Two Weeks?! Holy Crap!

Hard to believe, but as of tomorrow (10/17/2009) there are only two weeks left until DKB and I are wed. While I am looking forward to the wedding, it has been a bit of a weird time for me and DKB has been very understanding. For those who don't know, my first wife died as the result of a fire in the field near our home (4 years ago). We had been married for 29 years when it happened. I never foresaw myself being in this situation. Statistically, women outlive men and when I married the first time I honestly believed I would never go through it again. Well, I guess that just goes to show that there is a lot of truth in the saying "Man plans and God Laughs". DKB is very understanding of my life and past history. My mother said it best when she told me (with DKB present) "You've been blessed with 2 good women". I agree with that. They are 2 very different women, but they are exactly the mate I needed at that point in my life.

Speaking of the wedding. I went out to the County Lake (where we are to have the ceremony) a couple of days ago and the pier on which we plan to hold the ceremony is almost completely under water. Only the hand rails (about 6 inches above the water) are visible. We've had a lot of rain, the first couple of weeks this month. The average for October (to this point) is 3.47 inches and so far we've had 7.58, more than double. The good news is is that there is only about a 20% chance of rain for the rest of the month, so hopefully things will dry out a bit and we'll be able to use the pier.

On a totally unrelated topic, I was daydreaming a bit of when I was a kid. During the summer, I would take my lawnmower around the neighborhood and cut yards to earn a bit of money. I had regular customers, whose lawns I cut every couple of weeks, but was usually able to pick the occasional additional customer when someone just didn't feel like cutting their yard. I would cut grass on Saturday mornings until 3 or 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon. After I had refilled my gas can, I would take the money I had left and head to downtown Starkville (to the United Grocery on Main Street) where I would select a stack of comics that I wanted to buy and set them by my feet and then spend an hour or so reading other comics from the rack that I wasn't buying (until the manager told me I had been there long enough). The comics I was buying were 12 cents each, so I could buy a lot more than you can now-a-days. I still enjoy reading comics, just don't get to do it as ofter as I used to.

Everyone have a great day!

Another week closer...

Hard to believe, but its less than 3 weeks (18 days as of today) until DKB and I are wed. I have to admit to some nervousness. No doubts, just a bit of anxiety about getting all the details done that have to wait until the last minute. Last minute supplies, flowers, cooking the food, housing guests, etc. Really will be glad once we get past the date and can settle into a more normal routine.

This past Saturday, DKB and I drove over to Winona, MS (about an hour away) so that she could meet my Best Man-to-be. He's a truck driver and had an overnight stop there. So we went to a local restaurant and sat, ate, and talked for about 3 hours. I'm happy to say that they like each other. Its important to me that my best friend like my best girl.

Got a few more things done on the house this weekend as we move towards the wedding date. Not everything will be done before the wedding, but its nice to see the progress that we have made. I look forward to the day when we can say that it is done.

Everyone have a great day!

Such a Lazy Bum

That's the way I feel. Its been nearly a month since my last post and there is really no good reason other than I've been doing other things. Some important, some not so much. On the not so much side, I've been watching a lot of football. I really enjoy football - High School, college and Pro. So, even if she didn't want to DKB is becoming very adept at matching cities & schools with their team names/mascots. Also on the not so much side, but I enjoy it, I've been reading a lot. I mentioned a while back I started reading the original Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan series. I just finished book 9 (Tarzan and the Golden Lion) of the 20 + that he wrote. I intersperse the Tarzan books with crime novels, Science Fiction and the like. On the important side, last Friday (10/2) DKB and I went to pick up my blood work and then went to apply for our marriage license. And yesterday I picked up the aforementioned license. Makes it a little more real, seeing our names on the paper with the "Official Seal of Mississippi" on it. We get married 25 days from today (on Oct. 31st). The invitations were sent and the replies received. Most of the food and decorations have been purchased and the preparations have been moving right along. 25 days - Wow. Seems like only yesterday we got engaged, instead of months ago.

I took off Thursday of last week to mow my 5+ acres of yard. We have had such rainy weather the last month or so that it had been over 4 weeks since I last mowed and it was getting tall. Thursday was the 4th straight day without rain and since rain was predicted for Friday and the weekend, I didn't figure on it getting any drier. So I mowed and only got stuck in the mud a few times and it turned out to be a good thing I did - because it rained a little on Friday, but a monsoon on Sunday. The weather is getting cooler though and I'm thinking that if we can put together a few more dry days in a row sometime this month I'll probably mow one more time before calling it a year.

After the 31st DKB will be changing her name and I want it known that the decision was hers. I would have been perfectly content if she had wanted to keep her maiden name. So Sometime after the wedding I guess I'll have to change the heading for my blog to EyeHeartDKW. There was a country song not too long ago by Dierks Bentley titled "My Last Name" and the last verse goes "So darlin' if you're wonderin' why I've got you here tonight; I wanna be your husband, I want you to be my wife; I ain't got much to give, but what I got means everything; Its my last name, oh, its my last name." I've said it before but I have been truly blessed in this life. I loved my first wife with all my heart and she, me. We were together over 29 years before I lost her 4 years ago. If not for that accident we would still be together, I have no doubt. But life goes on and after the darkness and heartache following that loss, I was again blessed when DKB came into my life. I can not now imagine my life without her. She brings me a happiness that I once thought was lost forever. I don't care what anyone else may think of me/her/us - We make each other happy and I hope we do so for the rest of our lives. Our opinions of each other are the only ones that matter. For more eloquent postings, please read DKB's Blog.

Everyone have a great day!!

Uuggggh! I was so sick!

Wow! Its been a week since my last blog - didn't realize it had been so long. The 10th would have been my late wife and I's 33rd anniversary (if she hadn't passed away 4 years ago). Even though I have someone new in my life, this is still a tough time of year for me. I loved my wife very much and have no doubt that if not for the accident, we would still be together. This makes for some very convoluted feelings - I loved (& still love) her but I love DKB also. DKB is very understanding of this and often says she would worry about my mental health if I didn't have these feelings. What made the day even worse though, was the fact that I got sick as a dog and had to leave work. I started feeling better over the weekend, but only made it back to work yesterday.

Speaking of the weekend, Sunday (13th) was one of my grandsons' first birthday and a good time was had by all in attendance. DKB has some pics on her blog if you want to take a look, so I'm not going to repeat them on mine. The birthday boy and I did go to Wally World that morning and had pictures made in matching Tuxedo T-shirts (his was a onesie). They turned out fantastic. I can't wait to get them.
Less than 7 weeks now until DKB & I get married.
Every one have a great day!

Whut it wuz, wuz

FOOTBALL. If you've never heard it, you need to listen to this cut on Andy Griffith's comedy album that came out in the late 50's. Granted, its a bit dated by now - but its still funny.

I don't have any doubt that DKB loves me (especially after this weekend). She went with me to 2 football games (Starkville High on Friday and Mississippi State on Saturday) and sat through them dispite some intense personal discomfort (Aunt Flo was visiting) and on Saturday some heavy intermittent, rain showers. If that doesn't say love, what does. Anyway - I had a good time and she tolerated all (with little complaint) for me. Heck, I even watched football most of the 3 day weekend, and she didn't give a peep. She said there are a lot worse vices I could have. Which is true I guess.

Wedding plans are moving along and hopefully we'll start getting reply cards back in the mail soon.

Everyone have a great day!

Mortality

I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone in the fact that I have contemplated my life and mortality. If I'm fortunate, I figure I've got another 30 or 40 years. My grandfather (mother's father) lived until he was 97 and his wife (my grandmother) until 93. But I do wonder sometimes about my legacy and those I leave behind. My late wife and I have 5 children, and for the most part they get along, but nothing is perfect. With a few exceptions (which DKB and I have discussed), the bulk of my estate will be divided among my children when I pass. While I would hope that all my children possess common sense and civility, once DKB and I are married I will take steps to insure that the exceptions are covered under the law of the land as well. I have discussed the exceptions will all my children as well, and all say they understand and are okay with it. I hope so, because I won't be there to referee. One thing that won't change once DKB and I are married, is that my youngest son will remain the executor of my estate. All his siblings (& DKB) are aware of and fine with this. I have no doubt that he will do a fine job in making sure things are taken care of fairly. Enough of the morbid stuff - I just wanted to address it briefly.

This past Tuesday, I had my oldest's 2 children over for a while. She and her husband had previous obligations that night. We had a pretty good time. I played some with my granddaughter and after my grandson had finished his homework, we all watched some cartoons and "Big Brother" until their mom and dad showed up. I really enjoyed spending some time with them. Something I haven't had the opportunity to do a lot of lately. (I know I'm biased but) They are good kids and try to do their best.

College Football season starts tonight with a double header (at 6 PM CST) on ESPN and I can't wait. (Sorry DKB - but guess where I'll be?) No! Wait! Actually I'm not sorry. Football is my one great vice. I did warn you of this when we started going out. You'll just have to deal! :-)

Everyone have a great day!!!!

The Week That Wuz

Thursday past (Aug.27th) I took off work so that I could mow & trim around my place. I have 5 1/2 acres to cut, so it is literally an all day job. I started around 9 AM and quit for the day at 6:30 PM. (And I wasn't done). I was very tired.

Friday DKB accompanied me to her first Starkville High football game. It was a very close game but we came up on the short end of a 26-21 score. I was enthralled with the game, DKB watched it with one eye but had her other eye on all the social interaction taking place around us. She was observing all the different cliques that exist in the H.S. social setting. The same cliques that existed when we were both in high school are still there, only the faces change from year-to-year and if you think about it I'm sure you can come up with what the cliques are.

Saturday I worked another 5 hours and finished up my yard work. After a much needed shower we headed over to my youngest's new place to visit and have supper. Its a nice place, but it escapes me how moving further away from your job and paying more from rent is going to save you any money. But hey, what do I know. I really hope things work out for her and her family in the new place. They are nearer her in-laws than me now, so maybe they will be able to help them out if they need any help. I hope so.

Sunday it rained nearly all day, but thats okay, I was so worn out and sore I had planned on taking it easy anyway and my sweetie took care of me.

Sixty Days - thats how much time is left until our wedding. All the invites are taken care of and hopefully next week we'll start getting some replies back. We hope to have a better idea of how many folks will be attending by the end of the month. We will have the final bits of our wedding supplies purchased by next week and be ready for DKB's mom & brother coming to visit and doing a bit of work on the house for us (their wedding gift to us). Things are coming together. Its a happy, but sometimes nerve-wracking time! But I can't wait until its here!

Everyone have a great day!