does. And I don’t want everybody knowing who I am and what I’m doing every minute of the day. Personally I don’t need all that attention.
Yep, I think I liked it better when I could sit out on the swing on the front porch and watch the kids play kick the can and when my daughter came out to tell me some guy wanted to talk to the man of the house I’d tell her to go get her mother.
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16
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A Sign of The Times
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Sep 12, 2010 7:41 am
974 Views
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I was going to write a blog last week....but I forgot what it was about.
Oh well, there is always this week, maybe it will come to me but I ain't holdin' my breath. Get it? Me, holding my breath? No? Ok, well maybe it's an inside joke only a couple of us will get.
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11
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The Other Side of the Pillow (Response to Rosie’s Blog about Snoring)
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Sep 5, 2010 2:47 pm
1828 Views
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In Rosie’s last blog she talked about snoring and separate bedrooms. Now the snoring is pretty cut and dried. Some do and some don’t. The separate bedrooms are a whole nother ball game.
I got the impression reading Rosie’s blog that she assumed everybody knew that she had returned to Canada, mostly because her time out of country was up and to visit her kids. If you didn’t know that before….now you do.
When Rosie is here in Texas, which is only about half the time, we share; unless she is pissed at me, which is most of the time; or she stays up all night working on her blog, which happens some of the time. Then part of the time we spend avoiding each other cuz it takes a little time to get over being pissed at each other. Got it? Good!
When Rosie gets pissed at me she grabs her laptop and heads for parts of this house I forget are there most of the time. We may not see each other for two or three days at a time.
The last time was a doozy, I didn’t see her for three days and neither of us left the house. When she finally came out of her cave I was sitting at the kitchen table. She sat her laptop down and asked, “Would you like some breakfast?”
“Sure that would be nice.” I replied.
“What would you like?”
“How about a henway?”
“What’s a henway?”
“About 2 or 3 pounds.” I replied.
Rosie's face turned red and smoke started coming out her ears. She grabbed her laptop and headed back to her cave.
Humph!Some people just can’t take a joke. I hate cooking for one.
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29
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