HAPPY NEW YEAR - Y'all.
We are so happy that we were able to survive the holiday season. I am a football fan but the New Years Day over load just about did me in. I was correct by not choosing to be a football coach. I would be in the loony bin by now. My mood was not enhanced by the pathetic showing of the Big Ten teams. I didn't really see a team that Iowa couldn't have beaten except TCU perhaps. They were pretty good. Once again the Iowa Hawkeyes came through with a nice win despite their off field problems.
We have a tradition that has evolved over the decades where "Santa" always brings a new jigsaw puzzle. This has proven to be therapeutic during the holidays with the snow, cold, football and leftovers etc. This year we were so good that Santa brought not one but two 1000 piece puzzles. On a curious note, someone pretending to be Santa, also brought two puzzles. We had four puzzles to put together. Everyone jumped on the challenge. Puzzle one took a while. I think we were a little rusty. It wasn't long before the pace was approaching our normal speed. Jenny, the elder, is the one that is most dedicated to this type of challenge. She is a puzzle guru, doesn't matter too much as to the type of puzzle. Her favorites are mazes. My current wife, Sue, is on the other end of the scale. She helps but is not as much of a die-hard. Debby, the younger and myself fall in between. Anyhow, puzzle building has been completed for this year. All four puzzles have been completed. They were all very fun. We did one of them in one day. The grand-dogs don't mind the puzzles either since everyone leaves them alone to sleep.
While puzzling, I began to formulate my resolutions for the new year. One resolution for certain is to back off on my solid waste agency crusade. I've made my point. Plus, I want to continue to have my trash picked up. Especially since it costs a lot to fund their - ah, technology? I have also resolved to introduce my taste buds to something other than French Roast coffee. I need to expand my horizons, venture outside the box, get a little wild and crazy if you know what I mean. I have also resolved to not listen to ANY nutritionists, food experts, dietitians, or TV stories relating to what you should eat. My opinion continues to be reinforced that the food we ate 50 years ago - natural, organic, non-processed, free of additives is what we should be eating. We get these studies that show this or that is bad for you or good for you. These studies are designed to create a market for someone. A decade later, a study comes along contradicting the first study, also for someones advantage. I give up. Lastly, we (my current wife and I) have resolved to increase the amount of time we spend at the gym. I think we are getting a little addicted.
The girls and their dogs have spent a good amount of time at our house this past week. I have noticed that Kinnick, my long-term boarder, keeps one eye on Jenny at all times. She isn't allowed to go anywhere without him following. He is afraid she will go away again. He also becomes impatient if they are here longer than he thinks is prudent. Funny dude. The pugs, Barney & Max, unexpectedly got to celebrate New Years with us. Poor Debby succumbed to some 24 hour flu so we got the boys. She ended up sleeping ALL day New Years Eve plus all night. I had a nice little party organized. I had party hats, noise makers, special doggie snacks, games and special midnight drinks. Waste of time! The pugs crawled in with Grandma for the night around 10:00 pm. I didn't hang around either. She was excited but not in a positive way. Is this an omen on how 2011 will be? Thankfully, Debby is mostly better but had to suffer through her first day back at work since before Christmas. Ugh!!!
On a different note, do we REALLY need TV toilet paper commercials discussing the relative strength of their tissue. I just saw this commercial again. I agree we all want a strong tissue that keeps us clean while doing our duty but do we really need a commercial talking about it? I think not. A flyer in the paper, a coupon, a press release - okay but not a commercial.
What's up with these birds in Arkansas? They are falling from the sky. The experts state they ran into trees, buildings and each other. Spooked by fireworks. Really? Could be caused by in-breeding perhaps! It is Arkansas for goodness sakes. Weird. Also on the weird side, Congress is going to read the Constitution aloud. Good idea or not? Sounds good to me. They all should be aware of just what they were elected to be doing. They all should be required to memorize it.
I was all ready to file my tax return only to find out that the IRS is not ready to accept them. What's up with that? Once in my life I am ready but the government is not.
I was sad to note that Bob Feller passed a while back. He was born and raised in Van Meter, Iowa. Van Meter is just down the road a bit from Adel. Adel was the hometown of Nile Kinnick, the only U of I Heisman Trophy winner. I grew up on a farm northwest of Adel. My family homesteaded there in the 1870's. Baseball was big in the thirties, forties and fifties. My dad played baseball in high school and also semi-pro ball. He was a catcher. Their paths crossed numerous times on the ball field. Feller's cousin, Hal also went to the bigs with Feller. He was actually a better pitcher but he had arm problems that short circuited his career. Our family farmed Hal's farm for a good number of years. I didn't know Bob personally but still have a sense of loss.
You may have noted that my last couple of posts have been somewhat rambling. I suffer from a condition similar to the news programs - Slow news days. In my case it is slow drivel days. The holidays have that affect. I was hoping to have some announcements regarding Grandpa Bailey's Spoiled Dog Kennel and our seniors domino league but things just are coming together. One roadblock after another. A new direction may be the best thing for everyone. Time will tell. French Roast is all gone and so am I. TA!
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