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Sunday, February 12, 2023

February 12, 2023

 

                  SOUP BOWL DAY

            Well, we finally made it to the SOUP BOWL DAY, and I am ready for the game, I just need to find out what time they are going to play, and on what channel I can watch them.

          When I learned how much it cost for a ticket ($5,000.00 and up) I decided to stay home and watch the game on TV.

Would you believe that I also decided to take the money I would have spent on the ticket and wager it on the game. Now I did not know where I could place a bet so I went on line and found “_soup_bowl_.gov”, and the computer I talked with said I could place a bet using my bank debit card. That sounded like an easy way to place a bet and obviously I want to bet on the home state team the Cow Boys!

Would you believe, the computer voice was very helpful and said they would accept my bet, and if I win, they will pay me 10 to 1. Now I know some of you never bet so I will explain, 10 to 1 odds means, for every dollar I bet, if or when I win, they will pay me ten. Wow you can’t beat that.

Would you believe, I decided to use the money I would have paid for a ticket to place my bet. I bet $5,000 on the cow boys to win and if they win by more than two points, my winnings would be doubled, the computer voice told me. That means I can win from fifty thousand dollars to as much as one hundred thousand dollars!

Does anyone know what time the game is and what channel it is on.

 

Go cow boys!

Don the Ford

Just kidding, I don’t plan to even watch the game, and I never bet.

February 12, 2023

            Yesterday I was sitting around the house doing nothing, so I decide to get out of the house for a while and go get some gas for the Ford’s ole Chevy. I asked my present spouse if she needed to go anywhere or if she just wanted to get out of the house with me for a while. She did not need to go anywhere, so she stayed home. I went and got gas and a cup of coffee.

            Topic swap: I have a photo, but it is difficult to see what I am trying to present to you, the pecan tree is starting to bud out. Pecan trees are normally the last trees to have leaves. Odd!


            Arriving back at home I was informed that my first wife now, needed to go to town to get an item. We loaded up in the Ford’s ole Chevy and headed off to town. I dropped her off in front of the store and then I found a parking space. 30 minutes later I received a call that she was in front of the building and ready to go home. I drove around the parking lot and picked her up in front of the store.

            As I sat in the parking lot, I was observing people. There were two young fellows who got out of their vehicles and opened the trunk where one of them removed and item in a container that appeared to be about 30 inches long, and he put the strap over his shoulder, the other fellow had his container already on his shoulder. They together walked to the pool hall.  Yep, they had their own pool cues, maybe they were Pros.

            I saw another fellow come out of a store and walk to a pickup truck with probably his father. The young fellow was heavy set and had shorts on. The shorts were hanging down on his behind to a point that when he tried to get into the pickup, he had problems getting his leg in the vehicle, all he needed to do was pull his shorts up.

            I saw a young lady who from the back appeared to be dressed ok, but her hair which was long, was also green and blue. To me, I think that green or blue hair on anyone is not attractive.

            Arriving back at home yesterday, I sat in front of this ole computer and entered the above information.

            Later that afternoon my favorite wife and I sat outside for about 45 minutes. The temp was about 53 degrees, and the wind was not blowing. As long as the sun was shining on us, we were comfortable, but as soon as it began to go down we departed the Ford’s ole swing and went inside. I do have a photo of the two of us, that I assume you will want to keep, and maybe frame it and put it on your wall.


            As you look upon our photo, you may notice that we were sitting close together, and I have my hat on. If you look close you will see that my favorite spouse has her sunglasses on.

            Well, I guess that is it for now, we hope your day is interesting and please stay safe.

Photogenic?

Senior retired person who is ready for a short break before my morning nap, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

Saturday, February 11, 2023

February 11, 2023

            It is cold again this morning and I have nothing planned for the day; you would think ole people would at least have something planned to do. Heck, I need gas in the Ford’s ole chevy so I can’t even go for a ride out into the country. Now that I think of it, I haven’t gone for a joy ride out in to the country in a long time, maybe I need to borrow a motorcycle and go for a ride. Wait a minute, it is too cold for an ole senior person to be out on a motorcycle, darn it!

            The sun is shining this morning, so the cold weather might get a little warmer as the day progresses.

            I did get the kids home safe and sound yesterday, as a matter of fact, I got them home a little earlier than usual, Gabi’s boyfriend, who we also take home, needed to get to work, so they did not mess around talking to people after school and came to the Ford’s ole Chevy without delay. 

            I did get Dave from work yesterday, and it seems as if the new order filling and stocking system, isn’t working as well as the old system. They are having a lot of over time, and I know that OT is expensive.

            I guess there is a good part to the cold weather, I stay inside and that gives me more time to do my bible study homework and also read the bible. In truth, I like reading the bible but I don’t like homework.

            Yesterday afternoon the temp was about 52 degrees here at the homestead, so I decided to attempt to sit outside for a while with a beverage. It did not take long for me to decide to go back inside as the wind was blowing and that made it feel even cooler. I enjoy an adult beverage when I am sitting outside, but the same adult beverage inside the house is not real great. Once I was back in the homestead, my favorite wife made us a very good supper, it was hot and filling

            Well, I did make some homemade coffee a few minutes ago, and I have a cup here on the desk. Yes, the cup has coffee in it, and the cup is sitting on the desk. I knew I should explain that comment as that one person was going to ask if the cup had coffee in it. This homemade coffee isn’t bad, but not as enjoyable as a cup of real coffee.

            The bird that has been using the upper corner of the front porch as a place to stay overnight, was there again this morning. I guess he / she has accepted the piece of wood I put there. This morning it was day light outside when the Tres and I went to get the newspaper and the little bird did not fly away, I guess he /she is not afraid of us.

            A neighbor called yesterday to let me know that they would be out of town for a while on a cruise. They go on several cruses every year, I guess they are rich and can afford these trips, heck some ole retired people can’t even afford gas to go for a ride in the country. Anyway, they want us to keep an eye on things while they are gone.

            Well, that is it for today, we hope you have a nice day and we want you to be safe.

Can’t afford what?

Senior ole person who keeps an eye on things when he isn’t napping, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

Friday, February 10, 2023

February 10, 2023

            Made it back to Friday again, and it is cold outside, which means ole senior people can’t go outside for any reason. Well, I guess there might be a couple exceptions to staying inside. If the ole senior person could find a bunch of warm clothes to put on, and if the heater in the senior person’s vehicle works, that senior person might be able to venture forth to get a cup of real coffee. Oh, and that senior person might be able to pick up Dave and the grand kids and take them home after work and school. 

            What did the Don do yesterday, no one asked, and no one cares, so I will enlighten the non-interested public. My favorite wife straightened up a bunch if stuff in the garage, I through the items that she did not want into the trash container. Early yesterday I worked on the homework from the Bible study class, and then I worked on the income tax forms. I use a program on the computer which helps me answer the questions. I worked on that longer than anticipated and I got to the end, but I did not finish. I know there is an update coming on the 17th, so I will wait for the update and see if that has any effect on my return.

            My returns are very basic so I doubt that there will be any changes to the return. Many years ago, I decided to be in a place where I would pay or receive no more than $200 each year for income tax. As I see it, I would rather have the money all year long, rather than receive a big check at the end of the year. I know, some people find it better to get a big refund, it could be like a savings account for them. 

            After working on the tax for quite a while, if memory serves, I took a short nap, before heading out to get the grandkids.

            Returning from dropping the kids off at their home my present spouse and I went out for supper. I should say the food was good and the service was very good.

            After the evening repast, we stopped at a friend’s home to present a birthday card. We did not stay too long, as it was getting dark, and I needed to go home, ole people are not allowed to be out after dark. I remembered I had not read the bible yet, and I do that daily, without fail. After the bible reading, I relaxed on the Ford’s ole bed. I had Alexa to play the Symphony Hall channel from the XM radio. The music can be very relaxing.

            I did spray some weed killer on a few weeds yesterday, heck most of the back yard is weeds, but I did not spray the back 40, I can mow the grass and weeds and as long as they are green, things look ok.

            Earth quake victim deaths, are in the thousands, keep them in your prayers.

            I don’t have any real plans for today, just stay with the usual schedule. We hope you have a nice day, stay safe and be nice to old people.

Grass yes, what kind?

Senior person who has never smoked grass, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

Thursday, February 9, 2023

February 9, 2023

            I get to go for eye tests, it is the annual 6-month review, next week I go back and see the doctor for the results from the test.

            It is cool this morning and is supposed to get warm this afternoon. We have a couple days at being dry weather before the next rain arrives, maybe the back 40 will dry up.

            I did attempt to help the bird that has been spending his nights in the upper corner of the front porch. I took a piece of wood which is about 5 inches by 5 inches and pushed it into the corner, which give the bird a little more room to rest on. I saw him or her there this morning resting on the board, now I need to find a way to secure the piece of wood.

            I don’t have anything else to present this morning, we did not sit outside yesterday as it was too cool.

            Well, I need to stop and start getting ready to go to the technician for the eye test, we hope you have a nice day filled with good thoughts, stay safe.

Doctor visits, humbug!

Senior ole person who needs to put some clean clothes on, darn it, Don the Ford 

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

February 8, 2023

            Wednesday is here again, and here we are together again. I went out this morning to check the new rain gage and it had 1.5 inches of rain in it. That is a nice rain and I think the drought is over, at least here at the Ford homestead. I have a photo of one of the security monitors showing water standing in the back 40.


        
The water, at least most of it, is still standing in the back 40, the ground is taking it’s time absorbing it. They are telling us we will get more rain today, maybe the lakes will begin to get water back in them. It is also not supposed to get above 50 today, cold wet weather.

   Topic change: I being an ole person have a tendency to forget things. I don’t usually forget where my keys are, I always put them in the same place. I have another rule and that is, “to always put the tool back where it came from as soon as you complete the project”. There are two reasons for that rule, it will be there next time you need it, and you keep the area neat and orderly.

Now my reason for this comment on forgetting things, I had forgotten something else, and I thought, “my memory is gone”. I have two monitors here in the office, we will call them monitor one and two. On one I usually have the security cameras, that allows me to sit inside the house and see all that is going on outside the house. On two I usually have the TV. The other day when I was watching the three stooges, I had decided to change monitor one to the TV, and two to the cameras.

I reached for the cable box control which controls monitor two and I could not find the button to push on the control to make the change. I then looked at the control for monitor one, and the button was not there either. I know there is an input button, and I could not find it on either of the controls.

Time passed and I was an unhappy camper. I decided to lite the candle that I keep in the office area, this candle helps change the aroma that is produced by an ole person and a smelly dog, the lighter is kept out of site. When I reached for the lighter, I found another TV control, and immediately I saw the input button. I had not forgot how to change the TVs; I had forgot that there was a third control. Maybe I need to leave it out where I can see it.

Well, I just looked at the monitor and the prognosticators are correct, it is raining.

Topic swap: no, I did not watch the state of the union address last night. I can get all the info from the so-called news today. Depending on whether you want positive comments or negative comments, you can get either just change the channels.

What is my big plan for the day? Go and get some shirts from the cleaners, and since the cleaners are close to the star coffee place, I might stop there for a cup. No one has asked so I will be happy to enlighten you, I get a small coffee with cream. I do not buy fancy drinks or buy their food, unless the grandkids are with me, just a small coffee with cream. Their coffee is kind of strong, so I have the cream in the coffee to bring it down to a senior person’s taster.

I might consider starting on my taxes today, maybe.   

I guess that is all for today, we hope you have a good day and please stay safe!

Income tax, should it be out going tax?

Senior person who hopes he can afford a cup of homemade coffee, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

February 7, 2023

            Today I want to talk about the homeless here in Hewitt. If you have watched the so-called news at all, you have been advised of the problem with homelessness, it seems to be a problem everywhere. Homelessness is not something that most people want to talk about, and most of us will look away when we see some one who we think might be homeless.

            You may not be aware of this; I have over the years, provided shelter for some of the homeless in Hewitt. You may be wondering why I have decided to comment on this and I will be happy to enlighten you. In the past couple weeks two of the homeless have been staying here at the Fords homestead. Now they did not ask for permission to stay here and we did not invite them, but being the good people we are, we are not asking them to leave.

            Topic swap: I had presented a photo a few days ago, of the Easter Lilies that had been covered with ice and were bent over due to the bad weather. I am glad to say, they seem to have made it through the ice storm ok, and there is even a third bloom, photo to follow.


            There are a couple plants in the front yard, but they have not produced any blooms as of yet.

            Wow, I just looked at the monitor of the driveway, and it is raining. Tres and I went out earlier to get the newspaper and it was warm and dry. Things change quickly.

            Back to the original topic: of the two homeless that have stayed here over the last couple weeks, only one has been here consistently. I had discussed the possibility of providing a more comfortable resting area for the one homeless, but there has been no decision as of yet. It would require some wood and work on my part. I have a photo that I will provide showing the small area this homeless is staying in.


            Now the photo isn’t really good, but one can see the homeless sparrow, at least I think it is a Sparrow, in the upper corner of the porch. I thought that I could place a small piece of plywood possibly 6 X 6 inches in the corner, and that would give the homeless bird a larger platform to rest on. Right now, he / she has a 1.5-inch corner ledge, to rest on.

            Before anyone asks, when I said I have provided shelter for the homeless over the years I meant that I have built many bird houses and they are for the homeless.

            Swap topics: Yesterday was a nice day and I did go to the Star coffee place to get a cup, then I went to the past employer to wait on Dave to get off work. As I sat outside drinking my coffee and waiting for Dave, several of the people that I had known from years past came out and I was able to talk with a couple. One fellow who I hired many years ago said, he planned to retire this year, he will have work at the company for 41 years.

            There seems to be several common opinions among the staff who have been there a while, and one of those opinions is that Corp. staff should take time to talk with the hourly staff. Corp. staff might be surprised at what they could learn, and the hourly would be happy to get some attention from Corp. staff.

            If management wants to know what’s going on, talk to the hourly who do the work!

“Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened!”

           I did get the kids home from school safely, and I went to the free food session prior to the bible study meeting. We had 14 men in our study group last night!

            Well, I guess that is it for now, we hope you have a good day, stay safe and be nice to the homeless.

Be kind to all!

Senior person who needs to get a cup and rest from all this enlightenment, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!

Monday, February 6, 2023

February 6, 2023

            We are now back to Monday, I guess we are back on a normal schedule for the day and part of the week. I must go to have some eye tests this week, and then next week I go in to see the eye doctor. This happens every 6 months, I guess the doctor needs to make money.

            I did sneak out of the house this morning before my lovely wife had gotten out of bed, and I went to the star coffee place and I also stopped and got a breakfast burrito, they were good. By the way, I share the burrito with my present wife, as the burrito are large.

            Yesterday I did put some bird food out and they all said thanks. I also cleaned the bird bath and filled it with water, but a little later when I was at the back fence, I noticed that the ditch had water in it, so the birds had plenty of water.

            Speaking of water, the prognosticator said we should get more rain tomorrow and that might mean we are breaking even on the rain fall. If we keep getting rain, things might grow normally this year, and we may not need to water everything as often.

            Continuing on the thought of water, I did open the green house and water everything inside. I am leaving it open until they tell us we will be getting down to the freezing temps again. The first freezing period did kill and or partly kill the plants in the green house.

            I did pick up all the Poopa-Loopa from the back 40, I use a two-gallon bucket and I put a plastic bag in it. The bucket and bag were full at the end of the Poopa-Loopa recovery process. 

            Completing that process I began to remove  the small sticks that have been blown out of the trees lately. We had three fairly larger limbs that came down during this last ice and wind episode, so I decided to cut them into small pieces about 14 to 18 inches in length, that length allows them to easily be placed into the trash container.

            Being a nice neighbor, I did also cut up a limb that was in the new neighbor’s front yard, all together the Ford’s ole red wagon was full of those pieces of broken limbs. There was still a little room in the trash container after the pieces of limbs were installed.

            Continuing on with the topic of sticks, my neighbor had given me a few sticks that could be converted into walking sticks, as he knew I occasionally would create a walking stick. I had converted one of the sticks that he had given me into a walking stick and I presented it to him yesterday. The stick returned to its original owner.

            The weather was nice yesterday so Tres and I went for a walk, and during the walk there was a couple people who were out riding their bikes, so I decided that I would go for a ride when we returned to the house. Tres does not like it when I leave on the bike and I can hear him wining at the front door when I rode down the street. The battery was not fully charged so the ride was not too long, I did not want to get a long distance away and then have to peddle back home.

            It was such a nice day that my favorite wife and I sat outside for about an hour. We did not need jackets as the sun was shining on us. We did not have any neighbors stop by, and the new neighbor and her two sons came walking down the street, well the boys were running and their mother was walking. She did not look our way, and did not acknowledge that we were sitting there. I hope she was not upset that I cut up and removed the limb from her front yard.

            Swapping the topic, we have a social time before the Bible study class tonight. Our group will be having sandwiches and we get to visit for a while before the class starts. The schedule for the Bible study class is strictly kept, it starts on time and it ends on time.

            When I was carrying out some trash last evening, I noticed a full moon coming up over the neighbor’s house, so I tried to get a photo.


            If I was using a good camera the photo would have been much better.

            Well that is it for now, we hope you have a day of love and kindness, please stay safe.

I was mooned!

Senior person who knows what the term Mooned use to mean, Don the Ford

May today be better than your best day, but not as good as tomorrow!