Couldn't be safer:

 It is a very nice day here in N. Carolina and we were sitting on the deck enjoying the sunshine and 62 degree weather. It is also gun season for deer and we heard several shots - probably 15/20 shots spaced out from different weapons. I have been around guns and hunting for so long I can almost recognize the caliber by the sound of the shot. 

Oddly enough it brought a smile to my face as the spacing of the shots reminded me of a time long ago when we were taken to Moses Lake, Washington to qualify for the next year.  As the first line was about ready to fire this deer walked out as they were given the order to fire. 

The deer walked calmly down the line in front of the targets without a worry in the world. It must have been collective 'buck fever' as when they came  off the line several said they aimed for the deer but not one came close enough to cause the least bit of alarm for the deer. 

That tells me the safest place to be is between the target and the shooter.  I can't believe it yet that the deer walked the  entire length of the firing range and those that shot at it never even came close. 

Lesson learned: Sight in your weapon before you start to shoot - not while you are trying to qualify. 

5BX Plan

When I was in the US Air Force back in the early 1960's they had a requirement that we all had to be physically fit and could preform certain exercises. One of my flight team did not fit the "image" of what the USAF wanted. He was short and stocky but very strong. They apparently thought they could get him out of the Air Force because they didn't think he could pass the physical requirements.

Before he enlisted he was a sheep rancher in Idaho and he used to come up behind me and put his hands under my arms and lift my 165 pounds straight up. When it came time to test him they first had him do 20 chin ups on the chin up bar. He respectfully asked which hand he could use. The officer gruffly told him he didn't care which hand he used, assuming he couldn't do it with both hands.  My flight member did 20 pull ups with one hand. 

Then it was time to do the push ups. Again the same question and the officer was really annoyed by now so he did 20 push ups with one hand. The officer was so angry by now that he passed him and abruptly walked away. That is a memory that will remain with me for a long time. The rest of us had to use two hands to pass the test. 

I understand that the military in again requiring members to maintain a certain level of physical fitness which in my opinion is a very good requirement. They should never have stopped requiring this part of service. 

Mistletoe:

 In looking up mistletoe there is no definitive explanation of kissing under the mistletoe.  There are many superstitions and customs associated with the mistletoe plant. They come from various groups and countries. I know when I lived in N. Florida that when out hunting and I would see a mistletoe plant high in trees I would use my shotgun and shoot it and some would fall down and we would have it for Christmas.  

Other than the superstition/custom it was fun to have it hanging in a convenient place but as far as I know it has no magical properties.  

Self Sufficiency:

When we first moved to our community in S Colorado full time 28 years ago there were only around 40 homes in the gated community and many of them were seasonal homes. At that time it was important that we be self-sufficient in many respects. Over time we watched many people come and go because they could not adapt nor did they have the skills to take care of themselves. To compound the lack of self sufficiency getting anyone to help was very difficult. Repairmen would not show up when they were supposed to and many of the neighbors did not get along with each other. 

Before we moved to the mountains we took two courses on small engine repair. I had skills in construction and got how to books on electrical and plumbing which proved extremely valuable. I had a friend in Ohio who told me his dad was an electrician and I should get an illustrated book on running electrical components. I did just that, then had a professional electrician to check my work and get it within code. I saved thousands of dollars by doing that. 

My friend also had a suggestion when it came to plumbing. Again get a how to book and keep in mind that water runs down hill and payday is on Friday. Those two books coupled with the advanced small engine course and my knowledge of construction were more than enough to get us through. With a good foundation in place we picked up other skills along the way as they came up. 

When we left and moved to N Carolina I noticed many of the new people moving into our old neighborhood were not able to adjust from the city or urban life they came from. They had many demands and had to hire people to handle tasks that they should be able to do themselves. Those who lack self sufficiency skills including gardening abilities will find life very hard. It is never too late to gain some skills that will help you cope in case of a disaster or calamity. 

Winter Memories:

Our 26+years living in the [Sangre de Cristo mountains -blood of Christ]of S. Colorado gives me some nostalgia this time of year. In particular the snow which was a real chore to move. The snow flakes floating down, the total silence when I would go outside, the moon reflecting off millions of fresh snowflakes was enough to take your breath away. The cold was unlike the cold here in NC inasmuch as it was such low humidity that the cold did not seem as cold. 

The warmth in the cabin due to the wood stove radiating heat, the wood interior that gave an ambiance with the Christmas tree in the loft with all its lights, made a moment in time that is deeply imprinted in my brain. I miss those moments but what I don't miss is the 264" on average of snow that had to be cleared maybe more than once due to drifting. This time of year I tend to focus on what was and miss it. 

Getting Old Takes Adjustment:

 

When I was younger I thought I knew what getting older would be like but I had no clue. I have found that arthritis is painful no matter how I thought it could be. I have an extremely high pain threshold - much higher than most people. As an example when I went in to see  an orthopedic doctor and they took X-rays of my knees and they discovered my patella (knee cap) was in two parts. Or when I slipped on ice a few years ago and  fractured my ankle in two places and continued  to walk around on it without pain for three days until Carol convinced me to go to the doctor. Neither of  these injuries had any pain involved. 

So when I say that arthritis is painful you can believe it is painful. Those two surgeries I had on my knees now result in arthritis and it is painful but as long as I can still ambulate even with pain I do not plan to have them replaced. I have talked to people who have had the knee replacement procedure done and some it helped and some it did not so at my age I don't want to end up worse off than I am now. Also my ankle and hips are getting there and I don't see the value of getting knees done and not the other areas too.

All those years of holding doors for other people is paying rewards now as most people do the same for me. It is humbling but at the same time I am very grateful as struggling with a door is hard. When I was younger and could ambulate better I would park on the outer edge of parking lots and walk into the store. Now I am grateful for a parking place near the entrance. I used to do that because people who had difficulty walking would have a better chance to park closer to the door. Now it is me that looks for a closer place. 

If we are fortunate and take care of ourselves along the way we will reach our senior years in much better shape than I find myself  now - but I feel very fortunate to have reached my senior years and still be mentally sharp and ambulatory even if it is painful. My mother used to tell me getting old isn't for sissies and now I realize just how right that is. 

Doggie Games:

 

We like to play games with our dogs and they learn and it stimulates their minds. They learn to work together and search. We use non-sugar types of cereal that they will eat. We toss a couple handfuls of cereal on the floor and they move around each other to scarf them up. They are small so there is no argument between them.  

Then one of us will take them outside and the other will hide mini marshmallows where they can see them but still have to search for them. We will direct them by using words like "warm",  "getting close", or directions. We make sure all three dogs get their fair share. They love both of these games and it is good to see them standing side by side eating dry cereal together. It is even better to see one step back so the other one can share. They learn to share,  respect each others space, to all work together for a common goal. 

They already respect each others space and have no issues there. They can eat side by side and only eat what is in their bowl. These games just help to reinforce that behavior. 

T

Happy Thanksgiving to All:

 

In our country we have much to be thankful for: 

Bird Rehabilitation:

 Every once and awhile we have a bird fly into the sliding glass doors.  this happened far more often when we lived in Colorado so I have had some experience in getting them back to normal. I have been known to  carry a  stunned bird around for half a day or longer. This little tufted titmouse took a real good shot to the window and I got him stable and he finally flew off  after learning a lesson. 

When I would talk to him he would turn his/her head and look at me. His sensibility finally came back and he was able to fly off and do his normal activity. I have found that these little guys seem to accept being held and gently stroked along the back. I have not lost a bird in many years and hope I don't in the future. Talking to them in in a calm voice seems to relax them and help them come around. 

Honor - Or In This Case Lack Of It:

 

I spent 8 years in the US Air Force and highly respect the chain of command. Not only for myself but for every military man/woman that has served in the past and future. Without the chain of command the military would just be an organized mob that picks and chooses what orders they want to obey and what orders that they don't. Having served in an elite unit and special operations unit the chain of command is highly important to reach an objective. 

For six congressional leaders to come out and tell the military men and women that they don't have to obey orders that are illegal is one of the worst things that they could have done. Particularly, because some of them actually served in the military and know better. In my 80+ years I have not seen on its surface a more clear case of sedition. These people need to be charged and brought up on charges of sedition. The video is its own evidence and a complete and total insult to our military men/women. 

They should be looking out from behind bars and not leading our country. Every military person takes an oath when they go into the military to defend the constitution as well as obey orders from the commander in chief and those above them. _ The United States military oath of enlistment is a pledge to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to bear true faith and allegiance to it. Enlistees promise to obey the orders of the President and their appointed officers according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

There is a legal term called: Res ipsa Locquitur - The legal term for "the thing speaks for itself" a Latin phrase used in court cases. It is a rule of evidence that allows a plaintiff to establish a case for negligence when the circumstances of the incident strongly suggest that negligence must have occurred, even without direct proof. These people are clearly negligent. 

These people need to be held accountable and charged with sedition. What a disgrace.

 

Deer Can Be Trouble:

We live in a small HOA community that has a total of 17 cabin's with few people. Unfortunately some of the residents like to feed the deer. I have done my research that you can feed deer on your own property according to game laws. One neighbor saw aa group of 17 deer and they just keep accumulating.  That was just one group and there are more. In short we have more deer in our community than people and they are 

The deer are so tame you can't shoo them away and they are  used to being around people. They come right up to the fence we have for the dogs to go out. When the dogs see them they go crazy. These are white tailed deer and for the most part they just stand and watch the dogs racing around the back yard. When the dogs are inside they want to get out and jump on the door to get to them. The photo shows the marks on the door. 

The dogs bark at the deer and we don't want that but with so many deer around and coming so close to the house I figure that the dogs will stop barking at them when the neighbors stop feeding them. They have no natural predators, and you can't hunt them in a community with houses all around. Since we can't do anything about the deer if people don't like barking dogs then they need to stop feeding the deer. We need to get a coat of paint on the door which won't be clawed up by our dogs. 

Christmas is right around the corner!

One would think what with all of the lights on the homes and businesses and decorations in the stores that Christmas is next week...but we still have Thanksgiving!! 

When we moved from CO to North Carolina we had to leave behind our plants...there was just no room in the van for the two of us and the 3 dogs. When I walked into Walmart a couple of days ago, what "before my wondering eyes did appear" was Christmas cactus! We had a small one in CO so I hope that this one will thrive even more.

 

Wolves:

When we first moved to our retirement home in S. Colorado a physician friend (also retired) told us about a unique place called Mission Wolf that was towards Westcliffe and about an hours drive away. He took us over and it had only been around for a few years but it was a wolf refuge that kept wolves safe and provided room to move about freely. 

I learned a ton about wolves and their behavior and the more I learned the more impressed I was with wolves. We returned several times and also introduced others to the wolf refuge. What I learned about wolves from the curator of Mission Wolf deeply impressed me with their intelligence and some of the things learned helped me also understand domestic dogs as well. Their web site is https://missionwolf.org

Blogs Do They Have A Future?

 

With AI providing instant answers and generating content, what do you think the future holds for blogging? Will it evolve, decline, or take on a new role? Do you think human-written blogs will still have a place, or will AI dominate the space?

I have read several opinions on the future of blogging and the various consensus is that as long as there is an internet blogging will be prevalent.  It is believed that people will follow blogs that are personal experiences and not AI generated. That videos will enhance blogs but since I only use my I Phone for 35 or less minutes a day I will not be using AI to substitute the written word. 

Since I am in my 80's I have a lot of life experiences to share and hence no AI for this blog. While it may be good for others I will keep my blogs personal and not enhanced by this new technology. My Facebook page is crammed full of AI generated posts and I really don't find them that interesting. I tend to think personal experience is more interesting reading. 

Our Blog started many years ago when we first moved to our cabin in the high mountains of Colorado. It was done to keep family and friends up to date on our adventure. We went from city dwellers to being pretty much self sufficient. It was not a sudden transition but a slow process over many years. From that it evolved over the years to what it is now. Once you become self sufficient on your homestead it is hard to revert back to city dependency. It has been a very rewarding experience. 

The top question was taken from another post by someone wondering the same thing I did. 

Days of Old:

 

I find it sad that there are no longer paper boys as that was a time when young boys could learn a lot about business with practical application. Possible what we thought was good money back then ($15.00) dollars a month would be roughly worth around $152.00 today. I imagine folks today, age 12years old and up would  think $15.00, a month was a ridiculous sum of money. Children today probably get more than that in allowances from their parents.

I had a paper route of 125 customers that I delivered newspapers to each day of the year. Sundays was early morning and the other 6 days was afternoon. I had to go about 1/2 a mile to get my newspapers and then to carry them back to my route, fold them and deliver them. I walked that routine every day carrying from one bag to 4-5 bags.  It kept me fit and strong. Then I had to deliver them to all my customers. 

On Saturdays I would go to each customers house to collect the weekly fee  and every two weeks I would have to turn it in to the newspaper. That also required a walk downtown to hand it over in person.  

Having a paper route taught me responsibility by having to deliver the newspaper to my customers each and every day all year long and on time. Putting the newspapers where they would be protected from the rain and wind and snow had me outside in all kinds of conditions. It taught me the value of money, how to keep records, how to budget, hard work, record keeping, how to to interact with 125 customers all with different expectations and personalities. I kept the route for 6 years, and it gave me a good foundation for life and what comes as an adult. 

It also kept me healthy as I was delivering newspapers in the rain, cold, blowing snow, heat and wind. It was something that kids today do not get to experience and it was a solid building block for my future. When I enlisted in the military I had a considerable leg up on the other recruits who lacked a similar experience. 

Thank A Vereran:

 

Snow:

 The average snowfall here is 4" per year. The average snowfall in S. Colorado where we moved from was 264" per year. I do not miss having to move all that snow from our property to just be able to  move around but there are aspects I do miss.  Like going outside to clear the deck off and the silence. It would be absolute and complete silence. Or watching the birds line up on the railing waiting for me to shovel to their feeders. Or making tracks in the fresh snow and being the first one that made the tracks. Or going down the road on snowshoes and seeing the animal tracks.  Or clearing snow early in the morning and have the sun come out and the snow would be like millions of sparkly diamonds and the air would be crisp and clean. So beautiful that I would just stand there in awe over the pure raw beauty. In the twenty six years we lived there I never became tired or bored by those aspects. The heavy wet snow of 2-5/6 feet at a time I do not miss nor the slush or mud when it melted. 

O

Love:

 Love can transcend many boundaries including species.  It would be easy to verify as all you need is a stethoscope and tell your dog you love them. We tell our dogs we love them numerous times each day and I can tell by their reaction they understand. The average dog understands 89 words in English, but it all depends on the dog and their training. It can be from 15 to over 200 words. Our dogs are highly intelligent and we talk to them all the time so I would guess ours know well over 200 words. 

Some people only talk to their dogs rarely and hence the dog only knows a few words. People underestimate the ability of dogs to comprehend words, phrases and sentences and know their meaning. All of our dogs - past and present - understand words  and love can cross all boundaries. It helps if you can follow up telling your dog you love them with action that confirms it.  

Have you told your dog lately that you love them? Might be a good habit to get into.

DIY:

 Another do it yourself job is putting reliable grab bars in the shower. Us older folk need something that will not pull off when we move around in the shower.  The one on the right does just that so I bought the type that are screwed to the shower wall. The shower walls are thin so it is important to find the wall stud and screw them into that. 

To find the wall stud behind the shower wall I also purchased a stud finder - the yellow/black tool in the middle of the photo. It was cheap and will penetrate and locate the center of the stud through 5/8 inches thickness. The shower wall is only a quarter inch thick so screwing it to a stud will provide the strength to keep it from pulling  loose. Now to find the time to get it done.  

Fall Colors:

 This is one of the prettiest times of the year in the mountains.  This is our view from our front deck and what we see looking out the window. Two pretty not to share. 

Bamboo:

 

I just happened to find this information on Facebook and found it very interesting. I have seen locally some bamboo grown and wondered why. This explains a lot about bamboo and I found it interesting to say the least. I have copied it from the article and I think others will find it interesting as well.  

Some facts about bamboo:

1.Fast Growth: Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world. It has been recorded at growing 47.6 inches in 24 hours. Some species can even grow over a meter per day under optimal conditions. A new bamboo shoot reaches its full height in less than a year.

2. Oxygen Release: A grove of bamboo releases 35% more oxygen than any other tree out there.

3. Carbon Dioxide Absorption: Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide at a rate of 17 tons per hectare every year. It can act as a valuable carbon sink given how fast the plant grows.

4. No Fertilizer Required: Bamboo doesn’t need fertilizer to grow. It can self-mulch by dropping its leaves and use the nutrients to grow.

5. Drought Resistance: Bamboos are drought-tolerant plants. They can grow in the desert.

6. Wood Replacement: Bamboos can be harvested in 3-5 years compared to the 20-30 years of most softwood trees.

7. Building Material: Bamboo is incredibly strong and sturdy. It has been used as support for concrete as well as scaffolding, bridges, and houses.

8. Soil Stability: Bamboo has a wide network of underground roots and rhizomes that prevent soil erosion.

9. Natural Air Conditioner: Bamboo cools the air surrounding it by up to 8 degrees in the summer.

10. Invasiveness: Some species of bamboo, especially ‘running’ bamboos, can be invasive due to their extensive root systems, which allow them to spread rapidly. However, not all species are invasive, and with proper management, the environmental impact can be minimized.

Change:

 The US Air Force was founded in 1947 and I joined up in 1959.  The above photo shows the uniform back then.  Parts of my uniform that was issued was still Army then and fatigues were a crazy blue grey color. Right after I got out of Technical school and was assigned to a base they froze ranks/promotions. It stayed that way for almost a year or so. My first metals were still army and it wasn't until later they were air force. 

As an airman third class I earned a whopping $81.00 a month. It was up from $72.00 as an airman basic. That covered my personal hygiene items, haircuts, laundry, dry cleaning and other necessities. It wasn't until my second four year hitch that I was able to barely support a family.  Then it was only barely and we struggled from week to week. 

It is different today and I'm glad that President Trump is finding ways to keep the military paid during this ridiculous shut down of government by the democrats. It seems that the democrat party has completely gone off the rails and for the life of me I can't understand why our citizens still back the democrat agenda. The news media has been spreading propaganda for years now and that applies to all of the media. 

People need to check things out for themselves. I have good friends whom I know are intelligent and they believe what they hear from the news media. I only believe what I actually see live on television. Back during 'the day' in the military I was witness to what was happening and when I would read the news papers or watch TV it would be misrepresented even then. 

The abuse we military men had to endure during Vietnam from our own citizens was terrible and disrespectful. Now the military is held to a higher standard and at least the men/women are not subject to the abuse we had back then. 

Until people stop believing what they hear and do their research or learn to do their research they will continue to fall for anything. 

Lesson Learned:

We have had a total of 13 dogs over the years and when one passes away I make a headstone for them and put them where we see them every day to remember them. I noticed the color photos on each had faded out to where we couldn't see them very well and the epoxy that covered the stones had darkened. 

I am currently re doing the headstones with black and white photos that should not fade or get dark and a new epoxy that should not yellow or turn dark. The photo below shows the new headstones. Two down, 8 more to go. It may take some time as it is a 4 step process. 

Step 1: wire brush and clean the stone. 

Step 2: stencil names on stone.

Step 3: Glue photo on stone.

Step 4: Mix epoxy and apply to top of stone.

Lesson learned - don't apply epoxy thick and use just one coat that will cover and seal the top and to use black and white photo's and not color photos that will fade in a few years. 

 

Faithfulness:

 

Rescue Dogs:

 We always adopt rescue dogs for many reasons but one of the main reasons is that they are so appreciative. We limit ourselves to no more than four at a time and now that we are older we only adopt senior dogs. I won't go into  why people surrender them to a shelter as that just makes me angry. Dogs have many of the same emotions we do and the photo above shows how they can react to being left in a shelter. 

One minute they are in a home and part of the family and the next they are left in a cage at a shelter and possibly one that will destroy them and they don't understand what they have done to deserve being put there. Our last rescue - Rex - was just hours from being put down. Most know their fate when put in kill shelters. 

Imagine being in a home where you are part of something and believe you are valued and then suddenly you are taken away and put in a shelter where you are to be killed. Maybe you have been in this family for years but have grown older and your sight and hearing has diminished and you can no longer run and play like you used to. You suddenly find yourself in one of these shelters and everything you knew and loved is gone.

If someone like us comes along you are grateful that you will have a family to be part of again. Yes you would be grateful, I know I would be. We adopted Klaus 4 years ago. He was confused and dejected when we adopted him. He had been surrendered with his Mom initially and it took him some time to know he was again with a family. We later found his mother whom had been surrendered to the same shelter two other times. In fact both had been surrendered to the same shelter two times. 

Sadly his mom - April - died a month ago of carcinoma of the pancreas and Klaus grieved just like we did. It was obvious he was depressed and very sad. I remember the pure joy and happiness they both had when they saw each other again having been separated for years. I just hope that he knew how sick she was when we took her to the vet for the last time and she did not come back home. I am pretty sure he did as he could see how emotional we were and she had to be carried out to the car. 

Rescue dogs are the very best and I wish if possible we could rescue more dogs but four is all  we can handle at our age. We spoil our dogs rotten, pamper them, love on them constantly and give them a high priority in our life. We can make a big difference in the ones we can adopt and give them the best life possible. DOG'S ARE FAMILY - DON'T GET THEM IF YOU CAN'T KEEP THEM.  

We talk to them and praise them a lot and they know how they are appreciated and loved. They not only have a large vocabulary but our actions support our words so they know. We never know how long we will have them but regular veterinary care hopefully keeps them with us for a very long time. In return we are blessed in so many ways by them.   

Vietnam:

 When I turn on the news and see our ICE officers attack and abused it brings back the Flower Children and Anti war protestors of the 1960's.  I was in the military then and we were under orders if we lived or went off the base to wear civilian clothes. We were still found out because our windshield sticker for entrance to our military base, our haircut, the way we carried ourselves. our shoes etc. 

We were under strict orders never to reply or fight back when we were spit at, pushed or in other ways assaulted. If we did retaliate in any way we would be court martialed. We were told to walk away but the peaceful "Flower Children" would yell at us, call us names, refer to us as baby killers etc. and we were told to say or do nothing, much like the ICE officers are now. So this is not a new situation and I feel deeply for the ICE officers. 

When we were on our way home if we stopped for infant formula or a loaf of bread or even gas for our vehicles, we were subject to the same abuse that ICE endures today. Maybe not as physical as today where they want to kill the officers but nonetheless ugly abuse. What it does for me now is to bring back all those ugly memories.

Because I was in a special operations unit that was quick strike any where in he world, I did not go to Vietnam but I would have considered it a privilege to actually fight back in the jungles as to be abused by our own citizens here in my home country that my buddies were defending and fighting for. I did not know why we were in Vietnam but my job was to not ask questions just follow orders. That is what we were all doing yet we were abused by our own citizens. 

People ;now want to forget the ugly of the 60's, but for us who had to deal with it we can forgive but not forget. 

Sad:

 

It is sad that when we adopted two of our three dogs that they didn't know how to play with toys. The above photo is of Rex and he will go over to the numerous toys sniff and look at them and walk away. I tried to play with him and a squeaky ball and it was clear he didn't know or care to play with it. He was an outdoor dog before we adopted him and clearly didn't have any toys to play with. 

Klaus is the same way but on occasion we can get him to  play with a ball but he really doesn't know how and shows no interest in it. We will persist and hopefully teach them to play at least a little. It is sad that they don't know how to play with toys.  

Tree Removal:

We had two large pine trees that were dying and we had Chastain's Tree Service take them down for us. The top photo is how it looks now and the middle photo is with the large tree down,  The bottom photo is how it looked before. The crew really worked well together and in an hour and a half the trees were down, mulched, and carried off. A job done well and it is now more open and the trees gone before they were were blown over or fell. 
 

Four Star Generals:

 

I read negative comments about the current generals and the recent meeting of our military leaders. The Secretary of War was critical of some of them and they deserved it. I served under two four star generals, one Air Force and one Army.  Both were great generals and part of the unit I was in. I knew I could count on them and they knew me by name. 

The Air Force general was a good guy and when I flew with him it was on a first name basis. He was just another member of the flight. I was part of his personal elite guard unit. He was fun and just one of the guys. When we would visit a base he was then general and demanded military respect. We knew he always had our back and we had his also.  

The Army general was also one of the troops. I was in a small special operations unit and he was friendly and one of us. Having him right there along side of us enlisted was good. He was never an arm chair quarterback but part of our unit. 

Our current Secretary of War was completely right calling out our military leadership. From what I see they have lost their fighting edge. Back when I was in the military the troops were in peak fighting condition, both physically and mentally. I was fortunate to be in the units I was but after 8 years I got out as it was then getting to be a softer military. 

As an example when I was in the special ops unit we had base police to do security on our headquarters which was isolated  in the back of the base. I went out one night to relieve one of the guards and I found him sound asleep on his post. I woke him up and he got testy advising me that he would kick my ass. I invited him to try and it was over in seconds and to this day I don't know what I did but he was then out for the night. 

When they came to pick him up he was still pretty unsteady on his feet. I had extensive training and reacted without thinking. I was called into the commanders office and asked what happened. I explained and the commander advised I should have reported him and he would have lost his rank. I told the commander that he learned that you don't sleep on duty and I doubted he would ever try to strike a non commissioned officer again. 

My message allowed him to keep his current pay rank and understand the military discipline better. Losing a pay grade didn't send a lasting message . I was told that no longer was the way in the modern military as we were now a kinder and gentler military. That was the moment I decided I would be getting out after this enlistment. I'm glad to see that we are returning to a tougher fighting force and it starts at the top. We don't need generals or soldiers but tough men who are well trained and fight to win. Tough men and women. 

Friday Night Fights:

 

One of my memories when I was a young boy was listening to the Friday Night fights on our big Philco radio. It was especially fun when it was cold outside as  the radio sat right next to the floor vent from our coal stove.  I could sit there in heat that was rare in other places in our home - like my bedroom.  The announcers were really good back then as they would call each punch and I could see the fight in my mind. There were boxers like Firpo, Dempsey, Marciano, Lewis, and Tunney. When I think of how far the media has come it just boggles my mind. 

Rainy Day:

 

It is one of those rainy days where it rains off and on so today was a good day to drive across town and get the vehicle inspected so we could complete the registration process. With that done we are good for another year. 

Next we will go to the local flea market to check it out. I understand that folks have all kinds of things there for sale. I am not really looking for anything but people talk about it all the time and I'd like to see it for the first time just to look around. Just so I can say I have been there.

Besides I saw a sign that they have boiled peanuts. Those are raw peanuts in the shell that are boiled for hours in salt water or until the peanut inside the shell is soft. Pop it in your mouth and crack the shell open and eat the cooked peanut inside. 

It is a southern thing and we shared a $5.00. bag together. Folks from other parts of the country won't even try them but they are really good. Like I say it is a southern thing and they are super good in my opinion. 

Old Man:

 

Many older people just give up when they reach old age. Other people look for things that are within their ability or things they can accomplish. As I posted in my last blog I can still do many of the things I used too do - but I  just do them slower. Being old or retired does not mean give up and turn into a couch potato but do things that keep you interested and keep moving. 

Some seniors try to do what they didn't get to (bucket list) when they were working and manage to accomplish it. Some don't due to inability or nor longer lack of interest. I just prefer to keep doing what I have for the past quarter + century  but as I stated I just do it much slower now.  Then again sometimes I realize I am best off not doing things as the painful result doesn't seem worth it. 

The message if there is one is don't give up on seniors nor deprive them of their function. I know in my case I still have projects that I plan to do and I fully intend to do them.. It is important to remember when we grew up our telephone was on the wall, we listened for our ring sequence as phones were party lines and neighbors listened in on our conversations. Now we have cell phones, wrist phones and mini computers, AI and so many other things we don't understand fully. 

In our neighborhood we all had a fruit tree that was different from our neighbors and we shared with each other. We kids played various games outdoors and had to come in for the night when the street lights came on. We had radio and series like the green phantom and other programs but no TV yet. I was around 10 or so when my dad came walking in carrying this strange looking box. I had no idea what it was and our programs did not start until five in the afternoon and went off at midnight. I sat there watching test pattern for a long time.

In short we came from a different world than exists now. We worked for everything we needed and now we are old we need people to cut us some slack.  

Doing Chores:

 

Being old doesn't mean that you can't do things - it just means it takes you longer and that you have to adjust to the circumstances and type of work. We still manage to handle repairs and improvements around our cabin but we just work slower and hopefully smarter. I use the bucket on the tractor to lift heavy things and move them from place to place. I no longer bend over and lift 60# bags of cement, I flip them end over end to the tractor bucket. 

We just had an electrical go out in the kitchen but the wiring in this cabin is so strange and unusual I had an electrician do the work. I wired our cabin completely from scratch in Colorado and it worked just fine and passed inspection. This cabin is wired so unusual that while I could do it I was scared to do it due to the method it was done. The wiring is safe but done in a confusing way. 

Pure Hearts:

I have been pondering writing a blog about the pureness of heart in dogs. I didn't think it could be expressed sufficiently to do dogs the justice they deserve. None the less, I will do my best to speak of the pure hearts of dogs. I do this from the point of view of having dog/s as complete family members. It is when they are part of the household as full family members that you can realize their full attributes. Not so much when they are tied or chained outdoors. 

During our many years of marriage we have had a total of 13 dogs. Each one has taught us progressively things about them as family members that has brought us to this point. What they have taught us along the way is each one makes me wish I knew that attribute much earlier in our way we interacted with our dogs.  

I am told that dogs understand between 150-200 words and their meanings. Since we talk to our dogs all the time I think they understand more. All dogs understand words like eat, go, squirrel,  walk, etc. I have taught our dogs their left and right, to look at a wall clock and tell time, and to count. They are far smarter and intuitive than most people would expect.

I have found that when a dog is trained to respect certain things like our food, chair, etc. they will respect those areas. They are very trustworthy. Their complete loyalty goes without any amplification from me. They may be the only thing on this earth that loves you more than you could possibly know. They will give their life for you. I have learned to trust them and their instincts, especially when it comes to other people.   

The virtues of dogs are just too many to count. Each time I think I have a good understanding of our dogs I am taught there are more. They love us unconditionally and I often wish I could with the depth they do. I tell our dogs very often that I love them but they know that from our interaction with each other. Dogs have many virtues and it is hard to include them all in one article. One thing I know is the more time we invest in them the more rewards we get from them in return. 

Our dogs know how important they are to us and they do all they can to please us. Our dogs are all rescue dogs and they fill our days and nights with loyalty, love and entertainment.

People frequently tell us how well behaved our dogs are but it is a product in the time we have invested in them. 

Cement Pad:

Before we moved here we arranged for a handyman to pour a cement pad and it didn't hold up very well. After two years the small stones started coming off and it was wearing down. In addition the surface  was uneven and it was difficult to walk on when we let the dogs out in the back yard. Concrete should not wear down due to foot traffic. There were two reasons it failed. 

1) The handyman was in a hurry and failed to make the surface level so rain and snow and ice amplified the uneven surface by eroding the low spots and the lumpy surface became worse.  Because of the lack of uniform thickness there were large gaps under the cement pad leaving it no support. 

2) The handyman apparently did not know how to mix bagged concrete properly and used to much water therefore weakening the cement which facilitated erosion. 

The remedy was to put a nice thick skim coat on the cement using high strength mortar mix. 
 The alternative was to break the pad out in pieces and repour the entire pad with properly mixed cement and making sure the dirt under the pad was level and would support the entire pad. 

It is now repaired and both the dogs and us can walk on it without those sharp small stones injuring our feet. The total cost to repair was $13.00, and a couple hours labor. A reasonable and cheap fix. 

The discolored surface is only part has dried and the darker  area is still wet. It was done over two days. 

My Food:

We have had a total of 13 dogs during our marriage.  All German Shepherds except four. We train them in our way. For example: our home is small so instead of taking up room with a table we eat on trays in the living room. Our dogs could easily help themselves to what is on our trays but they don't. They will come up and look, maybe take a sniff but not touch our food. All our dogs are rescue and when we first adopt them they will try to sneak a bite or lick. We would in a calm voice and by using our hands as a fence between them and our food (back of hands out) tell them this was not allowed. 

They now will look and sniff but not touch or lick. We calmly and gently teach them to be good family members. We don't raise our voice or push them back - just gently show them how far they can go.  To push becomes a game or challenge and hands - palms out - is aggressive or threatening. 

This is how we teach and interact with all our dogs and it only takes a few times. They look, sniff and go lay down. If we set our tray aside they leave it alone. Before they are trained they would help themselves to something but training is essential. Doing it the right way is just as important. 

Once they know the parameters they seek to please us and we live harmoniously together. We reinforce that behavior by not peeking or looking at them to be sure they behave. We trust them and show it by displaying our trust and they respond accordingly.    

 

Do It Yourself:

 

We bought a floor mat for the RAM van but it requires installation. There are tie downs that have to be removed and reinstalled  as well as a couple panels. I calculated the cost for a mechanic to do that would run between $150. - $200,  I tried to get the star screws out with a screw driver but couldn't budge them. Mechanics have the tools to do the job easier so I checked on Amazon to see what an impact wrench and star sockets would cost. Total cost was less than  $75.00. 

We want the van to transport our dogs so we need a rubber non slip mat as on the bare steel floor they can't keep their feet under them when we stop or turn a corner. We don't want them injured so hence the mat. We tested the impact wrench and it works just fine so we will take out 6 tie downs and line up the mat and bold it in place. And we still end up with an impact wrench. 

Carol's Morning Memory

I sometimes wake up thinking of things that have nothing to do with anything...or anything that I can think of! This morning it was the red windbreaker I bought when I was in high school.

Mom and I had gone to the local mall and I saw this red windbreaker in the Lerner's window and HAD TO HAVE IT! However, Mom wouldn't buy it for me...I had to earn money to pay for it myself. We put it on lay away (do stores still have the "lay away" option?) The price: $9.

Nowadays that sounds like a very small amount but back in the day when I was a teen, I was babysitting for 25 cents an hour. It took me quite some time to save up the money to buy that windbreaker but I was so proud to buy something with my own money.

I wonder what it is like for kids these days who have so many material things that are bought FOR them instead of earning the money to buy them themselves.......

The 3-3-3 Rule:

 It is commonly stated that when adopting a new dog that you give them 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn your routine and 3 months to become a member of the family. Rex  had a confusing history where he had been dumped at the same shelter two different times. He had a date and time certain to be put down. He came from Dallas TX. 

We adopted him very close to his deadline and then he had to be cleared at the vet in order to travel across state lines. So he was taken by a stranger to the vet and checked out and then went back to the shelter where he was placed in an isolation cage where he had to wait for three days and then was picked up by strangers. Put into a crate in the back of a SUV and driven over the next day to us. We have no idea what his trip was  like. 

He was then handed off to strangers (us) and had to adapt to two new people, a different environment and three new dogs. He then quickly was taken to a new vet and again checked over and put on a strict regime of no activity due to having heartworm.  He is one intelligent boy who knew this was his new home and was fully settled in within 10 days. Not all dogs comply with the 3-3-3. rule and Rex sure did not. 

He has since lost one of his canine friends to pancreatic carcinoma and grieved right along with the other dogs and us. He obviously is quite flexible and adjusts well. It has been a rough 3 months for him but he has become a solid member of our family. He is an inspiration and both Klaus and Lucy have accepted him 100% into our pack. I don't know many humans that could have done as well. 

Question Everything:

We often look at something familiar and accept it as it is. It pays however to question everything, especially in this country where the media has been established for a long time and people have a tendency to accept the familiar,   I have watched interviews on TV and within minutes the familiar networks are reporting something that I know is wrong. 

To blindly accept statements and reports may not always be in the best interest of the person who hears the report. It is always good to hear the other side because that just may reveal the actual facts and change your mind. But then some people only want to hear what their preconceived thoughts or opinions are.  I like to check out the actual facts.