Happy Anniversary, 'Rents

TWIT and I would like to wish my parents, aka the 'Rents, a very happy anniversary.  They were married 57 years ago today.  And to think, back then, a few people said it wouldn't last.  I guess they sure showed them!!

Update From The Compound

The awesome plumber was here at 7:00 this morning, and after visits by members of The Old Man's Entourage, here's where we stand:

The Plumber is going to install a new Comfort Height toilet.  He also replaced a flange and elbow in the piping in the basement, and installed new shut-off valves on everything.  

Our Handyman Bobby came and put down a sheet of plywood in the bathroom floor and it's ready to go.  He didn't charge a dime. He also is going to come back next week and put a new roof on the carport. He said he would only charge for the materials.  Handyman Bobby also fixed the back  porch ramp today, no charge. 

Our Carpet Guy Al is coming tomorrow to lay down some very cool looking linoleum in the bathroom, and once that is down, The Plumber will come back and connect our new toilet.  

We are so thankful for our friends who help us out. 

When It Rains, It Sure Pours

Since Dad's bypass surgery, we've had more than our share of malfunctions and breakdowns here at The Compound.  Here's a list:

1. Two days after Dad came home from the hospital, the microwave started smoking, so we had to buy a new one

2. One week after Dad came home from the hospital, the furnace went out.  Luckily, it wasn't too expensive. 

3. On the same day that the furnace went out, we were in the middle of flooding in Louisville, and had to deal with some water in the basement.  Luckily, it was from our usual leak and not a flood.  

4. Two weeks ago, the freezer crapped out, and we had to buy a new one. Once again, lucky for us we only lost a couple grocery bags full of thawed-out food.

5. Last Tuesday, the toilet clogged and overflowed.

6.  Yesterday, we discovered a leak in the bathroom.  

Stay tuned. 

Happy Beauticians Day

TWIT would like to wish all of the hair stylists a very Happy Beauticians Day.  I realize that not many people call them "beauticians" anymore, but it is what it is.  

I would like to wish an extra special happy Beauticians Day to my beautician/hair stylist of 30 years, DP.   I would follow her to the ends of the earth to have her cut my hair.  In the past 30 years, I've only had two haircuts that were not by her - those two were during her two pregnancies, and were handled by her best fiend who has worked with her for over 30 years.  

Keep up the great work, DP.  

Link Of The Week

TWIT is deviating and posting our Link of the Week today instead of the usual Sunday post.  

Please take a couple of minutes and do something nice for our military troops.  Coca Cola will be giving Cokes to the USO to share with our troops.  Just visit https://www.honoringourheroes.com/share-a-coke
and send a Coke to one of our awesome military peeps. 

So Happy It's Thursday

Note:  You can use the capital letters in the title of this post to get a picture of how I feel tonight.

My boss has been on vacation this week, so I thought it would be an easy week - I thought I would be able to put it on cruise control for the week. Not so.  I've been busier this week than I think I have ever been since I became the supervisor over the Production Scheduling Department. 

This week has been one long project after project.  I put all of my regular work aside just to work on the three projects my boss left me.  It will take a good week to get caught up on my regular work.  But I digress.
It can always be worse - I could be pushing a stolen grocery cart up and down the road, picking up aluminum cans and scrap metal like the old black man does up and down Cane Run Road.  It can always be worse. 

Weatherazzi Update

Just said by the weatherazzi on the 6:00 news tonight, and I quote:

"When the thunder roars, go indoors."

Nuff said.

Farmtown 2015

The 'Rents picked our first bountiful harvest today at Farmtown.  They picked zucchini, yellow squash and cucumbers.  They had a half bushel basket almost full.  I would love to be able to keep with tradition and post a picture of today's harvest, but just as I walked in the door this evening, I stepped into a crisis.  The toilet in the big bathroom was clogged and overflowed.  Needless to say this distracted me from my photo session.  Keep in mind I got home at 5:00, and had to change and get cute for a dinner date.  I helped out with the plunger but no amount of my plunging helped.  Then Dad operated the innards of the toilet tank, and we flushed it to see what it would do.  Overflow again, is what it did.  It didn't overflow very much, thanks to quick-acting Dad.  By now it was 5:05.  I had Mom bring me some latex gloves, a bucket and a big plastic red Solo cup and I bailed out the toilet.  After the bailing, I took the world's fastest shower ever, got dressed and squirted on some Obsession and left the house at 5:35, only 5 minutes later than originally planned.

While I was out, I guess all of the plunging finally worked because Dad said it was unstopped and working fine now.  

Another crisis diverted without having to pay $$$$. 

Words Of Wisdom

Happy Fathers Day

TWIT and I would like to wish my Dad a very happy Fathers Day.  

I've always celebrated and honored him not just on one day a year that is set aside for fathers, but I love him and honor him every day, and I always tell him at least once a day that I love him.  That unconditional love is one of the biggest and best things he's taught me and given me.  

If your father is still with you, please take time today to tell him that you love him. 
 

Kentucky Rain Keeps Pouring Down, Not

The deluge of rain has finally stopped.  For now.  We've had over 3 inches of rain here at The Compound this week and that's more than enough for Farmtown.   Thank the Lord that we didn't have any major leaks in the basement like when we get big rains. 

The sun is out, and it's very windy, so that will help dry things up. Unfortunately, more rain and storms are in the forecast for next week.  But we'll deal with that rain when we get it. 

Thanks, I Think

On Tuesday, I went with Dad to get a follow-up ultrasound echocardiogram.  We went to the Norton's Heart Center up on Dixie Highway, about 10 minutes from The Compound.  Much to my surprise, an old friend and former coworker was a nurse at the place.  She came over and hugged all three of us, and after she checked in Dad, she talked to me for over half an hour. 

During our conversation, we talked about the time back in the day when she worked with me in Customer Service at Zoeller.  She talked about my getting my Masters degrees and then starting my own company.  Then she said something that I don't think anyone else has ever said to me.  She said "You've really made a good life for yourself."  I smiled and nodded, and then didn't know what else to say.  Luckily, another patient came in at that precise moment so she had to stop talking to me.

I don't think anyone has ever said that to me before.  I thought about it the rest of the time I was waiting for Dad to come out after his ultrasound.  At first, I wanted to disagree with her. But then, I had to agree.  Yes, I have made a good life for myself.  It wasn't easy.  I don't know of too many people my age that have worked at one company for over 25 years.  I don't know of too many people that have gotten two Masters Degrees.  So once I thought about it all, hell yes I've made a good life for myself. 

It's A Tragedy

During the night, I kept hearing my cell phone buzzing.  I knew it was either texts from friends or breaking news reports.  This time, it was the latter, with the news of the horrific shooting at the church in Charleston, South Carolina, where [as of now] 9 people have died at the hands of a crazed shooter.

As a church security consultant, my first statement is that no amount of plans and procedures followed to the letter could have totally prevented the massacre at that Charleston church last night.  But plans and procedures in place could have lessened the tragedy a bit. 

If there had been off-duty officers there (as I suggest) they could have possibly shot the shooter and prevented more lives lost.  If.  Yes, that's a very big word today - if.

If the church had locked the doors preventing people from entering after the service started (as I suggest) the shooter might not have been able to enter into the building.  Once again, if. 

I could go on and on but I won't.  I'll just sum this up and say that churches need to do more to protect their congregation and staff.  And we need to pray for the families and friends of the 9 people that died at the hands of this crazed shooter.  Pray for peace that passes all understanding for these families.

Updates

I apologize for not posting yesterday.  I had a senior moment and truly thought I posted a journal entry. 

Yesterday and today was like I was in a whirlwind.  I had two meetings yesterday morning, and then left at 10:30 to collect the 'Rents and get Dad up at the Norton Heart Center for a follow-up ultrasound echocardiogram.  His cardiologist wants to compare how his heart is doing now after the bypass to how it was doing before the bypass.  Standard procedure. 

When we got home yesterday, I crashed for a bit, and then started working on a big ass project for work.  I worked on it till bedtime, and was totally spent.

Today was just as busy.  I had a 7:00 meeting, and then a couple more meetings later in the morning, and by lunchtime, I wished I could have crashed and taken a nap.

Now I'm home, and after eating some awesome spaghetti with a great meat sauce made with some ground venison, I'm getting ready to work on the project again. I wish I could hire an assistant to help me with this.

Something I'm Glad I Don't See Every Day

Here is a post I found on Facebook yesterday.  It was posted on a page for our neighborhood.  I know I'm a hardass but just reading this post made me cringe.  

Dose anyone know of a place you can rent jet skis and take to the lake the lake we are going to dose not have anyone that rents jet skis from ?

Hat's Off

I'd like to use a TWIT post to say WTG to a few people.  

First of all, WTG Dad for making one of the best batches of chocolate chip cookies I've ever eaten.  I'm glad that you just made one batch because you and I have eaten most of them and we don't need anymore.  But they are truly the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had.  

Second, hats off to a dear sweet friend from church, Phyllis.  At the age of 92, Phyllis just started using a computer and got a Facebook account.  This shows you are never too old to start learning anything.   

Third, thanks so much FB for taking the time out of your Sunday afternoon to come down to The Compound to help me with a project for work.  You've forgotten more than most of us could ever hope to learn and remember about our jobs.  

It's awesome to have such cool people like this in my entourage. 

Scratchy Saturday

I have no idea where or how I caught it, but unfortunately, I have what my eye doctor called "acute conjunctivitis" in my right eye.  AKA Pink Eye.  Late Thursday, I noticed my right eye started feeling like there was something on my contact lens irritating it.  The scratchiness got progressively worse yesterday.  You know firsthand that I am not one to run to the doctor or "little clinic" every time I have a cough or sneeze, but my eyes are one thing I do not mess with.  

Hopefully these $$ drops will help and I'll be able to wear my contacts soon.  Until then, I'm wearing my glasses.  At least the frames are pretty cool, but I just hate wearing glasses in the summertime.  They fog up something terrible.  But if foggy glasses are the least thing I have to deal with today, I'm doing pretty darned good.  

Flashback Friday

The Catholic church picnic season is in full swing, and later tonight, I am going to make my obligatory annual trip to Mt. Carmel's picnic.  Yes, I know that I will end up bitching about the massive packs of PATs that congregate at this picnic, but I will still go and will end up donating some cash to the church, and will still end up griping about all of the PATs.

But it's just not the same as the picnics were back in the day before all of the church mergers happened.  On Friday evenings, they would have fish and brats at the picnics, and that was when most of the "older" folks (my age) would go.  You'd get some good fried foods, drink a few cold beers, and spend your money trying to win a prize at the booths, all the while visiting with friends that you only see at the picnics.  These days, not so much.  I rarely see my old-time friends at the picnics anymore, because the picnics have been taken over by swarms of PATs.  

Thankful Thursday

I took the old Blazer to the repair shop today to have the a/c recharged.  It just wasn't cooling down like I thought it should. The a/c system was replaced just two years ago, and to me, frost should be forming on the inside of the windows when I turned on the a/c. 

They called about an hour after I dropped it off, and said that some seals needed to be replaced, and that was what had caused Freon to leak out.  They replaced the seals, pumped some more Freon in it, and also put in some dye, and said if it started to not cool down again, to bring it back and they would be able to tell where the leak was.  I'm being optimistic and hoping the new seals fixed the issue.  I'm thankful because the price for the repair was well under the $400 cap that I've come to accept as normal for any repairs on an old car ($400 being the approximate cost of a monthly car payment).

On my way back home from Diva Stacy's tonight, I actually had to turn the a/c down because it was getting a bit too cool. 

Freezer Update

I am happy to report that the new upright freezer was delivered today earlier than expected, and after supper, the 'Rents and I lugged the four coolers out to the garage and commenced to unloading, inspecting and filling up the freezer.  We only lost a minimal amount of food, thank goodness.  And we took our time and loaded up the freezer methodically - veggies on one shelf, meats on another, and we had the entire bottom section for nothing but ground venison (burger and sausage form).  It didn't take us long to come to a few realizations:

     1.  We do not need to freeze any more yellow squash or zucchini.  We have enough frozen right now to  
           feed half of Jefferson County. 
     2. We do not need to buy any more hot dogs.  I am ashamed to tell you how many packages of hot   
          dogs are on one shelf in our new freezer. 
     3.  We do not need to go in half on a deer this season.  The bottom shelf of the new freezer is full of   
          pound packages of ground venison and venison sausage, and is probably more than we will eat in  
         another year.  

Fun At The Compound

The 'Rents had a real fun day here at The Compound.  After working out in Farmtown this morning before it got too hot, they had to deal with our freezer that crapped out.  They got as much frozen and semi-frozen stuff as they could in the coolers that we had, and Painter Steve next door brought us one of their coolers to use.  

As I type this, we're getting ready to head up to Lowes to pick out a new freezer.  Mom checked the owners manual from the freezer, and it's over 30 years old.  So I think they got their money's worth out of it. 

WTG, Huber's

TWIT would like to thank everyone over at Huber's Orchard, Winery, Cheese Shop, et al for their fine, fine products.  

Saturday morning, the 'Rents and I headed over to Huber's to get some strawberries.  We got two gallons and let me tell you every berry I've eaten so far has been awesome.  They are so sweet - so sweet, that Minnie didn't put any Splenda or sugar nor any sweetener in the bowl that she fixed.  All they did was cap them and slice them and then we ate them.  I know Joe Huber would be proud of this year's crop of berries.

And we would also like to say WTG to the fine folks at the Huber Winery.  We brought home six bottles of their Starlight White and Sweet Marsala, and while were there Saturday morning, we enjoyed a nice time out on the patio with a great cheese tray and a bottle of the Starlight White. 

We're already planning on going back over later this week for more of the awesome strawberries.

Keep up the great work, Huber's organization. 

Who Says There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

It's been a pretty darned good week for getting free items from various stores in my 'hood.  Here's this week's list. 

One dozen large eggs
A bottle of Kraft BBQ Sauce
A bottle of Bai5 anti-oxidant drink
A Hershey Caramel candy bar
A two-liter of Meijers brand soft drink
A giant Kit-Kat

Hey, free is free.  

Security Tip Saturday

Summer is here. Well, officially, it isn't, but you know what I mean.  Anyhoo, summer is here and with it, are more scammers.  We can't be too careful when it comes to these shysters.  

First of all, be aware when you are working out in your yard - the paving and roofing scammers are out in full force right now, according to the BBB.  They usually approach people that they see outside.  Be sure to firmly tell them "thanks but no thanks" if they offer to repave your drive, fix cracks in your drive, or replace shingles on your roof.  

Second, be aware of the phone scammers.  They, too, are out in full force right now.  Currently, the BBB says that shysters posing as IRS employees and Humana insurance employees are calling people, trying to scam them out of money.  The IRS and big insurance companies like Humana will never call you and ask for money - they always contact you by letter. 

So as always, stay safe. 

Happy National Donut Day

TWIT hopes that everyone had an awesome National Donut Day.  I know I did.  My coworker KP gets the gold star for stopping at Krispy Kreme this morning on her way to work to get not one but two dozen donuts to share with us.  KP has only been working for me for a few months but my, has she learned quick!

Team Bud Update

Team Bud Update:

Dad had his first follow-up visit with his cardiologist this afternoon. To quote his great cardiologist, he is doing awesome! After a thorough check-up and an EKG, his doctor and the nurses said they were amazed that he had his surgery just three months ago. He goes in two weeks for another ultrasound echogram to make sure that his heart is pumping like it should, and then goes back to the cardiologist mid-July to go over the echogram. But the doctor said he wasn't expecting any surprises. He made dad happy when he said that if everything was ok on the echogram, he would most likely decrease some of his meds. 

Thanks again for all of your prayers. We truly appreciate your concern. And last but certainly not least, Dad said he gives all of the credit to the Lord for answering all of the prayers for him.

My Favorite Day Of The Year

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day

I was out choppin' cotton, and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And mama hollered out the back door, "y'all, remember to wipe your feet!"
And then she said, "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge
Today, Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

And papa said to mama, as he passed around the black-eyed peas
"Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense; pass the biscuits, please
There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
And mama said it was shame about Billy Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billy Joe MacAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And brother said he recollected when he, and Tom, and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?
"I'll have another piece of apple pie; you know, it don't seem right
I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge
And now ya tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

And mama said to me, "Child, what's happened to your appetite?
I've been cookin' all morning, and you haven't touched a single bite
That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today
Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way
He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge
And she and Billy Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

A year has come and gone since we heard the news 'bout Billy Joe
And brother married Becky Thompson; they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going 'round; papa caught it, and he died last spring
And now mama doesn't seem to want to do much of anything
And me - I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge
And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge

Public Service Annoucement

TWIT would like to let everyone know that this Friday, June 5, is National Doughnut Day.  In case you didn't know,  National Doughnut Day is traditionally celebrated the first Friday of June, which this year falls on June 5. The celebration was first established by the Chicago Salvation Army in 1938 to honor women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.

It's not too early to start planning for this occasion. To celebrate National Doughnut Day, here are some places you can plan to visit.   

Dunkin' Donuts
If you buy a beverage at Dunkin' this Friday, feel free to also grab a free doughnut. The free doughnut bonanza will last all day, with Dunkin' Donuts making the offer available at locations around the world.

Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is serving up free doughnuts – one per guest – to celebrate the holiday on June 5. According to the company, more than 100,000 people claimed free Krispy Kreme doughnuts last year.

You've been forewarned, so make plans to get a doughnut this Friday.  

If You Can't Stand The Heat

It was a cool, yes, cool, rainy day for the first of June.  I think the high was 62 degrees.  But it wasn't all that cold.  I'm not going to dwell on the fact that when I came home tonight from work and opened the door to the house, I felt a blast of warm air.  I immediately went to the hallway and looked at the thermostat.  Yep, the heat was on.  And the house felt like an oven.  I'm sorry Mom and Dad, but I didn't hesitate to flip the switch back to cool to get the temp back down to our usual 73 degrees in the house.  I'm menopausal and at 6:30 like clockwork I normally have my daily hot flash.  I wanted the house to be a bit cooled down before the hot flash hit.  They can wear long sleeves or a sweater, but I can only take off so many clothes.  Thank goodness it didn't take long to get the house back to "normal" before my hot flash came on.