Maybe I can 01.18.19

            As I sit here in front of the Ford’s ole computer, I realize that I might need a haircut. I need to get out in the garage and see if my present wife has enough aluminum cans that I could sell, and raise enough money to pay for a haircut. It will take several pounds of aluminum to get enough for a haircut.

            As you may have noted, I am forced to sell the aluminum cans she has picked up, to get a haircut, when my present wife will be going out to lunch today with friends and as I understand it, someone else is paying for her lunch. Before you ask, no I was not invited to lunch with her friends. It is hurtful and I do have a tear in my eye, but I will be ok, even though no one wants to take me out to lunch! I need to take a break and get some tissues…

            I am back now and feeling somewhat better. I have a cup of coffee that I made using the old coffee grounds from yesterday. The coffee is a little weaker and the color isn’t as dark but I must drink it as we are on a fixed income.

            The weather is going to be warm today with temps in the 60s and 70s. The weather man said, last year on Jan. 17^th it was “8 degrees in Waco” (I am writing this portion of the posting on the 17^th). There seems to be a big difference between last year and this year. Tomorrow, the 18^th, our temp is again supposed to be in the low 70s, and then dropping like a rock on Saturday, with evening temps for Saturday and Sunday in the low 20s.

            Bad news, I did get my hair cut and they raised the price one dollar. I can’t believe they took my last dollar. I do look nice now, they even cut the hair off my ears and trimmed my eye brows. A dollar more, I may have to start cutting my own hair.

            Another subject:

            I received a bill from my Medicare Provider, Scott and White. They said I owe $15.00 for a visit to the doctor’s office, which by the way is now considered a hospital. I saw the technician for an eye test, no doctor. I was not charged the $15.00, due to not seeing a doctor. The next week I again returned and saw a doctor, when I did pay the $15.00 co-pay.

            Later I was sent a bill for $15.00. I called the number on the bill and they said, you were there, and you owe the money. I did not agree so they transferred me to someone else who basically said I owe the money. They told me to call the doctor’s office for more information. I did not call I went to the office.

            The nice lady checked my records and agreed that I did not see a doctor, and I do not owe the $15.00. She gave me some info and a phone number to call to get this corrected.

            I returned home and made the call. The lady was nice but no help. She said she called the billing people and I owe the money. I said you called the wrong people call the office and get the info. She wanted to know if I, had their number, I did not.

            I was on the phone with this lady for about an hour and I did not receive an answer. Someone is supposed to call me back and let me know. All this work for $15.00 and no answer.            When you are on a fixed income every penny counts.

            It is Friday and it is supposed to be in the low to mid 70s today. They have predicted a lot of wind later today and storms tonight followed by a cold front. I could rake some leaves from the flower beds today since the weather will be warm. I always have these decisions to make, it is difficult for a senior person to decide what not to do!

Weekend are for resting, try it, you will like it!

First class rest-ologist; Don Ford

Virus-free. www.avg.com

Treat me like new 01.17.19

               We have been customers of a satellite radio service for several years. Each time we receive a renewal notice, I call and tell them I want to cancel. Each time they offer a better deal. Each time I have accepted the better deal.

            A couple weeks ago I received the renewal notice so I went to their website to see what they were offering. At that time they were offering for $99.99 all access and an echo dot to NEW SUBSCRIBERS. All access means 200 radio channels for the vehicle and access on your tablet or phone.

            I thought, they want to draw in new customers with great deals, and I totally understand that. I also question, why not do the same to keep a customer who has been with them several years.

            Today (Jan.16^th 2019) I called them, and like always they did offer a better deal. Basically they would add on the all access via tablet or phone and the price was about $8.00 less than their original renewal quote. That wasn’t too bad, but they did not offer the echo dot.

            I did not take the offer. I like the old time radio programs and the 60s music, but they are not a necessity. I will call them back in a couple days and likely cancel.  

            Darn, does that happen in real life?

            If a person has a couple longtime friends and they make a new friend, the new friend gets       more attention than the old friends, but that is due to wanting to know more about the            new friend.

            If a person gets a new job they do get more attention from the boss than the old staff, but         that is due to training and indoctrination.

            If a family has a new baby, the new baby gets more attention than the other kids, because the new baby can’t take care of its self.

            If you have two vehicles and you trade one in on a new vehicle, the new vehicle gets     more attention and more driving time.

            So, all that being said, NEW, always gets more attention that old. Should I complain!

Different subject:

            I went to purchase a license for my trailer yesterday. You can buy them at the HEB, so that is where I went. The HEB is a grocery / general merchandise chain here in Texas. The sign said, no credit cards! They would take cards that had a pin, cash or a check. Good thing I had cash on me, I do not use my card with a pin at any store. Why do I pay for a license for the trailer, it gets used a couple times each year, the cops would probably never catch me.

Different subject:

            Last evening after washing, rinsing, and drying the numerous dishes, I ventured outside to deposit some trash in the garbage container.

            It was a dark evening, there was a light fog and mist in the air. I did not have fear of being outside in the dark until, I looked up at the night sky. A portion of the sky was lit up in a manner that I have never seen before. See the photo below.

            The light appeared to be that of a small city, but there are only houses in that direction. The light at the bottom right is a porch light, at the back of a neighbor’s house. The light in the sky was solid, not flashing as it would have been, if it were from a vast fire.  

            The light was there for almost an hour and then it was gone. It wasn’t a rocket launch / test, the test site is probably 10 miles from our homestead, and there was no rocket sound.

If you are observant, like me, you will have questions!

Senior bogyman watcher; Don Ford

Virus-free. www.avg.com

Done and done 01.16.19

            Did you see the title line and did you understand the meaning? What! You didn’t even look at the title line, and you don’t understand it! Good, that means you will need to read this soon to be well written article.

            Let’s see if we can keep it short and sweet, if not sweet at least short.

            Yesterday, my favorite wife finished her work in the homestead and decided to go to the garage which was filled with Christmas trees and rein deer, all of which needed to be taken apart and placed in cartons.

            Her decision caused me to head for the Ford’s ole shed.

            I had previously carried the plastic Santa, his wife, the manger crowd and other plastic figures to the shed and they were laying outside the shed.

            Arriving at the shed I began to remove items like lawn mower, ladders, saws, fall decorations, and Easter decorations. The lawn around the shed was covered with many items. Maybe we should have had a shed sale.

            With all those items removed I then began to remove the boxes that are used to store the Christmas trees and other items and I carried them to the garage. My favorite spouse began breaking them down and placing them in cartons. As the items were secured in cartons I began to carry them to the shed. The Christmas items were all placed in the back of the shed, then the fall items, with the Easter items next, as they will be removed in that order. After all the decorations were properly stored I then began to bring the ladders, saws, string trimers, chain saw etc. back into the shed.

            Note: I was glad I had lights powered from a battery, which is charged by a solar panel as it was kind of dark in the shed.

            The work at the shed complete, my ole senior body staggered back to the Ford’s ole garage, where my favorite spouse was sweeping. I carried a few items to the trash container and recycle bin.

            The garage was now ready for a vehicle. The Ford’s ole van was happy not having to sleep outside again. 

            My favorite spouse worked twice as hard as me, getting those decorations ready to be stored. “Done and done”, means my spouse’s work, and my work are both done. Two duns.

 

Not happy to do the work, happy that I can!

                                                      

Poet and don’t know it; Don Ford

Virus-free. www.avg.com

Pocket knife for kids 01.15.19

            Last evening I was watching the TV, after the forced labor of washing the evening dishes. Yes, I wash the dishes each evening and occasionally during the day. My favorite spouse suggested that I could accomplish two things by washing the dishes. First the dishes will be clean and ready for the next meal. Second I would also be washing my hands which is good for everyone. Was she saying I am not clean?

            Anyway, the TV show was about a birthday party for a 7 year old boy. The TV parents of this 7 year old boy were telling everyone to give him presents that were not gender specific, and basically boring things for a kid of 7 years. To make a short story longer, an adult bought the boy a pocket knife. That started me thinking.

            I know what you are thinking, here we go again, another memory of the senior Ford.  If you don’t what to read about this interesting memory, stop reading now!  

            I have a memory of my nephew and I (he is 3 months younger than me) going to the store and buying pocket knives. We were in the 3^rd grade when we purchased these knives. Our parents knew we were getting the knives.

            Yes it was different times back in the 50s. I have carried a knife in or on my pocket since I was 7 years old. The last 10 years I have carried two knives. No one has ever asked why I carry two knives, so I will tell you.

            I had carried a knife in or on my right pocket for years. One day when I was mowing I found a knife in my yard. I now carry the found knife on my left pocket. Why carry both? With two knives I can reach a knife with either hand. If I have something in one hand that needs to be cut, I can reach a knife with the other hand. I don’t care if you think that is silly or not, I do it.

            As you now know, from the time I was a kid I have carried a knife, I never got in trouble because I had a pocket knife. Although I never got into trouble, I can’t say I never did anything stupid with the pocket knife. There was a so-called game we played as kids. The name of the game was, “Stretch”.

            This is how the game went. Two boys would face each other about a foot between them, with their feet together at the start of the game. They had their knives in hand. One boy would toss his knife at the ground, it the blade stuck in the ground boy two would move his foot to where the knife was stuck. Boy two would then toss his knife at the ground and if it stuck boy one would move his foot to where the knife was. This continued until one boy could not stretch to where the knife was sticking. No one that I know of was ever hurt doing this, but as I think about it, stupid, childish, and unsafe are the words that come to mind.

            I did carry a knife in school every day. Probably if a kid carried a knife to school now days, and they found out, he would be in big trouble.

 

Stretch not as a game, you might get stuck!

Knife connoisseur; Don Ford

Virus-free. www.avg.com

Editor 01.14.19

            Yesterday, having little or nothing to do after the grandkids went home, I decided to go to the Ford’s ole computer and look for an article I had written months ago. After a little searching I found the article. I read the article and decided to edit it, so I printed it and started working on it. Personally, I like writing better than editing.

            The article I am editing is about lonely times as an old person, who has little or no memory. I guess it could be about any of us in a few years.

            I left the computer for a while to get a cup of coffee, did you miss me? I heard what you said, and that is rude! He just said, “Who cares if he goes to get a cup of coffee, he is old and no one missed him”, that comment cuts deep!             I may never get over it! L

            Wait a moment, I just had a sip of coffee and a cookie, all is well again! J

 

            Income tax time is coming. Would you believe, due to the Government shut down no one will be required to pay their income tax this year? That is good news, but I learned that, after I had already bought an income tax preparation software.

            Yesterday, I went on line and checked on the price of the service I have used in the past. Usually I find this software in a store cheaper than on line. I was reviewing the prices, and yes I had a code for a reduced price, I decided to click out of that page and check at the stores for a better price. When I tried to click out, a new page popped up, offering me a last chance for an additional discount. The additional discount caused me to purchase the software on line. Now I probably will not get to use it due to the government shut down. K

            The weather has turned into real winter and it may be due to something I did the other day. I, thought it would be fun to call a friend in northern Illinois, Lonnie Carter, and ask him if it was cold and snowing. He acknowledged that it was both cold and snowing. I had to happily explain that the temps here in Hewitt were in the mid-50s and the sun was shining. Possibly this freezing cold weather (34 degrees) we are experiencing today, is a payback for my insolence to a good Yankee friend. He hasn’t always been a Yankee, but he has been in Yankee land long enough now, he is a Naturalized Yankee Citizen!

            I need to get a second cup of coffee, you should do the same.        

 

My apologies for the cold weather here in Texas!

 

Senior weather creator: Don Ford

Virus-free. www.avg.com

Dave's birthday 01.12.19

            January 12^th 44 years ago, a boy was born. Today we celebrated by going out to lunch with Dave, Claire, Gabi and Alex. Lunch was good and the conversation was bright and interesting. After lunch we returned to the Ford’s Homestead where my favorite wife found the camera and photos were taken.

            Note; while we were eating lunch I referred to my present wife as my favorite wife. Alex quickly explained that she was my only wife. Now my present wife knows that being referred to as my favorite wife doesn’t mean anything since she is my only wife. Why did Alex have to spoil a good thing?

            Alex was talking to the echo dot (aka Alexa) when someone asked Alexa to sing happy birthday. Alexa began singing and we all chimed in singing to Dave. Artificial intelligence will take over someday.  

            Speaking of the grandkids, they are here at the house this afternoon and tonight. We will take them to brunch tomorrow. They have been staring into their computers since we returned from lunch.

Hope your Saturday is as nice as ours!

Senior relaxation specialist; Don Ford  

Virus-free. www.avg.com

Some clowns are scary 01.11.19

            As a child, I thought clowns were funny and usually seen in the circus or at parties, although I never seen one at a party or at the circus. Heck now that I think of it, I don’t remember ever seeing a party type clown in real life.

            The clowns I am speaking of can be seen daily in normal life. These clowns actually think they are attractive, and they could be, if they had someone who would tell them, “You look like a clown”! Yesterday, as I waited for the Alex to get out of school, I had finished playing solitaire on the tablet and was actually looking at the people who come to get the kids from school.

            I glanced at my mirror, and was surprised to see a female clown come walking across the highway toward the school. It was difficult to see this clown as she was walking through cars parked along the roadway. Finally she came out into full view of my mirror, I could not believe how wonderfully funny this female subject was. She had bleached blond hair which came down to her shoulders. The bleached hair was straight, it had no curl in it. The top of her hair (head) had that red spray paint that some people use. This clown had an ugly tan jacket on, it did not appear to be new. She had those wonderfully funny pants with holes down the front of the legs. Her shoes were a fluorescent green, they did not draw too much attention away from her head.

            As she walked out of the view of my mirror, I leaned forward to see this wonderfully dressed clown. It was at this point that I realized that she was not dressed as a clown intentionally, to be funny, she thought she looked good. I shook my head in disbelief.

Different subject;

            I found another way to know when one is getting old. Obviously, when you have a 70^th birthday you know you are old. The second way is when you have a discussion with your favorite wife about the ages of your two sons, who were both born in the month of January. If you believe they are both two years younger than what your favorite wife has told you, and if she is right, then you are getting old. It is difficult for me to believe our youngest son is 44 and our oldest son is 48.             I can’t be old enough to be their parents! Can we say DNA test!

New subject;

            Our neighbor presented me with some deer sausage which has jalapenos and some chees in it. Wow these sausage sticks are great! The neighbor’s grandson (10 or 11 years old) shot the deer so I thanked him and gave him a big hug. Wow it is really good!

Look in the mirror, if you see a clown, change!

Senior observer and clothing critic; Don Ford

Virus-free. www.avg.com

I missed it 01.10.19

            Simply stated, “I missed it”. I had no explanation as to why, I just missed it.

            I received a text message from a friend and neighbor (same person) yesterday, yes, those who live around you can be both, friend and neighbor, even though some neighbors are not friends or even friendly. In truth, it is not mandatory that one be friends with their neighbor but one can still be friendly with a neighbor. 

            The text message stated that I had been invited to join him in, “His man cave”, for a happy hour. I am assuming you understand what a happy hour is. I quickly texted him back saying that I would check with my favorite wife and see if I could attend. I received permission as long as I returned in time for supper.

            I secured a glass filled with ice, and a diet coke. I headed out the front door of the Homestead. I was about halfway across the street when I stopped, turned and looked back at the Homestead. I was proud of removing all the Christmas decorations that day, and I was wanting to pat myself on my back for the work I had accomplished. With a big smile I reviewed the front of the homestead.

            Suddenly I was aware of a Christmas tree and a rain deer still standing. How did I miss them? I was methodically removing wires and decorations from left to right.

            I remember, the first area I worked on was at the bench, where I removed wires and a string of lights. For some reason I did not remove the tree or the deer at the left of the bench.

            Surprised that I missed them and with a tear in my eye I walked slowly to the neighbors Man cave. I was heartbroken. How could I have missed these two items?

              Then it came to me, NARBNL. I have used those letters in my emails for many years. Now I was happy again and I understood why I did not see, or remove, the tree and deer, they were to the left.

            My friend and I enjoyed a lively conversation for about an hour, I made it home in time to have supper with my favorite wife.

 

Not always right but never left!

 

A conservative and independent senior; Don Ford

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