Valuable Lesson Learned

I'm going on 54 years old, but am first to admit that I'm never too old to learn, or be reminded of, a valuable lesson.  Today I was reminded that people aren't always what they seem.  You never know what that person is going through.  Lesson learned.

Overheard

Background:  At a local pizza place eating lunch.  The noon local news was on, talking about Tiger Woods and his DUI arrest.  

Overheard: (and I quote) "I've had eight DUI's.  I know this stuff."  

I am not making this up.

Monday, Monday

In keeping with our pattern here at The Compound, we decided to do our spring cleaning this weekend.  I'm worn out, and will need to get to work tomorrow to get some rest.  Nuff said.

Overheard

Overheard as I was walking out of Florence Mall in Florence, KY this afternoon (note - Florence is a few miles before Cincinnati; still part of the Ohio Valley).  Let me set this up - a woman that appeared to be a few years younger than me, was coming out of the mall at the same time as I was, and she had bought a new suitcase on wheels and was wheeling it out. She was talking to someone on her cell phone.  And I quote:

"Kentucky sure ain't nothing like San Francisco.  It's damn hot." 

I wanted to tell her "Honey, if you think today or this week in northern Kentucky is hot when the high it got to this week was upper 70's, and a few days were even in the 60's, you would not last a day here in July or August." 
 

Flashback Friday

Happy National Wine Day

TWIT would like to wish everyone a happy National Wine Day.  

It's still early enough for you to go out and get a bottle of wine to celebrate if you don't already have a bottle at home.  We've done our part here at The Compound and each had a glass with dinner tonight. 
 
Celebrate!

Way To Go, JCPS Students!

Today was the last day of school for the JCPS students, and TWIT would like to give them a big WTG! We hope all of the teachers, workers, parents, and students have a great, relaxing summer. 

 I know everyone that drives to work will be enjoying the light traffic for the next two and a half months.  I know I will especially be enjoying that.  
 

Ohio Valley Crud, Again

  I'm not happy to report that I am feeling the effects of the Ohio Valley Crud again.  I don't feel bad; I just sneeze and have a little head congestion. It's just part of springtime in the Ohio Valley. 

Moving Day

Yesterday was moving day - The Girls moved from their box on the back porch to their fancy new digs out in the field at The Compound.  

The move went way more smoothly than I anticipated.  The first chick to move to the moving box, Bitsy, didn't want anything to do with me holding her.  But the next four chicks were as calm as they could be.  They each let me hold them and pet them before I put them into the moving box.  And I think they would have let me just carry them out to the coop.  The last chick was a bit contrary;  we think she was happy having the big box all to herself, and she wanted to enjoy the "me time" a bit before going out to the coop.

They all had a good night; at least, I thought they did, when I fed and watered them this morning.  One thing I noticed was they were more docile than before; this morning, I blocked the doorway so they couldn't fly out, but they all stood there in a line and let me pet them for a minute or two.  And The Old Man said the same thing today when he went out to check on them.  I guess they're getting used to us.  

So now they will stay inside of the coop for two days -so they will know it's "home" and where they are supposed to go to roost.  Then we will let them out in the pen and see how they like it.

Stay tuned. 

Someone Doesn't Look Very Happy

I'm not real sure, but I think this chick is giving me the evil eye.  Just saying.

Free Pie Friday

The 'Rents and I just had another piece of the fresh strawberry pie tonight. We are two for two on free pie days.  And there is a good chance that we will go three for three tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Free Pie Thursday

O' Charley's has Free Pie Wednesday, but here at The Compound, we had Free Pie Thursday.  Tonight for dessert we had an awesome fresh strawberry pie with lots of whipped cream.  And we're already planning on getting more strawberries Saturday morning so we can possibly have Free Pie Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc. 

Quote Of The Month

Spoken by Grandpa Clifford, and I quote "The only things in life that you should regret are the things you didn't do." 

I think I'm going to take you up on that, Grandpa.

Tuesday Updates

There's a lot I'd like to say right now, but honestly, I'm too tired.  After another hectic, crazy, busy day at work, I had about 87 errands to run after work.  Yes, 87, give or take a few.  I had to go to the credit union.  Then I had to go to the lumber yard before they closed to pick up a board for our barn art.  Then I had to go get some tomato plants for the 'Rents to plant tomorrow.  And then I had to go to a local grocery store and pick up some of their awesome chili for supper.  When I got home, I had to clean, feed and water The Girls, and feed and water The 'Rents, and then go up and feed The Fish at a friend's house who is on vacation.  My work is never done.

Happy Birthday, Girls

TWIT and I would like to with my Girls a very happy five week birthday.  It's hard to believe that they are five weeks old today.  They are growing up faster than we anticipated, and they should be moving to the new permanent home later this week.  Stay tuned.

Happy Mother's Day

TWIT and I would like to wish a very Happy Mothers Day to Mothers everywhere, especially to My Sweet Mother.  

She's had an awesome Mothers Day weekend doing the things she enjoys.  Yesterday morning after breakfast, I took her to get a spa pedicure, and when she got home she worked out in the yard with The Old Man, which is one of her all-time favorite things to do.  

This morning we went to church, another of her favorite things to do, and then we went to lunch at her favorite Italian restaurant, where the owner and staff treated her like the queen she is.

As I type this, she and The Old Man are taking a nap in their recliners, yet another favorite thing to do.

Lucky Me

A few weeks ago, I was talking with some friends that are former members at church.  Two years ago they moved to Lexington to be close to their kids.  The husband's cousin lives down the street from them, and he and his wife are thoroughbred horse owners.  Our friend said right now they have about 100 horses.  He had way more than that, and sold about 2/3 of them last year; one of the horses he sold was Kentucky Derby favorite Girvin.  But I digress.  After I talked to our friend, I got online and did some research and was able to find about 50 of the horses that the guy and his wife own.  

The next day after I did my research, I found out that one of the guy's horses was running at Gulfstream Park.  I got online to my trusty Twin Spires betting account, and saw I had $4 left.  That was just enough to place a $2 Exacta Box bet on that horse and another.  Wouldn't you know it - I was a winner, to the tune of $380.   I immediately withdrew $200 to be put in my checking account, and then I was off to bet on more of the guys horses.  

Flash forward to today.  The guy had six horses running today.  I bet $2 across the board (to win, place, and show) on each of the six horses, but on one of them running in the last race today at Churchill Downs, I asked for some expert advice from The Old Man.  I had him pick another horse for our Exacta Box.  And as a courtesy, I bet The Old Man's horse across the board, too.  Wouldn't you know it - my horse came in first and The Old Man's horse came in second, to the tune of $189 for the Exacta Box, not to mention a pretty hefty payout for our win and place bets.  Once again, I immediately withdrew $100 to my checking account.  

I sure as heck don't win every day, but I have deposited a total of $300 into my checking account as a result from betting the $4 that was left in my betting account; I have not deposited any money.  So I'd say I'm doing pretty darned good.  

Stay tuned.  I hope to bring you more good luck reports like this.

Flashback Friday

Anyone that talked to me at work today knows that I said that today was THE WORST day I've had at work ever.  And it is true. 

I was counting the seconds until the clock hit 4:30 today and I ran for my life out of the building.  And I am already starting the Sunday Night Dread about coming back in Monday morning.  

I am not going to go into all of the details about why today was my WORST DAY EVER at Zoeller.  Just trust me on this.

I am praying for bettah dayz. And I am praying that I will never have a Flashback to this Friday. 

Thirsty THursday

Some of my friends out in the factory asked me to go next door to work at our local watering hole for a couple of beers after work today, and I was only happy to oblige.  It's Thirsty Thursday at that watering hole, and Buds and Bud Lights are only a buck.  That's one hell of a bargain.  If I hadn't had to drive myself home I think I would have had a couple more, with the way this week at work has been. 

I'm just happy that they think of me as "one of them", even though I'm in the office, and there is a pretty big chasm between the plant and office.  But I think of them as just my coworkers - regardless of whether they work in the plant or in the office.  I remember how my parents were treated when they worked in a factory for 30 years.  I've prided myself on being good friends with my coworkers in the plant, and in keeping communication open with them, even if that communication sometimes is on Thirsty Thursday. 

Update On The Girls

Today was moving day.  The Girls are a month old, and today they moved from their big tub in the living room to their new spacious box on the back porch.  The 'Rents said they had a very busy day, running around the box and scratching.  I think they are even bigger then they were last night. 

Happy Birthday, Girls

TWIT and I would like to with The Girls a very happy one month birthday.   Tomorrow, they will embark on the second stage of their lives - they will be moving from our living room to the back porch.  They aren't quite ready to move out to their fancy coop, so they will be on the back porch for a couple of weeks.  

I Don't Need Electronics

It's no secret that I buy all of the latest electronic and computer gadgets.  I bought a Brother Word Processor when they first came out, and a few years later bought a Tandy home computer when they first came out.  I've had my share of Palm Pilots, iPods, iPhones, laptops, tablets, Fitbits, and just about every other gadget you can think of.  So it's not a big surprise that I bought a jailbroken Firestick that would let me allegedly be able to watch any sports game in any genre, and also watch first-run movies.  

I spent a good three hours today trying to get the $%^&ing Firestick to work.  I was damned and determined that I was going to get the MLB channel, even though I didn't want to watch a game.  After much frustration, I was able to watch the Yankees and the Cubs.  Success.  

Our next thing to try on the Firestick is trying to get a Pay Per View UFC fight.  Stay tuned. 

Derby 2017 Review

After raining for two and a half days, around noon-ish today, it finally quit raining and the sun came out.  So everyone was able to have a great Derby Day after all.  

We had a great Derby here at The Compound.  My Cousin from Lafayette, IN and her Sweet Husband came down to spend the weekend with us, and for the past four days we've done nothing but eat, drink, and just enjoy being together.  That's the way it's supposed to be.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a very happy Cinco de Mayo.  We've already had our fiesta at our fave Mexican restaurant, and we got very cool t-shirts and other swag.  Now we've been back at home where we are warm and dry and are continuing our fiesta.  You still have time to get some cerveca and tequila, like we are having.  

Welcome,Bitsy

I realize this is the same picture posted yesterday, but we have officially named our first chick.  Please welcome to the world "Bitsy".  She is proudly standing on top of the heater in this picture.  

For the past few weeks, we've been calling her "Little Bit" because she's she smallest of the six.  But she is colored beautifully, and we think she's going to be the best layer of the bunch. 

This morning as I was changing the water and giving them new feed, The Old Man changed her name to Bitsy.  So let it be written, so let it be done. 

Happy Birthday, Girls

I'd like to wish a very happy three week birthday to my Girls.  

The picture is grainy because of the screen over their big tub to keep them from escaping. 

Ohio Valley Weather Update

Early Saturday morning at about 2:00, one hellacious storm moved through.  Parts of Southern Indiana got 9 inches of rain.  An official tornado touched down in the East End of Jefferson County.   Saturday, the high was 88.  Yesterday the high was 86.  Both days were extremely humid.  Today, the high is in the upper 60's and we've had a wind warning all day long.  We told my Sweet Mother that if she went outside today, she should carry the weights we use for our folding canopy.  Yep, it's that windy. 

They're calling for more rain the rest of the week, with rain in store for Wednesday's Great Steamboat Race and Thursday's Pegasus Parade.  And cool temps and rain for Oaks and Derby.  

I'm glad I only have indoor plans for the rest of the week.