The winter wind storm hit here yesterday, Tuesday, and it caused a little excitement. A tree blew across the power line and shorted things out for a spell. The tree caught fire, sparks flew, squirrels ran and Reddy Kilowatt boys came in for quick repairs. The dogs spooked over the howling winds, up to 50-plus mph, but everything settled by dusky dark.
Triple L phoned to say I needed to update the blog and the wind storm was the best news I had. I did spend Monday on the river west of here, floating and chunkin' for Kentucks with my old pal, who also recently retired. It had been a spell since we floated down-river and it was fun. Cold, but fun, and we only had two pullovers, where we had to exit the MonArk and pull over logs and junk.
I guess a float trip is about the best tonic I know. Seeing the fish come up in the clear water to gulp down the crankbait. They are beautiful creatures and the outings bring back such a rush of memories, of long-ago days with Pap in the old wooden boat. I remember one cold winter day, just the two of us, him paddlin' and me chunkin', the water so cold that ice formed on my reel early-on, but unnoticable as the first few casts netted two handsome three-pounders. The river just keeps on giving, making me happy and letting me remember so many good things. I miss ole Pap something awful sometimes. Maybe I've had him on my mind a lot more lately after finding some precious old photos of him and Momma. I even found the courthouse receits from his last purchase of poll taxes for him and Momma. They had to pay two bucks apiece to vote back then and today, well, people don't even seem to wanna go vote and it's free. Spect folks might appreciate something a little more iffin they pay for it. I had an old friend once who told me never to give away my talent--that folks would appreciate it more if you charged for it. Spect there was a grain of truth in that.
I'll cut this short. Gotta go have my eyes examed. Think I'm due for some new glasses--ones I've had for a spell a bit scratched. I'm hard on glasses. My buddies kid me about having so many pairs of sunglasses in the Chevy, but I lose em and sit on em and generally just beat em to pieces. I wear contacts and this helps, but every once in a while I have to take em out and give the eyeballs a rest.
Say a little prayer if you will for my grandson. He's been under the weather and is fighting back. He's a tough little booger and smart as a whip. I'll be checking on him in a minute or two, seeing if the pesky fever is down.
I hope these ramblings satisfy Triple L up in the hills. She's the one who rang up and said I needed to "refresh" the blog. I got work ahead, connected with the Feb. 5 election. I voted "early" yesterday and the lines were already long. I won't say how I voted, but I sure hope she wins.
That's all for this time...til next time, thanks for your time. (This is my new signoff. I used it years ago when I broadcast the Sheridan Yellow Jacket football games. It was a long time ago and I think I stole those lines from Jack Buck, but I don't really remember. I said it was a long time ago.)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Ain't Nothin' Easy
Little wonder that I like doing business with Bass Pro in Missouri. You order something, either by computer or phone, and it's on your doorstep next morning. No hassle, no mess, no loose ends a-danglin.
I bring this up because of two things. I tried to purchase the Ark-Ga. cage game the other night off my Dish network. I phoned at 5 and they said no problem, the game airing at 6, and it would be on. My cost about $10. Well, you guessed it, when gametime arrives nothing. I called again. The man said hold the line and he'd check. After 15 minutes, this man in the Phillipines (I finally asked where he was located because of heavy accent and our inability to communicate) asked, "This should be on your TV, it is NBA game right?" I knew then I was in deep you know what. After 20 minutes and his failure to locate a supervisor, I hung up with him telling me I would be charged even tho the game did not come on. I hang up, phone back to the same number, a nice lady (also in the Phillipines) says they'll remove the charge. I doubt that this will happen, however, and I think I'm in for several months of wrangling with Dish over the charge.
Then, the following day, I try to order the Democrat-Gaz to the house. Nice man on the phone, seemed in tune with it all, but the next morning I trudged down to the old house 200 yards to the south, in the rain, to pick up my new paper. Oh well, back to the phones.
Nothin' seems easy any more.
My last dilemma...my favorite teams in pro football are the Giants and Pats...well, guess I can't lose in the Super Bowl. Eli really has become a good quarterback but still no match for Brady. Giants defense is better, tho, and it ought to be a great game.
Huge snowfalls up north bodes well for my fishing prospects this summer. Big snowmelts mean flooded Mississippi River which means the White River Refuge in south Arkansas, near my fishing cabin, will also flood, and this is good for our remote lakes where the big bass live. Can't wait...been working on my tackle box in these cold months.
I bring this up because of two things. I tried to purchase the Ark-Ga. cage game the other night off my Dish network. I phoned at 5 and they said no problem, the game airing at 6, and it would be on. My cost about $10. Well, you guessed it, when gametime arrives nothing. I called again. The man said hold the line and he'd check. After 15 minutes, this man in the Phillipines (I finally asked where he was located because of heavy accent and our inability to communicate) asked, "This should be on your TV, it is NBA game right?" I knew then I was in deep you know what. After 20 minutes and his failure to locate a supervisor, I hung up with him telling me I would be charged even tho the game did not come on. I hang up, phone back to the same number, a nice lady (also in the Phillipines) says they'll remove the charge. I doubt that this will happen, however, and I think I'm in for several months of wrangling with Dish over the charge.
Then, the following day, I try to order the Democrat-Gaz to the house. Nice man on the phone, seemed in tune with it all, but the next morning I trudged down to the old house 200 yards to the south, in the rain, to pick up my new paper. Oh well, back to the phones.
Nothin' seems easy any more.
My last dilemma...my favorite teams in pro football are the Giants and Pats...well, guess I can't lose in the Super Bowl. Eli really has become a good quarterback but still no match for Brady. Giants defense is better, tho, and it ought to be a great game.
Huge snowfalls up north bodes well for my fishing prospects this summer. Big snowmelts mean flooded Mississippi River which means the White River Refuge in south Arkansas, near my fishing cabin, will also flood, and this is good for our remote lakes where the big bass live. Can't wait...been working on my tackle box in these cold months.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
"Is That Joy?"
"Is that Joy?"
Part of the Saturday afternoon was spent watching Buzzard's wonderful VCR tape, the one with old family "films" from yesteryear. What a treat. I was captivated by old faces and I hope to watch it again and again.
It was weird. I had forgotten how mother talked, how she "sounded" and it was so wonderful to sit and listen to her lengthy "interview" with her beloved Buzz, her story of how she and her Speck family arrived in Arkansas on the wagon.
She talked about how she and Dad borrowed Uncle Carney's car to go to an FFA party during Harold's high school years. They were planning on walking to town for the event because they walked about everywhere, she recalled. "If it was too far to walk" Daddy didn't go, she said with a laugh. Sounds like Daddy.
But they went in the borrowed car and came out of the party only to discover that all four of their tires were missing. She remembers the sheriff caught the culprits and rounded up Carney and Aunt Kate's tires the next day. I bet Aunt Kate was doing some loud, serious complaining to the sheriff, don't you know.
But the "film" is wonderful, a grainy old look back, how much we loved each other--you can see it in all of the millions of smiles, everybody always smiling. The wonderful photos of Nita and good looking Lee Ester and those three "perfect" little kids. Tommy was so handsome, in his white jacket, and Karen had to be the cutest little girl in the world. And Buzzard, always in motion, spinning and twisting and blowing out birthday candles.
The old house, which seems to tiny now, was plenty big for all of us in the Christmas shots, Karen standing next to Pap to help him with the presents. And Leslie sitting with her idols, Laura and Sandi...and Eric and Scott and all of 'em in their cool sunglasses.
Even Brother Ted Herscher, Daddy's favorite preacher, is riding a bike with Nita and Lee's kids and ends up juggling. I didn't remember him being so talented.
But I'm so glad Buzz saved this stuff and put it together--much of it to timely tunes--because it lifted me so high this day, seeing Momma and Daddy again, and Joy and Brother and Lee. In the interview, Mom hears a noise outside and leans into the camera. "Is that Joy?" she asks excitedly. She was so excited, speechless, to know Joy had dropped in...just like we all were.
I'll close now...little choked up. Guess I said all I can say right now.
Part of the Saturday afternoon was spent watching Buzzard's wonderful VCR tape, the one with old family "films" from yesteryear. What a treat. I was captivated by old faces and I hope to watch it again and again.
It was weird. I had forgotten how mother talked, how she "sounded" and it was so wonderful to sit and listen to her lengthy "interview" with her beloved Buzz, her story of how she and her Speck family arrived in Arkansas on the wagon.
She talked about how she and Dad borrowed Uncle Carney's car to go to an FFA party during Harold's high school years. They were planning on walking to town for the event because they walked about everywhere, she recalled. "If it was too far to walk" Daddy didn't go, she said with a laugh. Sounds like Daddy.
But they went in the borrowed car and came out of the party only to discover that all four of their tires were missing. She remembers the sheriff caught the culprits and rounded up Carney and Aunt Kate's tires the next day. I bet Aunt Kate was doing some loud, serious complaining to the sheriff, don't you know.
But the "film" is wonderful, a grainy old look back, how much we loved each other--you can see it in all of the millions of smiles, everybody always smiling. The wonderful photos of Nita and good looking Lee Ester and those three "perfect" little kids. Tommy was so handsome, in his white jacket, and Karen had to be the cutest little girl in the world. And Buzzard, always in motion, spinning and twisting and blowing out birthday candles.
The old house, which seems to tiny now, was plenty big for all of us in the Christmas shots, Karen standing next to Pap to help him with the presents. And Leslie sitting with her idols, Laura and Sandi...and Eric and Scott and all of 'em in their cool sunglasses.
Even Brother Ted Herscher, Daddy's favorite preacher, is riding a bike with Nita and Lee's kids and ends up juggling. I didn't remember him being so talented.
But I'm so glad Buzz saved this stuff and put it together--much of it to timely tunes--because it lifted me so high this day, seeing Momma and Daddy again, and Joy and Brother and Lee. In the interview, Mom hears a noise outside and leans into the camera. "Is that Joy?" she asks excitedly. She was so excited, speechless, to know Joy had dropped in...just like we all were.
I'll close now...little choked up. Guess I said all I can say right now.
Friday, January 18, 2008
I cleared out previous posts, thought my many readers might be getting annoyed navigating thru all that chatter.
My news today to those interested is that my cancer screening Wed. came back all clear...the annual blood drawing etc. Always a comforting feeling to say the least. I always think of the Seinfeld episode, George getting news from his cancer doctor, the doctor saying the tests were negative, and George going crazy. He thought negative meant bad and he's got a point when you think about it. But the news was good.
Been three years now since the big surgery and almost a year since my knee work. My buddy Dragline had one of his knees cut on yesterday and I feel for him...it'll be a tough three months but it sure is nice when it's over.
Not much else to report. Redfield Road crew doing pretty good although Yankee sister-n-law still a bit sniffly. We're watching over her.
Got my big lawnmower in the shop, getting a few things fixed before the grass emerges. Lots of grass to mow, even went down the road to cut Mable's last fall. Hated seeing her place go to the dogs...she wouldn't have liked her yard lookin' like that. I miss her.
Got all my yo-yo's and trotlines ready...headin' to Lake Ouachita when my bud Broadhead gets back from a visit to his daughter's up north. We aim to land us some big crappies.
Been workin' out at the gym. Pretty bad when I'm the youngest in there, but I'm trying to shape up in time for spring-summer sports. Feelin' better already, too.
Heading up to the big boat show...searching for another outboard motor. Got plenty, but need another one bad. It ought to be fun.
My book sales are still good....huge full=page ad coming out this quarter (this month) in U of A alumni magazine, touting the book etc...the ad reaching several hundred thousand folks. You can buy more if you like by webbing up Phoenixbase.com. That's a neat website. Or you can phone me for details.
Gotta run...dog's a howlin
My news today to those interested is that my cancer screening Wed. came back all clear...the annual blood drawing etc. Always a comforting feeling to say the least. I always think of the Seinfeld episode, George getting news from his cancer doctor, the doctor saying the tests were negative, and George going crazy. He thought negative meant bad and he's got a point when you think about it. But the news was good.
Been three years now since the big surgery and almost a year since my knee work. My buddy Dragline had one of his knees cut on yesterday and I feel for him...it'll be a tough three months but it sure is nice when it's over.
Not much else to report. Redfield Road crew doing pretty good although Yankee sister-n-law still a bit sniffly. We're watching over her.
Got my big lawnmower in the shop, getting a few things fixed before the grass emerges. Lots of grass to mow, even went down the road to cut Mable's last fall. Hated seeing her place go to the dogs...she wouldn't have liked her yard lookin' like that. I miss her.
Got all my yo-yo's and trotlines ready...headin' to Lake Ouachita when my bud Broadhead gets back from a visit to his daughter's up north. We aim to land us some big crappies.
Been workin' out at the gym. Pretty bad when I'm the youngest in there, but I'm trying to shape up in time for spring-summer sports. Feelin' better already, too.
Heading up to the big boat show...searching for another outboard motor. Got plenty, but need another one bad. It ought to be fun.
My book sales are still good....huge full=page ad coming out this quarter (this month) in U of A alumni magazine, touting the book etc...the ad reaching several hundred thousand folks. You can buy more if you like by webbing up Phoenixbase.com. That's a neat website. Or you can phone me for details.
Gotta run...dog's a howlin
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