Lost In Andrew Land...

"Do you have to work today?" I innocently asked my father this morning oblivious to what day it was.

"It is the 4th of July ding-head!" my father exclaimed as he chuckled. "I am cooking my famous barbecue chicken on a shovel at your sister's house."

Dad asked me if I wanted to go but I waved him off -- too much family for one day. I often wonder why I end up alone on holidays and it is my very own fault for the most part. They family always asks me to come and join in on the revelry.

"Charlies bringing you some lunch around noon," my father then told me figuring I wouldn't go as he expected.

Charlie was pretty much on time with two deliciously tasty grilled burgers, potato salad, potato chips, and a slice of coconut pie (almost like a custard pie). Charlie also brought a gallon of his fresh brewed iced tea which was a godsend since I am a little dehydrated today and don't won't to drink up all my milk.

Aw, Man! Those Confederates!

Lincoln At Gettysburg

I was in the land of very deep REM sleep when someone knocked on the door very, very early this morning. Maggie flew off the bed in a hurry to see who it was. She was growling as she ran. It caught the both of us off guard.

"Who is it?" I asked loudly as I walked into the den.

Maggie was now wagging her tail standing behind the front door.

"Happy Confederate Holiday!" a loud voice said on the other side of the door. It was Charlie and he had the day off. He had brought Maggie and me a sack of sausage biscuits. The Duchess just squealed with joy at the sound of Charlie's voice!

"Do you know why we went to war?" Charlie asked as he handed me the sack.

Charlie's great with antiques and not so much with history.

"States rights," I replied. "Lincoln later tacked on emancipation to bolster the war effort."

"I was going to say slavery," Charlie told me.

"Do you know where the war started?" I asked Charlie. "The first shots were fired at Fort Sumter South Carolina."

I used to love to sit in the bowels of Montevallo's huge library and read books about the Civil War.

I liked to have never gone back to sleep this morning.  I had stayed up to around 4:00 AM. I woke up at 4:00 PM after drifting back off again sometime around 10:00 AM. My eyes were burning I was so tired early this morning.

By the way, I just evoked the Auschwitz Mantra about all the sausage biscuits the Duchess and I have been getting lately. I would be quite happy to have it if I were eating gruel with boiled maggots in it.

Looking Ahead to the Holidays...

"Christmas parties are for extroverts," I told my father very carefully last night not wanting to offend anyone. "I am mostly an introvert these days."

"I understand those are hard for you," my father replied. "If you change you mind then you can ride with us to Auburn."

My feelings were that I felt guilty for not going. My mental heath comes first, though. I want to enjoy Christmas rather than being at some frou-frou party. Charlies having a Christmas party as well. Maybe I can get up the gumption to go to that party. It is more of a close-knit affair.

The Christmas Puzzle...

The last piece of the puzzle has been put in place for me as far as Christmas gifts go. I got Matt at the pharmacy to order the video card I have been wanting That's going to be my prized piece of Computer gear this year.

This is a Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 480. These cards got stellar reviews and at a very extremely competitive price ($250).

Honestly? I don't play many computer games these days, but I want to be ready if I decide to play them once again. I am pretty decidedly a retro-gamer now.

Nuzzles, My Nuzzles...

Maggie woke me up at 3:00 pm. I certainly had slept enough -- not meaning to sleep so long. She had sleep enough as well -- enough where she decided it was time for both of us to be awake. Maggie was very theatrical about the whole affair being so bold at to nuzzle my armpit with her moist and cold muzzle.

In the Christmas Spirit...

Maggie is supervising (sleeping on the couch) and I am slowly getting my Christmas tree up and decorated this morning. I am so very excited about Christmas this year.  The glass ornaments I bought at Fred's today are going up next. We will finish the tree off with some tinsel ala Fred's as well.

"I dread getting all the ornaments on our tree," my mother dourly said this morning with a very loud sigh. "I dread even more having to take them off and put them back in storage in the basement for another year."

"Mom! That is a terrible way to think about Christmas!" I replied trying to choke back a laugh. "It is supposed to be a labor of love."

Grinch anyone?

This was a collaboration of my father' s and mine. I would help him get up his gaudy 100 pound artificial tree from the basement and then we would drive and get my Christmas tree. I only needed a small tree for my den. The attendant at Ponder's didn't think we could get my tree in the back of my car, but we did as we do every year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Do You Make Some Really Good Potato Salad? Yes? Can We Be Friends?

http://www.simplypotatos.com/

Mein Charlie surprised me and just arrived spreading 4th of July tidings of great joy.  Charlie will stop by for a visit with food and gluttony will ensue.

Charlie brought me two of his signature grilled hamburgers and a large Tupperware bowl of Janice's potato salad.

"What is your secret about such great tasting burgers?" I asked Charlie.

"I marinate the ground chuck overnight in Lea and Perrin's Worcestershire sauce," Charlie replied.

In Other Words, I am Getting Old...

Do you remember the first vinyl album you ever bought? When I was a kid, we were in the shopping mall and I bought a Stevie Nicks album in the record store. Dad was so worried it was going to be a heavy metal album with lots of profanity. Stevie Nicks is about as innocuous as they come. Dad had to listen to the record before he would let me have it.

My second album I ever bought was Lionel Ritchie's album Back to Front.  I listened to that song All Night Long over and over until I almost wore away the needle of the record player.

The first cassette tape I ever bought was Micheal Jackson's Thriller album. Micheal Jackson sure was strange to put it lightly, but he sure could create some catchy tunes.

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Save a Burger for Me!

https://www.timeout.com

Mom and dad just left to drive to my sister's house in Alex City for their fourth of July celebrations. I was hoping to get my medications for they left, but my father said it was too early just yet. In other words, it wasn't very convenient for him. I know the game very well.

"We won't be very late. We are bringing you a couple of burgers and some of my German potato salad," my father told me.

I'd say that was a pretty good consolation prize. 

How in this Huge Old Galaxy Did We Happen to Meet?

Too bad they never look that tidy and delicious in real life -------------------------------->

I woke up at a very late for me 9:30 am and realized Charlie was coming this morning with breakfast.  I hurriedly dressed and put on a baseball cap to hide my Medusa-like hair.  I checked my front stoop to see if I missed Charlie and if he had put the food by the front door.

Charlie pulled up in front of my house at 10 am sharp as Maggie went nuts at his arrival.  He was running very late this morning. Now dressed, I hurried out to his car so he wouldn't have to walk all the way across my yard to my front door. Maggie barked excitedly from the other side of my screen door.

"Merry Damn Christmas," Charlie said sarcastically as he rolled down the window of his car. .

I started to choke back a laugh.

"How in this hell hole of a town did we happen to meet?" I replied sarcastically trying not to laugh so much.

I said it very, very sarcastically.

"Hell, I don't know," Charlie said with further sarcasm. "Here are your damn biscuits and a coke!"

"Love you and thank you!" I told Charlie now seriously and he pulled away from the curb after telling me he loved me back.

I was still smiling as I walked back into my house.  I am sure Charlie was smiling as well as he drove down my street to Mainstreet. Charlie had brought two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, a hashbrown, and an ex-large Coke.