Burn Baby, Burn…

I’ve been having the most awful time with heartburn or acid reflux disease as it is known in the trade. It has been downright painful. I’ve been eating Tums like candy. Dad just called me and said he called Dr. Kamath for a prescription of Prilosec for me. I am about to drive down to the pharmacy and pick it up. We are having the weirdest weather today. It is 74° degrees with wind gusts up to 35 mph. It feels likes like a blustery spring day. This usually forebodes bad weather which I think is on the way.

My Review of My New Vega Card Published On Newegg…

A Vegan Christmas...

Pros: The install went flawlessly. I uninstalled my old drivers for my Radeon RX 480 card, closed out of windows, and then it was time to open my case. Out came the RX 480 and in went my new GIGABYTE RX Vega 64. I closed the case and booted into windows. It was then time to install the new Adrenalin 2019 drivers. This, too, went without a hitch.
Now, it was time to play some games. I had some concern as the wattage this card would draw as I only had a Corsair HX750 750 watt power supply. I loaded up a heavily modded version of Skyrim: Special Edition. The wattage draw was around 200 watts to 250 watts. The temperature of the card hovered around 75° degrees. Kind of on the warm side. Skyrim looked beautiful, though, at 4K on my Asus MG28UQ 4K monitor. My frame rates varied between 30 and 40 fps. Freesync was enabled and kept things smooth as butter.
I give this card a thumbs up for giving me playable framerates at 4K resolutions. The install was easy as pie as well. It is also hundreds of dollars less than a GTX 1080 and competes with this card frame rate wise at most resolutions. You get a lot of bang for your buck at $499.

Cons: My only issue with this card is heat. At 75° degrees normal operating temperature, you can fry an egg on the back plate. If you touch it, you can burn your fingers. I do not know if this is normal or not.

Other Thoughts: There is something magical about being a gamer and getting a new piece of hardware like this. It was truly a Merry Christmas and I will be steadily gaming till New Years and onwards.

We’ve Got a Birthday Girl Coming Up…

That’s right! Tracy’s birthday is on the 15th of January. Now I’ve got to figure out what to get her. I know she has a standard DVD player so I was thinking of buying her a Blu-ray player and a handful of Blu-ray movies. Her favorite movie is The Breakfast Club. Maybe I can find a remastered version on Blu-ray. I know I am going to send her some flowers and balloons at work as well.

My brother’s birthday is on the 28th of January as well. I am thinking of getting him a Longhorn Steak House gift card. That’s his favorite place to eat. Now? Were do I come up with the money for all of this? Time for some creative financing.

“He’s had some wine,” Charlie said…

A new Popeye’s opened on fast food row down 29. Of course, my father and Charlie were one of the many in town who wanted to try it.

“We waited in line for forty minutes,” Charlie said of their journey to the land of fried shrimp tackle boxes.

“That explains the 9 pm arrival,” I smarmily replied.

I wanted a chicken sandwich and Charlie got that at McDonald’s – a southern buttermilk encrusted chicken sandwich and it was delicious. Maggie got one as well. She ate everything but the dill pickles. It was reminiscent of Chick-fil-A.

Dad was acting all goofy – laughing loudly, boisterously and talking crudely about sex and women.

“What’s up with him?” I asked Charlie with a chuckle as he was filling Maggie's water bowl in the kitchen.

“He’s had some wine,” Charlie told me with a smirk.

I can’t be mad with my father for some reason. I should be raising hell. It is all rather comical to be honest – hearing my father carry on like he does after a few glasses of wine. I was just glad Charlie was driving tonight.

“Charlie? Don’t worry about my trash,” I told him as he was stepping back into the kitchen.

“You sure?” Charlie asked.

“I will take it out in the morning,” I replied. “Now, you all head on and get Horsefly his meal.”

Maggie and I were both sad to see them go. They really liven up a house in a hurry.

With Trembling Hands He Goes Forth…

“Your hands are trembling,” my father said as we met down an aisle in Kroger this afternoon.

“I am a little overwhelmed by the crowd of folks in here,” I replied of a very busy Kroger.

“Now you see why I insist on going around nine at night,” he told me.

Dad was just getting back in town and called me to meet him at Kroger to buy our groceries. He had been at my brother’s house watching Auburn win a bowl game. He was very excited and overjoyed at the win.

“War Eagle!” he said to me. “Come on, let’s get you checked out and home safe and sound.”

I followed my father up front and soon we were walking to our cars.

“You, after all these years, still have trouble in social situations. Don’t you?” he asked as we walked.

“It gets to me at times, but at least I can muddle on through in these later years,” I told him. “Used to, I wouldn’t allow myself to be put in these kinds of situations.”

I got lots of good food tonight and spent over eighty dollars. Tracy and I are having grilled hamburgers and hot dogs New Year’s Day. The ribeye's were $8.99 a pound and that was too rich for my blood. Time to dust off and clean the grill sitting in the basement. I just hope the weather cooperates.  

SAD Sufferers Rejoice!

The winter solstice was on the 21st of December. That was the shortest day of the year. This means that days will gradually grow longer as warmer weather arrives. It gets dark at 9 pm in the summer here after the time change. I can’t wait for those long, sunny days to return!

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas…

I decided I wasn’t going to be alone on Christmas Eve this year. I took a shower and dressed in the nicest clothes that fit me and headed to my father’s house. There were a crowd of folks in attendance, but I managed to muddle on by socially. I was terribly and woefully underdressed, but nobody seemed to care. It made me feel self conscious and uncomfortable, though. Charlie had already fixed me two plates brimming with food to carry home with me. He was going to bring them to me along with my gifts. I stayed only about a short hour and a half. My sister helped me load up my car with gifts.

I was really blessed this year. My sister basically bought me a whole new wardrobe of clothes that fit wonderfully and that are stylish. I got about five shirts and three pair of pants. I also got a fleece lined jacket that is the most comfortable jacket I have ever owned. Charlie gave me two shirts that feel like silk they are so soft. My brother and his wife got me a spindle pack of 50 burnable 25GB Blu-Ray discs which just thrilled me to death. I needed them badly having only a few left. Time to start backing up computer files in the next day or two. I need a Techmas and not a Christmas.

Tracy is at work right now. She gets off at six my time and is dying to see me or so she said when we talked on the phone earlier. She is going to run by my house on her way home. I can’t wait to see her as well. It seems like we haven’t seen each other in over a week. I told her I took good care of Wheezy while she was gone. That was a long drive everyday to water, feed, and pet a cat. I made sure to spend some quality time with Wheezy before I headed back home every day which entailed me petting her while she lay in my warm lap and I watched the television or fiddled with my tablet computer.

Glittermom, I regretfully never got around to putting up a Christmas tree this year. Maybe next year. Dad and I kept procrastinating about getting it and then it was too late.

My injection was this morning and it was certainly due. It was actually due on Christmas Day. I got to feeling really shaky last night – a jump out of your skin feeling. I went to bed early and headed straight to Kamath medical in the morning. My shot was already in my fridge and I was ready to go. Rebecca took really good care of me this morning. She was in a joyful, happy mood and it was contagious.

Merry Christmas…

Charlie Twice a Day Keeps the Blues Away…

Yes, I got to see Charlie twice today. I woke up at 9 am and was awaiting his arrival with breakfast. Maggie was in the window as well. Charlie came pulling up front of my yard about 9:45 am. I passed the time playing my new video games Tracy got me for Christmas.

The luck of the draw dictates we get sausage biscuits and that’s what we got. I was just glad to get a hot breakfast and a gigantic diet Coke. Charlie was in the Christmas spirit and slipped me a ten dollar bill to get lunch with. I actually used the money down at the Circle K to get Maggie some pork skins and I got myself a couple of diet Mountain Dews.

Tonight, Maggie and I were once again hungry little critters. My father was gone to a Christmas party in Waverly, Alabama (god’s country) so Charlie was flying solo. Bless his heart, he remembered to get Maggie a single with cheese plain without the fixins. Maggie ate that burger about as fast as I put it on the computer room floor. Dear soul, I always worry she is going to get choked when she does that.

Christmas Without You…

I am taking care of my girlfriend’s idiosyncratic cat over the holidays. I am lucky she adores and likes me. I told you all before that I am a cat magnet despite my allergies to them. I just have to wash my hands good after petting them. I don’t dare rub my eyes, mouth, or nose.

Tracy headed out for her mother’s house very late this afternoon. I am already missing her something terribly. She really brightens up a room when she steps inside. I won’t see her until the 26th and she has to be back for work. It is going to seem like an eternity. Luckily, her mother’s house is just an hour and a half drive away.

“I wanted to wake up beside you on Christmas morning,” she told me wistfully as we talked on the phone as she was headed up the interstate this afternoon.

Tracy is a hopeless romantic at heart and it is catching.

Tracy’s and my Christmas went without a hitch last night. She loved the food and her watch. She said I am spoiling her. She’s my little princess I tell ya. She really loved the stocking full of candy and gum. She has a sweet tooth like I do. She said that was very thoughtful and a very nice Christmassy touch. I loved the video games she got me. Yes, Morrowind Online was included along with a game time card for one month’s play. I will have to sign up for a subscription when that month runs out. It will be nice playing with real people from all over the country in that game. Think of Facebook with a 3D world of swords and shields and monsters to fight. I haven’t played an MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role playing game) since Warcraft. 

Charlie will be here in the morning with breakfast. I look forward to seeing him. Maybe we will get bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits again like last weekend.

Of Casseroles, Kitchens and Christmas Cheer…

I ended up making a broccoli, chicken, rice and cheddar casserole this evening. All I have to do is put it in the oven in the next 30 minutes or so and let the cheese get bubbly and the bread crumbs get brown. The heat and serve rolls should take only 10 minutes to bake. I’ve also got a tasty green salad with some of dad’s homemade thousand island dressing he made for me. Tracy will be here at seven my time for our very own Christmas extravaganza. Tracy says it is novel having a boyfriend who can cook when Michael couldn’t even open and bake canned biscuits without burning down the house.

We are going to exchange gifts after supper. I hope she likes what I got her – the turquoise inlay watch. I also got her some stocking stuffers and she has her very own decorated Christmas stocking. I already know what she got me as she told me – an “action pack” of four currently popular video games. I am sure I will enjoy them. I am wishfully hoping Morrowind Online is included and alluded to that fantasy. “Men are so hard to buy for,” I can hear Tracy say now.

4K Ultra High Definition Gaming Brilliance…

Well, I got to open my main present last night. I was excited and giddy with glee. I’d been waiting for this moment since September. Dad was asking me what it was and what it does. In layman terms, I said it is a separate CPU or processor that computes and processes the graphics in my computer. I needed an especially powerful card to game in ultra high definition thus the extreme cost.

I uninstalled the old drivers for my trusty old Radeon RX480 video card and then installed the Radeon Vega 64 card and my computer wouldn’t boot. The BIOS reported that an operating system wasn’t found. I panicked at first, but I expected there to be some troubleshooting. I then went into the BIOS and did a boot override on my Windows 10 partition and then everything booted up fine after that. I installed the new adrenalin drivers and we were up and running. My main concern and worry was that my power supply wouldn’t have enough current to support this card, but things are working okay. This card draws over 400 watts of power under load and I only have a 750 watt Corsair power supply. It also puts out a LOT of heat as well. I’ve got all my computer case fans running full tilt, but they aren’t too obtrusive sound wise.

It was time to test some games and I was just overjoyed at the results. I could play all my games in ultra high definition on an ultra high definition monitor with decent frame rates. Skyrim: Special Edition looked amazing and especially beautiful. It is like a whole new level of immersion.

The Critique of Christmas…

Horsefly has been really sick lately. He kept coughing sitting next to me and I would cover my mouth last night on our quest for pretty Christmas lights. I didn’t won’t the crud he had been fighting all week. He was fixated on a Disney Little Princess bowling set he carried with him.

Charlie was in fine form last night as well. We were really critiquing every one’s Christmas decorations. I love to hear my father and Charlie interact. They are just like close knit brothers. 

We’re Getting Our Just Desserts…

Something fun is happening tonight. Me, Dad, Charlie, and Horsefly are all going for an ice cream and then we are going to drive around town and look at the Christmas lights. I am also hoping I will get to open one Christmas gift tonight. We all know what that will be, don’t we? Yes, the $500 video card for mien computer. Then I will have more fun staying up late for the install and almost most likely troubleshooting of the card.

I haven’t done much for the past few days except rest. It was so nice to sleep in yesterday and today. I have to wake myself up at noon to take my medications to stay on schedule. Tracy is coming tomorrow night. We are having our own little Christmas and I will surely have to get on the ball and get us up something to eat. I am thinking of cooking a poppy seed chicken casserole and dinner rolls with a salad. Then she goes and spends Christmas with her mom in Atlanta.

Oh, I’ve been growing a goatee and sideburns for the past three weeks and it is really filling out now. Tracy says it makes me look “dangerously sexy” for whatever that means. It is driving my father crazy. He doesn’t like facial hair on men and says he is going to get me to shave it off by Christmas day. Ha!

The Wiley Wills of My Father…

Last night, I needed gas. My low gas indicator was on and I don’t know what I would do without it. I’d probably run out of gas sooner or later. Dad called me at 9 pm ready to go.

“I will meet you at the Circle K on Gilmer avenue,” he told me.

He insists on putting my gas on his personal Visa for some reason. I braved the cold and soon my father came pulling into the gas station. We filled up both our cars and I had one more task to do.

“Let’s run inside and get Maggie a couple of bags of fried pork skins (chicharrones),” I told my father.

I used my allowance money to pay for them.

“Are you ready to go to the grocery store?” Old Fuss and Feathers then asked. “We can go ahead and get it done and over with.”

“Let’s put it off till tomorrow night,” I said feeling shaky last night.

The was a little coercion, but my father gave in and said alright. I don’t think he really wanted to do all that last night as well.

Well, I got home and dad called me and we ended up talking for another hour on the phone. Maggie just adored a bag of pork skins by the way. It is one of her favorite treats these days.

“We are going to get Charlie and Horsefly this week and ride around and look at all the Christmas lights,” dad said. “How does that sound?”

I told him that sounded like a fun adventure. I love to hear dad and Charlie banter and bicker back and forth. I can then poke Horsefly and make him laugh.

Last Day is Wednesday…

Mrs. Barbara finally hired someone to take my position at the Humane Society. His name is Raphael and he is a little Hispanic fellow who speaks impeccable English. I showed him today how to do everything and what his chores will be. He eagerly followed my directions just overjoyed to have a job. I will come in Wednesday and supervise one last time to make sure he knows the ropes – probably only working a few hours. I need a break. I am totally burned out. I want to sleep late for a change during the week and just be plain lazy (I think I’ve earned it!). Tracy is torn with the arrangements – not getting to see me every other morning during the week. She will adjust in no time. She’s out of school and can see me every night if she wants to. 

Last night, Tracy sent me a link to this song and dedicated it to me. She knows I love Joni Mitchell. I just adore this song and hadn’t heard it in years. I messaged her back that I loved it and hoped she felt that way about me after her three year fiasco with Michael (ex boyfriend) and his philandering ways. 

No Trash For the Trash Man…

Charlie and Old Fuss and Feathers were in extraordinary moods tonight. As you already know, Charlie and my father bring meals every Sunday night. I obfuscated things somewhat asking for a plain single with cheese for Maggie, but they got the order right. Charlie took Maggie’s water bowl into the kitchen to empty and refill it.

“You didn’t leave me any trash to take out tonight,” he said almost mournfully. 

Dad was getting Maggie stirred up on the couch. She was really “talking” to him.

“She’s been a good companion to you all these years,” dad said.

“She’s my Magster,” I replied as I bent over and hugged her. “I don’t know what I would do without her. Thank y’all for getting her a burger tonight.”

“If you lose any more weight, you are going to waste away,” Charlie told me which made me feel good.

They soon left and Maggie and I settled in and ate our burgers. Mine was delicious, A Wendy’s double with cheese and Maggie’s was just a plain single with cheese with none of the fixins. I told dad before he left I had about filled out on the fill-ups from KFC.

Dad broached the subject of Christmas Eve before he left tonight.

“Now, you can come, but there is going to be a lot of people there,” he said. “I thought that would make you nervous.”

“Let’s have another Christmas at Andrew’s house afterwards,” I told my father.

“Charlie and I will bring your gifts and I will bring you a big plate of food,” he said.

“Sounds good to me,” I replied, content with the arrangements.

Charlie and the F Bomb…

Charlie’s been known to use the F word in his lexicon of language quite frequently. The morning he was all, “Those (bleeping) employees at that (bleeping) McDonald’s don’t know what they are (bleeping) doing!”

I put my finger to my mouth trying to get Charlie to tone it down some. He was all riled up and Tracy was sitting just inside on the couch.

“Y’all get bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits this morning,” Charlie said. “Because they (bleeped) it up and I brought Tracy a biscuit as well.”

I told Charlie thank you as he then turned his attention to Maggie and Tracy.

“Hey Tracy! Hey, my Maggie Lou,” he said.

“Well, that was colorful,” Tracy said with a laugh as I stepped back inside and shut the door.

“Charlie’s got a touch of Tourette's syndrome and can’t help it,” I said explaining it away.

Soon, Charlie was headed to Old Fuss and Feather’s house with another biscuit and my father’s coveted Senior Coffee.

Jumping Mud Puddles…

We got so much rain recently that my driveway is a mosh pit. Tracy and I were leaving for dad’s house this morning and I got stuck in my own driveway. I pulled forward and turned sharply right and then backed out without incident.

“My Blu-ray player keeps saying weak or no signal,” dad told me before we left.

“That’s your HDMI cable,” I replied.

Yep, It was the HDMI cable. I changed it out and things were working fine again. Dad was watching a Blu-ray of the 2004 Auburn Tigers. How boring is that? Thankfully, he turned it off while Tracy and I were over there. Dad was very glad to see Tracy.

“It is remarkable how much he has improved socially since dating you,” he told her. “He actually answers the phone now!”

Tracy was acting all shy and blushed.

“Thank you, Mr. John,” she replied.

China Moon…

Last night, I ordered take out Chinese. I got the always spicy General Tso’s chicken and Tracy got Moo Goo Gai Pan wanting milder fare. I got the food from China Moon as they are inexpensive and always delicious. I fed us last night for under $20 and Tracy gave me her thumbs up about the food.

“Soon, I am going to take you out on a proper date,” I told her. “Just let me save up some money.”

“Let’s go to that little Italian place out by the interstate,” Tracy said. “Then I will give you something extra special when we return home.”

“Like you in your birthday suit?” I asked crassly with a chuckle.

“That can be arranged,” Tracy replied with a devilish smile.

To see her naked is like looking at one of the wonders of the world.

Tracy Giggles, Charlie Chuckles…

Charlie called me this morning. I hadn’t been up long, but I was dressed. I was fixin to head to Old Fuss and Feather’s house.

“I am coming to get you,” Charlie said. “Our TV is talking to us every time you press a button.”

“How did y’all get it to do that?” I asked incredulously.

“Oh hell, I don’t know,” Charlie replied. “Janice must’ve hit the wrong button.”

I laughed and Charlie chuckled.

“Well, you are going to have to come inside and say hello to Maggie when you come,” I told Charlie.

Charlie said he would. Soon, here he came rolling up my street. I told Maggie Charlie was here and she went apeshit bananas yet once again.

“Maggie Lou, just what are you doing?” Charlie asked exuberantly.

Maggie wiggled and barked in ecstasy as Charlie rubbed and petted her vigorously and robustly.

“Come on, let’s go fix my TV.”

It was a simple fix. I can’t remember exactly what I did, but there was a setting in the menu that turned off speech assist.

“That sure was easy,” Janice said lying on the couch while she watched the television.

“Andrew, I don’t know what we would do without you,” Charlie told me.

Charlie slipped me twenty dollars and gave me five sodas for the road. Charlie really does spoil me. I got one leaded regular Coca-Cola, two diet Cokes, and two Sprite Zeros. A motley mix, but right up my alley.

Dodging the Rain…

The downpour had quit overnight giving me smooth sailing as I drove in to volunteer this morning. It was misting heavily on the drive home, though.

I hadn’t heard much out of my princess this week. She has been cramming for and taking her finals. She greeted me at the door of the Humane Society and said, “I am finished with school for another term.”

“What class are you taking next term?” I asked her.

“Music appreciation,” she replied. “That should lighten the load just a tad bit.”

“Now, that is something I can help you with,” I told her with knowledgeable aspirations.

“You’re going to be seeing a lot more of me in the next few weeks,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” I told her.

“I love you baby!” She told me and gave me a quick kiss.

Rainy Night Ahead…

As Slow As Molasses…

Well, my father and Sir Matt finally got my Christmas ordered today. It was the last day for free shipping and they just squeaked by. I sighed a big sigh of relief. Why we can’t just order it on my father’s computer I do not know. It confounds and aggravates me the rigmarole it takes to get computer parts ordered around here. Dad also ordered a watch for himself from Amazon and got Sir Matt to handle that as well so it is not just me. He actually had the acumen to email Matt the watch he wanted which surprised me. Welcome to 2018 father!

I watched a little of Dr. Phil at Old Fuss and Feather’s house this morning. Just your usual and typical dysfunctional family type stuff – families torn apart by an abhorrent family member or broken families, divorces, etc. Dad cooked breakfast for him and I as well. We had fried eggs and bacon and some frozen biscuits warmed and toasted in the oven. I didn’t stay too long. It was getting close to time for me to take my medications and I didn’t bring them with me

“For god’s sake go take your medications,” my father told me with a laugh when I told him I had to go and the reason why. .

I came home and took off my glasses and my ballcap and was just going to lay down for an hour and rest. It was about 1 pm. I fell asleep and awoke tonight at 6:30 pm and the house was pitch black dark – very disorienting and disconcerting. I guess I needed the rest. It was amazing my phones didn’t ring in all that time nor did Maggie bark. It left me with little to write about today.

We should’ve went and got my Christmas tree, but dad and I both put it off until after the weekend. We're both supreme procrastinators. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow type of stuff.

Inner Peace…

I feel at peace tonight – not the always inward conflict I feel on a normal basis. I am very thankful for all the many good things in my life right now. I’ve come a very long way from that drunkard homeless man back in 2003. I will never forget the night my mother turned on the heat in my deceased grandmother’s house – wonderful, glorious heat. I had called her and told her I was homeless. I had a warm bed to sleep in that night and was so very, very thankful. I had been sleeping in a tent by a pond on some land we owned. The month was December as it is now.

“I don’t care what your daddy says you’re not sleeping in a tent tonight,” my mother told me over the phone. “It is freezing cold outside!”

That was the spark that lit the fire that got me moving towards recovery, stability, and sobriety. I finally had stable housing living in an apartment under my grandmother’s house. It took a few years, but I finally got sobered up as well and started to take my medications. The medications were useless while I was drinking. The medications are the key to my recovery. My father always likes to say that I am a different person on my medications than I was before. He said the same of my mother as well. My mother was a mean, stern, chaotic, and obstinate woman growing up and she turned into this gentle and kind creature when she started to take Zyprexa for her schizophrenia.  I actually got to be friends with my mother in the last few years before her death. We were no longer at odds with each other. 

Man On a Mission…

“I am going to sit this one out,” I told my father tonight of going to the grocery store. “It is already 32° degrees outside.”

“Aw, babe,” he said. “We will be in and out and back home before you know it. Come on, let’s go!”

I had never seen Kroger so bereft of customers than tonight. I used it to my advantage and quickly filled my cart with items I needed. Dad was soon right behind me as we made our way up front to checkout. I got a shitload of food for $76 dollars and dad remarked upon it.

“What was on sale?” dad asked.

“I didn’t buy that god awful expensive gourmet chicken salad tonight,” I replied. “The Powerade was also on sale for $3.99 an eight pack.”

I was having serious wardrobe malfunctions tonight as well. I kept having to pull my pants up and I couldn’t even wear these pants two months ago. Dad got to laughing as I held my pants up as I walked across the parking lot to load up my trunk.

“You need a belt,” he said loudly.

“None of my belts fit me either!” I exclaimed. “And who wants to go to Walmart and buy one?”

There was no reply. Dad abhors Walmart as much as I do. We went our separate ways and headed home to get out of this cold.

What Tracy is Getting for Christmas…

12k Gold & Silver Turquoise Inlay Watch

I hope she likes this. She loves turquoise so this should fit the bill. I didn’t realize turquoise jewelry was so expensive. I am using my January and February computer parts money in advance to pay for this. It was $229 dollars.

Turquoise gems are channel inlaid in this 12k gold and silver ladies watch band. The watch band is 9/16" tapering to 5/16" and has a gold extension band. This comes with a quartz movement battery operated watch face. Navajo made in New Mexico. Signed by the artist.

For the Love of a Princess…

It would be just my luck that my next injection falls on Christmas day. Rebecca said they are open the 26th and she will be there. I just have to tough it out for a day. I told dad to be sure to give me an extra Risperdal pill just in case for Christmas. I don’t want to spend Christmas miserable with my not so friendly friend mental illness.

My eyes opened this morning and Tracy was propped up on her elbow watching me sleep. Good morning she said with a giggle as I yawned and stretched. She’s my little princess I tell you. Despite my trying to dissuade her from coming, she came anyway last night. She didn’t get here until almost ten my time. I went to bed at eleven and she soon followed me after using my computer for awhile. She was trying to decide what course to take next term. She took my advice and is only going to take one class next term instead of the two she took this time. She took two doosies too – biology and chemistry and their corresponding labs..

I couldn’t dawdle this morning. I told Tracy she would just have to excuse me – that I was all business. I had warned her the night before and she still came. Dad called me at 8:30 to make sure I was up and getting dressed. Soon, I was on my way with a 9:00 am rendezvous with the pharmacy. Dad already had my prescription filled so I was ready to go. Kamath Medical was my next destination and my shot went without a hitch.

Christmas will be here in two weeks and I still haven’t bought Tracy’s gift. I know she loves and collects turquoise jewelry so I think I am going to get her a turquoise neckless and matching bracelet. I better get on the web and order that right now while I am thinking about it.

Unboxing Gigabyte Radeon RX VEGA 64 8GB OC Gaming...

The Homecoming Queen…

I hadn’t seen Tracy since Friday morning. She was a sight for sore eyes let me tell you. She said seeing my car in the Humane Society’s parking lot this morning was the best thing she had seen in a long time. Tracy spent the weekend with her mother in Atlanta.

“I am going to give you three kisses for coming back,” she said and gave me some heartwarming whoppers.

“That was nice!” I exclaimed.

She wanted to come up here tonight, but I told her she needs to take a break. Tracy always tries to do too much and spreads herself thin. I told her Wheezy is going to think she abandoned her.

“Why don’t you come down to my apartment tonight?” Tracy asked. “I need some alone time with you.”

“My injection is in the morning,” I replied. “I need to stick close to home and stay on schedule.”

Tracy gave me a pouty look and then said okay.

“I sure am going to miss you tonight,” she replied hinting that she may just drive up anyway.

I went about my daily tasks as if it were any other day. I donned my rubber boots and my giant vinyl apron and got to work power blasting and obliterating dog poo. I was back home by 1:00 pm having finished all my tasks.

I Am So Excited! I Can’t Wait for Christmas!

GIGABYTE Radeon RX Vega 64

I am actually going to own a top of the line Vega video card!

8GB 2048-Bit High Bandwidth Memory 2

Core Clock 1276 MHz

Boost Clock 1560 MHz

3 x HDMI 2.0b 3 x DisplayPort 1.4

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Just Your Usual Sunday…

I got up at the ungodly hour of 8 am this morning for no apparent reason other than to wait on Charlie I guess. Within a hour he was here with Maggie’s and my breakfasts.

“I just love your Christmas lights!” Charlie exclaimed.

“Dad said they looked tacky,” I told Charlie with a chuckle.

“Don’t you pay no attention to Mr. Perfect!” Charlie replied smiling.

Charlie thought they were tacky, too. I just know it. He was just being nice.

Charlie was soon gone leaving us heathens to fend for ourselves. Maggie ate her sausage and went and buried her biscuit halves in the backyard as usual. Her nose was all muddy when she came back inside after both trips. I called dad and asked if I could come over after breakfast. He welcomed me over the phone. He was eating his sausage biscuit and drinking his senior coffee when I arrived. We got to talking about how I used to lead the local Methodist church choir when our music director went out of town.

“That’s amazing you could do that back then with all your social phobias,” dad said.

“I used could kill Mrs. Adcock for doing that to me!” I replied with a laugh. “I’d be a nervous wreck. Rachel (ex-wife) got me in all that mess.”

“We need to order your Newegg Christmas tomorrow,” dad then said. “What are you getting?”

“A Gigabyte Radeon Vega 64 video card, some blue lighted fans for my computer case, and a big pack of recordable DVDs,” I replied. “Oh, and a 4K ultra high definition compatible HDMI cable.”

Old Fuss and Feathers had no clue what I was talking about and told me so.

“Be sure to email Matt (pharmacy computer guru) when you get home,” he told me. “We’ll try to get it ordered tomorrow. Call me at the pharmacy and remind me.”

He better bet I will. This will be the first time I will own and install a tier one and also a company flagship video card. I just pray it will work in my computer. They recommend at least a 750 watt power supply and that’s exactly what I’ve got in my main gaming rig. I am going to be just squeaking by on that requirement.

Comment Reply…

Sharyn Bellah said...

You know, I had been concerned with the amount of hours you were working. And paid or not, you were working. Very rarely does a volunteer work THAT many hours. Maybe you did take on too much. You had intended on a nice volunteer job a couple of days a week maybe half a day. What you got was 40+ hours a week. Plus a volunteer almost never has a key and to be asked to "open the shop", is over the top.
If you go back, you should (in writing) map out what a Volunteer's Job really is. In CA, Volunteers aren't allowed to clean cages, for instance. You could help Miss Barbara get a handle on what a volunteer is and what they should do. This would be helpful for future volunteers too.
And, oh yeah, you got rid of Tut; even if you never volunteer again, you got rid of Tut. (What happened to her man, Richard?)

Andrew Replies…

Sharyn, I agree. Mrs. Barbara was asking too much of me and it is a hard and dirty job. Also, it is a long drive spanning three cities and Old Fuss and Feathers was having to pay for the gas to and fro not even factoring in the wear and tear on my car. For some reason, he insists on paying for my gas. I will keep your thoughts in mind when they hire someone new to do my job and when I decide what to do about my volunteering capacity. I think I am going to stay on volunteering and see how things go. That would thrill Tracy to death.  Just in a limited capacity.

Tut and Richard are still together. Richard lives off of Tut’s disability and plays his PlayStation 3 games all the time. He recently turned 49. All he does is obsess over Star Trek and Star Wars. I didn’t write about this for fear of repercussion, but I took him and Tut to the pawn shop a few weeks ago. He pawned two PS3 Batman games for $10 and bought tobacco with the money. They said they only wanted to go to the pawn shop, but added on an extra trip all the way down to West Point and the SunCo gas station to buy Tobacco. What a mess! I vowed never to do that again!!!

A Conversation With Barbara Tonight…

“Sweet pea, I just my foot in my mouth big time yesterday,” she told me. “I apologize. I certainly don’t have the gift of the gab.”

“I understand,” I replied. “I acted rashly on my part as well. Barbara, frankly, I am just burned out of cleaning those kennels.”

“Will you volunteer until I can hire someone else?” she asked. “Nobody but you would do that job for free.”

“I would be glad to,” I replied.

“I am so sorry honey and I never told you how much of a godsend you’ve been for us. I wish I could have paid you for all those countless days you worked.”

“Well, I will see you bright and early Monday,” I told her cutting things short.

“Thank you so much, honey!” Barbara replied and we got off the phone.

So I am basically putting in my two weeks notice until Barbara can find someone to take my position. I called Tracy and filled her in on my and Barbara’s conversation tonight. She feels better, but she doesn’t want me to go.

“It is not going to be the same working there anymore,” Tracy told me over the phone. “To see your smiling face when I get there in the morning.”

“We’ll see,” I said. “Who knows? I could just drop down to two days a week like I originally intended and might stay on volunteering in a limited capacity. I just need a break that’s all. Something to lighten the load.”

“Let Barbara hire somebody to do the dogs and you can come in and help me with the cats,” Tracy replied exploring ideas.

“We’ll see,” I replied. “I promise you there will be an amicable ending that’s best for everyone involved.”

Breakfast Just Hits the Spot…

It is a dreary day here. it is pouring rain and it is also 42° degrees. You’d catch the death of you if you were out in this weather for very long. Dad called this morning and said Charlie was coming for breakfast. He wanted me to come too. I hurriedly dressed and braved the horrid weather to reach my father’s house. Dad cooked poached eggs, bacon, and homemade biscuits. Charlie and I agreed it was an extraordinary breakfast. We were all full of banter and good cheer afterwards. Dad jokingly said he needs to feed us more often if that was going to be the end result.

Charlie got his TV fixed. It was still under warranty and a serviceman came out and installed a new power supply motherboard saving me the trouble. He was thrilled to death to have it back working. I didn’t envy that serviceman’s job as there were at least fifty screws on the back of that TV that had to be taken out to get to the inside of the television. Things tend to work out best in the end.  

Say Good Night Gracie…

Well, I quit volunteering today. You can take this volunteer position and shove it because I don’t volunteer here anymore. Mrs. Barbara made a very snide remark about my being late and I turned around and drove home. The reason I was late was that there was a bad wreck on 29 and traffic was backed up. Tracy briskly walked out to the car with me trying to get me to change my mind, but my mind was made up. I was burned out anyway and needed a break. I am going to rest a few weeks and maybe see if the Literacy Center needs any more volunteers.  Mrs. Barbara keeps trying to get me on the phone, but I am not answering. I am a sensitive fellow and her words hurt me.  Now, she will have to hire someone else to do the job and maybe this will get her off that damn computer and make her butt clean for a change.

I was just in one of those rare aggressive moods of mine today. Tuleana called wanting a ride at lunch. Her food stamps had been replenished. The phone had already rung several times starting as soon as I got home.

“I’m not carrying you damn anywhere. If you keep calling me then I pressing harassment charges. You are about to drive me nuts!”

I hung up the phone abruptly and she hasn’t called back thank goodness. I hope I put an end to that monkey business.

A Few Snow Flakes Flying?

If you’ve read me a long time then you know my penchant for winter weather. We have a line of snow showers headed this way and might see a flake or two. The National Weather Service says there will be no accumulations, but I am excited none the less.  It probably won’t get here until after midnight, but I am going to stay up and wait for it. I just called my father and Tracy spreading the good news.

Edit – I spoke too soon. It looks like the line of snow showers is fading as they hit drier air south.

I Think I Like You!

No amorous affairs last night. Tracy was just exhausted after a busy and full day yesterday. She was just glad to have me as company. I was running late last night and didn’t arrive until 9:30 pm my time. I called Tracy on the drive to Opelika and told her to go ahead and order the pizza – that I would be there in about 20 minutes. We ate pizza and Tracy then fell asleep on the couch full and satiated. It tickled me when Wheezy got up on her curvaceous hip and took a nap as well.

Nothing good was on TV last night even though Tracy has every channel they offer so I got on my tablet and tried countless different blog templates until I found one I liked. I get tired of the same old template and have to change from time to time.

12 am my time rolled around and I woke Tracy encouraging her to go to bed. She followed me to the bedroom and we both put on our sleeping clothes. Sleeping on Tracy’s bed is like sleeping on a sea of feathers. It is so very soft. I usually wake up with a sore neck and back, but fared well last night. I was asleep about the time my head hit the pillow. All I remember is Tracy cuddling up against me and I was gone.

Tracy warmed up some cream cheese and cherry Danishes for breakfast this morning which were fresh and delicious. We were both groggy and sleepy eyed, though. We were also very quiet and not saying much. Tracy and I are both not morning people.

“I envy you,” she said. “You don’t have to work today.”

“I am heading home and getting on the computer,” I told her delicately with a Cheshire grin.

Spreading the Good Cheer…

I hadn’t put up that photo of my Christmas lights on the blog for ten minutes when my father called me.

“Your lights look good!” he told me. “I just drove by to look at them.”

We talked for a few moments. He was glad I was getting in the spirit of things and not showing my usual apathy about the holidays as he put it. I hadn’t got off the phone but for a few moments when Tracy called. She was crying and sniffling. She sounded like a total mess.

“I think I bit off more than I can chew with school and work,” she told me crying. “I am so burned out and finals are coming up.”

“Don’t think of it as a whole,” I told her. “Just take it one day at a time. That’s what they always said in Alcoholics Anonymous about quitting drinking. In just a few short weeks you will have your holiday break and things will seem much better. You will be proud to have accomplished what you’ve done.”

I realized I sounded like my father when he gives one of his lectures to me when I am down and out. The sniffling and crying soon stopped and Tracy said she felt much better after talking to me.

“You can do it!” I told her. “Just hang in there. One day at a time.”

“I want to see you other than work. When can I see you next?”

“I will drive down tomorrow night and stay with you,” I replied.

“I'll order your favorite pizza!” she said.

“Sounds like a deal,” I told her happily. “I will see you bright and early in the morning and I expect a kennel kiss.”

She giggled loudly and giddily and told me to get ready for a whopper of a kiss.

“I love you, you know that?” Tracy said.

“I love you, too, sweetheart,” I replied.

Dire Circumstances…

Tuleana let my home phone ring four times yesterday. It was getting late so I answered the last call breaking the two ring rule. Shit I muttered under my breath as I was caught in Tuleana’s web. She wanted me to take them to get groceries when her food stamps were replenished. I told her I wasn’t driving that far and to call her sister or mother very brusquely. She doesn’t like her sister to do it because she charges them $20 dollars for a ride. I quickly hung up the phone. It is like I have this pestilence hovering over my head. I guess I am going to have to get ugly and it goes against my very nature.

Andrew’s Redneck Christmas

I got out this afternoon and started hanging lights everywhere. It’s got that spider’s web look going for it. Tracy will be excited to see this. She will probably laugh. lol

Move Over Headphones. We’ve Found Something New For January’s Computer Part…

I saw this tiny little Sony camera for $89.99 on Newegg and just fell in love with it. This is going to be my backup camera and will probably reside in the car’s glove box. My expensive Canon PowerShot A650 IS will probably still take better pictures at 12.9 Mega Pixels, though.

It got bad reviews on Newegg (2 out of 5 eggs), but it seems the bad reviews came from novices that didn’t know what they were doing.

SONY Cyber-shot W800 digital camera

Braveheart Soundtrack - The Princess Pleads For Wallace's Life

I think this composition is so beautiful.

Getting in the Spirit of Things…

YES! Kroger had colored Christmas lights in sets of 100. I bought four packs at $2.49 each. I was surprised at the price and expected to pay much more. I am getting in the Christmas spirit slowly but surely. I already have my step railings decorated. Next, I am going to tackle my shrubbery tomorrow when the day warms up some. Burr! It is cold out there tonight. One nice thing about mom’s Honda is that it warms up quickly. It was toasty warm by the time I arrived at Kroger. 

I didn’t buy much of a way as far as things to eat. I just mainly got breakfast foods for when Tracy stays over and sandwich fixins. Dad fussed a little bit about it but I assured him things were fine. The total was still $61 dollars despite what little bit I got. I got plenty of cheese on wheat crackers and peanut butter which I live on these days. I also got a big pack of smoked sliced turkey and a loaf of Sunbeam old fashioned bread. My big expenditure and splurge was two eight packs of lemon/lime Gatorade. Each bottle only has 140 calories which is far short of sugary soda. I get so tired of drinking copious amounts of water all the time.

I was also thinking of my Magster tonight. She gets so tired of eating just Purina One so I got her some of those Nekot lemon crème cookies to eat. I will only give them to her sparingly, but she loves them. It makes for a happy and content dog. She has a sweet tooth like her owner.

Norah Jones - The Long Day is Over

Two Thirds Capacity…

That’s right. We have twenty dogs in the kennels right now and it makes my job that much harder. I started cleaning at nine and didn’t finish until one. I had to work over today. I was pooped out by the time quitting time rolled around. I kept hoping for some adoptions today, but few people stopped by to look in the kennels. I want them all to find their forever home. We have a very mötley crüe in residence at the moment – all kinds of dogs. 

“Don’t forget to take your medications,” Tracy said when twelve arrived.

I like to see her play an active role in my recovery. I had them in a pill bottle in my pocket. I thanked her and went into the bathroom and poured me a cup of water. I began to feel much better on the drive home. Less fatigued and busy minded. My medications quiet the noise in my head. Tracy gave me a kiss goodbye and said she wished she could come home with me.

“We could nap all afternoon and laze in the bed,” she told me wistfully. “I really need a nap and a cuddle badly. I am so drowsy!”

Alas, Tracy had to stay on and work until six this evening. I hated to leave her, but I was ready to get home to my Magster. I was also starving and stopped by Wendy’s on my way back to mi casa and got Maggie and I a double/w cheese. Last night’s was so good I had to get another. Maggie will eat everything but the pickles.

Despite eating such fattening food lately (sparsely), I was able to fit back into my flannel scotch patterned pajamas last night. It was luxurious. I was overjoyed and Charlie remarked upon how much weight I have lost yesterday evening. I’ve been losing about one pound a week lately.

Old Fuss and Feathers Gives In…

I have an allowance now. I feel like some kind of child or a teenager to be honest, but I was glad to get it. Old Fuss and Feathers decided to give me $40 a week (after I begged him).

“The first sign of drinking and I am taking it away,” he told me last night very sternly.

“I won’t let you down,” I told him giddy with glee.

I feel as if I won the lottery to put it frankly. It was a big step for my father, but I have worked hard for it staying on the straight and narrow and religiously taking my medications. I told him I could find a way to drink if I wanted to money or not. Charlie was in my corner last night about it telling my father to trust me. This opens the door to Charlie giving me money from time to time again. I always vehemently refuse, but he insists. Before dad took control of my disability money, Charlie would always give me $20 when he saw me as a gift.

Trouble in Paradise…

9:00 pm rolled around and Charlie and Papa still hadn’t arrived with my and Maggie’s meals. I tried calling my father but it dumped me into his voicemail. 9:30 pm came and soon they pulled up to the curb. That's the latest arrival of them all. Maggie had been looking out the window for over two hours. She just went nuts and never gave up hope that they would arrive. I told her they were coming too early.

“We were caught in the drive-thru from hell,” Charlie told me.

“I got to thinking y’all had a car accident,” I replied.

I had ordered Wendy’s (a double/w cheese) tonight and thought that might have been the hang up, but it wasn’t. It was that dastardly KFC who always gets orders wrong and has a slow drive-thru. I’ve deemed them the screwiest KFC in the South. Horsefly has to have their chicken tenders thus the reason Charlie and Papa put themselves through that every week. They consistently cause problems.

Maggie was really “talking” to Charlie and Papa tonight. It always warms my heart when she does that. She was so excited she was almost beside herself. She doesn’t get to see them nearly enough as she wants to.

It has been a quiet day other than tonight’s little SNAFU. Charlie brought breakfast about 9 am – three sausage biscuits and a diet Coke. I drove over to my father’s house after finishing breakfast. He had his Christmas tree up and lit and I helped him decorate it. It really looked beautiful. Dad inherited mom’s beautiful ornaments and decorations. I always get a live tree so I have to wait until mid December to get my Christmas tree as they dry out so easily. I am hoping Kroger sells Christmas lights so I can decorate my shrubbery and step railing tomorrow night after we buy groceries. My neighbors across the street are putting on a grand show with lights and Christmas icons that are projected on the side of their house.

What a Simpleton and a Fool!

Would I look like a fool if I started back writing tomorrow? I miss writing deeply. It was cathartic to my soul. I was rash in announcing my absence. I realize now after a day that blogging was such a good and creative outlet for me. I didn’t realize I would miss it so much!

Be Back in a Few Short Weeks…

I don’t write this lightly. I’ve decided I am going to take a break from blogging. I write this so nobody will worry about me thinking something awful has happened. I just need a break that’s all. I will probably miss it and be back in a few short weeks or a month or two. I assure you nothing’s wrong and nothing bad has happened. I am just feeling burned out. I will write to you all again in just a few weeks.

Most Emotional Music Ever: "Forever" by Tracey Chattaway

I dedicate this to my girl with the curls and the curves!!!

Volunteering is a Merit I Hope…

Tracy didn't arrive until almost 10:30 pm my time last night. I was beginning to worry about her. I called her on her cellphone and she said she was on the way and would be here in 20 minutes. Maggie went bonkers when she pulled into the driveway. Tracy embraced me at the door and welcomed herself inside. She said she was hungry so I fixed his some toasted shaved turkey sandwiches with a side of sour cream and onion potato chips and a dill pickle spear. She said it was delicious.

Later in the night, we were laying in the bed when she told me she knew I was going to be somebody special when I walked in and asked Mrs. Barbara if she needed any volunteers.

“You never miss and you show up on time and you don’t get paid for it,” she told me. “That’s dedication.”

I am still getting accustomed to having someone in the bed with me. Tracy wants to cuddle and spoon and it takes me a long time to fall asleep. I feel trapped for fear of waking her up so I just lay there on my side uncomfortable. I guess the old saying don’t look a gift horse in the mouth applies to this situation. It is just going to take some time and I wouldn’t trade her spending the night for anything else in the world.

Morning arrived when my cellphone alarm went off. Hit the snooze button Tracy said and I laughed. We laid there for a few minutes looking at each other longingly morning breath and all. Tracy then took a shower while I fixed breakfast. We had scrambled eggs and flaky canned biscuits this morning. Soon, it was my time to shower and then we both headed into the Humane Society.

The Animal Control officer showed up with a whole slew of new dogs to grace us. I muttered shit under my breath because that’s what I am going to be cleaning up. One was a Pitbull and I will have to keep an eye on him. I don’t care what anybody says they still scare me. All I can think of is the elderly Mrs. Pinkerton getting killed by a Pitbull in the middle of town while she was on her daily walk. Phil Pinkerton, her husband, was a friend of mine. He helped me keep my Chevelle running. The owner of the Pitbull received jail time.

Welcomed Guests and More to Come…

Charlie was telling me tonight that he doesn’t have to do so much for me these days now that I am in control of my medications. Charlie would always have to bring my meds on the holidays or when dad was at a ballgame or out of town for some reason. He would also bring me something to eat and drink as usual.

“I was telling your daddy the same thing tonight,” he said. “We both agreed it was a good sign that you're doing well.”

“I take those medications religiously these days, Charlie,” I replied. “I think I do better now than I have in years.”

Charlie agreed giving me many accolades.

“You are like a different person, Andrew,” he said. “You volunteer, you don’t drink anymore, you keep a tidy house, you’re dating somebody, and you take your medications.”

Horsefly was pacing the house as we talked. He then got fixated on all the myriad of colorful old computer parts I have on a shelf in the computer room. I can’t bring myself to throw them away – always thinking of making an old Windows 98 machine. He wanted one to take with him. I gave him an old network interface card. I hated to part with it, but it was my least desirable part.

“How is Tracy doing?” Charlie then asked me after he thanked me for accommodating Horsefly.

“My girl is busy,” I replied with a smile as I sat back down in the den. “She works a full day five days a week and goes to class Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights.”

“What is she going to school for?” asked Charlie.

“She wants to be a veterinary technician,” I replied. “She takes a lot of classes I couldn’t pass like chemistry. She’s pretty smart book wise.”

“You know that’s how I got my accounting degree,” Charlie said. “I worked in the mill during the day and took classes at night.”

“Well, we are headed to the bowling alley,” Charlie said. “Do you want to go bowling with us?”

“I better pass,” I told Charlie with a wink. “I am hoping some company will arrive tonight.”

A sly grin formed on Charlie’s face.

“Come on Horsefly. Let’s get you down at the bowling alley.”

Horsefly mumbled something incomprehensible and headed to Charlie’s car at the curb. Charlie gave me a hug goodbye and they were on their way.

Come Away With Me - Third Place album by Tracey Chattaway

Helen’s Soul Food Friday Meal #15

This meal was all about the creamed potatoes swimming in savory steak gravy. It looks ugly, but it was delicious. We also had cubed steak, summer squash, butterbeans, and jumbo green beans. Oh, and Helen’s crispy on the outside cornbread, too!

Starlights by Tracey Chattaway

Sunrise this Morning…

The Fickle Tides of Emotion…

“I loved the song you dedicated to me tonight. It was truly beautiful,” Tracy wrote to me on messenger last night. “You are so sweet.”

“You seem so down tonight,” Tracy then wrote worriedly. “Are you okay?”

“I am feeling this intense feeling of loneliness and discontent,” I replied.

“I almost drove over to dad’s house,” I furthered. “And spent some time with him.”

“I was afraid I would bother him, though. He would be watching some TV show no doubt.”

“Drive down here. You know you are always welcome any time of the day or night,” Tracy wrote.

“It is tempting, but I have to be at dad’s house in the morning for our visit time,” I replied.

“We watch trashy TV and dad let’s me drink my fill of diet Coke.”

“Do you want me to drive up there? You know I will,” she wrote.

“It’s too late. I would worry about you on the road this late at night.”

“I love you if that makes you feel any better. You hold the key to my heart.”

“It melts my heart. I love you, too!” I wrote to her in return. 

A Sunrise Shot I Took Many Years Ago…

Talking Music…

I was overjoyed to have found Luscious Jackson again after all these years. Their being an all girl band has always intrigued me over the years. The Beastie Boys gave them their big push into the limelight. I remember hearing that song Naked Eye on the radio and searched far and wide for the CD and couldn’t find it. I found their other albums, though, and enjoyed them immensely. I don’t post songs to the blog frivolously. They are songs I truly enjoy and like. I just want to share my enthusiasm for certain music.

Now, I am all smitten with Tracey Chattaway’s compositions. She’s put up a lot of music on YouTube and her songs evoke a lot of emotion out of me. Longing feelings for Tracy, joy to be alive, and wanderlust to just name a few emotions. I am going to purchase her new album Secret Garden in a day or so – gotta get up the courage to use the debit card online. I am going to get a copy for Tracy as well. I better call Papa and make sure it is okay, of course. I am listening to the album right now on YouTube as I write this, but I would also like to listen to it in my car and support Tracey’s efforts as well. It is truly a beautiful work of art. Her album Starlight is also a beautiful work of art. Might as well buy that when I buy the others.

Together / Your Hand in Mine (Radio Edit) by Tracey Chattaway

I just dedicated this song to Tracy by sending her the link via instant messenger.

Helen’s Soul Food Fridays Meal #14

This was a very nice meal. We had pork tenderloin, whole kernel corn, green beans, brussels’s sprouts, and cornbread. The pork tenderloin would just melt in your mouth is was so tender and it wasn’t the peppercorn kind much to my relief.

Trash Trucks and Dogs…

What is it about trashmen and dogs? Maggie woke me up at seven this morning sitting outside my bedroom window barking at the trash truck in the freezing cold. “No Maggie, no!” I exclaimed as I buried my face in the pillow. I didn’t have to be up for another hour. Maggie considers that trashcan to be our property and it tears her up when they mess with it. The trash truck came rolling down the street and Maggie barked with renewed vigor. I got out of the bed and sleepily collapsed in the recliner in the den. I then got on my tablet to check the news and what happened last night while I slept.

I was telling Tracy this morning about what Maggie did.

“We love Maggie,” she said. “But sometimes she can act bad at times. It is no different than Wheezy jumping on the bed at 6 am making biscuits, purring up a storm and wanting me to pet her and rub behind her ears.”

I laughed. What we do for our pets.

It Was a Little Shaggy Haired Mutt…

Animal control brought in a little dog today.I was glad we didn’t have a truckload of dogs as can sometimes be the case. The dog was docile and let me pick him up and carry him back to the kennels. The animal control truck hadn’t been gone an hour when a lady walked into the building.

“I’ve lost my dog,” she said. “Could I look and see if he is in the kennels?”

“Sure,” Mrs. Barbara said. “Andrew will help you.”

“You must be worried sick,” I told the lady empathetically.

“There’s my little Sadie!” The lady exclaimed loudly after looking into a few kennels.

The dog went nuts barking and showing affection – entirely glad to see his owner.

“He’s been gone a week. Can I take him home? I am so overjoyed to find him.”

Tears streamed down the lady's cheeks.

“Be my guest,” I replied. “I love a happy ending.”

I opened the kennel and handed the dog to the lady.

“Thank y’all for being so nice and helpful!” she said. 

The woman walked out of the building cradling the dog in her arms. It is moments like this I live for where I volunteer.

$100 Dollars a Month Computer Parts Roadmap…

Click to enlarge…

Dusk Taken From the Window of My Laundry Room…

I was doing some laundry when I looked out the window and said that’s just beautiful. I ran back into the computer room to grab my camera and took this shot.

Helen Meals Gone Wrong Meal #13…

I took the foil off the top of this meal and everything had run down into the creamed corn making a mess. Those chicken tenders are going to throw up some canvas and set sail. The creamed corn should have been put in a bowl. Pictured are green beans, baked chicken fingers, sweet potato patties, fried okra, and biscuits.

My Ladies Get Me In and Out…

The setting was another injection. I had to be up bright and early at 8 am. I signed in and went to sit down when Rebecca opened the door to the examining rooms and called me back. Pat and Dee Dee had already greeted me when I walked in.

“How was your Thanksgiving?” Rebecca asked as she led me to the examining room.

“It was fair to middlin’,” I replied as we say in the South.

“How was your Thanksgiving?” I then asked Rebecca.

“It was okay,” Rebecca replied. “We drove to Birmingham to my parent’s house. I hated that long drive.”

We talked a long time about how the holidays can be hard on the infirm and mentally ill. Those kind of folks tend to get left out or marginalized.

“Big prick!” Rebecca then said as she inserted the two inch long needle.

I didn’t even feel it except for a little pressure as the fluid expanded within my gluteal muscle. I bid Rebecca farewell and told her thank you as always. I grabbed my next appointment card from Dee Dee and headed to the pharmacy.

“That was really quick!” my father exclaimed. “You were only gone twenty minutes.”

“My girls take care of me,” I replied with a thankful sigh and a grin.

I asked dad to step out from behind the pharmacy counter to tell him something in private.

“If you call on my home phone then let it ring twice and I will call you back,” I told my father. “It is best to call me on my cellphone. Tuleana is driving me crazy calling all the time and she thankfully doesn’t know my cell number.”

“Don’t you let her harangue you into carrying them around again,” my father said with great caution.

“I’m not,” I replied. “That’s why the two ring rule is going into effect. The 1st is Saturday when she gets her government money and she wants me to take them all around on their rounds paying bills, getting prescriptions and buying groceries at Walmart. It would be like a seven stop trip and they certainly won’t put gas in my car.”

I felt better with that little detail taken care of and I headed home to my Magster who was waiting in the window for me. My dear darlin’ of a dog.

Luscious Jackson - Ladyfingers

Our Mostly Cloudy Sunset this Evening…

Helen’s Soul Food Fridays Meal #12

I was so disappointed to get meatloaf this meal (sarcasm). We also had green beans, summer squash, creamed potatoes, and cornbread. Do you think Helen put enough creamed potatoes on my plate?

Let’s Get This Done!

I didn’t get in the bed until almost 3 am last night. I just couldn't sleep. I awoke this morning with a swimmy feeling in my head – a feeling of dire tiredness and responsibility due. Tracy left for the Humane Society 30 minutes earlier after breakfast. She slept well and was all chipper and happy this morning as I fixed us a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and cheese toast.

I stepped into the Society and Mrs. Barbara was at her computer as she usually is.

“Hey Sweet Pea,” she told me which is her pet name for me. “There is a fresh pot of coffee made.”

“Good morning,” I replied. “I think I will drink a mug of coffee this morning. Thank you.”

The black bitterness was somehow pleasing and comforting to me. I could soon feel the caffeine mingling with my brain cells giving me a renewed vigor. 

I then went straight back to the kennels and got ready to work. I took off my shoes and slipped my rubber boots on and then tied on my vinyl apron. Cleaning kennels is dirty work. The power washer turned on with a whoosh and then a roar that was an affront to my tired ears. All I could think of was getting back home and going back to bed. I finished in a record two hours and headed home after spending some time with Tracy in the feline room. I helped her change the last few litter boxes and finished giving fresh food and water to the cats. It was my last gasp of activity.

I had a little cash on me so I stopped by Daniel’s and got four of their little crispy and well done burgers. I was starving and it hit the spot. I sat in the car eating them as I listened to Joni Mitchell’s Taming the Tiger album. I felt much better now that I was heading home. Respite was within my grasp.

Edit – I arrived home and took my medications. My brain was especially keen on them today and I felt 100% better within an hour of taking them.

Luscious Jackson - Naked Eye

Intimacy…

Tracy was curled up against me on the couch as Interstellar droned on. About halfway through the movie, I looked over at Tracy and she was sound asleep with her head on my shoulder. She was drooling and it was dribbling down my shirt.

“Come on, let’s get you in the bed,” I said picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom.

“When are you coming to bed?” she sleepily asked as I put her in the bed and pulled the sheet and comforter over her.

“I won’t be long. I am just not sleepy yet. I took a very long nap this afternoon. Good night.”

“I want you with me,” she said deliriously.

“Give me thirty or forty five minutes and I will be there. I am going to take a shower and get on the computer for a little bit.”

I sat down on the edge of the bed and brushed her curls out of her face. She was asleep again within minutes. My girl with the curls and the curves.

Charlie? Meet Tracy! Tracy? Meet Charlie…

I was sound asleep when there was a loud knock on the door abruptly awakening me. It was a very rainy evening and the rain had lulled me to sleep earlier in the afternoon. I was so drowsy I could barely stay awake. Maggie was going bonkers so I knew who it was. It was dad and Charlie with my two pepperoni pizzas on this our Sunday night feedings.

“Andrew! How are you?” Charlie asked loudly as he stepped through my front door.

“Good to see you, Charlie,” I replied, giving him a hug.

Charlie went directly to gather all my trash and to give Maggie fresh food and water. He was all business tonight.

Then there was another loud knock on the door. “Who could that be?” I wondered. It was Tracy. She had a big duffel bag packed hanging from her shoulder signifying she was sleeping over. This was a surprise to me, but a very nice surprise. I welcomed her inside and told her things were busy at the moment.

“Hey Tracy,” my father said giving her a hug. “How are you?”

“I’m fine, Mr. John,” she replied shyly.

Charlie came walking out of the kitchen with trash bags in hand. During my slumber, I had forgotten to take out all the trash.

“You must be Tracy,” Charlie said putting down the trash bags to give her a hug.

“Tracy? This is my good friend and my father’s best friend, Charlie,” I told her.

“Nice to meet you, sir!” Tracy said.

“I’ve heard such good things about you,” Charlie told her. “You treat Andrew right!”

“You will hear more out of Charlie for sure,” I said with a laugh. “Wait till her finds out where you live and he will start feeding you!”

Charlie said, “Oh, hush!” and laughed.

Maggie was just beside herself during all of this. Tracy? Charlie? Papa? It was almost too much to bear and she happily went around greeting everybody and sniffing fingers checking ID’s.

Papa and Charlie soon left. They ran across the yard in the rain to Charlie’s car and drove off. Horsefly was awaiting his chicken tenders.

“Let’s get your car in the driveway and off the street,” I told Tracy as she handed me her keys. “Someone drunk will hit it in the night if we don’t.”

I braved the rain and pulled Tracy’s car in behind mine.

“You’re going to have to help me eat all this pizza,” I told her stepping inside and she said she was famished.

The pizza was piping hot as if just out of the oven making it doubly good and the cheese all gooey and stringy..

Tracy is now in the shower. We are going to watch Interstellar once she cleans up some and then go to bed. We both have early starts in the morning. Tomorrow is going to be a long day for Tracy. She has to work a full day and I think she has two classes tomorrow night.

Helen’s Soul Food Fridays Meal #11

Helen could cook the most tender pot roast. I was like eating your most delicious ribeye. This meal also had crowder peas and summer squash with Vidalia onions.

Luscious Jackson - "Rollin´" (1994)

One Biscuit, Two Biscuits, a Diet Coke…

I woke up early today even after a late night of watching the nail biting ending of the LSU and Texas A&M game. Seven overtimes! Charlie arrived at 9 am and was in good spirits.

“How’s my Maggie dog doing?” Charlie asked stepping inside for a moment.

Maggie wiggled jubilantly and barked even more briskly.

“How can McDonald’s consistently run out of sausage?” Charlie asked me.

“Poor management I guess,” I replied.

“Well, you two get bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits this morning,” Charlie told me.

YES!!!

Charlie was soon on his way and Maggie and I relished our biscuits. The bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits taste so much better than the plain old sausage biscuits. Charlie loves us, but he is also cheap and sausage biscuits are only a $1 at McDonald’s. I think the bacon, egg, and cheese are over $2 dollars so we were living high on the hog this morning.

I then grabbed a shower and headed to my father’s house. He is all embroiled in the debate of Britain pulling out of the European Union. That’s all he watches on TV these days except football. YouTube is his candy store as far as videos on the topic go.

“The people voted 52% to 49%,” he said this morning. “They are pulling out. That will be 39 billion less pounds for the EU. Maybe this will stave off the recession Britain was heading into.”

I timidly asked for an extra pack of cigarettes this morning. I was running dangerously low with one pack left in the freezer which is my paltry reserves at the moment. Dad huffed and puffed and went back to his bedroom to get it. When my mother got aggravated with my father or they had a big fight she would always say loudly, “I hate you Johnny!” That’s what I said to my father when he walked back into the den for huffing and puffing. He laughed and laughed and laughed some more.

“You made me think your mother was alive and well and still with us,” he told me.

Comment Replies…

Beth said...

If you break your very hard-won sobriety for Tracy, you need to rethink the relationship. If it is a solid one, she will support you in maintaining your sobriety. You risk losing everything if you drink again, and you will regret it. You know this. Snap out of it.

November 25, 2018 at 1:43 AM

Andrew Replies…

I am snapping out of it Beth. Thanks for the wakeup call. It so easy for me to lose sight of where I once was in that miserable state of drinking, DUIs etc. Maybe Tracy and I need to have another talk.

Summer said...

Have you told her that you're an alcoholic?

November 25, 2018 at 7:19 AM

Andrew Replies…

Summer, she knows that I don’t drink and that I’ve had problems with it in the past. She knows about the mental illness as well. As long as I take my medications, you would never know I am schizophrenic and she has remarked on this even questioning if I am really mentally ill and misdiagnosed I seem so normal.

Me and My Crazy Meds…

A Panoramic Sunset From Long Ago…

I was just getting to know my camera when I took this amateurish panorama of a sunset out Spring road.

Helen’s Soul Food Friday’s Meal #10

Here we have a rare vegetable only plate. There are rutabagas, steamed cabbage, creamed potatoes, turnip greens, and cornbread. I remember Helen putting lots of vinegary and spicy hot sauce on my cabbage, turnip greens, and rutabagas. It was really spicy, but delicious.

Homeward Bound…

Tracy wants me to stay and for us to find a movie to watch and cuddle on the couch, but I am ready to head home. I feel exhausted by watching that game. I was planning on drinking tonight, but managed to subdue the urges yet one more time. Charlie will be coming in the morning with breakfast so I have to be there for him. I have to see about the Magster as well. So it’s au revoir dear darling of mine.

52–21 :-( Final Score…

Alabama has dominated every game they have played this season. God have mercy on the souls of those players that meet them for the national title game.

You Can Probably Put This One in the Books…

38-21 now with Alabama leading. They have very good field position and are looking to score again. You know what? Commercial timeouts suck! Touchdown Alabama 45-21. It is going to be a rout.

Darkness Falls In Both Ways…

I can’t believe this. This is so depressing. It is now dark outside and it is only 4:50 pm Tracy’s time. Alabama has scored twice more so it is looking bleak for Auburn at the moment unless we can pull a rabbit out of the hat. 31-14

War Eagle! Game Update…

The score is Alabama 17, Auburn 14 at halftime. I shamefully thought Alabama was going to run away with it for a moment there. Alabama fumbled and we made a crucial touchdown as a result. I crooned Touchdown Auburn as Tracy gave me high five. I just told Tracy she better slow down on the wine or she is going to be really tipsy by the end of the game. I’ve had my fill of pizza and cheese bread and feel uncomfortably bloated.

Party Time and Pizza Galore…

Soon, I shall travel down to Tracy’s apartment to watch the Auburn/Alabama game with much revelry. She is ordering my favorite pizza and that is Papa John’s. I am very excited to be on my way in a moment.

Tuleana called me at 9 am this morning waking me up. I answered the phone with a sleepy hello. I was expecting my father and our grocery dilemma. We still haven’t bought my groceries for the week.

“Roll Tide,” she said loudly and obnoxiously.

“War Eagle,” I replied loudly and tersely in return.

There is no mistake that Auburn and Alabama football is one serious rivalry – the Iron Bowl as they call it.

She was at her mother’s house nearby and kept dropping hints that she wanted me to pick her up and bring her back to my house.

“I sure would like to see you Jon-Jon,” she kept saying by her pet name for me.

I told my father this morning that I think Tuleana has the hots for me. She calls me at least twice a day these days. I have done nothing to lead her on I promise. Dad replied that I would be her ticket out of poverty and that’s why she likes me so much.

“Let’s run real quick to the Piggly Wiggly and get your groceries,” he then said.

“Dad, I’ve only been up an hour and haven’t showered or shaved,” I replied.

“What do you have to eat?”

“4 packs of Ritz and cheese crackers and a jar of creamy peanut butter,” I told him. “I will be fine until tomorrow. Tracy is ordering an extra large pizza and cheese bread for the game.”

He grumbled some, but said okay. He was soon leaving for my sister’s house in Alexander City to watch the game and wouldn’t be home until late tonight. I have a mind to just go buy my groceries after the game and suffer the consequences. What can my father do except to berate me and I have a thick skin these days. It is all so silly in my opinion – this incessant need to keep me in control and to control my spending.