Friday's Dispatch

• "How does money affect your friendships?"
• Headline I saw earlier. It, like similar ones or the topic being brought up in conversation always reminds me of a personal experience that opened my eyes. When first starting out in life there was another couple- poor like us but, also hard working with an eye to the future. We shared a house, meals to get by and social time even after we went our separate ways and found our own places. Even then we spent quite a bit of time together- at the very least all our children's and personal birthdays and even extended families we knew mutually. This all ended when they started making money- a lot of it. He literally acted like he didn't even know me when I would call or we'd see each other.
• One of the few hurtful things that have happened to me in my life that years of time can't shake the sadness off when I'm reminded.
• Of the literally hundreds of times I've been to Sonic in my life- I'll bet I've eaten no more than 3-5 of the peppermints they put in the bag with your order.
• Arrogant, smug, mean and not a thinker- the first thoughts that went through my mind when I saw a file photo of a cop who recently (today is 05/01/2014) used unnecessary force on a detained person. 
• Actually, my final thought there came out as simpleton but he was upgraded to not a thinker status.
• I know this isn't/can't be true but I'm tempted to say- They should have seen that coming. 
• Car writers hate the Porsche Panamera. Drivers/car buyers love 'em.
• You couldn't force me at gunpoint into buying a Range Rover.
• Your unsolicited car buying tip for the day: never buy a European car that is out of warranty.

Monday's Missives

Persimmons. I take a lot of pics of persimmons don't I? They capture my attention for some reason.

Mmmmm, let me see here- about some nice fish or a crawdad this morning...

Creepy cactus bugs being all creepy and buggie.

Turd roller be rollin'.

• Those skinny leg suits with the 2 sizes too small jackets models are wearing look about as ridiculous as the black NFL football players hair weaves. In 20 years will people make fun of them both or be too terrified of looking like they hate black and gay people?
• FG and her dumb cat were lying by and on me on the couch earlier- wallowing all over me as we say. As I was thinking about how dumb he is and how much I hated his guts he looked at me and said, Meow! He then reached his paw out at me and touched my belly and laid his head against my arm and dozed off. FG then hugged my other arm and said, You are soooo snuggly. This is nice.
• Will I miss all that when it is over?
• Built To Kill: what we're watching (01/11/2015).

  

  What The?! What hit that car- a boat?

  
  

  

  At a local business. The funny thing is- this is the second time I've seen a vehicle stuck up on that rock.
• I just (01/12/2015) got back from visiting a friend in a physical therapy rehab facility. If I'm lying- I'm dying, she is in the same room- same bed that one of my last hospice patients croaked in. She is across the hall from a famous person's relative I cared for and when we turned down that hall I was sure we were going to take a right and be in that room. Nope- we took a left into the room of death (the famous person's relative didn't die while under my care).
• Just don't tell her please- it would freak her out.

  

  Have I shown you this pic before? Murica!

  
  

  

  A pen I carried during The War.

• One of those weird things that I can't forget: Some people with lymphoma will experience pain at the site(s) of their affected lymph nodes. The number of patients is low (probably less than 30%) but of those, the pain may be excruciating and exquisite (meaning it will be bad,  happen every time and with as little as one drink). A funny thing about the way those little tidbits work is, it would be worthless [and ridiculous] to use a shot of tequila for a part of a battery of tests but if a patient tells a doctor or nurse their armpit hurts after a random shot or glass of wine- that ought to get some attention.

  

  Found in the bottom of a box in my storage. Murica!

• Things I learned about my self and others during a long period of abstinence: In regards to the opposite sex- if you want more sex than you ever had in your life apparently let it be known you don't want to have sex until you're married. Not that it happened every day but multiple women begged me to have the seks with them. When it came to my understanding of myself one woman was good with no sex although we spent lots of time together. Thoughtlessly, I would walk out of a restroom in my underwear to change to go swimming or go out. There was a mutual attraction so it isn't like I totally disrespected her and looked at her as if she had the perceived sex appeal of a houseplant or whatever but I didn't think anybody could get that worked up over me. She said to the effect, No sex is fine- for now if that is what you want but you can't keep strolling around here in your underwear- it drives me nuts and I get all worked up and you know it and it isn't right.
  
• Today (01/19/2015) as I drove down 183 toward Mineral Wells I saw a  goober from from Roger Williams check traffic to his left and right with his hand shading his eyes from the glare of the sun. He did this apparently without realizing his having to do this meant drivers would be similarly affected.  He stepped in front of me right when the glare hit me the worst and I only caught him out of the corner of my eye- and I mean barely. I slammed on my brakes and steered away from him while honking the horn. He waved with a goofy passive-aggressive grin and kept walking. 
• Keep it cute homes. 
• You are literally only alive because I'm such a good driver and you were nearly dead because you are oblivious.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  In front of an antique store in Mineral Wells.

• Once you know somebody with a dementia such as Alzheimer's you can pick others out of a crowd similarly affected- even by looking at a picture. They just have that look.

Wednesday's Digressions

Azteks have  a perennial place of honor on every list of worst cars ever made however, you just nearly never see them that don't look like new- and a new one hasn't been made in nearly ten years. They are loved.

• People close to Robin Williams have reported they were hopeful for his future as he had started trying to do things he had previously enjoyed but had left behind for a long time. As I recall he had started reading and watching television after not doing so for months due to depression. In the past I have heard friends and family of a person who killed themselves take note of the decedent recently taking up an old hobby or pastime as evidence they didn't kill themselves as in, Hey, it is obvious somebody killed him as he just took up golf again. He loved golf! Why would he kill himself he was finally back to doing something he loved? Those things become a last ditch effort for a depressed person- when nothing else works and they don't want to return to drinking alcohol or other drugs. When there is no joy left in something they loved and know made them happy in the past they feel there is nothing left and so, they kill themselves.
• Everyone is capable of killing themselves. I'll be the rare person to just be honest and say I know I could but there is also a reason why I would be very, very unlikely to do so.

  

  It looks fancy and pretty  but it is a cheap instant coffee- literal swill.

• Last night (11/22/2014) I went to Bakers for a chopped sammie and then drove around to McDonald's for a large order of their amazing French fries.
• America- what a country.
• They serve something at Baker's called a Sloppy Spud. That sounds like a perverted sex act. I intend to try it at my earliest possible convenience (the food product-not a perverted sex act).

  

  I hung this Inova flashlight from my pack. One of the kids threw a pillow at the gear gear pile causing the brand new light to literally disintegrate. Ridiculous.

• There are a lot more black people in Weatherford than there were a few years ago.

  

  Pretty cool old car. It wouldn't be my first choice for a hot rod but I can dig it.

  
  
  
  

  

  Orphan.

  
  

  

  That is one messed up grill homeboy. Get yourself to a dentist yo!

• I'm trying a reusable cup for the Keurig. It is a metal and plastic contraption you put coffee grounds into. It is a little troublesome but a lot cheaper. After I make a cup of fresh delicious caffeinated beverage I dump the used grounds into a planter on the porch. Recently (today is 11/27/2014) I stepped out onto the porch wrapped in a towel to dump the grounds into said planter. FG's dumb cats took advantage of the cracked door and bolted causing me to have to try and get them back in the house. Taking advantage of my semi-nude weakness they evaded me with amazing agility. The towel fell away. Somehow I caught it with one hand and was able to mostly cover my hiney by holding the towel against my lower back while simultaneously reaching down and catching one of the Satanic beasts with the other hand. Then I was able to corral the other with my foot and shove it back toward the door as the normally not too vocal vermin meowed and hissed and spit all the way. Help! Hey look this naked freak is kicking cats up in here! Help! Meow! Meowww...
• Yes, I have herded cats naked- hasn't everybody?

  

  The first pumpkin I ever carved. No, really- the first ever. We found it a couple of days after Halloween 2014 on the banks of the Trinity.

  
  

  

  He will haunt your soooooul. Muwahhahaha! 

  
  

  

  He made a big splash as he left our lives forever.

  
  

  

  Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river...

  
  

  

  Thug Goose says, Whats up you orange freak!? I think you're in the wrong hood homes.

Step Aside Batman

A very cool law enforcement vehicle video can be found here. Some of the things that jumped out at me when I first heard about the Carbon Motors E7: There has never been a purpose built police patrol vehicle- they are all upfitted civilian vehicles. It is specd to a 250,000 mile lifespan and recycling of entire unit at the end of its service life is factored into purchase. 50 % of all LE injuries happen in or related to their patrol unit and while it is designed to be safer all around it is specifically designed for 75 MPH rear impacts. It has a diesel engine designed for a 40% savings over traditional units in fuel costs and Americans spend 4 billion dollars in fuel alone annually to power LE vehicles.

• If I had the means I would invest in this vehicle now and heavily. Once it takes off it will make the dominance of the Crown Vic in previous generations look sick.


• Carbon Motors was founded by former Ford execs.


• Really surprised this is the first purpose built police vehicle ever considering their use by LE goes back 100 years basically.


• Can't wait to see them on the street. Carbon Motors hasn't released a price only saying it will be competitive with other fully outfitted units already offered.

Mondays Missives

• I would dearly love to have the finances and place to build a kit car- I think It would be very satisfying and that I could pull it off well.
• Never known anyone personally who has built one and I bet there are kits unfinished in garages all across the country that have been sitting for years and will never get finished because the guys bit off more than they could chew.
• It's cool to see a female working on their own car and racing and stuff like that.
• Had a friend once who totally replaced the interior of her car- by herself- when she was 8 months pregnant.
• To me Rod Blagojevich looks and comes across as a simple minded person.
• Frenchman in context is complimentary and seems to connote a certain amount of assumed respect even but, Chinaman is always pejorative and demeaning.
• Notable quotable from crowd at Obama inauguration : after being asked for a memorable quote that inspired her a crowd member replied to a reporter," Oh yeah, hope and change and what was third- confusion?" And another,"I'm just so glad there is a black, African American in the White House now!"
• When I asked my 7 year old if she knew who the president was now she said,"Of course, John McCain Luther- right?"
• My 15 year old was playing with the 2 year old on the floor the other night and acting like the baby was torturing him by trying to kiss him all over his face (after doing same to baby) and pretending he was powerless to stop it- he then started laughing so hard he couldn't catch his breath and the baby really started licking his face and big brother really became powerless to stop it he was so breathless. That baby knew exactly what he was doing and took full advantage of the situation to terrorize his big brother!
• I felt compelled to walk through the neighbors unfinished house the other day.

Fridays Dispatch

• My first truck was a 1951 Chevrolet that I paid 500.00 for 20 + years ago. It had a 250 cubic inch engine and 4 speed standard transmission. It was pretty cool even though mint would never come to mind when looking at the truck. It was mostly cool because for some reason girls loved the thing. A woman in a Chevette rear ended me totally destroying the front of her car- literally, the headlights were knocked out, the radiator went into the fan and antifreeze was pouring out, my trucks bumper paint only had a slight rub mark although she pushed us forward on impact. For years after selling it I'd come across it at different places and try to buy it- never could come to terms with anybody though.



• A car is transportation not a statement or whatever, I'd never spend more than I have to on a vehicle, though if I can buy one that interests me reasonably I will. I owned a Jeep that was lifted, had a roll bar and awesome stereo- you name it but, It was my daily driver. It was fun. I drove it for a year and sold it for 1500.00 over my purchase price.


• College girls would chase me in my Jeep and I'd think things like Your dad didn't raise you to be chasing some guy like me or Girl, you are going to get hurt hanging out the car window like that- put your seatbelt on and sit down! That's when I knew I was getting old.


• I had a new Camaro after my first year in college. When I parked on campus the first day I owned it a girl who previously wouldn't have given me the time of day flirted with me in the parking lot. At first when this would happen I felt offended because well, previously they would not have given me the time of day, then I came to my senses and put that childish, ethical thinking away.


• I used to drive a new Camaro and go out with pretty girls. Whatever happened to the handsome young devil that did that?


• I'm unsure how many cars I've owned- 20?


• I'd live in a downtown area and live without a car- just walk or bike to work,restaurants, shows etc. Never thought I'd feel that way.


• When I was a kid a pillar of society type had a great old 60s model Lincoln or Mercury sitting in the parking lot of his business, it had been his mother in laws. I asked if he'd sell it, he said, "Would 50.00 be too much?" I said,"Heck no" He told me to get permission from my folks (I was about 12). I ran to go find some yards to mow to finish putting together the 50 bucks. I nearly killed myself but, made the money in 2-3 days and went back he said,"You know I talked to old_____ and he said I needed to ask more like 300.00 for that car." He could have shot me in the guts and I would have been less shocked and hurt. He than said,"If you can get that for me, you can still have that old car." That was the day I learned to distrust. I never looked at that man the same again- even as an adult. Until the day he died if he told me good morning I'd check my watch.