September 11, 2001 09/11/2020

            19 years ago, this day, I was in New York State, not in the city. I was filling in as a general manager at the distribution center. One of the supervisors came to me and said, A plane has flown into the world trade center!

            Things became worse as the next plane hit the other building!

            Then a plane hit the pentagon!

            We then learned there was another plane that crashed in an unpopulated area!

            That is a day I will not forget!

 

May God Bless America!

 

           Don Ford

 

 

Important 09/10/2020

            Now this posting isn’t important, even though it may be enlightening. This may just be me, but often when I hear people on TV say the word Important, it sounds to me as if they are saying impordant. Yep, it sounds to me like they put a “D”, in the place of a “T”.  As I said, maybe it is just me, but it sure sounds like a lot of people exchange the “T” for a “D”.

 

            It was cool enough this morning, that Tres and I dressed a little differently for our morning stroll. I had pants on with legs all the way down to my shoes, my shirt had sleeves like real people, the sleeves went all the way down to my hands. I even wore a hat, not a cap, but a good-looking brown hat. I almost looked like a real person, Tres even thought I looked ok!

 

            I have a photo taken of a flower yesterday, it was a lonely bloom.

                                                 

            I might go to get my hair cut today; I think I have enough aluminum cans to take to the recycling center so I can pay for the haircut. It would be bad if I let them cut my hair and then just get up and run off, again!

            Topic change; I did get another bid on replacing the driveway yesterday. This bid was less than the first bid, even though it is doing more than the first. Hope we can get started before long.

 

Stay focused, say thanks, offer to help!

 

Senior long sleeve shirt and maybe shorter hair person, Don the Ford

         No, I have never run off without paying for a haircut!

                 Some of you can’t even take a joke! Why do I even try?

Start out bad 09/09/2020

            What could be worse than starting the day out bad, not much? Now if you were paying attention to what you were reading, you would want to know, how did the senior Ford an his pot hound Tres, start their morning out bad.

            Allow me to, splain Lucy. Heck, you may not even have picked up on the two words, “Splain Lucy”. Some of you may be too young to have heard that comment, and the seniors among you may be so old that your memory of ole time TV has left you. I will not splain or explain!

            Back on topic; Tres and I went out to get the news paper for the senior officer here at the Ford Homestead, it was not there! If that paper isn’t in her chair when she goes into the front room, we will be in trouble.

            Another part of the morning starting off bad, we were late getting started on our walk. Heck the sun was not up but it was light enough outside that we did  not need a flash light.

            We were about half way through our walk when a vehicle playing loud music drove past us. This vehicle was moving fairly fast, I assumed he was late getting to work, or her husband had come home early.

            Tres and I walked on, and in about a minute later, the same vehicle came by again, still driving fast, and the music was still loud. Shortly after the vehicle vanished down the street, I noticed that there were newspapers in some of the yards. I then deducted that this vehicle may have been driven by the newspaper person. I guess there are no more news paper boys.

            When we arrived home, there was a paper in our yard also, now my favorite wife should be happy.

 

            A day starting out that bad, can it get better?

 

set the example, be nice to others!

 

 

Senior person with no scheduled activities, Don the Ford

Rabbits 09/08/2020

            Morning walk, this one was kind of odd.

            Before I get into the topic of the day, I would again note that our clock in the front room that chimes on the quarter hour, half hour, three quarter hour, and on the hour, did it again. The clock again this morning, chimed at 5:00am, and at 5:05am. This clock does this occasionally but not regularly, odd!

            Tres and I went out to get the news paper and I noticed it was totally dark, it was night. I then check the cell phone to see what time it was, had I started earlier than usual? It was almost 6:30, that is our normal time to start walking.

            Tres picked up the newspaper, took it back into the house, and dropped it in My favorite wife’s chair. We then put his harness on, I picked up a flash light and we headed out for the night time walk.

            We had passed two houses as we walked down the street toward the cul-de-sac. Tres noticed a rabbit sitting in a yard. I pointed the flash light at the rabbit and activated the light. The rabbit and area around him was lit up in a bright light. Would you believe, that rabbit said, “Turn that light off, how would you like someone to shine a light in your eyes”! I said, “Sorry”, and turned the light off.

            Then it occurred to me, I had just heard a Rabbit talk. I again shined the flash light at the rabbit, but there was no rabbit. Had I imagined that? I know I am silly grandpa, but maybe I am now nutty grandpa!

            We continued our walk when I noticed that something had Tres’ attention up the street. I could not see anything, but Tres was very focused. I could hear an odd sound but still did not see what was making the sound. As we walked in front of this house, Tres and I both saw what was making the sound. There was a female subject who appeared to be sanding the front door of the house, but there was no light on, she was both standing, and sanding, in the dark.      Odd things happen! 

            We walked on up Oklahoma Ave, from the 400 block to the end of the 100 block, where we turned and began walking back toward home. We were in the 200 block when Tres again saw a rabbit. Would you believe, I shined my light on that rabbit, and I asked can you talk? The rabbit replied, “What, are you a nutty ole man, rabbits can’t talk!” I turn the light off and Tres and I walked on toward home.

 

Be safe, productive, and cooperative today!

                                  When you see the words “Would you believe” you may assume there is fiction.

Senior rabbit non-communicator and light flasher, Don the Ford 

Finally, a day off work 09/07/2020

            Those of us who work hard every day, very much appreciate a day off. I do wonder why they named this holiday, “Labor Day”! The name itself sounds like, a day to labor, not a day for those laborers to rest. Now another question, for those people who do not labor, AKA “physical work”, are they supposed to have the day off too?

 

            I was listening to the radio yesterday, you know ole senior people on a fixed income can’t have TVs like you real people do, so we listen to the radio. It was a reading of a short story on the PBS channel when they used a term that I had not heard in a long time. What was that term, it was loogie.  Now when I was a kid, we would use that term occasionally. The word Loogie means, a lump of phlegm or spittle. Maybe kids had more snot than kids do now days!

 

 

            My small brain began thinking about words, and a word that came to mind was reject. I would say reject might mean to not accept or push away. The re at the beginning of a word usually means, to do again, such as reapply, which means apply again or recount, to count again and so on. So, when we get to reject, what does ject mean?

            They should check with me before they make a word.

 

            Topic change, my spouse of more than 5 decades insisted on improving the garage. She said it was too boring, and needed a little sprucing up. Check out this photo.

                                                 

            As you may be able to see, there are two rugs, and would you believe, I need to choose the one I like? I am often forced to do things here at the homestead, or not get fed. 

 

            I did mow the front yard yesterday and it looks nice, today I will attempt to rest.

 

A holiday from work not masks!

 

Senior word-ologist and silly grandpa, Don the Ford

Sunday is here 09/06/2020

            It did not rain here last evening!

            If the rain stays away today, I might mow!

            Photo of two friends!

 

Take a nap, Tres says, it feels good!

 

Senior nap-aholic and animal photographer, Don the Ford

Thought for the weekend 09/05/2020

            Before we get to the focus point of this posting, allow me to offer a correction. I have been corrected, Nancy Pelosi would not automatically become vice president. You might want to Google it.

            Now it is possible that she could become VP, but so could many other people. If the President was not able to serve, the VP becomes P, and gets to nominate a person to be VP. But the house has to vote giving their approval for the VP. Wow, with all those Ps, I might need to PP.

            Today I challenge each of us to smile more.  Even if you are not happy, a smile on our face will make others feel happy, and even a fake smile has a tendency to make the barer feel better. 

            Today we have a second challenge. "Let other people talk".

            Let's make today about others, not about us. We can show kindness by listening to someone else. When the other person is speaking, listen. We can ask short questions but do not insert our thoughts or comments unless asked.

            We all have stories, but our stories do not count today. Allow others to talk, they will really feel important. You might be surprised, as you will feel excellent after you have been kind to a family member or to a friend, by listening without interruption.

 

            Second correction: I had commented yesterday something to the effect, the sky was running out of water, as we had received only an additional ½ inch of rain. I was wrong! Last night the rain storm came through and deposited 1 inch of rain in my rain gage, again. Maybe the sky is not running out!

 

            Tres and I went out for a walk this morning, and only had one incident of a vehicle driving close to us. There was no traffic on the street but the vehicle came up the street driving close to the curb. Just before Tres and I were about to get off the street, the vehicle moved over. Probably some senior person, you know those ole people over 70. 

 

            Our Saturday lunch may be at the cracker store. My favorite spouse wants to try their new Chicken pot pie.

 

A holiday does not mean no masks!

 

 

Senior walker of the dog and correction maker, Don the Ford

Friday is here 09/04/2020

            Finally, the last work day of this week, a weekend and a holiday ahead in which I will have some time off. Wait a minute, I am retired, I don't work, I just sit around and do nothing, CRAP ANOTHER WEEKEND!

            I have a couple thoughts for this soon to be professionally composed article, but first allow me to speak of rain. Wednesday over 5.5 inches here at the homestead. Thursday just 2 inches and this morning in 1.5 hours only half an inch of rain. As you may be able to see, the sky is running out of water to pour on Hewitt, TX. The rain water in the back yard was again soaked up by the ground before the rain this morning, but after the hour and half of rain, we have standing water again.

            New subject: As I sat outside on the Ford's ole rocker, I observed a boy, I don't know how old he was, he appeared to be a young teenager, possibly 13 years old. He had a backpack on and he was walking at a normal pace until he turned the corner. He started up Oklahoma were a young lady lives. He then started walking very slow and I noticed he kept looking toward the girls house. The young lady did not come outside and after he passed the house he began walking at a regular pace.

              New topic: this is an olden day's story when I was probably 17 or 18 years old. Back in the olden days a good friend of mine, Steve Talley, had a 61 Chevrolet two door hard top, white in color, with a 409 in it. In those days I had a 63 Chevrolet, two door hard top, blue in color with a 409 in it. A 409 is a big V-8 motor. They often referred to them as garbage truck motors s their original use was in trucks.

            As it happened, both of the vehicles could be unlocked and started using my keys or Steve's keys. I had gone to a movie show one night, yes with a girl, and when we came out my car was gone from the parking lot. I looked around and found Steve's car. Steve had taken my car and left his car. 

            Steve's car was very low geared, set up for drag racing. My car had highway gears. Steve was going to another town, highway driving, so he took my car. Not a big deal, we found each other later at the hamburger place and traded cars.

 

            If it stops raining Tres and I will attempt to go for a walk. We have been imprisoned here at home due to the rain, and we both would like to take a walk.

            I just checked the security cameras and it is still raining. ☹

 

            And odd thought; if Biden was elected, and if the day after he was inaugurated, he passed away, we would have a female as President, and I believe Nancy Pelosi would become Vice President!

            I said it was an odd thought, tell me if I am wrong.

 

Stay safe, don't think about politics!

 

Senior neighborhood watcher and mask wearer, Don the Ford