Trashy Tuesday - 1/29/2013

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.  
Will Rogers

Hello World! It is a great day to be alive, I think. Took my trash containers to the curb by the mandated 7:00 AM time. It was around 40 degrees or so and raining. About 3:00 AM I was awakened by thunderstorms. Cripes it is January for crying out loud. Sunday church was canceled by a minor ice storm. There winter storm warnings, alerts and ice warnings all over the place on Sunday. Come Monday – All gone. Temperatures above freezing just like a spring day. Today, well we may set a record or two. Last night there was a severe thunderstorm warning, I heard hail last night, today we will be in the mid 50's before the plummet to the twenties tonight. Overnight low will be around 1 degree and we will be getting a couple of inches of snow. Just what is Mother Nature telling us? We have had quite a few unusual and severe weather occurrences so far this winter. Is this what the Mayans were alluding to? Worth keeping an eye on I think.

Have to tell you about a conversation I had with my current wife, Sue. On Saturday we took the new car for a drive. We drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word just listening to the XM radio. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of us wanted to concede our position. Being in Iowa, we passed farm after farm. The weather was great for January, no snow but cool. Having grown up on a farm, I was observing the farmsteads, the barns, hog lots, chicken houses and such. As we passed by a particular barnyard full of mules, goats, and pigs, I asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?" "Yep," Sue replied, "in-laws." Soon afterward I decided it was time to go back home. I needed to retreat and come up with another attack. I just couldn't let her off that way.

A couple of days later, we get in an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. It is not a hard thing to do. I have a French Press; use Organic French Roast beans for the most part. All that is required to do is to grind the beans and put them in the press, heat water in a tea kettle and pour in the press, insert the press device and let it steep for about 5 minutes. Push the press down in the pot and you are ready to serve. As you can see it can't get much easier. Naturally, the current wife had a view different than mine. Sue said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then you don't have to wait as long to get your coffee." Sue doesn't drink coffee very often. I said, "Just let me remind you that you are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee." Sue replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee." I reply, "I can't believe that, show me." So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed me at the top of several pages, that it indeed says......... ..."HEBREWS". I had no response again except to mumble “in-laws” as I slinked off to my man cave computer room. Another battle lost.

A friend of mine sent me this little ditty that I thought was kind of cute. It is entitled “MY 2013 TRAVEL PLANS”

My inconclusive travel plans for 2013…..

• I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.
• I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.
• I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family, and work.
• I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.
• I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there… too often.
• I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.
• Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.
• One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!
• I may have been in Continent, but I don't remember what country I was in. It's an age thing.

I really dislike the first of the year. January, February, March and early April are so depressing. First, we are in a new year which means I have survived yet another full year. I have a February birthday making me another year older. I get to fret about my income tax for 3 and half months. Oh yes, my deductibles have reset and now my meds go nuts. Love paying up to the deductible. Out of pocket medical skyrockets for a while. Stupidly, I buy a new car during this time. I was hoping to get a buzz from it but find myself now worrying about an extra payment. I went and picked up some meds which reminded me of a couple of complaints. Just why are those push and twist lids so had to get off? What is the deal with the blister pack meds these days. I used to be able to just push the tablet through the covering and away I go. Now you have to tear the plastic which was designed to not be torn. You then have to twist and tear it. I don't know how many capsules I have ruined trying to follow the instructions. We old folks need a tool, I think. Next on my list comes the printing and instructions. Now I know something about fonts, having designed them at one time and managed a technical writing department another time. I swear, the font used on the printed materials, especially OTC drugs is a negative number which I thought impossible. My eyes are getting so bad that I need a microscope instead of a magnifying glass to read this stuff. We need a law. And what about the eye doctor? The last time I was there, they gave me a clip board with a form on it. I was asked to read it and sign it. It was a privacy statement or something – not really sure. Here I am for an eye exam because my vision is not correct and I am to read this thing printed in a 2 point font. I mean this is the eye doctor. Shouldn't they be a little more sensitive to things like this?

In closing, PLEASE DO YOUR PART! Today is one of the many National Mental Health Days throughout the year. You can do your bit by remembering to send an e-mail to at least one unstable person. My job is done!

Life is too short for negative drama and petty things. So laugh insanely, love truly, and forgive quickly! From one unstable person to another... I hope everyone is happy in your head-- we're all doing pretty well in mine. Sip your French Roast responsibly and DO NOT DRIVE when drunk on Drivel. Have great day, TA!