Gotta say (‘n certainly not becuz I want to)..went to the DMV t’day....not totally unprepared, of course, just.....well, guess y’hadda be me...
Now as you may know...or maybe not...I’ve had some eye issues...nuthin’ out’a the ordinary for a septuagenarian (talk about your fifty dollar words)...I had a cataract removed ‘n the biggest problem I’ve had with it is that now the right lens in my glasses is out of kilter...I can’t quite see well enough to read w/out the glasses but with my present specs, the right eye is blurry....’n the left eye, I have an astigmatism which means that without the corrective lens, everything is blurry...’n I won’t get my eyes checked again until the end of this month.....but, I was s’pozed to get my license renewed on or before my birthday last month but I had to have eye surgery so I put it off...making a long ‘n dull story short(er) I durn near failed my eye exam at the DMV, just barely squeaking by...but I did get by....THEN I went to stand in line for a new picture (didn’t look too awful bad from the middle of my face upward but the lower portion looked like a jowly Michael Douglas on a really bad day...’n then I went ‘n missed 3 really easy questions out of 18...at home, I took a 50 question quiz ‘n only missed 4 ‘n thought I corrected them but missed one of the same ones t’day...(SHAME SHAME)...in the long run, I managed to squeak by but it was a humiliating experience....
The Buddha said, “All things will be made clear in the fullness of time.”...but, I don’t think he ever had to stand in a DMV line...
I’m just sayin’.......
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Promethus unbound....
As you may or maybe not know, Promethus was the dude in Ancient Mythology (is there any other kind?) who had to push a rock uphill ever’ damned day forever....Now what they don’t talk about is the unsung guy who worked the nightshift ‘n had to move that damned rock back down the mountain so’s Promethus could start pushing it back up the next morning...
What I’m getting at here is that there is a pile of gravel here on top of Crestline (why d’ya think they named in Crestline anyway) that I’m barrowing down the hill ev’ry day...
‘Course, I’m not trying to take it all at once, just 3 or 4 barrowsful a day ‘n there ain’t no one replenishing the pile...it’s growing ever smaller day by day....when I was younger, I would have taken it all away in one swell foop (or fell swoop) which might have resulted in one long day but I’d’ve had it done ‘n forgot about by now...but that was once upon a time ‘n now I take a much more philosophical approach, ie; gives me sum’thing to look forward to which may or may not be a sad commentary on my life or maybe just a commentary on my sad life or “Whatever suits you just tickles me plumb to death” Marion ‘Howdy’ Lewis....
What I’m getting at here is that there is a pile of gravel here on top of Crestline (why d’ya think they named in Crestline anyway) that I’m barrowing down the hill ev’ry day...
‘Course, I’m not trying to take it all at once, just 3 or 4 barrowsful a day ‘n there ain’t no one replenishing the pile...it’s growing ever smaller day by day....when I was younger, I would have taken it all away in one swell foop (or fell swoop) which might have resulted in one long day but I’d’ve had it done ‘n forgot about by now...but that was once upon a time ‘n now I take a much more philosophical approach, ie; gives me sum’thing to look forward to which may or may not be a sad commentary on my life or maybe just a commentary on my sad life or “Whatever suits you just tickles me plumb to death” Marion ‘Howdy’ Lewis....
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A positive tho't couldn't hurt...could it?
Here t’is Sunday eve ‘n I find m’self wand’ring ‘round ‘n about Tumbledown Manse, bored with television, bored even with computer Solitaire....I’ve washed the dishes, a complicated thing these days consisting of placing all the necessary items inside the dishwasher, adding a block of soap ‘n turning the darn thing on ‘n getting out of it’s way so it can do the job it’s s’pozed t’do....ditto for the washing machine...I c’d run the darned old vacuum cleaner 'n wake the dogs, I guess, but that seems like a totally wussie way to end the day....da boyz are pretty much ignoring me, Willie sprawled in the middle of the floor like a little black ‘n white throw rug ‘n Rusty lying beside Millyrose’s chair, lifting his head occasionally to give me a quizzical look...”I ain’t sleepy ‘n there ain’t no place I’m goin’ to”.....random tho’t’s in a random mind....the only thing that’s unusual about it is that normally this happens to me in the wee, small hours when I c'n blame all the wacky thoughts on insomnia....just makes a body think....’n wonder....or ponder....
Thinking is one of those things that’re almost always positive....but sometimes a body c’n over-think ‘n find hisself full of doubt about his position...on the other hand, if George Custer had given his problem just a little more thought, he might have chosen discretion as the better part of valor...’course, hindsight is a wonderful thing but you gotta stay alive to appreciate it.....
Thinking is one of those things that’re almost always positive....but sometimes a body c’n over-think ‘n find hisself full of doubt about his position...on the other hand, if George Custer had given his problem just a little more thought, he might have chosen discretion as the better part of valor...’course, hindsight is a wonderful thing but you gotta stay alive to appreciate it.....
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Insomnia tho'ts....
I’m old enough now to know that I can’t speak for women so when I generalize about something, it’s pretty much from a guys point of view....’n I was just thinking that there are three kinds of men...the ones that learn by reading....the few who learn by watching someone else ‘n the rest of the herd that just have to pee on the electric fence ‘n find out for themselves.....
Now I wonder about lots of things in the middle of the night ‘n I was just wondering about this thing called ‘science’....I know a couple people who think of themselves as ‘scientists’ and I don’t have any quarrel with their believing that. I call myself a writer ‘n there’s a whole lot of people who’d disagree with that..
Of course, I know some people who think of themselves as Christians and I, likewise, don’t have any quarrel with that. I once was acquainted with a man who thought of himself as a ‘Black Muslim’ and yet again, I didn’t have any problem with that.
Now, my friend, the Black Muslim (who shall remain nameless) did not like ‘White People’....indeed, he professed to me that he hated White People...I pointed out that I was a ‘White Person’ and I didn’t hate him, that I barely knew him and since he didn’t know me, it was somewhat irrational of him to hate me.
He thought about it for a moment or two, no more, and allowed as how I might have a point and that he didn’t really hate me, he just hated ‘White People’ in general.
So I told him a story about attending a ‘Yankee Go Home’ rally in Naha, Okinawa...about how a friend of mine and myself shouted “Yankee, go home!” as loud as everyone else at the rally. And then I told him about the party I attended after the rally.
It was a pretty high-tone party with politicians and business people and my friend and I were only there because of my association with the military newspaper which wasn’t really good enough to warrant an invitation but I kind of, just sort of exaggerated my position. Just a little bit...
My buddy was a half-breed Oklahoma born son of a ‘sooner’ family and me, just a ‘good ol boy’ from the hills of eastern Kentucky and we were having a good time. Well, y’know, free drinks ‘n snacks.....
But the ongoing conversations were all of an anti-American sentiment and after a bit, even with the free food and drink, we two country boys began to get a little peeved ‘n began to take the remarks personal...
Now, truth be told ‘n I always strive to be truthful (more or less)...my buddy just wanted to leave... “cut a chogie”
as we use’ta say in our pidgin Japanese...
Hark wasn’t gonna say anything, he was just gonna leave.....but I’m sort of a big mouth ‘n don’t always know when to keep my mouth shut ‘n besides I’d had just a sip or two or thereabouts, so I got on my high horse ‘n told my host that I was insulted ‘n that I’d have no more of his free booze....
Japan, like the American south of my youth, puts a high priority on politeness....’n like the American southener who doesn’t always mean it when he says, “Y’all hurry back now!”... my Japanese host viewed my huffiness as a loss of face to him personally ‘n he began to apologize profusely for having offended us, telling us that he had not meant that they didn’t like us personally, it was the American government that they didn’t like.....well, Hark ‘n I got over our huffiness ‘n stuck around to lap up some more of that free sake....’course, we never ever got invited again but then we never really expected to.....
Anyway, the Black Muslim and I became friends. We had both grown up on the Ohio River...he in Cleveland ‘n me in South Shore ‘n as Ohio River boys, we had a lot of likes ‘n dislikes in common....I don’t think I ever changed his mind about White People in general but I changed his mind about me....
I’m just sayin’.....
Now I wonder about lots of things in the middle of the night ‘n I was just wondering about this thing called ‘science’....I know a couple people who think of themselves as ‘scientists’ and I don’t have any quarrel with their believing that. I call myself a writer ‘n there’s a whole lot of people who’d disagree with that..
Of course, I know some people who think of themselves as Christians and I, likewise, don’t have any quarrel with that. I once was acquainted with a man who thought of himself as a ‘Black Muslim’ and yet again, I didn’t have any problem with that.
Now, my friend, the Black Muslim (who shall remain nameless) did not like ‘White People’....indeed, he professed to me that he hated White People...I pointed out that I was a ‘White Person’ and I didn’t hate him, that I barely knew him and since he didn’t know me, it was somewhat irrational of him to hate me.
He thought about it for a moment or two, no more, and allowed as how I might have a point and that he didn’t really hate me, he just hated ‘White People’ in general.
So I told him a story about attending a ‘Yankee Go Home’ rally in Naha, Okinawa...about how a friend of mine and myself shouted “Yankee, go home!” as loud as everyone else at the rally. And then I told him about the party I attended after the rally.
It was a pretty high-tone party with politicians and business people and my friend and I were only there because of my association with the military newspaper which wasn’t really good enough to warrant an invitation but I kind of, just sort of exaggerated my position. Just a little bit...
My buddy was a half-breed Oklahoma born son of a ‘sooner’ family and me, just a ‘good ol boy’ from the hills of eastern Kentucky and we were having a good time. Well, y’know, free drinks ‘n snacks.....
But the ongoing conversations were all of an anti-American sentiment and after a bit, even with the free food and drink, we two country boys began to get a little peeved ‘n began to take the remarks personal...
Now, truth be told ‘n I always strive to be truthful (more or less)...my buddy just wanted to leave... “cut a chogie”
as we use’ta say in our pidgin Japanese...
Hark wasn’t gonna say anything, he was just gonna leave.....but I’m sort of a big mouth ‘n don’t always know when to keep my mouth shut ‘n besides I’d had just a sip or two or thereabouts, so I got on my high horse ‘n told my host that I was insulted ‘n that I’d have no more of his free booze....
Japan, like the American south of my youth, puts a high priority on politeness....’n like the American southener who doesn’t always mean it when he says, “Y’all hurry back now!”... my Japanese host viewed my huffiness as a loss of face to him personally ‘n he began to apologize profusely for having offended us, telling us that he had not meant that they didn’t like us personally, it was the American government that they didn’t like.....well, Hark ‘n I got over our huffiness ‘n stuck around to lap up some more of that free sake....’course, we never ever got invited again but then we never really expected to.....
Anyway, the Black Muslim and I became friends. We had both grown up on the Ohio River...he in Cleveland ‘n me in South Shore ‘n as Ohio River boys, we had a lot of likes ‘n dislikes in common....I don’t think I ever changed his mind about White People in general but I changed his mind about me....
I’m just sayin’.....
Round toit's....
Boy Howdy....guess I just ain’t used to the bachelor life anymore...’course, I’ve been married so long that actual bachelor life is one of those primordial memories, y’know, so long ago that it takes a DNA specialist to dig it out...
Anyways, me ‘n da boyz are gettin’ by tho’ Rusty still jumps at ev’ry noise ‘n runs to the door looking for Millyrose....ever’ so often I have to let him out so’s he c’n run ‘round the car t’make sure she ain’t there...
I been pushing a few barrels of ‘free’ gravel down the street ‘n dumping it in out in the south forty...well, an old overgrown pathway on the east side of Tumbledown Manse...’n it sets my shoulder to aching, ‘specially at nite, so when I couldn’t sleep last nite, I took a couple advil ‘n a sleeping pill (left over from the chemo) ‘n finally drifted off ‘bout 3:30 or so in the AM...’n didn’t get up until tennish (anyone) this morning, whereupon I made some sourdough biscuits, fresh coffee, fed da boyz, took the sad SacBee ‘n a jar of blackberry jelly out on the veranda of Tumbledown Manse ‘n enjoyed a leisurely breakfast...life is hard! Well, somewhere the sun is shining ‘n somewhere children shout ‘n even tho’ there may be no joy in Mudville...
etcetera, etcetera...t’is a pleasant day here in Ol Fair Oaks.....
Anyways, me ‘n da boyz are gettin’ by tho’ Rusty still jumps at ev’ry noise ‘n runs to the door looking for Millyrose....ever’ so often I have to let him out so’s he c’n run ‘round the car t’make sure she ain’t there...
I been pushing a few barrels of ‘free’ gravel down the street ‘n dumping it in out in the south forty...well, an old overgrown pathway on the east side of Tumbledown Manse...’n it sets my shoulder to aching, ‘specially at nite, so when I couldn’t sleep last nite, I took a couple advil ‘n a sleeping pill (left over from the chemo) ‘n finally drifted off ‘bout 3:30 or so in the AM...’n didn’t get up until tennish (anyone) this morning, whereupon I made some sourdough biscuits, fresh coffee, fed da boyz, took the sad SacBee ‘n a jar of blackberry jelly out on the veranda of Tumbledown Manse ‘n enjoyed a leisurely breakfast...life is hard! Well, somewhere the sun is shining ‘n somewhere children shout ‘n even tho’ there may be no joy in Mudville...
etcetera, etcetera...t’is a pleasant day here in Ol Fair Oaks.....
Friday, October 1, 2010
Ah God, it's just one birthday after another....
Along the line of ‘gettin’ old ain’t for wusses’ I was just thinkin’ the the older I get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.....I was waiting in line this afternoon to pick up some prescriptions for Millyrose ‘cause she ain’t here...she’s down in SoCal with sister Francisca enjoying the rain ‘n cool weather of Big Bear....a cottage on the lake, she said....That’s alright with me, I try never to go to SoCal...I prefer my doses of southern California in old movies..
Now that I think on it, seems like a lot of my favorite places only exist in old movies....
Like San Francisco....one of the most beautiful cities in the world, at least up thru the ‘fifties....in the ‘sixties, the golden age of hippiedom, the City by the bay became a mecca for every lost soul that couldn’t find any other place to belong.....it was still a magical place, Baghdad by the Bay, with the San Francisco Chronicle that had possibly the greatest selection of columnists ever assembled on one newspaper.....Herb Caen was the ‘town crier’ ‘n whatsisname on the radio, on KSFO....Don Sherwood, was addictive which was true of a lot of things in SF in those halcyon daze....’n of course, the San Francisco Giants plus the exciting, irreverent Oakland A’s with Charlie Findlay...what a combo.....
But I digress.....Millyrose is in Big Bear ‘n I’ve been having difficulty explaining that to the Poodle-Dogger....he keeps running to the door with ev’ry noise...I let him out, he runs around the car ‘n comes back looking puzzled....Willie, on the other hand, seems almost blase about the whole thing...when it gets on toward this time of evening, Willie gets blase about most things...he looks like a little black ‘n white rug in the middle of the floor.....I keep telling him that I’m going to have him freeze-dried so’s I c’n just move him from spot to spot but he ignores me...The voices in my head may not be real but sometimes you just gotta ponder them...I’m just sayin’......
Now that I think on it, seems like a lot of my favorite places only exist in old movies....
Like San Francisco....one of the most beautiful cities in the world, at least up thru the ‘fifties....in the ‘sixties, the golden age of hippiedom, the City by the bay became a mecca for every lost soul that couldn’t find any other place to belong.....it was still a magical place, Baghdad by the Bay, with the San Francisco Chronicle that had possibly the greatest selection of columnists ever assembled on one newspaper.....Herb Caen was the ‘town crier’ ‘n whatsisname on the radio, on KSFO....Don Sherwood, was addictive which was true of a lot of things in SF in those halcyon daze....’n of course, the San Francisco Giants plus the exciting, irreverent Oakland A’s with Charlie Findlay...what a combo.....
But I digress.....Millyrose is in Big Bear ‘n I’ve been having difficulty explaining that to the Poodle-Dogger....he keeps running to the door with ev’ry noise...I let him out, he runs around the car ‘n comes back looking puzzled....Willie, on the other hand, seems almost blase about the whole thing...when it gets on toward this time of evening, Willie gets blase about most things...he looks like a little black ‘n white rug in the middle of the floor.....I keep telling him that I’m going to have him freeze-dried so’s I c’n just move him from spot to spot but he ignores me...The voices in my head may not be real but sometimes you just gotta ponder them...I’m just sayin’......
Proving yet again that old age ain't for wusses.....
I just noticed that I haven’t blogged anything since the 20th of September...
dunno why...well, maybe a little...the 21st was my B’day but I don’t think that had a lot t’do with it....I’ve been doing a little yard work but since I’m not supposed to bend over or lift more’n 25 lbs, that couldn’t’ve been the reason either...I’ve been reading a lot of other peoples stuff...a lot of pictures posted by Joe Hannah of South Shore, Ky...I don’t know Joe...he’s younger than me...I knew his dad, he was older’n me but I knew him....anyway Joe has been posting a lot of old pics of the area back there... interesting stuff for me, not so much for anyone else tho’....he posted a picture of Fullerton ‘n South Portsmouth the way it looks t’day...I made a comment that some may call it progress but to me, it was just change ‘n change is inevitable, except maybe from a vending machine....I dunno, I’m just sayin’.....
Anyways, here in Ol Fair Oaks, we’re having some really great weather...not so great elsewhere....floods, droughts, fires...I guess it depends on what side of the global warming debate you’re on...if you find yourself involved in an argument about that p’ticklar subject, lemme remind you what my grandfather had to say...grandpa had a reputation for wisdom based on the fact that he thought it was better to let people think he was dumb rather than talking ‘n proving it....anyways, grandpa always said not to argue with an idiot ‘cuz he’d just drag you down to his level ‘n then beat you with experience....
dunno why...well, maybe a little...the 21st was my B’day but I don’t think that had a lot t’do with it....I’ve been doing a little yard work but since I’m not supposed to bend over or lift more’n 25 lbs, that couldn’t’ve been the reason either...I’ve been reading a lot of other peoples stuff...a lot of pictures posted by Joe Hannah of South Shore, Ky...I don’t know Joe...he’s younger than me...I knew his dad, he was older’n me but I knew him....anyway Joe has been posting a lot of old pics of the area back there... interesting stuff for me, not so much for anyone else tho’....he posted a picture of Fullerton ‘n South Portsmouth the way it looks t’day...I made a comment that some may call it progress but to me, it was just change ‘n change is inevitable, except maybe from a vending machine....I dunno, I’m just sayin’.....
Anyways, here in Ol Fair Oaks, we’re having some really great weather...not so great elsewhere....floods, droughts, fires...I guess it depends on what side of the global warming debate you’re on...if you find yourself involved in an argument about that p’ticklar subject, lemme remind you what my grandfather had to say...grandpa had a reputation for wisdom based on the fact that he thought it was better to let people think he was dumb rather than talking ‘n proving it....anyways, grandpa always said not to argue with an idiot ‘cuz he’d just drag you down to his level ‘n then beat you with experience....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)