New Year? 12.30.16

                               

              Do not drink and Drive!

Don Ford

They walk with us 12.29.16

            This morning, in the predawn hours, I had walked from the well-lit driveway, down the dark and forbidding street. It can be extremely intimidating when one leaves the safety of a well-lighted area, walking into the unknown darkness.  I was on a mission to retrieve the so called, “newspaper”, from the front lawn here at the Ford Homestead.

            There in the darkness, lying in the dormant blades of grass, almost hidden by the numerous leaves, was the paper. It was encased in a clear plastic sleeve, which is used to keep moister out, also allowing the paper delivery person to toss the paper out of the window of a moving vehicle, without all the paper spreading all over the yard.

            Seeing the paper lying there in the hostile darkness, I carefully stepped over the curb from the street into the yard. Three steps and I had the paper. I turned and looked around, seeing nothing, I carefully moved back towards the street.

            Finally, my foot was back on the solid street, and now I turned toward the safety of the lighted drive way. As I took a step towards the drive I heard what sounded like someone taking a step next to me. Startled, I turned, and saw no one there!

            I again started walking toward the drive. Again, there was the sound of footsteps, at my left side and slightly behind me. I could now see one of many leaves, which was oddly, the only one being moved by the wind! This one leaf was making the sound of someone walking! The leaf walked with me for about 40 feet and as I turned onto the drive, the leaf stopped moving, no longer making the sound.

            They walk with us, unseen, but they want us to know they are there!

           

            I know most of my readers are too young to remember the days when there were paper boys. Yep I said paper boys. I never knew a paper girl.  Think about it for a moment, if there was a paper girl, the paper boys would have followed her, not delivering their own papers.

            Newspapers in the olden days were much larger than those of today. By larger I mean, the size of the pages were 33% larger. The larger papers allowed for folding the paper in an odd almost square shape. Then the paper could be thrown from the side walk toward the front porch. Yes, most houses in the olden days had a side walk leading to steps that took one to the front porch.

            On days when the papers were going to be extremely large, I would help a friend who had a paper route. My pay was a root beer. There was a store on Good Hope street in Cape Girardeau, Mo, where one could sit at the counter and drink that wonderful root beer. I don’t remember the name of the store but it was most likely a drug store.

            Enough olden day’s stories.

            Yesterday, seven of us went riding. The ride organizer Nick, had us riding down the interstate to George Town, for lunch at a restaurant that was known for their fish. It was a little over 60 miles on the interstate, of which there is a lot of construction. Most of us do not like riding on the interstate with those crazy people in cars and trucks!

            Lunch was ok, but BBQ at the bunkhouse would have been better, in my opinion.

            After lunch we rode out into the hill country, taking back roads for several hours. To be honest, some of the back roads I had never ridden on before.

            285 miles ridden in a little over 7 hours, I returned home. When you are not use to riding that many miles for that many hours in one sitting, your posterior (butt) begins to hurt. 

Look around, they may be with you!

Don Ford

With a tear in her eye 12.28.16

            This is a true story and it isn’t about me!

            This saga took place at the Ford’s Homestead on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 27^th. Two of my wife’s friends had come to visit. I not being a nosy person, decided it would be better if I adjourned to the Ford’s rocker located near the garage door on the south driveway.

            I had gotten comfortable in the old rocker as I observed a few neighbors coming and goings. The young lady that lives about a block up the street, came walking down the street with her three girls, all under the age of 3 years old. One of these girls is only a month old. Yes she had a stroller that seated the two youngest and the oldest was being carried by momma. This quartet of females turned the corner and gave me a greeting wave, well two of them waved.

            Everything quiet again, I returned to my daydreaming.

            As I enjoyed the relaxing warmth of the sun on my back, I noticed an SUV driving slowly down the street. Now I have seen this SUV many times and I am aware that it belonged somewhere in our neighborhood, but not sure of exactly which house it went to.

            The SUV driving slower did not turn the corner as usual, instead it seemed to be heading toward our side of the street. The driver side window was down and I could see a female person at the steering wheel. Naturally I had to assume that she was slowing to get a better look at this, “hansom senior citizen reposing in his rocker”!

            The SUV came closer to our side of the street and stopped at our driveway. I have seen this happen many times in the past. This female subject isn’t wanting to observe a hansom senior citizen reposing in his rocker, she is probably looking for her little dog. She will ask if I have seen a small fuzzy puppy, light brown in color with a blue ribbon in its hair over the left ear. This missing puppy would respond to the name of Princess Honey.

            I, being a gentleman usually get up from the comfort of the old rocker, and stroll out to the vehicle so the driver doesn’t need to shout. As I started to get up the door of the SUV opened and out stepped the female. She was smiling and walked quickly toward me.

            She began to explain that she and her husband have been living up the street for the past two months, and today they were packing getting ready to return home to Georgia.

            She went on to say. “Every time we come around the corner and see your Christmas lights and decorations, I get a very good feeling.” She then said, “Your decorations have been a blessing to me”, she actually had a tear in her eye and her voice cracked as she tried to explain, “I received such a warm feeling every evening as we passed your house”. She said, “I told my husband that I knew you were sitting outside and I was going to thank you for the warm and pleasant decorations that helped make my Christmas season happier!

            I thanked her for her comments and she returned to her SUV and drove away with a smile on her face. 

            I relayed this story to my present spouse and noted that her decorations had been a blessing! We never know when something we do or say, might be a blessing to someone!

Thank You, your reading my postings is a blessing to me!

Don Ford                                          

Tired and 12.27.16

            Tired and dirty, I forced myself to put the tools away, and then being a determined male of the species, I drug my old senior citizens body into the house hoping that I would be able to have the needed strength to get my dirty clothes off and get into a shower.

            What was the cause of all this fatigue to be placed upon one of the nicest senior citizens in Hewitt TX?  The villains in this story are three trees. Yes there are three oak trees in the front of the Ford’s Homestead that, for some reason, have a total disliking for humans, especially Mr. Ford.      

            I have reported many times in the past, these trees throughout the summer months drop huge acorns on the ground at the Homestead. One cannot walk bare footed in the front yard due to these rock hard almost round nuts that are projected from these trees.

            Yes, I said projected. These acorns do not simply fall to the earth, these trees hold onto them and any time a human enters the grounds, the acorns begin their assault on the human. The tree limbs do not protrude over the street, but there are acorns in the street, proof of the projection theory.

            In the fall and early winter months these three trees hold on to their leaves, waiting for just the right moment in time, to begin the leaf assault. Other trees in the neighborhood have evacuated their leaves weeks earlier.

            Christmas Eve, the assault began and overnight the trees deposited approx. one foot of leaves over the entire yard, including the flower beds.  This amount of brown litter, and that is what leaves falling from a tree are, was not only going to be back breaking work, but almost an impossible task for an aged individual, who don’t like to work anyway.

            The next day, Christmas day, we received an additional gift which was a nice wind out of the south. This wonderful wind removed at least half of the brown litter from our yard, sharing with others down the street. We now believe in sharing!

            Yesterday, I began an effort to remove as much of the brown litter as possible. First I worked the flower beds raking and blowing as many leaves as possible from these areas (it would have been nice if I would have had a leaf blower, my cheeks now hurt). This of course piled brown litter up as much as two feet deep in places in the yard.

            Then I brought the walk behind mower from the outbuilding to the front yard. I used the walk behind because my rider don’t have a grass catcher. My neighbors have grass catchers on their riding mowers, but that does not help me. 

            Basically, I worked from almost sunrise to almost sunset removing this litter (9:30am to 2:00pm). Tired and dirty, I force myself to put the tools away, and then being a determined male of the species, I drug my aged senior citizens body into the house hoping that I would be able to have the needed strength to get my dirty clothes off.        

            I, as usual, forgot to put my ankle brace on, which is very important for me when working long hours in the yard, without the brace it is difficult for me to get around the next day.

Foot note: when I was almost finished with the removal of the brown litter, a light wind began to blow causing these three villainous trees to start depositing more leaves on my clean yard! L

            Story told, I am now tired again, I think I need a cup of coffee.

May all your toil be appreciated!

Don Ford 

Holiday over 12.26.16

            Now that the holiday is over, I, along with many other senior citizens can get back to the daily grind! Before that one person asks, the daily grind for a senior citizen on a fixed income will be defined as:

            “Get up at the same time each morning,

            Have your first cup of coffee at the same time,

            Watch the so-called news programs on the same channel at the same time so one
            can complain about it later,

            Go for a walk at the same time taking the same path,

            Have lunch at the same time,

            Take your nap at the same time,

            Sit around and complain about nothing to do all afternoon,

            Eat supper at the same time.”

Of course there may be some timely trips to the restroom during the day that were not included in this list. If we weren’t on a fixed income, we could go places and do things like real people!

           

            Christmas is over and I must say I did get some nice gifts. Eatable items included peppermints and popcorn, which are always enjoyed by me, gift card to one of my favorite places, much appreciated. A handmade painting from Gabi and Alex, a new key fob, (you didn’t think I knew that word, did you) along with new pants and a new sports coat. There is a subscription to the QST magazine (ham radio). I even got a new drone that is supposed to be easier to fly than my old drone. I hope you did as well as I did on the receiving end!

            The red oak trees decided to finally drop their leaves and the yard was covered.

 

 Then the wind began to blow. I believe that more than half of the leaves were blown from our yard into the street, and other neighbor’s yards. J

 

That will make the clean up later today much easier. Unfortunately the wind did not remove the leaves from the flower beds which I will need to do manually. How does this yard work fit into my daily schedule? It doesn’t, but the grounds manager is on vacation and I will need to do his work for him! 

            This morning as I was sitting in the Ford’s rocker on the drive way near the garage door, the garbage truck came down the street. I like to keep an eye on events in our neighborhood (known as the nosy neighbor syndrome). The garbage I mean sanitation truck, approach the neighbors trash container (no it is not a sanitation container as they are all filled with trash). When the driver applied the brakes all eight back wheels locked up and the vehicle slid about 10 feet on the damp leaves that covered the road.

            We may not have slick roads here in Hewitt due to the snow but the leaves provide some drivers with a little thrill.

            Well I need to get started with the leaf removal effort, so I will end for now.

May you be healthy and happy!

Don Ford 

Leaf it alone 12.23.16

            In the following there are several photos. I had planned to rake up and vacuum the leaves on the first day of winter, but I went riding instead (previous posting). So I decided to rake the leaves the second day of winter but Alex wanted to make a pile and jump in them. The leaves are still on the ground. Plans sometimes go astray! 

   

  

   

Alex and Charlie found the leaves to be fun.            Click to enlarge photos.

Hope this leafs you feeling good!

Don Ford

First day of winter 12.21.16

            What I had planned for the first day of winter was, rake leaves and then vacuum them up with the lawn mower. The leaves had piled up during the most recent freezing cold and windy weather. Plans often go astray. 

            This is what happened, one of those silly ole senior citizens called me and asked if I want to go to Stephenville TX for some BBQ. BBQ sounds good but why Stephenville, why not eat here in town, did he know Stephenville was 90 miles away? That’s when this story gets even odder. It was suggested that we might want to get some of the senior citizen bikers together and ride to Stephenville for lunch. After lunch, we could have a casual ride, taking the back roads home.

            My first response was, its cold outside. It was suggested that we could dress in layers. I said I would need to check my schedule to see if I had any obligations, and the voice on the other end of the phone said, “You mean you need to ask your wife”? My response was, “yes”.

            It happened that I did have an obligation to pick up the grand kids at school at noon on the first day of winter! Good, I don’t have to ride in the cold winter weather!

            I told my present spouse of the ride and she said she would pick up the kids at school. It was as if she wanted me to freeze my tail off, in the cold winter weather. Why was she being so mean to me, encouraging me to associate with those senior bikers on the first day of winter? Does she enjoy punishing me? Had I done something wrong again, and not realized it?

            Ok I guess I could go if I can find my cold weather riding gear. Yes, in the past I had ridden in the cold weather many times with friends, but I was younger and the cold did not seem to affect me as much.

            Unfortunately, I was able to find my winter riding gear. What if my bike will not start, I would have a good excuse to stay at home! I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, as I had not started the bike for three or four weeks. Securing the key, and feeling more positive that I would not be subjected to the tremendous cold of the first day of winter, I walked to the bike. Key inserted, turned and the starter button pushed, the bike spring to life, darn it, the bike started. Maybe I should not have had the battery tickle charger attached, as it keeps the battery charged.

            Ok, I have no other excuse, I guess I will go. That BBQ better be good!

            It was a frigid cold 42 degrees when I left the Ford Homestead riding to the meeting place. Think about this, 42 degrees don’t sound bad, but when you are on a motorcycle moving at 40 to 70 mph there is a wind chill factor!

            I arrived at the meeting location and all the extra clothing was keeping me warm. My handle grips are heated so my hands were warm. All in all, it wasn’t too bad!

            Our group left the assembly area at 9:30 sharp and headed out highway 6. There was a cross wind that was buffeting us somewhat for the first 30 miles or so. Being experienced senior citizen bikers, we were able to withstand the harsh winds.

            In an attempt to shorten this story somewhat, 90 miles later we arrived at the BBQ restaurant. I must say the food was good and the service was excellent. Especially the young lady wearing the short shorts with the tattoo on the back of her leg. 

            We enjoyed some lively conversation while we were eating the BBQ. We may have taken close to 45 minutes at the restaurant when we noticed the building was filling with patrons. Obviously this is a popular eating place.

            We were able to get up from the table and make our way outside to the bikes. Our group leader, Nick, took us on several outstanding back roads as we made our way back to civilization. My odometer recorded, 225 miles for this first day of winter ride.

            All in all, it was a very good ride, the first day of winter turned out to have a high temp of 69 degrees.

                        Wish you were here! 

May all your rides be as good!

Don Ford 

Christmas Party 12.20.16

            The annual Christmas party was held this past Saturday evening. It was good seeing some old friends and there were many new faces at the party.

            This annual party was held on the coldest evening up to that date, for this year (it got down to 20 degrees overnight). The wind was 30 mph gusting to 45 mph. Even though it was very cold, I must say the party was very nice, there was good food and gifts given.

            Last year: My spouse of 47.5 years and I attended the DIB Christmas party and I won one of the many gifts that were given. I believe I won a heater, and another winner wanted to trade his gift for mine. Being a generous person, and not needing the heater, I accepted the trade. I ended up with a very nice chain saw! Winner! J

            In past years, although it may not have been required, as a manager, I would not enter any of the giveaways.  I believed it would not have looked good if the manager won, so I did not enter. Now that I am retired, I enter these contests and I have been very lucky and have won several times.

            This year I did not win a heater, but I did win, and I was very surprised at the gift. If you haven’t guessed what I won, I suggest you re-read the above.

Waiting… waiting… waiting… waiting… waiting…   Or continue reading below.

            Some would say that winning a gift at a company party is just luck and not a blessing. I see winning as one of many continuing blessings in life. 

            I was blessed with great parents, brothers and sisters.

            I am now blessed with a great wife and family.

            We are blessed with many friends.

            My life hasn’t been perfect, but it has for the most part  

            been very good, due to many blessings.

            It is better to give than to receive, but receiving is pretty good too.

            Below is a photo of what I won this year. It is the same type item I traded for last year.

 

            Why is the saw sitting on the old nerd’s desk? It is there because it is too cold to be outside! I told you it is cold here, don’t you listen!

May you be blessed and a winner!
                    

Don Ford

Ladies will not 12.19.16

            You are correct, the title does not explain what this soon to be well written article is about. Allow me to explain. The full title is, “Ladies will not leave me alone”! Before that one person asks, there is photo evidence, and my present spouse knows of the title and has seen the photo evidence.

            I was surprised when my present spouse did not seem overly upset at the amorous advancements of the ladies. I would have thought, the fact that there was more than one, should have enraged my first spouse, but, it didn’t! Actually several of these advancements, and by advancements I mean physical touching, occurred in the presence of my spouse.

            When I was young and a lady put a finger, or something else in my ear, I actually enjoyed it. I guess you could say in the olden days, “it was a turn on”.

            I wonder if I am too old to enjoy advancements from the ladies. If that is the situation, why should I even get up in the morning?

            Now that I am thinking of it, when I get my hair cut by female barber’s hair stylists (they aren’t stylists when they cut my hair, there is no styling going on, just cutting), there is no excitement, no turn on from their hands being all over my head. I must be, “over the hill”, and that is why the advancements of the ladies was more annoying, than enjoyable. Also that is why my present spouse wasn’t concerned as the Ladies swarmed around me.

            What? OK, I will answer one question, if you will stop interrupting me. The question is, when did this assault occur? Yes, I felt as if it were an assault! There I said it, an assault, and my first spouse thought it was funny. This all took place on Saturday afternoon. It was 78 degrees, the sun was shining and I was sitting in the Ford’s old rocker near the garage door. Everything seemed to be just perfect prior to the Yankee weather that was approaching (Yankee defined as unbearably cold weather).

            It is difficult for Texans, even us Naturalized Texans, to believe that the temp can drop 40 degrees in less than four hours and 58 degrees in 12 hours.

            Texans don’t have all those nice warm coats that the northern folks do. Why did this happen to us? One must believe the fact that, “The State of Texas has allowed the immigration of non-conservatives (aka Liberals) into the state”, is what caused Mother Nature to turn against us. Why couldn’t the cold air somehow have settled only on Austin, and left the good conservative people alone?

            Wow, I got off the subject. Let’s see, if I can focus and get to the point.

            My question is why they would not leave me alone! It may be due to me being such a sweet guy, possibly I smelled good. I am a warm hearted person, possibly that shown through and attracted the ladies. Possibly they were just wanting to bother a senior person who was minding his own business, or possibly my first spouse had something to do with the assault.

            Regardless of the reason, they were there. One flew into my ear, several went down the neck of my shirt and I even got one in the mouth. Lady bugs are everywhere this year. I will attach a photo, do you see the lady bug?

 

            If you don’t see the lady bug look closely at my glasses. If you are observant you may see my first spouse in a reflection of the sun glasses. (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Six days until Christmas!

Don Ford

In and Out 12.16.16

            One could easily have titled this posting, “A well trained Human”.

            Most mornings, I venture into what was my office area when I was not on a fixed income, now known as the computer room, where I turn on the TV along with the computer. Most often I tune the TV to the outside cameras, as I am so tired of hearing about the president elect. I was tired of hearing about the election prior to the election and now I am tired of hearing about it after. Please understand, I am happy with the outcome of the election, but I am just tired of hearing about it or the participants.

            The above statement is an introduction to the morning world of, “Preacher Ford”. Notice I did not say minister or reverend but, “Preacher Ford”. I do not usually minister to others, but I do have a tendency to preach at times. Possibly due to an upbringing in a Pentecostal Church, where, in my opinion, they had mostly preachers and few ministers.

            Wow, I have somehow gotten off the subject! The subject is not Preaching or Church although it possibly should be!

            The subject is the training I have gone through, and the computer room where I sit in solitude, developing these magnificent one of a kind messages for the masses! Each morning as I ponder various ideas in hopes that one will inspire you, or even me, to do something positive, there interruptions which take away from my constipation I mean concentration.

            These distractions are caused by the Ford’s cats. It should be known that both Molly and Charlie have taught me to open the door for them. There is a door to my left which leads into the Ford’s garage. Each morning the cats go outside for a walk. They check their territories to be sure there are no smells from outside cats, entering their territory!

            Charlie and Molly have taught me to open the door for them, and at times they abuse the privilege. These two cats have different ways of telling me to open the door, one scratches on the door while the other meows. I drop what I am doing and open the door. This happens multiple times each morning. Yes, I am a well-trained human! 

            Different subject:

            When was the last time you saw a half dollar? Unless you are a collector, I would say it has been a long time. You can look it up and learn what I already know!

            2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits a dollar, the word bits used with a number probably has no meaning to most people.

            Different subject:

            For that person who questioned the senior nerd, I have one more photo, seen below.             Ask not lest ye receive!

You can click on the photo to make it larger. Yes there is a napkin on the desk, which is where the coffee cup sits. Occasionally I have a snack and my first wife strongly suggests that I eat at my desk! Yes there is a microphone in the photo, do you have to see everything? Did you see the band aid?

Have a great day, and weekend!

Don Ford

Christmas photos 12.15.16

            Three wonderful photos are shown below. One is of a handsome retired person whose Christmas tie, is almost as old as him.

 

            A new Christmas tie would be nice but those of us on fixed incomes can’t be purchasing non-essential items! This good looking gentlemen was attempting to pull in his mid-section but it didn’t work.

            Below is a photo of one of the many Ford’s Christmas cactus or is it cacti. When looking at one, it is cactus, but when looking at more than one it is Cacti. (That was an educational note)

 

            In the following photo we see an interesting Christmas decoration on a senior nerd’s desk. How do we know the lamp is on a nerd’s desk, there are wires and a monitor in the background? I guess that wonderful image of a leg on a nerd’s desk, may be his way of remembering the olden days! 

 

            On a different subject, I will explain how a name came into being.

Noel, is defined as, “a Christmas carol”, but did you know the word Noel was created by a fellow, many years ago, after writing a song for Christmas. This fellow wanted to be remembered, so he wrote his name backwards to get the word Noel.

            For that person that has not been able to follow the above statement, Leon, written backwards, is Noel, now do you get it?  Why do I even try to educate the public?

            Yep, Christmas is all around us!

It’s ok to say, “Merry Christmas”!

Don Ford

Distracted driving 12.14.16

            We have all heard stories about people doing odd things while driving. I once heard of a female subject who was able to put on pantie hose while driving. That seems to me to be distracted driving.

            This morning I was in the process of driving home from the local Whataburger, after collecting a couple morning breakfast sandwiches for my first spouse and me. I was in the process of turning from Hewitt Drive onto Laredo St. when I observed, a young looking female subject, driving a full size pickup. She was slowing as she approached the stop sign which made it possible for me to observe her actions. The female subject was putting this black stuff on her eye lashes that is supposed to make the eye lashes look thicker and longer (wife number one said it is call mascara). 

            A female applying makeup while driving, was she looking at herself in the mirror or was she watching the vehicle in front of her, as they both approached the stop sign.

            Later I went to the post office and as I was leaving the post office I observed a male subject, in a small pickup, who had his cell phone in hand and against his ear. He had slowed considerably attempting to make the turn from Hewitt Drive. He was trying to turn with one hand on the steering wheel and he came very close to the vehicle in front of me. He could not stop talking long enough to make a safe turn. And since he was going onto the post office parking lot why didn’t he just say wait a minute, let me park and we can safely talk?

If everyone was as perfect as me…

Don Ford

If you want to stop receiving emails about these posting send me a note, I don't want to be a bother. If you know someone that would want to receive them, have them send me a note and I will add them to the mail list.

            Thank You!

Habla Espanol? 12.13.16

                Speak Spanish? Just in case you do not know what the title line was.

                My first wife and I had ventured out on Sunday morning to indulge in a morning meal. The food and service was good. During our meal my present wife had noted that we would need to go to a certain grocery store on our way home. I accept orders from the Ford Homestead CEO!

            Without providing a name of the store, I will say, if you want to use one of their carts you need to put a quarter in a slot to disconnect the cart from the others. This is done in an effort to have the carts returned to the cart storage area, by the customer, which saves the store money by not having to pay someone to go collect the carts from around the parking lot. One does get their quarter, back when the reconnect the cart to the others.

            We arrived at the grocery store and my spouse of 47.5 years allowed me to stay in the Ford’s Chevy listening to Christmas music while she went inside and shopped. I observed several individuals get a cart from the storage area. Later as they left the store they all returned their carts and retrieved their quarter.

            I find it interesting that people will push the cart out to their car and then push the cart all the way back to the storage area for a quarter. A quarter in today’s world is worth about as much as a penny was, when I was a kid. As a children, (yes I know I wrote children, it got your attention didn’t it) I could buy a piece of Double Bubble gum for a penny. I wonder if one can get a piece of Double Bubble for a quarter now days, if so where?

            There was this one couple, male and female, who walked from the store pushing the cart to their vehicle. The items were unloaded from the cart and into the vehicle. The male pushed the cart back to the storage area. He had trouble reconnecting his cart to the others, and it appeared he had hurt his hand as he was shaking it as he marched back to the vehicle.

            The female subject seeing the male subject fail to retrieve the quarter, but not worrying about the hand injury, she exited the vehicle and started toward the cart storage area. There seemed to be no doubt that she could reconnect the chain and retrieve the quarter. She was about three quarters of the way to the area when she abruptly stopped. Her hand gestures and body language said, “Why am I doing this for a quarter”? She stopped, turned, and headed back to her vehicle, body language saying, “I don’t care about that darn quarter!” 

            Then my spouse exited the store pushing the cart to our vehicle. Once the items had been loaded into the back seat she returned the cart to the storage area.

            There was a heavy set man, possibly in his 60s that was attempting to speak to my wife. I noticed that she kind of gave him a look, and walked past him. I continued to observe. The fellow again spoke to my wife and this time she seemed to respond. Arriving back at the Ford’s Chevy, my first wife noted that the man had spoken to her in Spanish, when she didn’t respond, he asked if she spoke Spanish, he then spoke to her in English. He stated he liked our truck and wanted to know how much the Ford’s Chevy cost.

               

Two bits aint that much,

Leave the carts on the parking lot!

Don Ford

Christmas December 12, 2016

             

              I have not seen any stories about the birth of Jesus on TV for several years now.
              If you do not attend church regularly, you will likely not here or see any comments
              about this birth.

                Take time to consider the true meaning of Christmas!

                Focus on the people around you!

                Put down the smart phones, tablets and computers, and talk!

                Someone would like to hear your voice, rather than a text!

                If you can’t be with friends and family, call them!

                ____________________________________________________________

                I was listening to a friend and a comment caused me to want to add this statement.

                Consider the one who was born and lain in a manger. He lived, taught,
                and died for your forgiveness. You have been forgiven, you should be willing
                to forgive.

                Get past any disagreements, communicate with your family and friends!

                ____________________________________________________________________________

                Although gift giving is nice, let’s make Christmas more than just giving gifts!

       Merry Christmas!

          Don Ford

No warm Pajamas 12.09.16

            Here at the Ford Homestead of Hewitt, the terribly cold weather has brought an almost unsolvable situation to the forefront.

            As I sat in my old dilapidated recliner, attempting to watch a tube type TV, (for those who are younger, or at least want to be seen as younger, a tube type TV has tubes in it which make it work. These TVs are not flat screen, they are huge and have a real wood frame) with my first wife across the room in her recliner, we were discussing the chill in the air. My present spouse had worked all day at making candy for the Christmas season, and I must admit that she does a good job of Christmas candy and baked goods.

            My spouse of 47 years had noted that she was considering a hot shower and getting into her warm pajamas. Warm pajamas would be nice I replied, but being on a fixed income I can’t afford that type of luxury. My spouse seemed surprised that I did not have any warm pajamas. I have old pajamas but they are not warm and cozy.

            That is when I remembered, “I do have a union suit”. Now that might not be the proper name for long underwear. My long underwear is a one piece red garment some time referred to as Long Johns. I decided to beat the first wife to the shower, and I went to the closet to recover my union suit. FYI, there is a flap in the back! If you don’t know what the flap is for, I am not going to explain.

            While I was searching for the long underwear, I discovered my Santa’s hat. Since we are on a fixed income, the thought of purchasing a Santa suit to go along with the Santa hat is out of the question, as I could not ask my spouse to work overtime picking up the cans from alongside the highways. I can wear my union suit and Santa hat which would cause me to look a little like Santa.

            Once I had the long undies and my Santa hat on, my spouse suggested I should let her take a photo of me. As you know, I am a very modest person, I was somewhat hesitant to be photographed in my undies. My spouse of 47 years suggested that I have the perfect manly body, and the photo might go viral on the internet!

            Reluctantly, I gave in and allowed my first wife to take these risqué photos. I will post one of them, you can see my expression states that I was not enjoying being photographed.

            Hopefully you are not retired and living on a fixed income, and I hope you have at least one pair of warm and cozy pajamas. People on a fixed income must rely on old red long johns.

            This posting was not constructed in hopes that you would want to give me warm and cozy pajamas, as a Christmas present, but if it has influenced you to do so, that would be ok!

You might be blessed in ways you can’t imagine,

if you give to someone on a fixed income!

Don Ford                                     ^{(not everything your read is true)}