Category Archives: family

First Day And Accomplishments

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It’s only August 5th, and the kids are already going back to school. It is way too early for school. Summer isn’t over. We used to get out in May and go back after Labor Day.

I wouldn’t say I like this.

I now have a sixth-grader and a junior in High School.

I am getting old.

I wouldn’t say I like this.

Both of the kids are in the High School marching band and I am extremely proud of both of them.

Logan shines in the band. It’s her thing. I have never seen such a change come over a person when they take the field. She goes to battleβ€”a completely different kid from her usual laid-back self.

Sam was invited to try out for the high school band this year (he’s a sixth-grader), and he made it. He’s in the percussion section. Today was the first day of middle school.

He’s in middle school band class with a couple of kids from his elementary. One of them is Mallory, with who he has been in a rivalry since kindergarten. Grades, sports, etc.

She is a pretty thorn in his side.

He was talking about band class and mentioned that Mallory was in that class with him.

I look over and say, β€œSam, you did it. You beat Mallory. You’re in the high school band!”

He’s been walking around the house grinning like an idiot for the last thirty minutes. β€œI did it! I’ma have a celebratory donut!”

Celebratory Donut

You take the losses with a good attitude. But everyone should celebrate themselves every once in a while.

That’s it. That’s the post.

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22 Hours

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It would seem that being up twenty two hours straight and only getting five hours of sleep (I just can’t sleep during the day) will stop you from doing something you want to do, like writing a decent post.

That is exactly where I find myself tonight. I am groggy.

I’m still up because I wanted to spend time with the wife, so we’re watching The Sinner on Netflix. Interesting series.

Season 2. We binged the first season earlier this week.

That’s it. That’s the post.

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Another Day, Another Storm

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We had a severe thunderstorm warning here today. There was a possibility of tornadoes, again. The wind got up and it rained a bit.

The storm passed to one side of our location.

On the plus side the new weather radio worked like a charm.

I’ve mentioned on here before about the tornado that passed over our home last year. I get nervous when we have severe weather. It’s just a little bit of PTSD from the aforementioned storm last year.

I’ve gotten better. I’m prepared for what might happen. And that’s what I can do.

Because, in reality, there isn’t a thing I can do about the storm itself. I have no control. I’m just a man.

I can pray.

I can trust God to get me through them.

To protect my home and my family. And to help us through what comes next.

And that’s all there is.

Faith.

That’s it. That’s the post.

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Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

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Tonight we continued the children’s cinematic education with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

The movies of my day (yea, this is very much within the timeline) rated as PG-13 prove one thing, we were not sheltered from language and innuendo like kids are today.

PG-13 from 1986 would probably be a hard R today if you threw in a bare breast.

Personally, I think that the John Hughes movies of the 80s are masterpieces. Gen X can quote them line for line. It might even be a better proof of age for most anything in place of ID.

Cashier: Can I see your ID?

Customer: Oh, he’s very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads – they all adore him. They think he’s a righteous dude.

They don’t and won’t make movies like this anymore. Their day has come and gone. Often replicated, never duplicated comes to mind.

At least we have the historical archives.

Which reminds me, grab those hard copies while you can.

The sheriff is near.

Wink wink, nudge nudge.

That’s it. That’s the post.

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Old Pic

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This was an old toy flashlight of my daughters. For years I had it sitting on top of the light on my work bench in the garage. It was a reminder of when she was little, I suppose.

One day it fell and smashed to bits.

We lose things along the way and only have memories of them to hold onto.

If we’re lucky, we’ll have an old pic or two.

That’s it. That’s the post.

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Christmas Eve 2020

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We spent the evening with mom and dad. Just like every year. We see them every day so no worries over Covid (since that’s the first thing to come to peoples minds). We see a lot of people every day.

We had dinner and exchanged gifts and then sat,without phones, and talked for a couple of hours. And that’s what we used to do. It’s just proper sitting there with no real distractions except the kids acting goofy.

It’s nice.

Our neighbor, let’s call her Ms. Betty (because that’s her name) lost her husband this year.

Mom and Dad always watched over them and on holidays when we have big meals we always took them a plate. And that tradition continues. The wife and I took the food down this time.

She’s alone now, of course, and the we stayed and chatted with her a bit before going back to mom and dads. But I can feel her loneliness.

It’s so very sad.

I wrote that last bit because it makes me appreciate what I have. The wife, kids, mom and dad. My work, the friends I have at work and the customers I see every week.

They are all a part of my life and it makes it full.

Appreciate what you have. And if you don’t have it, try to find it. Family is everything. No matter how bad it gets sometimes.

Good friends, your tribe, your gang! It doesn’t have to blood. Sometimes family isn’t.

Merry Christmas!

That’s it. That’s the post.

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Ghost Cat

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Before Fibble and Geisel we had Smoky and Ashley.

Smoky on the left, Ashley on the right.

Sadly, as pets do, they’ve both passed on now.

Now, I love all my kids equally, but Ashley was without a doubt my cat, as much as any cat can be anyone else’s. I was her human is probably the correct way to put it. I was her favorite human. She was always by my side, much like Fibble is now.

I loved that little cat, so much so that when we changed living room furniture I had to find a chair that wasn’t just comfortable for me but for Ashley as well. She always laid at my left shoulder. (Wow, Sam! On your left!) So I would look for a chair that had a cushion where she could make her spot.

I hadn’t realized until just now that Fibble does the same thing. She likes to lay on my left. This chair is a lot higher so it’s probably a β€œlooking down on the mere human” type of thing.

I’ve been watching Fibble lately, she has developed some nerve issues in her back. Not really bad, just sensitive enough to make her a little edgy. I’ll catch her out of the corner of my eye in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. and I just watch to make sure that everything’s okay. She is very important to me, she gives me comfort, and I want to return that favor.

Here’s the thing though.

I’ll see her out of the corner of my eye in the kitchen and then walk into the living room and she’s asleep in our chair. This is all in the space of ten seconds.

That’s not Fibble I’m catching out of the corner of my eye sometimes. It’s Ashley.

It sounds crazy. I sound crazy. But this does happen.

Fibble in her night spot.

I think what I’ve got is a guardian angel. She’s just helping Fibble, her younger sister, watch over me.

I’m okay with that.

That’s it. That’s the post.

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Landsford Canal

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We visited Landsford Canal State Park today. We haven’t been in years and as we didn’t get to visit Maggie Valley, NC this year and hike around there we at least got to hike in something familiar.

The trails here remind us of Alum Cave in Tennessee, in some parts. Same smells and sounds walking through the forest.

The Canal Trail is a little over three miles round trip and a really easy hike. Depending on if you climb on everything like my son, of course. He probably adds an easy mile to everywhere we go.

The Son

The Landsford Canal is a navigation channel that opened in 1823 with the purpose of bypassing rapids along the Catawba River to allow efficient freight transport and rapid travel between nearby communities and settlements along the rural frontiers of the era. It had five locks operating over a stretch of two miles with an elevation change overall of 32–34 feet. It was part of the inland navigation system from the ‘Up Country’ to Charleston, built systematically from 1819, and the navigations are today the centerpiece of Canal State Park. (From Wikipedia)

And that’s the daughter up there in the middle. Fifteen year olds, am I right?!

It’s fairly impressive, even in ruins, and there are so many photography opportunities. Just bring whatever camera you have and your eye (or both) and find your image.

The nearest town is Fort Lawn and I’m posting directions from there. But a quick internet search will give you directions from most anywhere.

She doesn’t like having her pic taken. BUT, there is a wife.

I won’t throw much more on this post as I think the experience should be saved for you.

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