I don't ask for much 10.07.14

 

                As everyone knows, I don’t ask for a lot in life. I am one of those low maintenance people, always doing things for others, never expecting anything in return.

                Monday of this week, I ask my first wife to remind me to do two things. I was going to take Gabi to school as usual and upon return I wanted my spouse of 45 years to remind me.

                I don’t think it is too much to ask for one little reminder, do you? It wasn’t as if I was going to solve all the world’s problems, I just wanted one reminder.

                Speaking of problems, “We The People, need to get rid of a bunch of politicians, and find real leaders”. Get active in the political process and help get rid of the do nothing old head politicians.

                I digress, I returned home from taking Gabi to school and went in to the office and started reading emails.

99% of the email I get is advertisements and spam, I should consider getting rid of my internet service. If I get rid of the internet at the house I could still write my blog and check my email by going to “The McDonalds” once a week. That way I could have a fast food breakfast, use their Wi-Fi and talk with other senior retired people _{(three fun things with one visit).}

Sorry, I digressed again: now you see why I need reminders, and the logical person to remind me, is my present wife. Anyway, back to the story, I dropped Gabi off at school before 8:00 and it was 10:30 when I remembered what I wanted to be reminded of.

I went directly to my spouse and confronted her, as to why she had not reminded me. Her pitiful response was, “I thought you had remembered”. Possibly, had I given her more time, she may have come up with a better fib response.

If I had wanted her to remind me to take her out for breakfast, she would have remember that.

I don’t ask for much, just one little reminder; “remind me to go to the throne room and then to go for my morning walk in that order, when I return from taking Gabi to school”. Is that too much to ask?

 

Different subject:

In the olden days if you saw someone talking to them self, we would say they are crazy. I assume that is politically incorrect these days.

I have a short tale about a person who was in the public rest room, at a rest area in Arkansas, this past Friday. It is beyond my understanding as to why they call them rest rooms, I have never seen anyone rest in one of them.

This big fellow was standing in a stall and talking very loud. There was a fellow standing outside the stalls with cleaning supplies, whom I assume, was going to clean the toilets. This big mouth man was talking loud enough that anyone could hear him. I, being in another stall, glanced over at him to be sure he wasn’t talking to me, he wasn’t. I finished my business, and it is a good thing that these public toilets flush themselves, because I would not touch the flush valve.

The big talkative fellow made some derogative comment about, “your president”, which I did not disagree with. I exited the building and was standing outside attempting to stretch various parts of my body, before continuing my journey home.

The big fellow came out of the building still talking loud, and there was no one around. He had a pair of old looking denim coveralls on, and he had a blue tooth device that covered his entire ear with a boom that positioned the microphone at his mouth. This fellow appeared to be talking to someone on the phone as he headed for the big rig. Was this over the road truck driver really talking to someone on the phone, or was he really crazy and just talking to hear the sound of his own voice? 

He may have been crazy or possibly he was so use to the noise of the truck that he talked loud. Either way, it was an interesting visit to, “rest area 51”. 

 

Did you get the reference to “area 51”?             

 

I hope all your rest rooms are clean.

 

Don Ford

Out of this world 10.05.2014

                When I say, “out of this world”, I mean out of Texas, and back in the other world.  I went to Missouri last week driving 697 miles on Monday arriving at my destination a little before 6:00pm, almost 12 hours of travel time. I returned this Friday same driving time and distance. 

                I must say it was a good trip, safe and uneventful driving and lots of fun with family and old friends. For those real Texans and us naturalized Texans, we believe the humidity is bad here. I am here to tell you that, “Swamp East Missouri” is much more humid.

                I went out to my younger sister’s farm and saw her horses. A couple old friends dropped by while we were there. One of the friends I had not seen for at least 35 years. We talked for a while and got somewhat caught up on what has been happening.

                The weather was cool in the mornings getting up to about 80 during the day and 100% humidity. There was some rain on Thursday evening about the same time that Waco and other areas in Texas were being hit with damaging high winds and lightening.

                I stayed at my older sister’s home and we enjoyed talking about old times. We did get BBQ sandwiches from the place on Williams street a couple times during the visit, and I brought some home to my present wife.

                There was a gathering at my sister’s house, of some of the family members on Thursday evening. We had plenty of food and there were many stories told, some of which were true. I was asked how I could afford to drive to Missouri, being on a fixed income. I would have liked to have flown but that was way too expensive. It took my present wife several weeks of walking up and down the local highways and byways, picking up aluminum cans 12 hours a day to get enough money for this trip. I would like to thank her for the effort but she don’t read my articles so it would not do any good to say, “Thanks”. 

                After almost 12 hours of driving on Friday, one would think that I would not want to get into the old truck for a while, but Saturday morning I got up and drove down to Belton TX to a Ham Com (a gathering for ham radio operators). There was a lot of old radios and other old stuff for sell. It is always surprising to me, how many people are hams, which is evident by the large number of people gathering at the event.

                I was looking for a new 2 meter antenna. I found a new duel band antenna for less money that I would have paid if I ordered it, and there was no sales tax.

                Saturday afternoon Gabi had a soccer game at 3:00pm. We were lucky that there was a shade tree near one of the goals so we positioned our chairs in the shade. I don’t remember the exact score, but Gabi’s team scored several times and the other team did not. They put Gabi in as the goalie for a while and she seemed to like that.

                Changing the subject:

                In a recent study performed at “The Ford Homestead Institute for Conservative Studies”, we found that there are various ways to determine whether a person leans to the right or left politically. We have found that one can look at the address painted on the curb in front of their home and determine their political orientation.       

                The following applies to those people who live in a house that they own (does not apply to renters).

                As an example, when looking at our house number painted on the curb you will see it is to the right of the side walk, indicating that I am Not Always Right But Never Left (NARBNL)

As seen in the photo below.

                It is obvious, that an address in the middle of a side walk or driveway indicates the owner is politically center of the road.

                Just as obvious, the house number on the left of the side walk or drive, indicates a liberal thinking person.

                Less obvious is the person that has their house number on both sides of their drive way, or both at the side walk and driveway. This person can swing both ways, politically. This person may be, or have been, employed by the government and less able to show their true colors. 

                The final political indicator is the person who does not have their house number on the curb or drive way. These folks do not have a political affiliation and either do not vote or will vote for the party who is willing to pay them.

                For complete documentation on this study send $25.00 to “The Ford Homestead of Hewitt” and ask for “Political Inclinations Study 13.001.274 E”. Allow 6 years for delivery.

                If you have questions about the study just re-read the information above or send for the complete documentation.

 

 

We hope your day is, for the most part, politically correct.

 

Don Ford               

 

Who Done It 09.27.14

 

                “Who done it”, could be the start of an old time movie, but in this case it is present day life.

                It all started while I was sitting in my “Red Ryder Rocker”, contemplating, “the meaning of life, why pendulums swing the way they do, and what will I do after my nap this afternoon”. Obviously a mind such as mine, can handle a wide variety of subject matter.

As an example, did you know that a 100 pound pendulum on a well lubricated axel, hanging from a 10 foot rod when released from a 30 degree right angle will swing to the left reaching 29.7 degrees, then swinging back to the right it will reach 29.4 degrees? Each time the pendulum swings, the distance traveled is reduced due to friction at the axel and air. This pendulum will swing exactly 100 times prior to stopping.

How does this same pendulum react in outer space? It doesn’t move as there is no gravity to cause it to move.

What, you have two questions? Ok, let’s address your questions.  

I do not know who made the rocking chair, I just like thinking that it is a, “Red Ryder Rocker”. Yes I made it up, are you happy?

Where did I get the information on the pendulum? Do you think the information is incorrect?  I made it up, it sounded like something that was factual, didn’t it?

 

Ok, let’s get back on the subject, and I hope you stop asking so many questions.

This posting is asking the question, “Who done it”. I was sitting on my rocking chair watching the world go by when I noticed some type of marking on a group of three pecans on my little tree. I was several feet away so I could not see what these markings were. Being a curious senior citizen, I got up from the comfort of my rocker, I guess you could say I was literally off my rocker, and I walked over to the pecans. The markings appeared to be the number 11, an X and an underline.

What could this mean? Is someone trying to tell me something? If you remember in a past story, there was an X in the sky that was exactly over my head, and we all know that X marks the spot of where the treasure is located. Yes, I am considered by some to be a treasure, but is this X on the pecan indicating a treasure? _{Photo below.}

I have considered that IIX might be a Roman numeral, but that is not correct. Maybe the equation was not complete. It may have been the number 11, the X is times some number, and the missing number not written. 

                Who wrote this equation, may be the most important question. It was not me, had I have done this I would have written my name.

                 If you understand the equation, please let me know what it is.

 

I hope your problems are easy to solve.

 

Don Ford

Focused while walking 09.24.14

 

                Although you may find it difficult to believe, I often find it challenging to stay focused at times. I have learned to be focused during my morning stroll.

                I did not walk yesterday morning, I did however drive to Round Rock, TX because my daughter-in-law was having surgery.

                This morning I crawled out of bed about 30 minutes late. I, being a wise manager of my time and my movements, was able to get through all my morning practices in half the time I normally use, and that did include throne time. Yes, you are correct, I am astonishing at times.

                I entered the outside world right on schedule and decided to constipate contemplate concentrate on my morning walk. I have found that being focused on my morning walk increases the exercise value and keeps me from being so critical of others. Yes, even though it may be hard for you to believe, it is true I can be somewhat critical of others.

                This morning the temp was 55 degrees as I began to walk down the street. “Fall has fell” and we actually have a fall like day.

                I focused on a triangular shaped street sign at the cul-de-sac and began to walk. I have noticed that I do not change my stride and I walk in a more direct line by staying focused. I do not take my eyes off the focal point at the end of the street but I am aware of my surroundings. Peripheral vision allows me to know that there was a flock of birds flying overhead. I was also aware of the light coming from a window at the front of one of the houses.

                At one house I smelled the odor of someone smoking. Even though I did not turn my eyes toward his house I knew the fellow was standing there watching me walk down the street. This person has told me he enjoys a smoke as he picks up his morning newspaper and then he likes to sit on the patio and read the newspaper with a hot cup of coffee.

                Arriving at the end of the street I made my turn and headed toward the other street light. My stride today is faster than usual and I am beginning to breathe through my mouth, “a mouth breather”. In this cool air, it just seems right to step up the pace. As I pass under the street light I became aware that I was being stalked by an ankle biter (Chihuahua).

                (Factoid; this so called dog, is named after the state of Chihuahua Mexico)

                Yep the neighbor had left their so called dog outside. There was a lot of barking and it came running at me. I stopped and looked that the “miniature pot hound”, he immediately broke off the attack, and headed toward the house still barking.

                As soon as I began to walk he again engaged in this “terroristic threat” to bite my ankle. Being the brave individual that I am, I continued my walk ever mindful of the stalking presence in that yard.

                I was close to the end of my 30 minute walk and I was aware that my pace had slowed somewhat. This may be hard to believe but I could see my breath, just a little when I exhaled. I also noticed that I was not sweating today and that felt good.

                I am always energized when I complete my walk, too bad it doesn’t last all day.

                I want to pull some weeds from my back yard so I have strategically placed my lawn sprinkler to water an area of the back yard.

Why would I water the weeds before I pull them? It is the humane thing to do, after all, they give the convicted murder a last cigarette before the hang him, so why not give the weeds a last drink before I pull them. _{(It is easier to get the roots out if the ground is damp)} 

 

I now find myself tired after telling this story and in need of a nap. It isn’t nap time and I can’t sneak a nap in because my spouse of 45 years is still here at the house.

 

Stay focused on the goal and you will be a winner.

 

Don Ford

 

Darkest before dawn 09.22.14

 

                It had been an ordinary night, no loud dog barking or car horns too keep one awake. I would say I had a restful night’s sleep, even though I did wake up somewhat earlier than usual.

                It was 6:20 am when I was exiting the Ford Homestead through the garage door. As I stepped out on the drive the extreme darkness was suddenly apparent. I looked around and the only lights I was seeing, were street lights at either end of the street.

                This darkness made me even more aware of the stillness of the night. I stood there listening for sounds and I heard nothing, no cars, no dogs, not even a cricket. Is this normal for this early morning hour, or was there something sinister afoot?

                Walking stick in one hand and pulling the trash cart with the other I walked cautiously toward the street. There could be someone hiding in the darkness, it would be easy to do.

                Leaving the trash cart at the curb I started walking very slowly down the dark street. I look up toward the sky and there was no moon, but I could see the stars, which is unusual as the lights from the surrounding town usually lite up the sky enough to block out the stars.

                Today is the first day of fall _{(it actually starts tonight about 9:50pm)} which means, the day and night are of equal length. Tomorrow the days will be shorter and the nights longer as fall enters our world.

The street light at the far end of the street, did not offer any comfort to me in this extreme darkness. The deafening silence was broken, with the distant sound of moving air. I stop and listened for a moment. The sound was not all around me, could there be air moving through only a couple trees? As I took a few more steps down the unlit street, I was aware that this sound was coming from the outside unit of an air conditioner.

I began walking again and I noticed that my right ankle was hurting. It is normal for the left ankle to hurt a little, but not the right.  Was this ankle pain and omen, a way of warning me to not go any further into the darkness? I paused again, looking into the darkness which had closed in all around me. I attempted to stretch my ankle to relieve the pain. I knew I would not be able to run very far and certainly not fast with two good ankles, now with this unusual pain in the right ankle I was sure I could not evade any night stalker.  

The stretching seemed to help, I took a couple test steps, and the pain was gone. I could now resume my morning walk.

I believe when the darkness is this extreme, one becomes more aware of their surroundings. Toward the middle of the block I could see what appeared to be a mist, coming up from the ground, and at the same time I became aware, there were no cars parked on the street, which is very unusual. It was not a fog but a mist that I could just make out in the darkness.

Again I thought, are all these unusual events, omens, attempting to warn me to, “not walk this morning”?

Walking at a slow pace and carrying my walking stick more as a club for self-defense, I proceeded down the block. As I approached the mist that was coming up from the ground, I could see it was the neighbor’s sprinkler system, watering their lawn.

Silly me I thought, there are no night stalkers here in our neighborhood, so I walked on. As I neared the end of the block I was approaching the area that was lighted by the street light, when I heard a snap sound, off to my right. I turned quickly, there was a tall dark shadow of a man coming toward me. 

Good morning Don, were the words from the dark shadow, it was Larry, who lives at the end of the block. Larry had come out to get the morning newspaper. I replied, “Good morning Larry” and continued my walking.

I turned and started back up the block walking from the comfortable light of the street light, back into the extreme darkness.

I continued my morning constitutional and had made several laps up and down the street. It was about 7:00 and the sky was bright and cheerful. I was on my final lap when the young fellow who lives a couple houses up the street, was carrying a bag of trash out to the trash cart, which was already at the curb.

This would be the first time I had spoken to this young man so I said, “a bright and cheerful good morning to you”. He replied, “What”? I repeated “a bright and cheerful good morning to you”, to which he replied, “For some it may be”. I was surprised at that response. He went on to say, “I have to help with my grandmother’s funeral today”.  I said, I was sorry for his loss, not knowing what else I could say, I walked on.

That was a heck of a morning constitutional and an unusual first greeting.

                                                                                                                                            

I hope your fall weather, is not hot and not cold.

 

Don Ford

 

 

Distracted driving 09.19.14

 

                I started thinking about distracted driving this morning, as I was taking Alex to his pre K day care. As I was driving I could hear that Alex had a stopped up nose. I handed him a facial tissue _{(most people refer to these tissues as a Kleenex but that is a brand name)} and told him to blow. He begrudgingly obliged me and then said, “The snot grows back after I blow my nose”. I laughed as I thought about how true that comment was, and told him it did the same to me.

                It is possible that I was somewhat distracted during that exchange, but I would not consider that conversation as a distraction.

                I dropped Alex off at his school and started for town. I needed to drop by one of the home centers to see about a light fixture for the back of the house. Each night we turn the light on and it stays on all night, then I forget to turn it off the next morning, and sometimes it stays on all day. I want a fixture that is dusk to dawn. I actually went to both home centers and decided to purchase the fixture from Do it Best Corp.

                I was on a four lane road with a left turn lane, when I stopped at an intersection. While sitting at a stop light I looked left, there was a fellow in the left turn lane texting and not looking at the traffic light. I then looked to my right and there was a young woman, she was also texting. I sat looking from left to right contemplating about those two drivers being distracted. Why can’t these people learn to focus on their driving?

                A little further up the road at the next stop light, there was a lady in the car beside me. You are not going to believe this but it is true, she was braiding her hair. That wasn’t as bad as what happen when the light changed. She wasn’t looking at the traffic light so she did not start moving as quickly as myself and other traffic, but she did catch up with me and she was still trying to braid her hair while moving, with no hands on the wheel. Get dressed before you leave the house and focus on your driving.

                A little further up the road there was another woman apparently texting as her vehicle passed mine. I soon realized I was wrong, she put the phone up to her ear and was either talking or listening to voice mail. I did not realize that anyone talked on the cell phones now days. Both hands on the wheel and focus on your driving. 

                Then there was the fellow who was driving in a hurry weaving in and out of traffic. No cell phone for this clown, he was just in a hurry. I watched him thinking that this guy could cause an accident. His distraction was that he was in a hurry, drive safely and stay focused.

                To top it all off, my ham radio would stop scanning on one frequency and make a white noise _{(static sound)}, which caused me to look at the radio. Instead of turning the radio off, I was attempting to set the radio to skip that frequency. This was at least as bad as texting or talking on the phone, why can’t I stay focused on my driving.

                Now that I have had time to consider the entire driving distracted situation, I can tell you this, “If I can see that another driver is driving distracted then that is a distraction to me”.

When I think about it, I doubt that most people can drive without being distracted. If someone is in the car with you and you have a conversation that is a distraction. If you are driving alone you are probably thinking about something other than driving, and that is distracted. 

 

Distracted driving is a way of life, embrace it and be careful.   

 

Don Ford  

Inventive, yes I am 09.16.14

               

                Days are getting shorter as the sun drifts to the southern hemisphere. This is a natural event occurring annually. It also means the sun is rising a little later each day.

                How would this affect me, you ask. It means I am leaving the homestead at about the same time each morning, for the daily constitutional, and it is dark. In other words, the sun rises later each day.

                It is dark enough that I have decided to carry a flash light. The light helps me see anything hiding in the shadows.

Yesterday I observed a red flashing light coming down the street in the dark. It appeared to be a light that one would see on the back of a bike. 

                It was a female runner and she had the light tied to her foot. As she passed I noticed that it could not be seen from behind, and that is where I would think she would want it to be seen.

I also carry a cane or walking stick because I like them, and just in case some ones ankle biter (aka Chihuahua) gets out and attacks me.

Being a person that believes in combining actions, thus reducing the effort put into any particular activity, I decided to attach the light to the cane. This allowed me to have one hand free at all times.

The light on the cane pointed down showing the road in front of me and if I wanted to see something away from the road I just pointed my cane and I could see. Also the light provides vehicles and other walkers enough light to see where I am.

                I presented my combined cane and light to my spouse of 45 years and she made a frowny face. What does a woman know about lights and canes?

 

The following are photos that were taken from my short radio tower. I did a test climb to see what I would need in the way of tools to take down, one old broken antenna and one that isn’t broken.

 

You may have noticed the “F” on top the chimney, which is to help the Google Earth people find our homestead. The tall tower is to the left in the photo.

This is a short tower, my feet were about 23 foot above the ground.

This shot is over my shoulder looking toward the street.

 

If you are going to get high, this is the way to do it.

 

Don Ford

Fixed income personified 09.15.14

               

                Those of us who live on a fixed income understand the need for repairing of old items verses purchasing new items.

                I will attempt to help you understand how repairing even small relatively inexpensive items, can be a big plus for those of us who must live off a, “never changing monthly income”.

                I have been sorting through and consolidating items _{(wire nuts, butt connectors, coaxial connectors, screws, nuts and bolts)} with the hope of being more organized and the possibility, even though it is a remote possibility, that I might get rids of some unneeded items _{(junk, items not needed or used in the past couple years)}.

                I have this small plastic see through container that has had a broken hinge. The hinge has been broken for several years, and even though the hinge was broken I could still snap the top on and it was used for small items.

                During consolidation I emptied this container and two others. My first thought was to put them in the trash but them my fixed income brain took over and I decided to attempt to repair this one container. Two out of three were tossed out, wow, I am making progress.

                The plastic container has been laying empty in the garage for a couple weeks now and this morning I decided to, “Attempt the repair”.  

 We see in the photo a clear plastic container. I will answer the question before that one person asks. “Yes, the toy dinosaur is mine and yes I do play with it when no one is looking”. 

                In the next photo you may be able to see the broken tab on the left side of the container.

 The question was, how do I execute a repair that will be permanent and inexpensive?

                I had previously given this situation some consideration and had developed a plan. The plan was to drill a hole through both parts of the plastic hinge, then insert a pin of some type through the holes which would act as a permanent axel for the hinge.

                I had not planned on the pin being and actual, “safety pin”.

  Click on any photo to see a slightly larger image.

                I save probably a dollar and a half by repairing this project, but I have nothing to put in the container.

 

                For detailed plans on this repair, send $25.00 to, “The Ford Homestead Foundation” and ask for repair # 223.

 

May all your repairs be simple and cheap.

 

Don Ford