The Quiet After a Snow Storm…

Dad was saying this morning that he was going to run off and marry a virile young woman and live it up for a change.

“if you do that, then I am going to marry Tuleana on the courthouse steps,” I replied. “We just have to come up with the $100 fee.”

Dad laughed nervously and cut his eyes towards me trying to discern my manner.

“I’ve turned over a new leaf about her now, dad,” I told him. “She is in a tough situation with that man living off her and her disability. She’s got a good heart. She’s just simple like a child. She deserves our kindness and not our disdain.”

“If she asks you again for a ride are you going to take them?” dad then asked me.

“I might. It all depends on my mood at that moment and state of mental health,” I replied. “I am certainly not carrying Richard to the pawnshop, though.”

Well, Tuleana’s been having bad chest pains. They had to be at the hospital at 6:30am yesterday morning to run some tests. She wanted me to come to the hospital with her, but I just wasn’t up to the task. She called me tonight ecstatically telling me she is okay.

“They believe I was just experiencing bad heartburn,” she told me.

“That’s good news!” I said sounding relieved.

“Can I tell you I love you?” Tuleana asked.

“Oh dear!” was what I was thinking.

She told me she loved me and got off the phone. Dad says I get in these messes because I am too kind for my own good.

Thanks! You’re Appreciated…

All of my readers are appreciated, but I just wanted to say thank you to those of you who inquired about me during my absence. It was nice coming back online and finding a few notes of good wishes! Thank you again!

Sandwich Night at Andrew’s Casa…

Maggie had been bugging me all day about something to eat other than dogfood. I got her some .59 cent packs of corned beef and roast beef tonight as a snack. I gave her one immediately after putting my groceries away and the whimpering and whining stopped. Yeah, Maggie plays me like a card, but she can sound so pitiful – as if she is starving to death. I noticed she had a full bowl of dogfood, though. Sucker!

“You okay, Chuck?” dad asked as we walked across Kroger’s parking lot with our carts.

I had been quiet all night and dad said I looked pale as a ghost.

“I feel as if I am going to jump out of my skin,” I told my father as we began to load up our groceries. “Just be glad you don’t have a mental illness. Getting out tonight was tough on me for some reason.”

“In a few short hours, you will be taking your main medications again. Get a good night’s sleep and you will feel better in the morning,” he told me without much more consolation. “Come over at eleven and drink you an ice cold diet Coke. That’ll make you feel better.” 

It is just one of those things I go through from time to time. I will feel better, like my father said, after a good night’s sleep. When I arrived home, I took my nightly dosages of Klonopin and Coreg and now feel much better as I write this – the anxiety abating some.

On the food front, I got all kinds of things to make delicious sandwiches from and spent only $62 dollars. I got some fresh baked dark Jewish rye from the deli that just looks delectable and smells heavenly. I also got all kinds of thin shaved meats. I splurged and bought a bottle of Grey Poupon spicy mustard as well. I love how it opens the sinuses when you eat it if you spread it on liberally. The last thing on my list was cheese and I stocked up on a mötley crüe from muenster to pepper jack.  

What’s a Prick or Two Between Friends?

“Andrew, you can come on back,” Rebecca said this morning as I sat anxiously in the lobby.

No sweeter words have ever graced these ears today. They are all so kind to me down at Kamath Medical. I was not very spritely this morning having woken up way before my usual time.

“You’ve still got a lot of congestion,” Rebecca said worriedly.

“And a nasty, hacking cough,” I added.

We talked for a long time about sleeping habits. Rebecca said she still hasn’t shaken the sleeping habits she has had since her children were babies.

“It seems I wake up every hour on the hour,” she told me. “I look at the clock and fall back asleep.”

“My usual habit is to watch Amanpour & Co. on public broadcasting at eleven and then put on classical music around midnight and I fall asleep around one after dozing off and on in my recliner for an hour,” I told her.

She gave me my injection and I was soon on my way back to the pharmacy. I felt exhausted just listening to Rebecca describe how she sleeps.

A Bountiful Monday…

My new video card arrived all the way from New Jersey yesterday. My UPS scenario played out just as foreseen. I plugged it in it’s slot last night, the PCIe x16 slot, and my main computer fired to life after connecting the two 8-pin power cables to the card. There is not a flicker to be found so that means the other card was indeed defective. Tracy also got that job at the small animal clinic. She reports to work for her first day next Wednesday. She was just giddy with glee over the phone last night.

Anxiously Hoping On Several Fronts…

Maybe my new video card will arrive today. My fingers are crossed and that would be the icing on the cake. It certainly is a needed distraction and gives me something to hope for. I will be overjoyed to see a UPS truck arrive at the house. The sound is unmistakable as the truck squeals to a stop and up comes the rear sliding door. Elation ensues as the UPS guy walks across the front yard to the front door. Maggie will be barking up a storm.

In other good news, Tracy might have a new job working at a local small animal clinic. I am awaiting a phone call any hour now telling me whether she got it or not. We’re both very excited as this is what she is going to school for. She won’t be a veterinary technician officially, but will be performing many of the same tasks. It will be great experience for her. She will have to give Mrs. Barbara two weeks notice, though – time for Mrs. Barbara to find someone to fill her position. She has worked at the Humane Society for 6 years so it is kind of a bittersweet ending. Mrs. Barbara agreed to give her a glowing recommendation to help move along the process.

I am feeling much, much better today. I almost feel my old self if it weren’t for a lot of chest and sinus congestion. I didn’t wake up until almost 11am, though. I stayed up late watching Pride and Prejudice on Georgia Public Broadcasting last night.  I believe that was a novel originally written by Jane Austen. Tracy would’ve liked to have viewed it as well.  

Skyrim Happenings…

A little street Urchin ran up to me in Skyrim this afternoon and asked for 5 gold coins for food.

“What happened to your parents?” I asked.

“Momma and Papa died and my aunt and uncle got the farm,” she said. “They cast me out to fend for myself saying I was too much trouble.” 

“I can adopt you if you would like that,” I then responded.

“Really?” the kid starting gushing thank yous.

I am now a cyber father of two former orphans in the game.

Living In the Land Down Under–Under My Covers…

Wow! Has it been five days since I wrote a blog post? I haven’t been this sick in years. I never catch colds or flus, but I think I caught a combination of the cold and the flu this time. I've had high fevers, chills, sore chest and arms, and my nose has ran like a leaky faucet. Dad has been under the weather as well catching it first and giving it to me. His wasn’t as virulent, though, thank goodness. Charlie has been trying to steer clear of us so he won’t get the crud even though Horsefly has been really sick as well. Dad and I both haven't seen him in a week until tonight. (I forgot that Charlie did indeed bring me breakfast this morning)

Tonight was our usual Sunday night KFC feeding. We all march ever onwards. I didn’t feel like eating anything, but got Charlie to bring me a chicken sandwich meal which Maggie ate sans dill pickles. It did Maggie’s heart good to see the dynamic duo tonight and she was really “talking” to them in earnest. I know Maggie has to have been wondering what’s wrong with me as I’ve been in the bed for days mainly lifelessly watching the television. It made me smile weakly when Maggie would whine and carry on when Tracy had pulled into the driveway all last week.

Miraculously, I went four days without a single cigarette and dad said I should’ve quit after all that. The mere thought of having one made me reel in disgust. Tracy colluded with my father about how we could stop me from starting back. Alas, I had a cigarette tonight and the room spun as the nicotine hit my long forlorn brain cells. It made me giddy with a certain drunkenness. My scalp even tingled.

Tracy, bless her dear most valued heart, has been by a dozen times this week bringing me medicine and food. I’d be six feet under if it weren’t for her. So far, she’s been lucky and hasn’t caught it. She brought me the best chicken noodle soup I believe I have ever eaten last week. She also made this hot, sweet spiced tea on the stove that was just delicious and so soothing to my mouth and throat.

I think I am on the mend. At least, I hope so. I am tired of laying in the bed for one thing. Tonight was the first night on the computer in many days and I played Skyrim for a few hours so I must be feeling better. I splurged and bought a home in the game for 5000 gold Septlms and adopted a child so I am a cyber father now. I can adopt one more if I can catch a little Urchin begging on the streets of Whiterun – the city I call home.

He Shoots! He Scores!

Dad was to leave out some medications for me this morning for a cold I feel coming on. I drove over to his house and they were in between the screen door and his back door. I called him when I got home to thank him. He is at work today. It is a major feat for him to remember to put them out.

“When are you going to order your parts for January?” he asked me after all the pleasantries and thank yous. “We are halfway through the month.”

“I thought January and February are paying for Tracy’s Christmas watch,” I replied.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” he replied. “I paid for Tracy’s watch. Email Matt what you want to get and I will see you in the morning at our usual time to take Maggie to the Vet.”

We got off the phone and I did a little air guitar and hollered a hearty YES! It startled Maggie. Sometimes my father’s generosity can catch me off guard and surprise me. I emailed Matt a full tower computer case I have been wanting for ages at $89.99. It comes Tom’s Hardware recommended just like my video card which got glowing reviews. It is the Rosewill Nighthawk 117 (link opens in a new window).

Mwahahaha…The Kroger Bandito Rides Again…

“I’m warning you ahead of time,” I told my father as he pushed his cart in front of me. “I bet I spent $90 dollars, but I was out of everything.”

“That’s okay,” he said which surprised me. “You are a few days behind anyway.”

I guessed it pretty correctly. I spent $89.99. Dad didn’t even flinch. You can’t get any closer than that!

I am trying to eat more meal like nutrition instead of just snacking around the clock or grazing as dad likes to call it. I am trying hamburger and tuna helper for the first time in many years. I am also making lots of rice dishes like chicken, cheddar, broccoli, and rice. I also had to remind dad that I am feeding more than just little ole me. I am feeding Tracy as well.

Well, I got home and unloaded my groceries and I couldn’t find the thank you card I had bought for my sister. I wanted to thank her for the wonderful clothes she bought me for Christmas. Much diligence was taken in finding the right card. I tried to call my father and catch him before he left Kroger from doing his shopping, but he wasn’t answering his phone.

“I am going to drive back up there and look in the cart,” I told Maggie as I headed out the door to the car.

There it was sweet baby jeebus. In the cart as I had pushed it into the bin. I was so relieved. It was so inconspicuous that it wouldn’t be stolen easily. I snatched it out of the cart as the cart boy looked on quizzically and hurried home. 

Evil Lurks Around Every Corner…

And Maggie is the shining light of truth and justice. Yes, the meter reader is in the neighborhood. Maggie’s arch nemesis. Maggie has this uncanny second sense about his arrival. She just ran outside barking viciously. The meter reader’s car is parked just down the street as he makes his rounds from house to house.

“Maggie! Come inside!” I hollered out the back door hoping to shut the dog door to avoid any mishaps.

This just emboldened Maggie to bark louder and even more viciously.

“I am just protecting us, Andrew,” she seems to impart.  “How dare he defile our back yard with his presence.”

Must Do’s This Week…

I have got to get Maggie to the Veterinarian and I need my father’s help. He is going to have to drive while I hold her in my lap. Her yeast infection on her chest is starting to return and she has been accursed with another ear infection. This is imperative! This is where I wholeheartedly miss my mother as she was a mover and a shaker when it comes to these kinds of things. We would be out there tomorrow afternoon for sure.

“What have you been feeding this dog?” I know Dr. Jerry is going to ask.

“We can drop her off and leave her overnight,” my father said. “And then you can pick her up when she is ready the next day.”

Dad’s and my car both need washing something terribly (something I usually do myself) after that week of rain that graced us. Dad said he is planning on doing all of this Wednesday. He has continuing education in Columbus all day Thursday. I pray we can get it all done.

We have also been seeing commercials for Rain-X wiper blades for our cars as well. We both want them on our cars so maybe we can swing by AutoZone or Advance Auto Wednesday as well. This may be pushing my luck.

Testy Around Here Tonight…

Tracy is still laughing after my father and Charlie have just left. The dynamic duo were in fine form tonight. Dad had been drinking wine again and was acting all silly and absentminded.

“Thank you for that set of pliers you gave me for Christmas,” my father told Charlie as we commiserated in the den.

He was sitting next to Tracy on the couch with Maggie joyously in between them perched like a queen. Charlie was sitting in my recliner. I was sitting at the computer as I just had to play that Iris Dement song on YouTube that dad so loves. I have to play it so often I have it on my bookmarks bar in my browser.

“Dammit John! I gave you a set of screwdrivers for Christmas!” Charlie barked.

I had to choke back a hearty laugh. Tracy just looked me with one of her beautiful smiles trying not to laugh.

“They act like they are married,” Tracy said giggling after they had left.

I laughed and agreed.

“They are more like brothers than anything,” I told Tracy to set the record straight.

Tracy got KFC tonight as well. She got what I got and that was the Colonel’s crunchy chicken sandwich fillup. I got to eat her chocolate chip cookie which Maggie eyed enviously.

In all the hoopla, we had forgotten to get Maggie something to eat. She started to whine something pitifully after things had quieted down. I had grilled some kielbasas earlier in the day and warmed her some up in the microwave. She was one happy dog after that. Just short of dog heaven.

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. 

Throwing Down My Gauntlets…

I keep every box my computer parts ever came in. Luckily, I still had the box to my Christmas video card. I drove down to the pharmacy this morning and Matt printed me out an invoice of that sale. It was in my good fortune that the card had a 3 year parts and labor warranty.

Next was corresponding with Newegg to get this video card sent back. I just can’t live without FreeSync functionality (it makes my games smooth as butter) and we paid $500 for this video card. It should work as advertised. The RMA was set up and I went about getting my card in packaging to mail back to Newegg. The process was much easier than I initially thought with much relief on my part. So, hopefully my next card won’t have the issues this one did. I am also going to be without my main computer for at least a week, though. I will mail my package off Monday with insurance applied and hope for the best. 

Me? Him? Same Room?

I am fixing to head to my father’s house for another round of diet Cokes, television, laughter, and banter. It is strange how much we’ve changed. We used to couldn’t stand to be in the same room with each other. Now, we seek out each other’s company. Dad and I have come a long way. I relish these times with him while he is still in good health and of a good mind. I hope nothing changes for many years to come.

Hanging With Pops...

I spent the morning with my father. He drank coffee while I drank diet Coke. We watched TV and remenisced about my mother. The two year anniversary of her death is soon approaching.

Mom could do all kinds of crazy stunts as I was growing up. Dad and I talked and laughed at great lengths at some of her more well known antics. One of dad's favorite stories involves me, mom and dad going to the psychologist together. I was just a small child. The psychologist had me draw a picture of what I felt my role in the family was. I drew mom and dad at normal size and I was this little dot at the bottom of the page. Mom exclaimed that her hair didn't look that bad, did it? Totally missing the point of the drawing which was intended to show how small I felt in the family. I was too small to remember it, but dad says that’s what happened. He loves for me to draw that picture for my other siblings.

Next came on a Colon-eze commercial to test for colon cancer. We both agreed mom would jump on that opportunity.

“Your mother wouldn’t send them a little bit of shit, but two pounds of shit to make sure they had enough to test with,” my father said laughing.

Tales of Computer Woes…

First, my new Christmas video card has started to flicker while I am browsing the web or playing music. Flick, flick, flicker. It doesn’t do it when I am in a game, thankfully, but it is aggravating to say the least. It just does it in a 2D setting. I’ve tried everything including reseating the card, changing display port cables, and trying it in my den computer. I get the same results. The only thing I haven’t tried is a HDMI connection, but I would lose FreeSync functionality. I guess I am going to have to get a return merchandise authorization from Newegg which will be no easy task as the card was ordered under my father’s account. I will just have to get the invoice and explain to Newegg it was a Christmas gift. Oh, I hate to go through all of that including shipping the card back. Whine. Whine. Whine.

Secondly, the kitchen computer is on a wireless internet connection. I normally get about 400 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up. This morning, it would only hover around 70 Mbps down with lots and lots of jitter. I’ve tried everything to fix it including different and older drivers, moving around the antenna, etc. I get the same results. I guess I will have to order another wireless adapter card to fix it – one in which I will get even much faster speeds hopefully (think AC1900 speeds).

This is all on top of two Logitech 2.1 speaker sets failing. I am having a serious bit of bad luck here at Andrew’s Casa computer wise after smooth sailing for years. I guess if these are my only problems then I am lucky. All of this can be rectified and the den computer is working like a champ so I have a surefire way to blog, knock on wood.

There’s a Pimple On Me Bum…

Ah, injection time – a time where I get to commiserate with my favorite nurse in the whole wide world. I didn’t go to bed until 1am, but somehow miraculously woke up at 8am this morning. I called dad and let him know I was up and going.

“I’ll see you at the pharmacy at nine,” I told him.

“Good deal, Chuck,” he replied and we got off the phone.

I rousted Tracy from the bed after a fitful sleep and told her I was sorry but I didn’t have time to fix breakfast this morning.

“There are some strawberry Poptarts in the kitchen cabinet,” I told her. “And cinnamon rolls in the breadbox.”

I took a really quick shower and then she soon followed behind me. She had to be at work at 9am my time.

My injection went without any problems or mishaps for the most part. I sat in the lobby for far longer than usual and I could feel those old panic attack feelings creeping in. Kamath Medical was busy this morning and the parking lot was full. I was nervous for some reason. I guess there were too many needy sick people sitting with me – people who also didn’t want to wait long for the doctor or a nurse. I must’ve taken precedence as Rebecca called me back before any of the others. Most likely Dr. Kamath was running late after morning rounds at the hospital. I only needed an injection – something a nurse could handle.

Ah, small talk – a thing that used to mystify me. I get better and better at the craft. I knew to ask about Rebecca’s children’s Christmas and how it was.

“It is truly magical to kids,” Rebecca told me of Christmas. “They had a blast. It was a Lego themed Christmas this year.”

I told Rebecca that I, too, loved Legos when I was a kid. They weren’t as fancy then, though. I would have loved Star Wars Legos.

Trains and Mr. Winkle…

Tracy told me tonight that the most boring thing for her would be to sit on a cold bench all morning and wait for and watch trains pass.

“What do you get out of it?” Tracy asked mystified.

“I’ve always been fascinated with trains ever since I was a little boy,” I told her in justification.

I am enjoying my extra time away from volunteering and spent the morning looking at trains in downtown West Point. I told Tracy just to look in the computer room at my massive collection of Trains, Railroad Model Craftsman and Model Railroader magazines. I told her I was a dedicated fan.

“I’ve actually worn out Model Railroaders I’ve perused them so much,” I told Tracy. “They would fall apart.”

“Does that explain the stack of Model Railroaders in the bathroom?” she asked.

I laughed and said yes.

“I will read on the toilet until my legs go numb and I can’t get up.”

Tracy laughed, sighed and rolled her eyes.

Well, I came home from rail fanning to take a very long nap and slept until about time for Tracy to get here which meant pretty much all day. We had beefy tacos tonight – something easy to fix and they were delicious. I don’t care much for Mexican seasonings used in those taco seasoning packs. I fixed my savory beef filling with a bottle of A1 sauce and Tracy really liked it. You have to boil the ground chuck for a good thirty minutes to get it good and tender after adding a medium sized bottle of A1 and a good dash of salt.

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.

An A For Effort…

“Your body is here, but I think you left your mind at home,” dad told me tonight chuckling as we stood in line at Kroger.

“When you called me, Maggie and I were sound asleep on the couch!” I exclaimed. “I didn’t think we would grocery shop until Monday night!”

Dad also remarked on the Hebrew National franks I had in my cart.

“I like just a regular hotdog myself,” he said. “The cheap kind. Those Hebrew Nationals are too Frou Frou.”

I balked, telling him how delicious Hebrew National franks were.

“Get me some diced onions and meaty chili and I am in heaven!”

I cringed when the final tally was told. I had spent over $80 dollars again. Dad just shrugged and said he was glad I was getting enough food. I thanked him for being so kind.

“A few weeks there you only got $40 dollars worth and it worried me,” he said.

I really was in la-la land tonight. When I got home and started to unload my groceries, I left my car’s stereo playing so I could listen to it while I brought my groceries inside. I had backed up in the front yard to the front door. When I finished, I couldn’t figure out why the key wouldn’t come out of the ignition. I had turned off the car with it still in reverse. Duh! I put the car in park and out came the key.

Pigs in a Blanket…

I got a neat surprise around noon. Dad had stopped by Donut Delights and got him, Maggie and I pigs in a blanket and cinnamon buns. The were freshly baked and supremely delicious. Maggie liked it more than the rest of us. She knew when I walked into my house with a bag of things that there was something to eat in it. I put hers on the floor and it took her a few minutes of sniffing and posturing for her to eat it. This was certainly a new food for her. She didn’t quite know what to make of it. Dad also had to run by the funeral home this morning. Charlie’s brother-in-law had passed away. If I would have known ahead of time, I would’ve went as well. Dad said he was a hard drinking and heavy smoking man who lived well past what Charlie’s family had assumed.

Rest Well Dear Soul…

Dad showed me a picture of mom, him, Dr. Kamath, and his wife today. Mom looked so pretty in it. I often find myself thinking of my mother these days. I always thought mom would easily outlive my father. Alas, she was taken too soon.

Our trip to Clark Brother’s yesterday was fruitful. I spent about $40 on cheese and sausage. I also got some really lean ground chuck. Dad was the big spender and spent over $100 on steaks, sausage, and center cut pork chops. We will be grilling out this weekend. I can never tire of eating things grilled over charcoal. I am sure Charlie and family will join us.

I took care of Tracy’s birthday today. I drove to Walmart and got her a Blu-ray player and three movies I thought she would like – real chick flicks. When I leave Walmart, I always realize what a nervous wreck I am. All the commotion and noise gets to me. It is stimulation overload. I should have just bought it online and had it shipped to me. I sat in the car composing myself for a good 10 minutes before driving home.

Dad goes, “I wish someone would buy me a Blu-ray player,” this afternoon.

“You have a Blu-ray player you big dummy,” I said back laughing. “My brother bought you one.”

“I thought it was just a DVD player,” he replied saving face.

I am getting something really boring to most for my birthday in April (thrills me!). An 8 Terabyte Seagate Barracuda hard drive for my gaming computer. I hope to be able to back up all my data and games to it.

The Handcuff Dilemma…

Dad and I were talking this morning about Horsefly and when he had a fetish for handcuffs.

“Your son has that retarded boy handcuffed to the back fence,” Irene Crouch called my father from across the street.

She was our nosey elderly neighbor and sounded irate. Well, Horsefly was laughing up a storm and loving every minute of it.

“He likes it,” dad told Irene. “He has a thing for handcuffs and being handcuffed to things.”

One time we handcuffed Horsefly to our bike and lost the key. All pandemonium ensued. Jimmy James, Charlie’s nephew, had to come gingerly cut Horsefly free with a grinder. Horsefly loved it and laughed the whole time. Dad laughed and laughed as well as we reminisced about that moment this morning.

Clark Brother’s Meats…

As soon as I can get it together, Dad and I are driving up to Clark Brother’s Meats in Roanoke, Alabama to pick up some of their wonderful sausage and their delectable hoop cheddar cheese. Dad’s also getting his hair cut this morning as well. They use only animals and products they have raised on their own land. Dad also hopes to pick up some ribeye or t-bone steaks to grill if they have some that are pretty and marbled. I told him the butchers can cut him some steaks to order.  Dad’s never been and doesn’t know how to get there. I have taken my great aunt many times as it is her favorite place to “shop”. She calls it the “meat house” which always sounds like some kind of porno flick to me.

A Visit Extraordinaire…

I was sitting at this computer when Maggie started whining jubilantly. That could only mean one of three things – that Charlie, Tracy, or my father had arrived. It was Charlie and he was a sight for sore eyes.

“What are you two doing?” Charlie said as he handed me a McDonald’s bag. “You said you liked those chicken sandwiches the other night so I went and got two more for you and Maggie.”

“Well, thank you!” I exclaimed excitedly.

Charlie wanted to see all my many Christmas gifts. I invited him into the back bedroom to show him all the clothes I got.

“I liked the two shirts you got me,” I told Charlie. “They are so soft. They feel like silk.”

“I thought they would make good sleeping shirts thus the short sleeves,” Charlie replied.

Then I took the cover off the side of the computer and showed Charlie my main gift – my Vega 64 video card.

“I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, but it sounds wonderful,” Charlie told me laughing.

Charlie didn’t stay long.

“Eat your chicken sandwiches while they are still hot,” Charlie said as he was heading out the front door.

Maggie gave him a good sendoff then she was ready to eat. She has become to associate Charlie with food these days. I pulled off the dill pickles and put her sandwich on the floor. I blinked and it was gone. Maggie had wolfed it down.

Cold, Dark, and Dreary…

We have been beseeched with the worst weather lately. It will soon have rained for a whole week. They say we shall see the sun again on Friday – when all of this gloom clears out.

Busy, Busy, Busy…

New Year’s Day started off auspiciously with my gal by my side. Noon rolled around and we were grilling burgers. I used Charlie’s recipe for hamburger patties and it was delicious. The weather held off thankfully. It is almost midnight and Tracy just has left for home. In my free time, I am totally absorbed by a video game called Skyrim and play it when I can. I started over this time and the only cheat I used was to give me 5000 starting gold to buy decent armor and weapons to start the game. This makes me neglect the blog. I hope to get back to writing in earnest soon. Oh, the Prilosec completely knocked out my heartburn. I can eat and drink what I like now. It has made a wonderful difference.

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.