To err is Human, to 'Arrrr' is Pirate

DKB had never seen the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, so over the last 2 days we have watched all 3. I had seen them before, but it was still fun to see them again. Great special effects and Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow made for a good time for the both of us. DKB cooked a very tasty one-pot dish comprised of egg noodles, tuna, and "fiesta-blend" cheese. It was very good, and even better because I didn't have to cook it. I did help out by doing the dishes though.

Mamma Mia (DKB's mom) is coming to town next week to teach another basket-making class. She's a hoot, looking forward to talking with her again.

Have a great Day! And if you haven't watched it - "Fringe" returns tonight on Fox - good show. If you liked "The X-Files" I think you would like this.

Pleasant Weekend

First, I hope everyone enjoyed my April Fool's entry. Friday past (April 3rd) was my birthday and DKB and I had our first "Couple" portrait made. As soon as I receive them I'll try and post one here. We went out to eat that evening at Shaherazad's and then had a pleasant evening at home. On Saturday, we took my motorcycle and rode over to Tuscaloosa (AL.) for the 1st Black Warrior River Story Telling Festival. It was a beautiful, sunny day and this proved to be the downfall of my DKB. We ended up cutting the festival a little short because she (being fair skinned and in spite of being in the shade) was beginning to burn. We rode over to the new Wintzell's Oyster House and had some oysters on the half-shell. Yum! DKB is the only woman I know that likes raw oysters on the half-shell. It was a very pleasant meal though. We stopped at her friend's church in Columbus (MS.) on the way back for a marriage seminar. It turned out to be a very entertaining evening in which DKB continued on her way to a deep shade of crimson. One funny point in the evening, the presenter was talking about communication and held up a stuffed lion and asked what this means. DKB replied "that he sleeps tonight (Wemoway! A wemoway)"? Several of us snorted laughter at this. DKB can have a very dry wit when she wants and I noticed her biting her tongue several times during the evening to keep from saying something. (Its a wonder she had any tongue left. LOL).

Sunday we went grocery shopping early and spent the rest of the day reading, washing laundry, and watching TV. We watched the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie and hopefully will get the other two in this week. Johnny Depp is a hoot. If you haven't heard, Tim Burton is making an "Alice in Wonderland" movie and Johnny Depp has been cast as the Mad Hatter. I am anticipating it to be very well done.

P.S. Pic is of Harley & Pearl making out on the couch.

Recalled to Active Duty

Went home for lunch and in my mailbox I received a missive from Uncle Sam that started, "Greetings, as per your previous enlistment contract, it has been determined that you served in a rating that is now considered critical to the service of your country. You have until 2400, 1 April 2009, to arrange your affairs and present yourself to the U.S. Coast Guard recruiter in Jackson, MS". Needless to say I was much surprised and pissed. I called the recruiter and was informed that after processing I was to be sent to the U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit in Umm Quasr, Iraq. All I could think was "Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit." But, I do believe (for better or worse) in this country, so I will soon be winging my way to the sandy shores of the Middle East. It won't be too awful bad though, since I found out that my youngest son has also been assigned to the same unit (as a mechanic) and will be reporting a couple of weeks after I arrive. At least I will outrank him, at least for a little while, plus I'll be working in an air-conditioned office. Last time I was in the middle east was in 1983. I was part of an oil spill response team that went to Bahrain at the request of their government. Wasn't really much we could do. The entire beach had gotten so many oil spills over the years it looked like a black-topped parking lot.

Everyone have a great day!
Oh - & you do realize what today is don't you?

I'mmm Bacckkkk!

Sorry I've been so neglectful of my blog. I could say I've been busy, but thats only partially true. I've just been lazy getting back to it too. DKB and I have been busy cleaning and rearranging my house as we continue down the path to our wedding and getting it ready for her to eventually move in completely. We had a good time this past weekend. I took half a day off work on Friday and we rode my bike up to visit friends of hers in TN. (Hi Rick & Greta!). We had a great time, just visiting, playing games, riding our bikes & visiting the Shiloh National Military Park. I had been there many years ago (when I was in Boy Scouts) and it was really neat to go back. If you've never been, I encourage you to go. You really get a sense of some of the history of this country there. I love it. While in the park, Rick showed us the nest of an American Bald Eagle (and s/he was home). The eagle and the nest were HUGE! If you've never seen an eagle in person, you can not get a true sense of just how big it is on TV. Very neat. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Rick's daughter Jen. She is a great (trained) chef and I felt like I was dining in a 5 start restaurant while we were there. So much excellent food. I get stuffed thinking about it. Can't wait to go visit again! One of R & G's dogs had 13 puppies while we were there and another (Ollie) I expect to have hers any day now. Lots & lots of dogs. R & G, love you guys, but I'm glad its not me having to find homes for all those dogs. Good Luck! Anyway, I promise to begin keeping up my blog more frequently in the future - At least once a week. Everyone have a Great Day!

A Little Word Play

Some folks say that without love you are like ships in the night . I suppose thats true , but since I've found DKB we've been happy together. I even proposed recently and though we won't be going to the chapel, we are planning a very nice outdoor wedding. I started this blog a couple of months ago when DKB (briefly) had second thoughts - so I guess you could say she became my obsession, but, at last she came to her senses. I was kind of surprised when DKB first expressed interest in me because I'm not a real sharp dressed man. I'm forever in blue jeans. I never used to think there was such a thing as love at first sight, but now I'm a believer.

I always tend to think of myself as an average guy, not one to think I'm too sexy or anything. I'm just a common man. A big night out for me is dinner and going to the movies. I was talking to my future best man the other night about DKB and told him she's my girl, Bill. He said that's okay, he has his own woman, but he had to hang up cause his dog was in the street and he had to go figure out who let the dogs out. Okay, I admit I'm reaching for some of these, but I do hope you've had a little fun with it. Its just my way of bringing a little joy to the world.

In all seriousness, I couldn't figure out a clever way to include this song, but its one of my favorites and DKB and I are going to use it for our first dance together at the reception following our wedding ceremony. It's a Somewhere over the rainbow/Its a wonderful world medley by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Beautiful song if you've never heard it.

In closing, I hope everyone has a great day and don't worry (be happy!) (sorry couldn't resist one more.)

Its Official

Well, Friday I couldn't wait any longer and I actually got down on one knee (at the restaurant where we had our first date) and said "Debra K___ B____, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" With a big grin on her face she said, "Absolutely!" So its all official now and we are in the early planning stages for a Saturday, October 31st, wedding.

If you read her blog, she says things much more eloquently than I do, and there is even a picture of the engagement ring.

More details to come as things progress. I have to run now, Monday is a busy day for me. Everyone have a great day!

Late but still here

I've been a bit negligent, since its been almost a week since I made an entry. No excuses, I just have much more fun reading the blogs of those that are much better writers than I am. Sharing those laughs and tears vicariously. But I will persevere and try at least to be mildly entertaining.

Living in the south, I ride my motorcycle just about year round. To do so I keep a very close eye on the weather reports and on the days that there is more than a 40% chance of rain, I drive my truck. Well, I had dutifully checked weather.com before I left work on Monday and saw that there was only a 30% chance of rain Tuesday afternoon. Well, when I got off work it was raining. Not wanting to leave my bike at work, I geared up and took to the road. While it was not a downpour, it was steady, and inside of a mile I was soaked (only 9 more miles to home), plus the temp was around 50 degrees. Dude! I was ssssssoooooo cold! Once I got home (pic is of my house last summer) and pried my fingers from the handlebars, I let loose the hounds (my chihuahua-mixed dogs - Harley & Pearl) of war, went inside and stripped out of my clothes and straight into a hot shower (aaaaaahhhhhh! such bliss!). Once dry, I threw my clothes in the wash and fixed a cuppa mint tea with a wee bit of 80 proof fortification. I then sought to snuggle down in my recliner with a nice warm quilt over me - but nooooo - the fates were against me. I heard an ominous crack and the left side of my recliner gave way. Well, crap! So much for the best 5 dollar yard sale recliner I purchased 2 years ago. I guess I got my money's worth, but now I have to go check the local thrift stores for a semi-new chair. I've had my bike for 3 1/2 years and count the number of times rain has caught me on one hand, so my system works pretty well. I'm of the opinion that if its not raining when I go to work, I'll take my (40% or less) chances going home. Besides, that means there is a 60% chance I'll stay dry. Better odds than any casino.

DKB has been a bit under the weather the last couple of days. I talked with her last evening and she seemed to be doing a little better. I'll see her this evening. I've promised her a foot rub and hot chicken soup. As I said before, I'm an avid reader. I'm currently reading "Cradle" by Arthur C. Clarke & Gentry Lee. Only about 50 pages in so far, but its developing quite nicely. Can't wait to see where it takes me.

Have a great day!