Flashback Friday

Tuesday is the Fourth of July, but here around The Compound, people have been shooting off fireworks for over a week.  Every night when we go to bed, it sounds like we're in the war zone.  But I digress.

I was reminiscing today back to when I was a kid and had a messy fascination with the snakes. 

All they were was a little black disk that you lit with a match, and they would sprawl out into a long, curvy snake of black ash.  And they would leave a big old black mess on the driveway.  Many a time I got in trouble for lighting the snakes on the nice clean driveway.  But it sure was fun. 

Thank You, Wendys

I had some errands to run today during my lunch time, and on the way back to work I stopped at Wendys, thinking it would be very fast.  The drive-thru line was wrapped around the building, so I thought it would be quicker if I went inside. Wrong.  

It took freaking forever to get my taco salad.  At least fifteen minutes.  All the time I was standing there in line waiting for my salad, I was composing in my head what I would be saying in the online survey. 

When I was finally walking out with my salad, I ran into Mailman Stanley.  Stanley is the mailman that delivers the mail to Zoeller and the surrounding area.  I got a hug from him, and then saw him go to one of the tables in Wendy's where he sat down and proceeded to eat his lunch.  It was then I realized that the Wendys let him come there every day and eat his lunch in air conditioned comfort - even if he didn't buy anything from them.  Today, I noticed he had a clear plastic glass that he filled with ice from their machine, and he poured his can of Minutemaid Lemonade into, and drank it as he ate his sandwich and potato chips.  

My mind had been changed, and I commend Wendys for being kind to Mailman Stanley.

Ohio Valley Weather Update

It's the end of June, and this morning when I went out to feed the chickens, it was 51 degrees here at The Compound.  Yep, on June 28, it was 51 degrees.  I had on my sleep shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops and I am first to admit I was a bit cold.

When I left work and headed home, it was 87 degrees.  36 degrees difference from this morning. 

Only in the Ohio Valley. 

Happy Early Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is five months away, but we celebrated early today.  For supper, the 'Rents fixed a turkey breast, dressing, dumplins, and all the trimmings.  And before we ate, we each said a prayer of thanks.  I need to make myself do that at every meal.  The 'Rents each said they were thankful for each other and for me.  And I gave thanks for them, for my job, and for my friends.  Nuff said.

 

File Under: WTF?

This man has been to Disneyland 2,000 days in a row

ANAHEIM, Calif. — If Disneyland is “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Jeff Reitz may be its happiest citizen.

Reitz, 44, of Huntington Beach began visiting the park on New Year’s Day in 2012 with his former girlfriend. The unemployed Disney fans thought it would be a fun way to keep up their spirits if they visited every day during that leap year.As of Thursday, Reitz had visited the park for 2,000 days in a row — every day for 5½ years.

But after they got jobs and even after the relationship ended, Reitz kept going.

“It’s become a living breathing thing along the way,” he told the Orange County Register.

The Air Force veteran now works at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System and makes time to visit the park daily, sometimes alone and sometimes with his current girlfriend, Karen Bell of Costa Mesa.

“I love walking around taking pictures, talking with cast members and guests,” he said.

Reitz has tried virtually every ride and restaurant in Disneyland and the adjoining Disney California Adventure Park. His favorite restaurant is Pizza Port in Tomorrowland.

His favorite ride is the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which he first rode when he was 2.

“I love sitting in the front row, holding the handle and leaning into the turns,” Reitz said.

But “there’s nothing I would turn away from,” he said.

Reitz has some advice for Disneyland visitors: Get the Disneyland app for smartphones to keep up with wait times and ride closures and use the FastPass system to reserves times for the most popular attractions.

“The number one thing I tell people is to bring your patience,” Reitz said. “With the summer time crowds and the heat I tell people to relax and have fun.”

Reitz doesn’t know how long he’ll keep making daily visits to the park but notes his current annual pass is good until next January.

“I’ve gotten to experience so much of the magic of Disney that it continues to be fun for me,” he said. “And that’s why I’ve still chosen to keep coming every day.”

All I can say is "Why????"

Sad Sunday

Today's post title is lame and I will accept that. 

I found out early this morning that a former co-worker's daughter committed suicide yesterday.  What an effin thing to find out on Facebook.  

She was in her mid-twenties, and had just done a stint in the Air Force.  A month ago, she posted a bunch of posts on FB about her mother, and how much she loved her.

I am going to quote The Old Man this morning when I was telling him about it, and I quote: "It's like I've always told you.  You never know what someone else is going through." 

Nope, you never do.

Another Lesson Learned

Friends (people) aren't always what they seem.  I know that's cliche, but I learned today that it's true.  Lesson learned.

Flashback Friday

For the past week, the weatherazzi has been saying that we would get "buckets of rain" from Tropical Storm Cindy.  They were expecting 3+ inches of rain here in Louisville.  

It didn't rain nearly that much here at The Compound, and The Girls didn't seem to mind the rain at all.

This made me think back to the days before we had Supper Dopplar and GPS systems.  Back then, the weatherazzi did as good of a job as they could with the current technology they had to work with.  This was the time when people got the morning and evening newspapers, and relied on the weather forecast that was printed in the papers.  Not so much today.  I'm pretty sure that we are one of the very few people that still get a newspaper every day; that is, when the carrier decides to deliver the papers to us.  But I digress.  Now, we rely on our phone apps for up-to-the-minute weather reports.  We've come a long way, baby.

Welcome Summer; Please Be Kind

Summer officially began yesterday, and I think we had almost as many 90+ degree days in the past two months than we normally have in July.  But I digress.  I hope that is not an indication of how winter is going to be.  I know I'm jumping the gun but when you have an early, hot summer, we tend to have an early, extra cold winter.  I guess time will tell. In the meanwhile, I'm thankful for our almost-new a/c here at The Compound.

Another Spring Meet Horse Racing Update

This news is too good to have to wait till another week or so for an update.  As of the time I am writing this, I made over $100 today on the Ramsey horses I bet on.  Yes, I know that I ended that sentence in a preposition, but to bet $24 and win over $100 makes me excited.  And I still have one horse waiting to run tonight.  I could hopefully be adding more to the $100+ winnings! 

Spring Meet Horse Racing Update

Well, faithful readers, we were getting down pretty low on our betting money until this Sunday.  I hit a nice Exacta for $91.40 and that put me back in the money again for more races to bet on.  

As I said before, I am still playing on "their" money; I have not deposited any of my money to bet.  I am still playing on "their" money -- meaning, money I've won from my original $4 bet a couple of months ago.  I think that's pretty darned good. 

Something You Don't See Every Day

Once again, today on my way home from work driving on the Greenbelt Highway, I saw someone's dark red wig on the side of the road.  It was either a wig or a weave - I couldn't differentiate.  All I could think of is "Who stole my weave?"

Happy Fathers Day

TWIT and I would like to wish all of the fathers out there a very happy Fathers Day.  And I would like to especially with a very happy Fathers Day to my Old Man.  I've done my best to spoil him in the past two weeks by showering him with gifts and love.  But then again, I shower him with love every day.  

Still Celebrating Happy National Bourbon Day

Since we were a day late in wishing everyone a Happy National Bourbon Day, we are celebrating a day longer.  

I just fixed me and the Old Man a Bulleit and ginger ale and we are going to partake as we watch the Reds get their asses whooped by the Dodgers. 
 

Happy National Bourbon Day

Better late than never, I always say - TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a happy National Bourbon Day, which was yesterday.  I hope everyone had a chance to have some of their favorite bourbon to celebrate.  If not, then I hope you will celebrate today, like we are here at The Compound.

Happy Flag Day

An Update On The Girls

The Girls experienced something new and unknown this afternoon during their time out in the pen -- they experienced a thunder shower.  It didn't rain very heavily for long, but we had a pretty good shower.  It didn't take them too long to realize that they don't like getting wet, and after a few seconds of getting wet, all six of them high-tailed it into the coop until the rain stopped.  I'd say I've got some pretty smart chickens.

Trivia Update

I am very happy to report that Team Divas dominated tonight at Monday Night Trivia, taking home a big cash prize.  We had our highest score ever.  We deserved it.

Link Of The Week

Strawberries are in season right now, and who doesn't love a great strawberry dessert? I know we sure do here at The Compound.  Run up to your local grocery store or farmers' market this afternoon and buy some ripe strawberries and then visit http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/ingredients/strawberry-recipes/recipes-to-make-with-fresh-strawberries for some great recipe ideas.  

If you can't find a recipe you like, just cut up the berries, put a little bit of sugar on them and eat them from a bowl. 

Happy National Iced Tea Day

TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a very happy National Iced Tea Day.  

It's not too late for you to fix a pitcher of tea and enjoy a glass over ice, hopefully with some lemon and sugar or your favorite sweetener.  The 'Rents and I have each had two glasses tonight with our supper.  And we might have another in celebration.

Flashback Friday

Usually, every Friday night in June, I would be at one of the local Catholic church picnics.  Yep, I would support the parish by drinking beer, betting dimes on countless wheel booths, and playing Showdown Poker.  The past two June Friday nights, I haven't been able to make it.  But I think back on the great times I've had at the picnics.

It is a time of seeing friends that your normally only see at the church picnics.  You spend some time chatting and catching up, and then you both say "let's get together soon" and yet we never do.  This year, I'm going to change that.  For the rest of June, when I visit the church picnics and find a friend I haven't seen since the last picnic, I am going to make damned sure that we both do get together soon to catch up.  

So Happy It's Thursday

This is how I feel this week at work, home, and elsewhere. 

 

Happy Birthday, Girls

I don't have a picture from today, but I'd like to wish my Girls a happy 8 week birthday today.  They're not little girls anymore; they are pretty close to being full-grown.  But they will always be my Girls.  And tonight, they discovered that they love Cheddar Bay biscuits (the kind they have at Red Lobster) as much as I do.

What Were You Thinking?

Today on Facebook, I noticed a friend had shared a post about a car that had hit and run. There was a picture of the car they were looking for, along with the details of how someone's son had been hurt in the accident. The post was from May of 2015. Yes, it was two years old, yet they posted it like it happened just today. 

On second thought, I don't think it was a case of "what were you thinking?"; it was " you weren't thinking at all."  The friend that shared this post today is the same person who misspelled her name on her Facebook account and has 
never corrected it. 

Trivia Update

Team Divas are proud to say that we won the big cash prize tonight at Monday Night Trivia.  I'm not going to embellish; we won our big cash prize of $20 on a technicality, but we gladly took the money and the win.  And if anyone should ever ask you, Michael Jordan, George Michael and Brett Michael were all born in 1963.  Nuff said.

I Am Still Amazed

I sure don't mean to sound naive, but I am going on record and saying I am still amazed at the ease and speed of shopping online.  Before church started this morning a bit before 11:00, I got on Amazon on my cell phone and ordered another wireless security camera to put on the little red barn in the back field so we can keep an eye on the chicken coop in case some crazed raccoon or fox or coyote comes up.  But I digress.  I ordered the camera at about 10:55, and at 5:05 this evening it was delivered.  Yep, in just six short hours, I had my camera.  I love Amazon.  And I love online shopping.  

My Favorite Day Of The Year

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

Happy National Donut Day

TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a very happy national Donut Day!  I'm giving you this information early so you will have plenty of time to go out and get a donut or two today.  If you go to a Krispy Kreme store, those fine folks will give you one free donut of your choice!  Now, you can't beat that, can you?   The 'Rents and I, along with My Cousin and her Dear Husband will be having some KK's for a mid-morning snack shortly.  Please join us.

Spring Meet Horse Race Update

I've still been betting on the horses owned by the Ramseys, and I'm still hanging in there.  I haven't had any big wins like in previous weeks, but I'm winning enough to keep going.  As of tonight, I still have $80 left in my Twin Spires betting account, and that's after making another $100 withdrawal back into my checking account two weeks ago.  I'm going to play the $80 until there's my original $4 left and then I'll stop.  Stay tuned.  And their off!!!