"Letters to Miss Emily..."

[backhoe]

Cheap thrills at several levels...

My cell phone beeped before lunch- WTH? It's text message from Amazon saying my package is out for delivery. Geez, the new stuff constantly amazes me.

I cleaned the gas lanterns, sloshed & drained fuel to clean the tanks- went to start digging rocks and there is a bed of fresh ants in them. A standing joke with Emily was how she always drew bugs- if there was one antbed in the yard, that's where she'd inadvertently stop, and get bitten.

The mailman pulled up- with the box from Amazon, an offer to insure me when I'm too decrepit to care for myself ( gee, thanks, SOB's... ) and the financial statement.

I opened that first and it's down $4,000- and part of that is $2,300 expenses, so it is not nearly as bad as it could be. Still, I have to cut more ( Can't think of a thing, damn it... ) or get more money coming in.

The inverter looks fine but of course I need to check it before making a gift of it. Connect the lighter plug, plug it in to 12VDC in the Zook, and plug in a trouble light- no light-- WTH again.

With visions of the hassle of returning defective merchandise I go and grab a clampon light from my saw table-- and I notice movement in the CFL-- OMG, it's a nest of pygmy wasps. I set it down fast, get hornet spray, and poison the little devils.

I got another light from the house and plugged it in to the inverter, and it lights.

OK, good so far, now I need a carry bag. Naturally the small mechanic's toolbags ( I have several ) are nowhere to be seen. Checking upstairs, there are several small handbags Emily sure won't be using, and they aren't worth much in a sale, so I get one and the inverter and it's accessories are a good fit.

Time to give MaryAnn a buzz and see when I can deliver it.

-30-

[backhoe]

Well, now- Miss MaryAnn's voicemail box is full, so I sent an email. I hope this does not mean creditors, lawyers, and other assorted bad guys are nipping at her heels.

[backhoe]

http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=146961&p=1643802#p1643802

"Grab Your 'Murse,' Pack a 'Mankini' And Don't Forget the..."

I'll be back with other pithiness shortly. Jesus on a crutch, the world is losing its mind...

[Edward Kennedy]

The world has lost it's mind, lieberals and socialists are steering the direction of travel and are heading for a cliff.

[backhoe]

That Titanic analogy I wrote a while back?

The world has lost it's mind, lieberals and socialists are steering the direction of travel and are heading for a cliff.

"Who is in charge of the clattering train?
The axles creak and the couplings strain
and the pace is hot
and the points are near
for Sleep has deadened the Driver's ear
and the signal flash through the night in vain
for Death is In Charge
of the Clattering Train..."

It featured “the telegraphs in an empty wheelhouse are rung 'ahead emergency,'” and there was some chatter between me & JB about engine telegraphs...

Let me expand on the theme a little more:

The 21st century Titanic--

The sea is like glass and the iceberg lies dead ahead...

Up in the wheelhouse, it's empty- the telegraphs are rung Ahead Emergency and the wheel is lashed down.

Down in the engine rooms the governors have been disabled and the great quadruple expansion engines are running so fast they are about to leap out of their beds... and the engineering crew is gone.

They are all forward in the boiler rooms, helping the stokers pour more fuel- including the furniture-- into the fireboxes...

Meanwhile, up in The Grand Salon the crowd is mesmerized as Soros ( just one of many ) grinds his organ and the Bamster dances...

( Yes, I'm saying Little Barry is an organ grinder's monkey- I denounce Mah'Sef'! RAAACIST! And you should, too- it's very liberating... )

-30-

[backhoe]

While I wasn't looking, I see this happened:

230014 views

The first thirty thousand simply amazed me, that so many people I've never laid eyes upon would be interested in, and follow me on, this strangest journey into a new life near the end of mine own.

As the views and words and miles and months rolled on I wrote my simple and honest words here-- I always speak without fear or favor to any, or I keep my mouth shut- yes, I am that simplistic- Keep It Simple, Stupid...

I'll write as long as I find words and Free Dominion endures.

Beyond that I can't promise a thing- but I'm grateful for my generous hosts, and you who follow me, and The Kid, into this strangest trip of all...

[Edward Kennedy]

Life is exciting, things happen all the time, both good and bad...

[backhoe]

Life is exciting, things happen all the time, both good and bad...

http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/sons-of-the-pioneers/tumbling-tumbleweeds-13413.html

"...I know when night has gone
That a new world's born at ( the ) dawn.

I'll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

[backhoe]

Odds & Ends...

Yesterday while I was screwing around waiting for that inverter and financial stuff I busied myself building and all-in-one adjuster tool for the two electric chainsaws.

I took an oddball 7/16th socket I felt like I could do without, and old screwdriver worth sacrificing, welded them together and ground them down so they'd fit a nylon wire tie that has a hole for extra wire. Then mounted that assembly on the bigger saw. No more hunting sockets & drivers.

Today I built a wooden plate with various hooks & hangers so I can hang lanterns & sundry things from one of the kitchen cabinets. Just to make it neater looking.

I found yet another pygmy wasp nest in another light over the radial arm saw and sent them to Valhalla in the cool morning when they are sluggish.

I heard back from MaryAnn and as I expected, she's been through the wringer with that bank meeting. She'll have to sacrifice a couple of pieces of property and the big office building, but it's not as bad as I'd feared and she has a bolt-hole to, well, bolt to, to carry on with business. Stuff like that hurts like a son of a bitch but at least once you know exactly where you stand you can carry on. Naturally, I offered to help in any way I can.

Overall she sounds pretty good and that's what counts in the end- you aren't beat until you have convinced yourself that you are.

And I'm trying to “figger out” what, if anything to do for 9-11. The Tea Party emailed me of two events- one in the morning at Ballard fire station, another in the evening at Mary Ross park on the waterfront.

The former will have that same congresscritter who spoke at the Red Barn and sounds like it might be a circus. Or a Zoo...

The latter is a candlelight vigil- and actually being where it is, I can get home even if it's dark. OTOH, I'd like to take The Kid, if I do go, to socialize both him & me some more.

Flip a coin? Or just stay home?

-30-

[backhoe]

While I generally am simpatico with the idea that kicking a man when he's falling is poor sport I have watched Preznint Sham Mao wreck my economy, humiliate my nation, insult me & my fellow Americans, bow to dictators, jam unaffordable health insurance- not even real health care, insurance- down our throats, downgrade our credit, degrade our reputation, and lecture us repeatedly.

So it pleases me to report Obama has turned into an infomercial

FREE STUFF!! ORDER NOW!!

http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1643868#p1643868

and his speecyfyin' today tanked the market again...

Duh!1...

Is there anything he can't do?

[backhoe]

[backhoe]

Like I've told you before - nobody-- except the Kool-Aid drinkers- cares what Preznint Sham Mao Sez anymore:

http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1644073#p1644073

[backhoe]

It's another day in paradise...

...and The Kid & I are enjoying the cool air on the porch. Put another shelf up in the garage for storing my Coleman gas lanterns & stove in a more accessible location. But I suppose before putting them up I ought to fuel and test them.

The changing weather starts stray thoughts- MaryAnn & Vernon and the days gone by, me & Helen, Emily and the life we had together. It's more wistful than anything else, but I can't help thinking that since we had no children to give a kind of continuity to our lives beyond ourselves, I'm the last and final keeper of those memories.

Got me to thinking about some fine lyrics to a good old song...

http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/campbell-glen/wichita-lineman-622.html

Artist: Campbell Glen
Song: Wichita Lineman
Album: Wichita Lineman

Writen by Jimmy Webb

I am a lineman for the county.
And I drive the mainroad.
Searching in the sun for another overload.
I hear you singing in the wire.
I can hear you thru the whine.
And the Wichita Lineman,
is still on the line.

I know I need a small vacation.
But it don't look like rain.
And if it snows that stretch down south,
won't ever stand the strain.
And I need you more than want you.
And I want you for all time.
And the Wichita Lineman,
is still on the line.

And I need you more than want you.
And I want you for all time.
And the Wichita Lineman,
is still on the line

(Guitar Solo then repeat last chorus)

-30-

[Edward Kennedy]

Neat song, somewhat eerie and melancholy.

[backhoe]

Neat song, somewhat eerie and melancholy.

Jimmy wrote some good music- that "I hear you singing in the wire, I can hear you thru the whine" reminds me of that phantom phone call I dreamed I got from my long-dead mother.

"I'm just fine, Son..."
Fade to white noise...