100 and counting

I had made up my mind earlier this week that I was going to make time today to do an entry here. As the title says, its 100 days until . . . . . . DKB & I get married. So it is a bit of a red-letter day for me. We've got a lot planned and done already, and it seemed like we had all the time in the world to get it done the way we want. Well, now its right around the corner and the "later" that we were waiting on to do some things is "now".

Whats a little scary is that I found out yesterday that one of my high school buddies, (who married his h.s. sweetheart in 1974) has had his wife leave him. I'm not going to go into any of the why's and what's of whats involved, but he is hurting deeply. It makes you wonder, if it can happen to them, is any marriage for forever. But I refuse to allow this to throw a damper on our plans. It was a shock and I hurt for my friend, but I am truly happy with DKB and have to believe that nothing like this could happen to us. I look forward to having her with me for the rest of my life.

Everyone have a great day! Make everyone count, because you never know how many you have.

Catching Up

Its been a little bit since my last post, but I've been catching up at work and doing other things which have taken up my time and preventing me from blogging.

This past weekend I was pretty busy. Friday, I told my oldest grandson for a trip on my motorcycle to the Chuck E. Cheese Pizza place in Tupelo (about an hour + away). He turns 10 today and this was my gift to him. We had pizza and he played games for about 3 hours. He had a great time and I had just as good a time watching him. We got back to Starkville about 5:30 PM and DKB and I went out to have a leisurely meal at Shaherazad's. On the way, however, since we were passing by the house of my late wife's best friend, we stopped and had a nice visit for around an hour. D.M-P-C seemed to really like DKB and that was kind of important to me, since we are getting married in October.

Since DKB and I had been so busy lately with lots of things, I had decided that Saturday would be an US day. We, took a ride on the bike and had a nice meal at Mugshots. Had a nice little visit with my oldest son and his wife (& my youngest grandchild), and then went to see the latest Harry Potter movie. I've not read the books, but I've seen all the movies, and I expected great things from this one - since all the pre-movie hype said it was the best one yet. But, I have to say I was disappointed with it. It was OK, but I guess (because of the hype) - I expected more.

Sunday, I worked on a few tasks around the house (cutting up a storm-felled tree w/my chainsaw, fixing a step, combing out Shaddow, and bathing my 2 small dogs) and then in the afternoon (after a nice, hot shower) DKB and I watched a couple of movies. Dick Tracy (1990) with Warren Beatty and Madonna and The Crow (1994) with Brandon Lee. I thought both were good, but for different reasons. One thing that struck me about "The Crow" was that there was a line at the beginning of the movie (just after Eric & Shelley are killed) where the cop looks at an invitation and says "They were getting married on Halloween? Who the hell gets married on Halloween?" DKB and I looked at each other and grinned, because that is the planned date of our nuptials.

Ahh well, thats enough for now. I have more things to do. Everyone have a great day!!!!!!

Greetings from "The Natural State"

Atleast thats what it says on the licencse plates here abouts. I thought I would take time to make a quick post today. DKB and I got here late Friday and have spent a very pleasant couple of days visiting with her parents and brother. We had thought about heading back today, but my sister called me this morning and said it is raining back in Mississippi and that we should wait until tomorrow. I thanked her for the information and went back to bed, failing to mention that if she had checked her email she would know that we had already decided to do that. Thanks for looking out for me though, Sis. The weather report for tomorrow is predicting only a 10 to 20 % chance of rain along the route we'll be traveling. This is very important since we are on my motorcycle.

If you've never rode through Arkansas, its very beautiful country. Part of the only mountain chain in the U.S. that runs East-West is here. It made for a very pleasant bike ride. Very curvy, but for the most part, well maintained mountain roads, and if you didn't know - which I didn't until we got her - Arkansas is a helmet optional state for bike riders. I had never ridden without a helmet before (and it is not a practice I endorse) but everyone should get the opportunity to do it a least once. You really do get a rush of freedom.

A couple of times when we were all sitting around the table talking, DKB's bro and I would go off talking about scince fiction, books, authors, TV shows and movies. After a few minutes I would look around and everyone else would just be looking at us with a glazed look. I would apologize for M. and I "geeking out". And get back with everyone else's conversation. It was fun though. I probably won't have time to blog again until next week. Once I get back to work on Wednesday, I'll be playing "catch-up" for a while.

Everyone have a great week!!

LOOOONG Weekend

The picture is of me 3 years ago (about 6 months after my wife died). I was going through my gnarly, biker phase. I hadn't cut my hair or my beard since my wife's funeral at the time. I still consider myself a biker, since I ride year round - even when the temps approach zero - which isn't often here in Mississippi. Anyway, I still have the same bike and tomorrow DKB and I are on our way to Arkansas (& very close to the Oklahoma border) to visit her parents & brother. We've been planning the trip for a while and we are both looking forward to it. We are taking the bike. I just had the oil changed in the bike and had it inspected yesterday, so we are good to go. My oldest son is going to take care of the pets for us while we are gone. When I get home tonight we'll pack the big travel bag I have and get everything ready for the trip. That way, when we get up in the morning, we just hop on the bike and hit the road (Cue Steppenwolf: "Born to be Wild") I've loved that song since it first came out - and I'm dating myself, but I was in Junior High then.

I mentioned pets. There is this one website I visit ever possible day. It's called the Animal Rescue Site and just by giving a click with your mouse you can donate food once a day, every day. If you have, or just like, animals - take 10 seconds each day and click your mouse for them. Bookmark the page and visit if often.

Pets Can Be Funny

I have 2 chihuahua mix dogs (Harley - chi/whippet & Pearl - chi/feist) and DKB's Shaddow (Lab mix - knee high & 65 lbs.) Well, this morning when I let Harley & Pearl out of the kennel I keep them in (inside), Shaddow was bouncing up & down excitedy waiting to go out with them. To set this up properly, I have to tell you I have vinyl tile floors which are very slick to dogs which need their nails clipped, and there is one big turn they have to make coming through the kitchen when heading to the front door. (Now, don't get ahead of me - I know you can see it coming.) Anyway, as they rounded the turn, Harley's feet slipped out from under him and clipped Shaddow's back legs causing her to fall over and start to slide. She slid into & slightly under Pearl, ending up with Pearl "surfing" Shaddow up to the door, while Harley lay there with a slightly stunned "WTF" look on his face. I wish I had had a camera handy. It was priceless.

If you like blues and jazz, may I suggest that you listen to WWOZ out of New Orleans. They play a nice mix of jazz, blues, and zydeco. You know, N'awlin's music. Having lived in New Orleans for four years ('88-'92), it brings back some nice memories. I hoping that early next year DKB & I can make it down for Mardi Gras.

In 3 more days DKB & I are taking a little road trip and visiting her folks in Arkansas. I'm looking forward to a very nice (long) weekend. I've met her mom & dad before (although it was only an hour or so with dad), but I've never met her brother. A situation which will soon be changed.

Ahh, well, not much more to pass. Everyone have a Great Day!

Onto the Soapbox

Okay, if you've read this blog before you know that I ride my motorcycle most days and since there is no radio and a fairly straight shot to and from work, it gives you time to think. Last night I dreamed about my late wife and the events that led up to and immediately after her tragic death. I must admit to being a bit fuzzy on the couple of days after, because I was in a state of shock. I loved my wife and within a few hours she was gone. Totally unexpected. It was a very rough period of my life and I struggled with depression for several months. But back to the dream, or actually a series of dreams. After the first (detailed above), I dreamed - and this was a little strange - that my late wife(LW), DKB, and I were all dining together. LW knew she had passed on and told DKB - "Take care of him. He's a good man, but can be a bit of a klutz when doing home projects." She then regaled DKB with what seemed hours of my klutzy adventures. Then I dreamed of mine and DKB's wedding day. When the preacher got to the part about "reasons why not and speak now". LW said "If I'm okay with it, nobody else had better say anything!" Now I know dreams are our own projections and perceptions, but I like to think that LW would actually say those things if she could. At one point in our lives together, we had actually talked about what we would do if one of us passed on, and we agreed that neither of us would like the other to be alone for the rest of their lives.

When DKB and I get married, it will have been almost 4 years since LW passed on. I know she would have wanted me to be happy and DKB makes me happy. So I want to say this (drag over soapbox) "If anyone has a problem with these impending nuptials - GET OVER IT!!!!!" Its going to happen. LW wanted me to be happy and I see no reason why I shouldn't be. I hope to have many, many years with DKB.

I've had someone ask me if DKB was anything like LW. The short answer is NO. The longer I think about it, there are a very things (both liked to crochet and make things, for example) that are similar, but not really. Then I got to thinking, that "wouldn't it be a little creepy if I just went out to try and find basically a LW clone?" So, I'm going to stick with the short answer, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I loved LW and love DKB, for very different reasons - except one: Both made/make me happy when we were/are together. Life goes on and is too short to dwell on negatives - everyone should strive to be their happiest. I know I am! I now surrender the soapbox.

Everyone have a great day!

So I say, Huh?

Today is one of those days when I have absolutely no idea what I want to put down here, so I imagine I'll be ramblin' a bit. Last night DKB and I watched "Yes Man" with Jim Carey and Zoey Deschanel. Funny movie. And Zoey has a pair of the deepest blue eyes I've ever seen. And if her name seems familiar, its because her sister (Emily) stars in "Bones" on Fox TV. If you've never seen it, shame on you. Great show!

If you've read DKB's blog , you will know that this is gonna be a "leftover" week for us, and that's okay. I grilled enough meat products yesterday that we can sup this week without heating up the house. This is very important, since the heat index today will hit around 110. May sure all your outside pets have plenty of shade and fresh water.

I recently started reading the "Agatha Raisin" mystery series by M. C. Beaton. I've read the first 3 (there are about 20). They are engaging little mysteries set in a quaint English countryside and all (so far) are very quick reads. So if you want a way to wind yourself through a lazy afternoon, you might give them a try.

DKB & I now have our sights set on the 4th of July holiday weekend. This is the next "event" for us. If things work out the way we hope, we will be buzzing out to Arkansas to visit her family for a few days. The long range forecast is calling for sunny days, so we hope to ride the motorcycle out. Cheaper on gas, you know.

I've rambled enough. Everyone have a great day!