Hot or Cold -- Hungry Bellies Don't Mind...

It is always so good to see my special friend Charlie. Charlie brought me another Zaxby's chicken tender and hot wings combo platter on his way back from taking Horsefly to the movies yesterday evening.

"I am afraid it has grown quite cold," Charlie told me rolling his eyes. "Horsefly stayed in Zaxby's restroom for thirty minutes. I thought he would never come out."

"What was he doing?" I asked curiously amused.

"Oh hell, I don't know," Charlie replied.

I chuckled softly and smiled. Maggie was sitting on the couch next to Charlie and she kept licking her lips from the smell of that chicken tender platter. Maggie and I were just glad to get it.

"It is going to be raining in the morning," I told the ever weather clueless Charlie. "The weather is supposed to be nasty, wet, and cold."

"Horsefly has to have his sausage biscuit so you and Maggie are getting one, too!" Charlie told me.

"How did you get over the flu so quick?" Charlie then asked me. "I am still coughing and sniffling."

"Dad says all the nicotine I am imbibing from habitual smoking killed the virus," I replied with a laugh.

Charlie burst out into laughter as well.

He Shoots! He Scores!

Maggie started whining and yelping loudly from in the den. I looked up from my computer and Charlie was here. What a nice surprise. He was carrying a Zaxby's box as he walked across the yard. I hurried to the front door.

"I thought you could use some more chicken," Charlie said smiling with a laugh.

I would be a fool to complain about the chicken. Zaxby's tenders are 10X tastier than the KFC chicken strips and the Zaxby's sauce rocks!

"Your daddy said you shopped at the Piggly Wiggly last night," Charlie then told me. "I have never liked Kroger since they banned Horsefly from coming in and getting his shaving cream -- said he was scaring the customers. Janice and I shop at Givorn's."

Charlie wanted to check the filter on my heating and air. He wrote down the dimensions and was soon on his way again. Charlie's visits are fleeting, but much enjoyed.

"I'll be back in about an hour with you a new filter," Charlie said escaping through the front door.

Our Wild Weather...

If you can believe it, it got up to 68°F or about 19° degrees Celsius today. It was 43° degrees and raining when I was loading up my car with groceries last night. I wore shorts and a t-shirt to go get my cigarettes off my father's back porch. Samantha was on the back deck basking in the sun thoroughly enjoying this weather. Could I wish for a thundershower reminiscent of summer?

Yet Another Awesome Cavalry Arrival...

"I just know you wanted to go to the Auburn game, but you are stuck seeing about Horsefly and me," I told Charlie as he walked across my yard from the curb.

I hurried out to help him bring everything inside as Maggie barked from the grandstands. Maggie's like the greeter at Walmart.

"I don't think I have ever sat through a whole football game," Charlie said seriously.

"Andrew? And how are you?" Charlie asked as we took my medications.

"I am much better now that you are here," I told him with the utmost in honesty.

Charlie brought me a Zaxby's chicken finger dinner which was also what Horsefly had for lunch. He will have to eat KFC chicken strips once again down in Auburn after going to the cinema.

"How does Horsefly stay so slim?" I asked Charlie

"Bowling his ass off three nights a week," Charlie replied laughing. "He will be just soaking wet with sweat when he finishes. I always carry a clean towel when I leave the house."

The Malcontent Shoppers...

"What you spent for that ground chuck you bought was ridiculous," my father irritably told me as we walked out of Kroger. "I have a good mind for us to start shopping at Givorn's across the river."

Dad seemed to have this rain cloud hanging over his head tonight.

"Givorn's is also locally owned," I said as I added my two cents to the conversation. "Valerie Givorns graduated from high school with me."

I have no clue about meat prices and what is cheap and what is expensive. I rarely buy it unless I am making my spaghetti and meat sauce like I am this week. Two big packs of ground chuck were about $20 dollars tonight.

"Kroger is also always sold out of the things you want and Givorn's would have it," dad said as I started to load my car with groceries.

They didn't have any of my pies tonight, Vienna sausages, and Blue Plate mayonnaise. I had to buy Hellmann's mayonnaise which I grumbled about. It has a "twang" to it that disagrees with me.

"But do they stay open late?" I then asked my father.

"I think they close at 10 pm." my father replied eyeing my groceries closely. "And you also didn't get any of your Marie Callender meals as well."

"I am making enough spaghetti to last me six days," I explained to my father in my defense.

Dad told me he loved me as I finished up putting the last bag of groceries in my car. He told me he would see me sometime tomorrow before he headed to Alexander City for my nephews sporting event.

Living Without KFC...

Charlie and my father were running way late for our Sunday evening fast food routine, but I got a big surprise. Charlie and my father decided to go to Zaxby's tonight. I got a hot wings and chicken tender combo platter. The wings really weren't all that hot, but they were delicious none-the-less. I love my wings fiery hot. The only mar on the meal was that the celery looked like it had been around the block a few times.

The Man of the Manor Greets You...

Gracious extra miles and beyond... 

Mein Charlie brought my medications and all sorts of delicious goodies tonight.

"Andrew and Maggie, how are you?" Charlie asked with his arms full of stuff as he stepped through the door.

Maggie thought this was the best thing since sliced bread and I would agree with her if she could understand what I was saying.

Charlie also had my medications and it sure was about time for them being almost 10 PM. In an hour, I could relax or chillax before retiring to the bed. Computer time has already commenced.

"What have you got in the sacks?" I asked Charlie anxiously.

"I've got you a Zaxby's 6pc chicken tender plate and three leaded regular Coca-Colas," Charlie replied. "I also have your 6 diet Cokes for the evening."

Charlie then reached into his pocket and handed me a king sized Snickers bar which is my favorite candy bar and Charlie knows this. Charlie just spoils me rotten.

"Now, if you need me, then call me," Charlie said as he headed out the door. "I don't go to bed until midnight."

Into the Great Computer Unknown...

I have a hard drive failing and it holds all my music. It is starting to make a noise when it spools up to access data. Thus begins the hassle and rigmarole it takes to get computer parts around here.  I hate to tell my father as he is going to groan. He says I tear up my computers tinkering and fiddling with them.

It Is Just Not Time For the Bed Yet...

On a good note, I slept like a baby last night. I couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Ah Bless...

Maggie saw and heard Charlie pull up to the curb and alerted me promptly last night.

"He's here! He's here! Beta dog!" Maggie seemed to impart to me excitably.

I looked on my computer and the time was 11 PM -- an hour till midnight. The medications do not stop for anything. I then looked out the door's windows to see for myself. After confirming it was Charlie, I walked out in the yard to help Charlie get everything inside. He had brought me a Zaxby's chicken tender plate and some of his wife's, Janice's, potato salad which I so adore. There was also some pickled beets, two lonely biscuits, and green beans cooked Southern style with fatback.

"We're going tomorrow to get you some nicer clothes for the funeral," Charlie told me.

It is not what I wanted to hear, but it needs to be done. I also need some more dressy shoes as well.

Charlie was also keeper of the medications last night.. He made me count each one of my crazy meds before I swallowed them all down with a gulp.

"Do you still feel up to buying your groceries tomorrow?" Charlie asked me. "Give me a call tonight and we will go."

"It wouldn't take me but 15 minutes to do my shopping," I told Charlie to make the prospect a little easier and less taxing sounding.

Will Work For Food and Soda...

https://www.zaxbys.com/menu/

"The television is still working!" Charlie said with a yes as he stood in my doorway tonight.

Charlie had what I call my classic Cheshire grin. Ear to ear. He was ecstatic.

"Come on inside," I told Charlie very accommodatingly.

I had thought my father had arrived for a moment there and Maggie did as well.

"I can't stay long as Horsefly is at the bowling alley," Charlie told me regretfully.

I still cringe when I hear Charlie say he left Horsefly all alone bowling.

Charlie had also brought me a massive Coke and a Zaxby's chicken tender plate. Charlie then hugged me and went about his evening. It was probably time for Horsefly to eat his nightly chicken tender meal from KFC.

My father arrived at 9:30pm. We took my medications and then my father scurried back to the pharmacy. He was worried a prescription got filled wrong and it was slated to be delivered the next day.