This Morning’s Cold Sunrise…

I got up early to see if we got our first frost and we didn’t. My grandfather always said that we get our first frost around the 13th of November.

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.

A Pooped Pups…

Maggie’s respite is the computer room bed. Maggie got groomed today and I dare say they did a fine job.

Yay! I Love Britcoms!

Tonight’s Wintery Sunset…

Maw Maw Cooks…

I coined the phrase Maw Maw Cooks and it has stuck. My father is just enamored with this amateur cooking show by an elderly lady named Jan. He found it accidentally on YouTube browsing cooking shows. He loves her simple recipes and also loves her attire. You can search for Dollar Tree Cook under YouTube to find her there. Here is one episode to view. I think this was her very first episode. She must be doing something right as she has 20,000 subscribers to her channel. She has this endearing quality that is hard to put a finger on.

Andrew Says, “Hello!”…

Microwave Delights…

I thought I would cook a Marie Calendar's meal and plate it up to make it look nice. Chicken medallions, cheesy baked potatoes, glazed carrots and green beans. This is my favorite Marie Calendar’s meal, but it is getting hard to find. They don’t always have it in stock at Kroger.

Tonight’s Pastel Sunset…

It started to pour rain just after I took this photo. Rainy night here in J-Ville. We get our first frost in the morning.

Grand Aspirations…

“You up, Chuck?” my father asked after calling me at 7:30 am. “Your brother is here and I am cooking a big breakfast. Come over and eat with us before you head into the Humane Society.”

Dad had cooked Clark Brother’s sausage – my favorite sausage in the whole wide world.

“This is a treat!” I told my father excited to fix my plate and eat breakfast.

He also cooked bacon, scrambled eggs, and homemade biscuits.

“I hate to run so soon after eating, but duty calls,” I told my father and brother.

I arrived at the Humane Society a little late and Tracy greeted me at the door.

“You scared me,” she said. “I thought you might have quit volunteering.”

She gave me a big hug and I went back to check on the dogs. Everybody was happy and barking today – glad to go out to the outside kennels so I could start my cleaning duties.

Tracy stepped back into the kennels to talk to me.

“Best friends forever?” she asked.

“Best friends forever,” I replied giving her another hug. “I will always be here if you need me.”

She was her bubbly and chipper self for the rest of the morning.

The Perils of a Work Place Romance…

Tracy and I were talking on the phone tonight and she was speaking of all these plans she had for us. I had to finally pull in the reigns.

“Things are moving much too fast,” I told her alarmingly. “We agreed to just remain friends.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone until she softly said, “Okay.”

“You know I will be your best friend forever and ever?” I replied. “You know that?”

“I know,” she said. “It’s all my fault. I just get carried away sometimes.”

“We still have to work together so no hard feelings?”

“No, you’re right. I’m sorry,” she told me sounding defeated.

It was one of the harder things I’ve had to do in recent memory. She sounded so brokenhearted. We said good night and Tracy said she wished she could give me a long hug goodbye.

“I’ll see you in the morning bright and early,” I told her. “We’ll talk more then.”

Most Emotional Music Ever: "Letting Go" by Tracey Chattaway

Time With Papa…

It is a Thursday. That means I drive over to my father’s house this morning after calling him and we spend some time together – mostly watching trashy TV. Dad particularly likes Maury these days.

He will still be in his pajamas and possibly eating breakfast when I arrive. Dad’s favored breakfast lately is homemade biscuits and grape jelly with a little butter added for good measure.

“Who’s my baby’s daddy?” he will say to me and then laugh and laugh.

We’ll migrate to Dr. Phil afterwards I am sure for some more serious fare.

I get to drink all the ice cold diet Cokes I want while I am over there. I usually only drink two, but they are delectable and delicious. If I bought them, I’d drink them all up in a day or two. This is my way of moderating my intake.

Andrew Almost Screwed Up Big Time…

We had bought my groceries and I needed gas after all my running around Opelika last night.

“Come on, we’ll do it now and then I will do my shopping,” Old Fuss and Feathers told me.

Dad insists on putting my gas on his Visa card.

I sped across the parking lot to Kroger’s gas station and swerved violently to the right to miss a light pole – tires screeching and everything. I just didn’t see it. My mirror barely tapped it and it didn’t do any damage except for just a little yellow paint that can be buffed off. I am just getting to where I can’t see to drive at night. My heart is still beating fast from that almost encounter which would have severely damaged my car. WHEW!

I spent a little more tonight at $59 dollars. I got a dual pack of JIF creamy peanut butter for $11 dollars and two $4.99 canisters of Mrs. Grissom’s chicken salad. A black lady remarked on my JIF purchase.

“Honey? You going to spend $11 on peanut butter?” she incredulously asked with a small child standing by her side.

“It’ll keep me from having to buy it again next week,” I replied. “And I save a dollar fifty.”

That’s what pushed my total up so high. No Jack of Speed trip tonight since I had to get gas. We left at 8:45 pm and I got back at half past nine. Forty five minutes was still a respectable time for driving to and fro and buying gas and groceries.

Earlier, Tuleana called me at eight. I got so excited when the phone rang thinking it was my father wanting to go early. What a let down! She just wanted to let me know she got her food stamps refilled and was all happy.

“I am happy for you too!” I told her.

She was putting out feelers to see if I could take them to buy groceries tomorrow. Out of gas was my excuse. They are persistent aren’t they? Tuleana doesn’t give up at all. That's the difference between a crazy person and a rational person.

A Good Time Was Had By All…

The date started auspiciously. 

“It’s not going to cost $100 dollars to eat at Jim Bobs!” my father exclaimed yesterday afternoon. “You two can eat for $20 dollars.”

“I just want enough cash in case I need it,” I told my father. “It will give me peace of mind. I promise to give you what is left.”

Dad reluctantly reached in his wallet and gave me five twenty dollar bills.

I arrived at Tracy’s apartment at seven sharp her time and knocked on the door. Tracy answered and welcomed me inside. Her apartment was so neat and not at all what I expected. House plants were everywhere,

“I am running late,” she said. “There is beer and Cokes in the fridge. Help yourself. I am going to finish putting on my makeup and then we will go.”

Of course, Tracy’s cat, Wheezy, parked herself in my lap just like my father’s cat always does. I’m always a cat magnet and I don’t even like cats. I was careful not to touch or rub my nose and eyes lest my allergies would act up.

Tracy stepped out of the bathroom and I was like WOW! She looked gorgeous all dressed up and with makeup on – not the same frumpy, t-shirt clad girl who works with me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

“You look ravishing darling,” I said playfully.

She giggled and acted shy.

We ate at Jim Bob’s and talked and talked. We were mesmerized with each revelation about each other.Then it came time for drinks. It was already getting close to ten my time and I was yawning. I don’t know what possessed me in picking such a late time to go.

“Tracy, I am going to have to pass on the drinks,” I said. “I am an old man and not used to these late nights out.”

It had been many years since I felt a woman’s embrace. I took her home and she gave me a long, heartfelt hug at the doorstep and we said goodbye.

“This is nice,” she said as we were in our embrace. “You sure you won’t come in and stay awhile?”

“I better head home,” I replied.

“See you in the morning,” Tracy told me excitedly.

“I will be there at nine my time,” I replied.

Duty Calls…

I woke up very early this morning in a panic that my injection was due.

“Is my injection this morning?” I asked my father over his cellphone.

He said he was shaving when I called.

“It is due next week,” Old Fuss and Feathers said looking at the appointment card. “I am glad you are being aware of it though.”

I hadn’t been out of the shower for ten minutes when Mrs. Barbara called.

“Will you come in and handle the front end while I go to the dentist?” she asked. “I’ve had a filling come out.”

“Sure,” I said. “I will be down there in thirty minutes.”

She didn’t want to leave Tracy all alone.

All Tracy talked about was going out tonight and how excited she is. I was on the verge to cancel it to be honest. I am a nervous wreck today. Tracy’s exuberance dulled my desire to cancel somewhat.

“Now, we are going out for drinks afterwards,” she said. “I know a Mexican restaurant and bar that makes a killer margarita and they don’t skimp on the tequila.”

“I will drink virgin margaritas since I am driving,” I replied.

This should prove very, very interesting seeing Tracy after she’s had a few drinks in her. I can see it heightening her bubbly personality.

Mrs. Barbara showed back up two hours later and I headed to the polls. I mostly voted a straight Democratic ticket hoping to send a message to Washington about the Trumpster. The only Republican I voted for was Kay Ivey, our governor. She’s like having your grandmother as governor of the state. She can be kind of a maverick with regards to her politics as well. She doesn’t always tow the Republican party line.   

I had a relative called Little Daddy who was always mean spirited and boastful. He’d get hopped up on pain pills and go on a mean streak. Dad always laughs when I say we have Little Daddy in the White House. It’s true! Trump acts just like Little Daddy. He’d be just as xenophobic and mean about all those “Mexicans” trying to enter our country as well.

Just As Friends…

Tracy asked me out for dinner today as soon as I had arrived at the shelter this morning. I was taking off my coat and hanging it on the coat rack when she asked. It was like she just couldn’t wait.anymore and had to urgently get it over with. She had made up her mind. It completely caught me off guard and by surprise. We’ve gotten pretty close lately, but I didn’t realize it was to that point in our relationship.

“It doesn’t have to be fancy,” she said. “We will grab a bite to eat at a place of your choice. I just want to spend some time with you and talk.”

“Tracy, I was a 20 year old man when you were born,” I replied. “A May to December relationship may not be the best of things right now. You’re also still reeling from the breakup with Michael.”

“It is just as friends, silly,” she said to me smiling broadly and giggling like a little school girl. “We’re not going to rush home and get in the bed afterwards and have wild sex.”

“Well, okay,” I said. “Just as friends.”

“Let’s go to Jim Bob’s in Opelika and get their wonderful chicken tenders,” I told Tracy.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Tracy replied. “Do you want to go tomorrow night? Or tonight?”

“Tomorrow would be fine. The weather is going to be iffy tonight. Let’s say I pick you up at 7 pm your time, Central time,” I said. “That will be 8 pm my time, Eastern time.”

For the rest of the day, Tracy’s and my heads were in the clouds. It was almost hard to concentrate on cleaning the kennels. It was so exciting to be going out with a friend. I’ve missed having a close comrade in my life. Tracy and I have grown closer and closer these past few months till we think we know everything about each other.

Look What the Cat Drug In…

Wait! I don’t have a cat! Charlie and Papa were extra early with supper tonight. Charlie came pulling up to the curb around 6:30 pm. It caught Maggie and I both off guard. Maggie put on a good show of affection once we realized Charlie’s car was here.

“The time change has gotten me all mixed up,” Charlie said. “Your daddy was ready to go so we just headed out early.”

Usually, they get here in between eight and nine.

“Maggie’s singing,” I told my father as he played the piano.

“You sing about Jesus, girl!” dad hollered at Maggie as he continued to play.

♫♫ Tell Me a Story About Jesus ♫♫

Maggie was just a howling away as my father played and sang a pious hymn.

Charlie was in my kitchen being a busybody gathering all my trash and empty mayonnaise jars. He also checked my heating and air filter to see if it needed changing.

“It will make your blower motor run hot and hard if you don’t change it regularly,” Charlie told me.

“I can’t believe you fixed that television,” dad said after he finished the hymn he was playing. “I’ve forgotten how good a picture it has.”

“I know,” I replied. “Doesn’t it look good? That’s the nicest television I have ever owned.”

I showed him the part I replaced and he told me to show it to Charlie as well.

“I told your brother yesterday that you could have made a good living doing that kind of thing,” my father told me.

Maggie and I were sad to see them go. The house goes from 90 miles an hour to dead quiet when they leave. It is as if the very essence of life is sucked out of my home. They both had meals to eat as well and we can’t forget Horsefly’s chicken tenders. That’s the whole reason we do this every Sunday morning and night.

Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now? (Video Version)

The Circle of Time…

Glittermom asked if I was adjusted to the time and I can frankly say, “Hell no!” I am all topsy turvy and upside down. It will get dark at 6ish here tonight.

I took my meds at noon in which the time change made them an hour later and I felt all woozy and nauseous. It was one hell of a head buzz being so late. I had to sit down and be still for an hour till the feeling passed. My body is like a well tuned clock as far as my medications are concerned. I can get away with taking them a little early, but late is a no no.

Charlie arrived at nine this morning with a breakfast of our usual sausage biscuits – the perfect time for me and my Magster. I had been up an hour amazingly mostly due to the time change.

“Is it ten or nine?” Charlie asked. “I am confused.”

I laughed and told Charlie the correct time.

“Oh dear,” Charlie replied. “This is going to send Horsefly into a fit and a stir. He will notice the change in bowling and cinema times.”

Just Throw It All To the Curb…

I guess they’re getting ready to rent out George's house again. George never came back and got his furniture. It is now all piled up at the road. The road vultures have begun to pick through it for the choice pieces. Maggie was not happy and has sat outside and barked for most of the day at these interlopers and perceived threats. After the movers left, I went into George’s yard and got his nice bedside tables for his bed. I will use them with my queen sized bed in the back bedroom. A memento of George of sorts. So I guess I am as bad as the road vultures.

Who Can It Be Now?

I drove over to my father’s house around 2pm which has become a tradition between us. We like to get together on Thursdays and Sundays and spend some time together – about all our busy schedules allow. Yes, I know it sounds amazing, but it is true and yes, he started to scrutinize my attire and I surprised him. I was dressed quite nicely.

“It is good to see you take some pride in yourself,” he told me.

I got Old Fuss and Feathers to look up that Men at Work video Who Can It Be Now? on YouTube and told him this was how my mother and I were about the front door and visitors.

“You’d have to be schizophrenic to really understand,” I told him with a laugh.

He loved it and laughed and laughed.

“I loved the Martian knocking on the door,” dad told me. “That would be very much akin to your grandmother visiting according to your late mother.”

Well Hallelujah!

It was a cliffhanger, but Auburn pulled off a win. I imagine my father is driving back from Auburn right now with a big smile on his face. At least, he will be in a chipper mood when I visit in the morning. I’ll say hallelujah again! My brother can also sleep well tonight. All the while, my Kentucky Wildcats are being eaten alive by the Bulldogs at the moment.

Saturdays are special to me for the cooking shows and British comedies that come on Georgia Public Broadcasting all day. I am fixing to take a nap so I can stay up late watching TV and my favorite foreign comedies. .

A Somber Duty…

My sister had a Somber Duty this morning. She cleaned my mother's closet of all her personal belongings. This January my mom will have been passed away two years. It is still hard to believe she's gone. I saw her before she died and she looked in bad shape. She was propped up on the couch looking pale with a bandage on her foot. She smiled and told me too have a good day. I hadn't been home an hour when my father called and said she had collapsed on the floor and died. I was stunned and didn't believe him thinking it was some sick joke. I wonder today what what have happened if I stopped while she was on the couch and asked her if she was okay. Did she need help?

"Momma sure had a lot of clothes," my sister said emerging from the closet.

"Did you find my gun?" I asked. "Dad hid my gun somewhere in mom's closet."

"You mean this?" my sister replied handing me a very heavy handgun bag.

Dad felt schizophrenia and guns didn't mix and rightly so. He took away my gun for my safety. I handed him the bag as he looked on approvingly.

I helped my sister put bag after bag of my mother’s clothes in her car. Next came the black bags of countless shoes. They and the clothes were to be given to charity.

Dad fed us. He cooked baked chicken breasts, green beans, summer squash, pickled beets, and biscuits. We all ate an early supper and then my sister and I headed to our respective homes. I’ve felt melancholy ever since.

We’re Up and Running…

Well, the television is fixed thank goodness. It turned out to be the power supply motherboard. It just wasn't sending voltage to the backlight inverter to light the backlights on the television. I was ecstatic when the TV came on. I even pumped my fists into the air. I called my father and gave him the good news right away.

“It is fixed!” I excitedly said.

“Good for you!” my father replied happily. “You have an ability that I just don’t possess being able to fix computers and electronics.”

“Dad? What did you pay for that TV new?” I then asked very curious hoping not to step on his feet..

“I paid about $400 dollars,” he replied.

SizzleBird - Memory

Let’s Talk Trashy TV and Other Things…

“Johnny, you watch the trashiest TV,” my mother once told my father and stormed out of the room to go read a book in her bedroom recliner.

Old Fuss and Feathers was watching Jerry Springer and quite enjoying himself.

“You know this is all scripted and these are actors, right?” I asked my father sitting in the chair next to him.

He told me not to spoil his fun while chairs were being thrown across the stage and the audience whooped.

Dad was watching Dr. Phil this morning which is a tamer version of Jerry Springer in my opinion. There was some crazy, dysfunctional family on making a fool of themselves on national television. These people are paid good money to come on the show and to also put on a good show. There were talks of polygraphs and dirty deeds. The show started to heat up and dad disengaged with me conversation wise as he was drawn into the conflict.

“Jerry Springer,” I told my father to his, “Huh?” “This is The Jerry Springer Show in a coat and tie gussied up to look like psychotherapy.”

Dad laughed and agreed. He loves this kind of TV, though. It agitates me for some reason. I squirmed in my seat ready to go home. You’d think my father had his fill of dysfunction with my schizophrenic mother when I was growing up. I was a grown man when my mother got on medications and started to get better. Within two weeks of taking Zyprexa she was a different person. I had to get to know my mother all over again – a much kinder, gentler woman.

The show ended with a lecture from Dr. Phil and no discernable resolution of problems and we migrated back to the Weather Channel. We had some potentially dangerous weather coming in. A cold front was draping south. This was more my speed. They showed the radar and the line of encroaching heavy rain was just miles away from my fair third world city. That was my cue to drive home. It started to pour rain as soon as I was unlocking my front door. That’s what you call in the nick of time.

Did I Take that Left Turn At Albuquerque?

So my package leaves Nashville Tuesday and takes a detour to Greenville, SC Wednesday. Now, it is “in transit” south to Atlanta. The next stop is Lagrange, GA about 45 minutes from Atlanta. Just up the road from me. Will it get here by tomorrow? I do hope so. I am ready to do some tinkering and repair work. I hope to see it “arrived at destination” aka Atlanta and “in transit” to Lagrange soon in time to head out with the morning trucks for delivery.

SizzleBird - Remind Me

SizzleBird - Morning Light

Don’t let the silly name fool you. SizzleBird is one fine musician. 

A Record Was Set Tonight…

Dad called me at 8:45pm sharp tonight. The time we had agreed on earlier in the afternoon.

“Hey Chuck! You ready to go?” he asked.

“I will meet you up there,” I replied impatiently.

I grabbed my keys off the key holder and headed to the car for the short three mile drive to Kroger.

I then did my shopping and was waiting on my father to walk into the store. I parked my cart at the front of the store and stood and waited.

“You ready to checkout sir? I can get you on six.” a little black lady said.

“I am waiting on somebody,” I replied. “Thank you, though.”

“Oh, okay,” she said. “Let me know when you are ready.”

“You were quick tonight!” Old Fuss and Feathers said surprised when he finally walked in.

I must’ve been waiting ten minutes.

We checked out. I loaded up my car and I was sitting back in front of this computer at 9:19pm. It took all of 30 minutes to drive to Kroger, do my shopping tonight and to unload and put away my groceries. I knew what I wanted. I got in and I got out. It would’ve been twenty minutes if not for the wait on my father to arrive.

Life’s Little Milestones…

I was very apprehensive at first this evening. I didn’t won’t to ruin my day ending in defeat. I had lost two more pounds and I was going to try on my “skinny” blue jeans or just known simply as skinny jeans. I pulled them on expecting to have to fight getting the button clasped and they fit! They are just a little tight, but they fit. I was like, “Woo Hoo!” and immediately called my father to share the joy and good times.

“I am so proud of you son!” Old Fuss and Feathers told me. “You have really worked hard to lose that weight.”

There were days I was so hungry I could eat Maggie and I out of house and home. I’ve ridden that bike religiously every evening as well and think that does the most good. If I can diet, then anybody can diet considering my addictive personality. The trick for me has not been keeping any binge foods in the house like Hostess powdered donuts and whole milk to wash them down with. I can eat a whole bag in one sitting easily and drink two glasses of fattening milk in the process.

Tonight, we grocery shop. I intend to stick with my plan of shaved turkey sandwiches, all natural applesauce (as a sweet treat), peanut butter, whole grain crackers, and the likes. All foods I won’t binge on.

This is My Four Leaf Clover…

My TV parts have shipped and are on the way. Don’t you just love shipping tracking numbers? My packages have left Nashville and are heading south. I call such prompt shipping good luck and they didn’t contact me and tell me a part was back ordered either. Yes, my good luck charm. Now, let’s get this big Samsung TV up and operating.

Where Art Thou, Rebecca?

Injection Time! Do you prefer coffee or tea with your injection?

It was downright cold this morning as I set out for Kamath Medical and the pharmacy. The temperature was 41° degrees according to my car. I was pleased I had donned my very warm suede leather jacket. I couldn’t see out the windows of my car worth a poot due to all the dew that had formed, though. It was a crap shoot traffic wise until my car got warmed up and the windows cleared. The morning sun was also just blinding as I drove.

I got nurse Tara again today. I leerily gave her my injection as I sat down to watch the process gritting my teeth along the way. Amazingly, she did fine this morning. I was worried for nothing. She insists on injecting me in my hip and not my buttock, though. That always worries me. I told Old Fuss and Feathers I can’t help it when I got back to the pharmacy. I am like my mother in a lot of ways. We’re both very literal and we follow the instructions.

“Where is my Rebecca?” I deftly asked Tara this morning.

“She’s got a doctor’s appointment,” she replied. “She will be back in the next two weeks.”

“Oh, okay,” I said. “I was just worried about her. She has been giving me this injection for ten years.”

“She’s been here a very long time,” Tara replied blithely.

“I had worriedly thought she had quit working here,” I told Tara.

Rebecca would get in touch with me, though, if that had happened. She would have at least called my father at the pharmacy.

SAMANTHA!

Old Fuss and Feathers sounded exhausted over the phone tonight. He had to work all day for 10 hours. I had to call him to tell him I wanted to go grocery shopping Wednesday night instead of tonight. I think he was relieved that we didn’t have to go. My injection is in the morning and I have enough on my plate at the moment. I feel a lot of anxiety about that tomorrow for some reason. Maybe it was the harrowing experience with my injection two weeks ago.

“I can’t find Samantha!” dad then said worriedly. “She always greets me on the porch when I get off of work.”

“Do you want me to drive over and help you find her?” I asked.

“No, but I will call you when she turns up,” Papa replied.

“Please do!” I told him.

Andrew to the Rescue…

Well, I took the initiative and drove over to my father’s house anyway to see if I could roust Samantha out from the woods next to his house. I thought a car coming down the driveway would pique her curiosity. She was sitting in the long back driveway when I arrived. I got out and put her in the car with me and drove on to my father’s house.

“There are people worried about you, you silly cat,” I told her.

I knocked on the back door with Miss Samantha in hand. Dad was just overjoyed at seeing her.

“Bad pussy!” he said as I handed her to him. “You are being a bad pussy!”

“Come in and get you a Coke and stay a little while,” Old Fuss and Feathers told me.

So I drank a delicious and crisp diet Coke and watched a lady make a scrumptious looking lemon and raspberry cheesecake on Food TV then I headed back to my humble home.

Tracy? Not All Chipper and Happy?

I’ve only seen Tracy in a bad mood one more time. That was the day she broke up with Michael and she was all teary eyed and sanguine.

“He called me last night saying he missed me,” Tracy told me as we were shooting the shit in the kennels. “I knew I shouldn’t have answered the phone.”

“Then he had the audacity to say it was my fault we broke up!” Tracy declared looking flabbergasted. “I scoffed loudly! He was the one sleeping around with all those women from Match.com. I am tempted to go get tested for venereal disease and HIV.”

“You’d be crazy to go back with Michael,” I told her carefully. “If he will do it once, he will do it again.”

“Oh, I am not going back with him. I kicked him to the curb!” Tracy replied adamantly. “All of his stuff is out of the apartment and he is living with his parents!”

I chuckled at the living with his parents part and told Tracy why I was chuckling. It was also the first smile I had seen out of Tracy all morning.

Are They Here Yet?

Maggie sat patiently in the window watching out for Charlie and Papa as I sat fiddling with my tablet computer tonight. Every car that drove by piqued Maggie’s interest and she sighed when it wasn’t them. Then there was this one peculiar looking car that pulled up to the curb, but didn’t turn its lights off. Could this be them?

“Papa and Charlie are here!!!” I decreed and Maggie went apeshit bananas jumping on and off the couch repetitively.

I walked out to the car to help them carry everything in careful to leave the screen door shut so Maggie could look out and see everything that was going on..

“Have we got a hungry dog?” Old Fuss and Feathers asked with a big grin as we walked across my front yard.

Maggie was barking fervently through the screen door like a mad dog.

“I got Maggie a big treat,” Old Fuss and Feathers told me. “She’s got a big box of chicken strips!”

I thanked dad for doing that for Maggie. Variety truly is the spice of life as I had written earlier in the day. I know she gets so tired of her dog food. Maggie ate the strips about as fast as I could put them on the floor.

We only had one SNAFU in that all the drinks were regular drinks and not diet. Charlie and them don’t drink sodas so they give them all to me. I drank one and poured the other three down the sink. It was just too tempting not to as I love a sugary soda and I could see me gorging myself on the rest of those sugary drinks.

CYA = Cover Your Ass…

I just ordered this part – a backlight power inverter for my television. It was just $12. That way if it is not the television’s power supply then this can be the only other part at fault. If this doesn’t work, then that means the bulbs are bad. The TV will have to be sadly junked.

I am so excited and can’t wait for the parts to get here. I am hoping I will install the power motherboard and things will work fine again. I can’t wait to press that power button and find out as the TV comes to life. Now, where am I going to put a television this big? Or am I counting my chickens before they hatch?