Monday's Missives

• Just came in from working on the yard and getting some sun and was surprised to find my two oldest sitting in the den watching a movie together like human beings and not strangling each other or setting the furniture on fire.



• They were so incognito I thought they must be getting in late from the school bus.



• Literally



• Three of my neighbors have jeeps.



• Luckies



• The one I owned in my previous life would punk theirs in a minute.



• That's alright though, good things will come back to me- right?



• Please say yes.



• Always fascinates me to see people who are business owners who seem to have no interest in being in business. Went in to an antique store yesterday to look for books. The guy rolled his eyes and sighed like he was dealing with a mentally challenged guy the group home gave 5.00 dollars to and took shopping for life enrichment therapy. I've done well at other antique stores buying books- high percentage of what ends up in them is often history,autobiographies and biographies which is what I'm into and the prices are often cheaper than a used bookstore. I would guess I've spent at least say, a couple of hundred dollars at antique stores for books in my life and have bought other things from that particular store in the past.



• Never again.



• Speaking of books, Recycled Books in Denton TX RAWKS! They must have a million books in stock and are very helpful and have a laid back atmosphere and attitude. Music and DVDs were too expensive in the past but, I'll see if there's been a price correction since I've been there last.



• I love how the store snakes around, in and out of other spaces they've acquired and up stairs and down into the basement.



• I'm going to go spend money there this weekend.



• They have a rare books section that makes me salivate and rock back and forth wishing for a lottery win.



• Think a good investment maight be in a big DVD collection from someone who changed over to Blueray and a new DVD player. Going to keep that one in the back of my mind.



• I love how the people we fight (and will always be fighting) essentially equate women with a piece of property that carries children and in our military culture they are equal in rights and opportunities to men. On my crew in Iraq my assigned machine gunner was often a female Marine. Stone cold killer- who could operate and maintain that gun as well as anybody. I would have gone anywhere in combat with her and in fact did hand picked her over many of the men in my platoon during planning sessions for operations.



• There were some very nice complimentary aspects to that story that I'll never forget. She was assigned to my squad because I was trusted to treat a subordinate female properly and also to keep her alive. She also because of her respect for my abilities and pride in our accomplishments campaigned her command for more patrol action and asked me to do the same with my unit and have her be my dedicated gunner.



• People give me way more credit than I deserve.

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.