A Pleasant Morning to You, Sir…

“Charlie’s coming!” I exclaimed to Maggie this morning and she jumped up on the couch to look out the window.

It was almost 9am so I felt Charlie would along any moment now. About as soon as I turned around in my computer chair in the den, I heard Maggie yelp.

“Yes!” I said loudly as Maggie barked jubilantly. Tracy also went with me to meet Charlie at the door.

Charlie was holding three biscuits and two large diet Cokes in a drink caddy.

“Is that Maggie?” Charlie incredulously asked. “She looks like a different dog! I didn’t recognize her at first.”

You can actually see Maggie’s face and eyes now without all that hair around them.

A Sunday Good Morning and a Little Laptop Surgery…

I could’ve slept in this morning, but I was up at 8am. I feel like a million bucks. Going to bed early and waking early has made the biggest difference in my life lately. I feel so well and rested.

I never know when Charlie will be here with our Sunday breakfast. It is going on 9am now and he still hasn’t arrived. The earliest he usually arrives is around 8:20am. Tracy is lingering in the bed a little longer than I. (Time warp: Charlie arrived at 9:45am this Sunday)

Let’s Open it Up and Take a Look…

Tracy was complaining last night how slow her laptop has gotten. I don’t know how she stands it. It is slow as molasses, yet she still insists on using it. I ordered a kit from Newegg this morning to convert her laptop from a conventional hard drive to a 500 GB Samsung solid state drive (SSD). That will incredibly supercharge her laptop. The processor is only as fast as it can access data. It will be like a completely different computer. I also ordered enough Crucial sodimms (laptop RAM) to upgrade her memory from 8 GB to 16 GB. RAM is so cheap right now. Why not? That should help as well with no accessing the page file. I love this kind of stuff so it was right up my alley. I get all warm and fuzzy thinking about it.

Tornado Watch and Gale Force Winds Be Damned! Let There Be Sausage Biscuits!

“Is Charlie coming in weather like this?” Tracy asked me worriedly as we lay in the bed early this morning.

A good storm was raging outside our bedroom windows. Lightning brightly flashed and the thunder rolled loudly.

“I need to get up and put on some clothes on as he will be here soon,” I replied. “Yes, is the answer to your question.”

I by chance looked out the window and there was Charlie getting out of his car as he opened an umbrella. I smiled a broad smile as Maggie went bonkers at his arrival. I had boldly just told Maggie that Charlie would be here soon. She was vigilantly looking out the den window. The sausage biscuit fairy had arrived.

Blessings Bestowed Upon Us…

Tracy was telling me this morning we were spoiled when it comes to Charlie.

“He’s one in a million, isn’t he?” I agreed.

Charlie brought us breakfast this morning and then asked what we wanted for supper. I decided to get two large pepperoni Little Caesar’s pizzas tonight.

“Run that by dad, Charlie. I am sure he won’t mind,” I urged him.

Tracy didn’t believe me when I told her a Hot-N-Ready large pepperoni pizza only costs six dollars.

Somewhere down the rumor mill it got to Charlie that I needed some strawberry preserves. He handed me a large bottle of Smucker’s along with our biscuits and drinks.

“That must of been my father’s doings,” I told Tracy. “I told him I bought two bags of Mary B’s biscuits this week.”

We are supposed to have severe thunderstorms today so my eye is to the skies and on my computer’s radars. It was spitting rain when I left my father’s house a moment ago. Old Fuss and Feathers was watching political talk shows which are not my cup of tea. I only stayed a few moments – long enough to play with Samantha and her toys.

One Hundred Years Young…

Charlie was really, really early this morning and I just happened to be up at 8:30am on a Sunday morning. I never know when Charlie will arrive. The weather is more predictable. Maggie yelped loudly and I looked out the window to see Charlie walking across the front yard his hands full of food and drinks.

“My sister-in-law had her 100th birthday yesterday,” Charlie told me standing at my front door.

“Your sister-in-law?” I asked incredulously as I invited Charlie inside.

I forget Charlie had 13 brothers and sisters and he was the youngest.

“I drove down to Thomasville, Georgia for the celebrations,” Charlie said.

Thomasville is also the home of my father’s beloved cousin, Jean, and Charlie said he made it a point to see her as well.

Charlie handed me a handful of biscuits and drinks which I juggled before I could set them down atop the entertainment center. All the time, Maggie was barking very loudly and jubilantly. Charlie got on the couch as Maggie jumped up to greet him. Charlie just lavished Maggie with adulated attention.

“You realize you have been doing this four years and you have never missed once,” I told Charlie.

“Your daddy told me you told him the same thing last night,” Charlie replied with a chuckle. “Time flies!”

“Love you!” Charlie said, getting up to leave. “I have a senior coffee to deliver. Tell Tracy I love her as well.”

My girl with the curls and the curves. She stepped out of the bathroom about the time Charlie was leaving. Charlie gave her a hug and told her how ravishingly beautiful she looked this morning.

Andy? Did You Hear About this One?

I astutely put on some pajama bottoms and socks before I went to bed last night. I never know what time Charlie will be here in the morning so I was prepared. I hate going to the door in my underwear even though Charlie laughs. Charlie showed up at 9:11am and Tracy and I were still sound asleep. Maggie went bonkers at the knock on the door. Charlie even caught Maggie off guard.

“Oh shit! Charlie is here!” I exclaimed jumping out of the bed and heading to the front door.

Charlie had three sausage biscuits and two large diet drinks.

“Good morning, precious. How are you two love birds doing?” Charlie slyly asked.

I laughed and said we are doing fine.

Tracy ambled into the den in her pajamas. I was putting Maggie’s biscuit on the floor.

“Blink and it will be gone,” I said with a smile.

I showed Tracy the proper way to eat a sausage biscuit in the South as I put a liberal dollop of yellow mustard on my biscuit.

Fast Forward To Tonight…

“What time does Charlie and your father get here with supper?” Tracy asked me this evening.

“Between seven and nine,” I replied.

“I better get in the bathroom and put on some makeup and fix my hair,” she responded.

“You look fine, honey,” I told her fruitlessly.

I laughed thinking it was overkill, but it was important to Tracy.

Tracy is getting a box of that KFC Nashville hot chicken. I am getting a chicken sandwich and potato wedges, and Maggie is getting a box of chicken tenders.

A Seat at the Table…

“Come over for breakfast!” my father said early this morning. “I’ve saved a seat at the table for you.”

I rushed through a quick shower and headed to my father’s house. He had cooked Clark Brother’s sausage, scrambled eggs, and homemade biscuits. The adornments were sharp cheddar cheese slices and strawberry preserves. It was a real treat as you all know how much I adore a big breakfast.

About the time we finished eating, Charlie walked through the back door.

“I’m cutting your hair tomorrow night so get ready!” Charlie told me. “And don’t forget I’m bringing you and Ms. Maggie biscuits in the morning.”

He then fixed himself some biscuits with butter and strawberry preserves. Charlie has an insatiable sweet tooth.

“John, these biscuits are delicious!” I heard him say. 

Afterwards, we retired to the den to watch The Weather Channel. You know I love the weather and weather watching, but The Weather Channel bores me for some reason. I guess because they never show local weather much and only show the weather in someone else’s backyard. Usually, there is nothing more boring than someone else’s weather unless it is something like a hurricane.

“Are you tired of sausage biscuits already?” Charlie asked me abruptly as we sat in the den.

Charlie asked me this a few months ago and I gave him the same answer. I noticed dad turned his head to look for my reaction. I had complained earlier that Maggie and I were tired of sausage biscuits every Sunday.

“Maggie and I are just glad to get them,” I replied mostly honestly.

What could I say? I’d rather get sausage biscuits than nothing. I do love it when they get the order wrong and we get bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, though.  Nice surprises are the spice of life!

Good Food and Company was to be Had…

Charlie arrived at ten this morning. Oh, what a sight for sore eyes he was. I welcomed him inside, but he could only stay for a few minutes. Old Fuss and Feather’s senior coffee was getting cold. Dad says that McDonald’s senior coffee tastes better than the coffee he makes at home and thus he relishes it.

“Hey Maggie Lou,” Charlie said as he lavished praise upon the Magster.

Maggie wiggled joyously and barked repeatedly.

We were all happy souls this morning. Fine company and good food was to be had. Charlie asked me what I wanted for supper tonight and I told him to get me another $5 dollar fillup chicken sandwich meal.

“I didn’t know they even had a chicken sandwich meal deal,” Charlie said.

“I looked online at all the meals they offer,” I told Charlie. “I don’t know why I am so keen on chicken sandwiches right now.”

“I’ll bring you and Maggie some Chick-fil-A next week one night,” Charlie told me to my delight.

There was a time for goodbyes and Maggie and I stood at the screen door and waved Charlie off. Maggie stood and barked wanton goodbyes. Hell, I felt like barking myself. 

The Never Ending Day…

Have you ever had one of those days that you thought would never end? I had one today. It seems like I have been up for days. 11:30pm is about to arrive so my day is winding down. I got up too early for starters. I am listening to light classical music on music choice while Maggie grooms herself on the couch before going to bed. It is chilly in here, but I don’t want to turn up the heat before going to bed, So here I sit with a heavy jacket on in front of the den computer.

Charlie showed up with breakfast at ten this morning. McDonald’s completely screwed up our order. Maggie and I got egg McMuffins and I got a gigantic sweet tea to drink. I dearly missed my usual diet Coke. Beggars can’t be choosers, though.

I’ve had two sets of Logitech Z523 speakers to fail. I had another set fail this morning and I was so deflated and disappointed computer parts wise. I am having to use my monitor’s built in speakers on those two computers. Lackluster sound at best with no bass whatsoever. I don’t think I will be buying any Logitech speakers from now on. They make great mice and keyboards, but their speakers suck. I might try a set of Cyber Acoustic’s speakers next.

I just wanted a simple chicken sandwich tonight without Charlie making a special trip to McDonald’s to get it.

“Now, I don’t mind making an extra trip,” Charlie told me over the phone calling to see what I wanted.

“Just get me the KFC crunchy chicken sandwich $5 fillup meal,” I told him which was a mouthful of words.

I also got a chocolate chip cookie and some of those well done potato wedges KFC sells. They weren’t half bad. 

I waited until 7:30pm before telling Maggie Charlie and Papa were coming. She only had to hold vigil for an hour in the window. Here they came pulling up near my house about 8:30pm. Charlie parked way down almost in front of my neighbor’s house. I walked out to greet them while Maggie barked behind the screen door.

“Hell, why did you park way down here?” dad asked Charlie.

“Cause I can’t drive worth a shit, John!” Charlie exclaimed.

I couldn’t help but chuckle and welcomed them inside.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Love Has Many Faces…

I woke up in a panic. Had I overslept? I was just worn out from yesterday. Dogged tired. Charlie hadn’t arrived yet so that gave me some comfort. I looked at my cellphone and the time was 10 am. Whew!

“Maggie? Charlie’s coming!” I told my precious dog.

She got in the window on lookout. Charlie arrived at 10:30 am. Maggie started to yelp and whine loudly signifying he had arrived.

“Meals on wheels is running late this morning,” Charlie told me as he walked across my yard.

Maggie and I greeted him at the front door.

Charlie came inside after handing me two biscuits and a giant diet Coke. He got on the couch with Maggie who put on a grand show of affection. Maggie was feeling her oats this morning. She would playfully run around the den and jump back on the couch. Rinse and repeat. Charlie laughed and laughed.

“Look at her go,” Charlie said pleased.

It was going to be a busy morning. I had a date to meet dad at 11 am. If I don’t call him at 10:50 am he begins to worry and will call me instead.

Dad was enjoying his sausage biscuit and senior coffee when I arrived. Charlie just had left.

Politics and CNN was the viewing choice this morning. Trump (Little Daddy) has been really busy as of late. Politics bores me and I consider it a fool’s errand.

“You better sit out Thanksgiving this year,” my father told me. “There is going to be lots of champagne, beer, and wine. I’ll be sure to bring you and Maggie a big plate of food.”

I said okay a little bit disappointed. I always get left out on the holidays. It makes me think my father is embarrassed of me and that is his true motive for keeping me at home.

Hugs From Charlie…

Charlie's not a touchy, feely kind of guy so I was really rating to get a big hug from him today. He dropped off breakfast this morning and stepped inside to look at dad’s TV one more time.

“It’s amazing you can do that,” Charlie said. “We were going to throw it away and your daddy spent $499 on that 46 inch television. I went with him to get it. How much did the part cost to fix it?”

“The power motherboard was $44 dollars,” I told Charlie.

“How did you know what part was failing?” Charlie asked.

“Just simple intuition,” I replied. “I knew the backlights weren’t getting power.”

“Give me a hug and then I am headed to your daddy’s house,” Charlie then said.

Charlie then remarked on how much weight I have lost for which I blushed. Charlie gave Maggie a dog hug as well and he was on his way.

“Don’t spill the senior coffee,” I said jokingly as he stepped out my front door.

“I’ll try not to,” Charlie replied laughing. “Your daddy and that senior coffee!”

Maggie was anxious to get her biscuit so I tore it up in little pieces and gave it to her. She was a happy dog and then turned her attention to the sausage biscuit I was eating. Dog logic. Yours tastes better than mine.

Such a Much More Reasonable Time…

My good buddy Charlie didn’t show up until 10am this morning with breakfast. I was still in bed when Maggie’s proximity radar went off and loud barking ensued. She then realized it was Charlie and put on a grand show of affection.

“Put some clothes on,” Charlie said with a laugh. “You’re as immodest as your father.”

I answered the door in my gray skivvies and a white t-shirt.

“The next Sunday I will wear my red thong,” I quipped at Charlie.

“Oh hush!” Charlie said laughing some more.

Back to the business at hand.

“They were out of sausage so I got you and Maggie bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits,” Charlie told me.

I was inwardly yelling, “YES!” Variety is the spice of life, no?

Maggie and I ate our delicious breakfasts and then I headed over to my father’s house after a quick shower.

“You’ve got that homeless look going on,” Old Fuss and Feathers said letting me in the back door. “I wish you would throw those pants away.”

“Alright Hyacinth,” I said with a chuckle.

You know we have to keep up appearances around here. How dare I don the homeless look. I call it casual. 

“You also forgot to shave,” Old Fuss and Feathers said admonishing me some more.

“I came over just wanting to see you and I get the third degree,” I told Old Fuss and Feathers.

He was living up to his namesake today. Harumppff! I don’t pay any attention to that stuff, though. There are much bigger fish to fry in my book than to squabble over such trifles. He was glad to see me just the same.  .

DAD!!! CHARLIE IS COMING TOO EARLY!

Can you really complain having breakfast delivered to your door every Sunday? Sheesh, Charlie was here at eight this morning, though. Maggie woke me up loudly whining and barking at his arrival. Not much is going to escape Maggie’s proximity alarm. She is especially attuned to car doors shutting.

Once I am up, then there is no going back to bed for me. I can probably take a nap this afternoon fortunately. I knew I shouldn’t have stayed up so late playing computer games. I feel zonked and bleary eyed.

“Here’s your biscuits,” Charlie said hurriedly forcing them into my hand.

Then he handed me an extra large diet Coke. It was a frenzy of activity. Charlie was a man on a mission this morning.

“I don’t mean to wake you up so early, but Horsefly is ready for bed,” Charlie told me apologizing. “He dictates the schedule.”

I told Charlie thanks and good luck at getting my father up this time of the morning. Charlie had him a sausage biscuit and his coveted senior coffee.

“I’ll honk the horn till he comes to the door,” Charlie said and he was off in a flash.

I went ahead and called my father on the house phone which its rings can wake the dead warning him that Charlie was on the way.

“Good morning and shit!” is all he sleepily said when I told him what was going on and he got off the phone.

Creatures of the Night…

Charlie woke me up at 8am with breakfast this morning. I never know when he will get here. I was abruptly woken by a loud knock on the door and I sleepily opened the front door in my underwear and a t-shirt as Charlie handed me the goods. Maggie was going strong, though – so glad to see him. She was proud to get her sausage biscuit.

“Horsefly was ready for bed and I had to hurry,” Charlie told me.

Horsefly sleeps in the day and doesn’t venture forth until after nightfall. 

“Enjoy your biscuits,” Charlie said and he was gone in a flash.

I bet Charlie didn’t dare wake my father that early. I just arrived home from my father’s house and noticed he had fixed a strong pot of coffee – the house smelling wonderfully of roasted coffee beans. Boy, was he surly this morning. Auburn lost really badly last night – got the pants beat off of them by an unranked Mississippi State.

“We just won’t talk about it,” he told me when I sat down in the den meaning the Auburn game. 

“Looks like we may be getting a hurricane,” dad then said changing the subject.

“Today will be the last 90° degree day and then the daily temperatures fall progressively,” I told him. “I do think fall is on the way.”

Old Fuss and Feathers still rations out my cigarettes to me. I had to ask for an extra pack this morning as I had gotten behind. I normally only smoke one pack a day. He didn’t balk which I feared.

“I might smoke me a few today, too!” he jokingly told me and I laughed.

Cigarettes are prohibitively expensive these days and my father never complains about the cost. He’s good to me about that vice.

Dear Charlie, We Need You! Maggie Needs You!

Charlie was running really, really late this morning. Maggie can’t understand why he just doesn’t come.

“He’ll be here in a moment, sweetheart,” I kept telling her over her incessant whining and whimpering

I should have never told her Charlie was on the way at 9am. Charlie didn’t arrive until 10:30am.

“Charlie’s coming this morning,” were my famous last words as far as Maggie was concerned.

I called my father in the interim. The Auburn game had a three hour rain/thunderstorm delay. He didn’t get home till after 2am last night. It took seven hours to complete the game. Oh, for the love of football. I would have gone home during the delay and watched the rest of the game on the television.

Charlie finally arrived in his granddaughter’s car and this stymied Maggie.

“Who is this?” she seemed to say looking out the screen door with little fanfare.

It wasn’t until Charlie was walking across the yard did Maggie finally believe it was Charlie and she went just nuts.

“OMG! It’s Charlie!!!”

I have a date with my father in the next hour or so to hook up his Blu-ray player. He has an Auburn Blu-ray disc he wants to watch that my brother gave him and I bet he will watch it all day ad nauseum with the television’s volume turned up obnoxiously loud.