One More Time

Yesterday I started to make a post, actually typed up a few paragraphs, and then my computer "burped" and I lost it. I was so aggravated, I gave up and said I would post later. So, here I am!

This "may" be last post that I make this year. Quite a bit going on. Tomorrow night I am playing Santa at the Emerson Center for the "Wee Read" program. This program encourages young (pre-school) children to read and part of their reward is pictures with Santa. Then, on Saturday (19th) I am doing my annual "Santa Ride" around Starkville. I do this each year to honor my late first wife and DKW understands and is fine with it. Also, afterwards My oldest and her family will be over and we will be exchanging Christmas gifts. On Monday, 21st, DKW and I will be off to visit her family for a bit. Thankfully, one of my student workers has agreed to take care of our animals and keep an eye on the house while we are gone. So thats one less thing we have to worry about.

Since the end of the year is a time of reflection for most folks, I thought I would list some of the things I am thankful for: (1)Family, my first wife & I have 5 children and 7 grandchildren. Is my relationship with all of them perfect? No-but I love them all and, like it or not, they have helped shape me into the person I am today. DKW, my new bride and I, have had a few bumps, but I like to think its getting better all the time. (2) My job. In these times, a lot of folks count them fortunate to have a job. I'm lucky enough not only to have a job, but to have a job I really enjoy and a really nice boss. (3) Living in America. No, its not perfect - but I truly believe that its a lot better than whatever country is in 2nd. There are many, many other things that I am thankful for that might seem frivolous (i.e. football, possesions, being able to hunt & fish, etc.) so I won't make a huge, long list. But I am also thankful for being able to share these things with the few readers I have - whatever your reasons for reading. Have a great holiday season!!!

Cruising the Time Line

Thanksgving has come and gone, and Christmas is rapidly approaching. My Christmas shopping is done and the gifts (for the most part) are all wrapped. This time of year brings a lot of mixed emotions for me. December 3rd was the 4th anniversary of my first wife's death. I do love DKW (who I married on 10/31 of this year) but I must confess that the loss of my first wife still hurts. DKW understands this and is very supportive - just one of the reasons I love her.

While, to some extent, I enjoy the holiday season - I'm actually looking forward to getting past it, so DKW and I can settle more firmly into our life together. 2009, has been a very eventful (major understatement!) year. I'm hoping 2010 will be more low key, even though DKW and I have some events planned together.

When I was in junior high school, I had a history teacher tell my class, "Think about what is important to you - in a hundred years - will it be important to anybody?" After posing that question he went on to ask the same about different year increments (i.e. 50, 20, 10 & 5), and that question has stayed with me. I guess it boils down to how long will I be remembered (by other than family) after I'm gone? Everyone wants to make their mark, but do we really? I was watching a program on the History Channel the other day, and they were saying that they can now date the universe's age at 4 1/2 billion years (give or take a million). The average human life expectancy is 77.7 years. So most people are barely a blip on the timeline radar. Even people remembered long after their deaths (say Confuscious (550 B.C.) for example) - could only be considered to be a speedbump on the timeline. Okay - enough of that - I don't want to be morbid. The point I really want to make is that we should enjoy the life we have. Its too short to sweat the small stuff. Be good to those that are important to you. Live your life doing the things that are important to you. I guess you could say that that is going to be my resolution for the coming year.

I do want to close this post on a positive note. I am happy. I have a wife and family that loves me. I refuse to dwell on the negative and look to the future with a positive outlook!

Everyone have a great day!!

On Being A Husband

This past Sunday, Debra and her friend were at our house baking cookies all afternoon. A LOT of cookies! Like 72 Dozen cookies! The house smelled great all day. Except for the time that I was cooking burgers on our electric grill and the smoke set off our fire alarm. (OOOPS!) But Debra and Friend were having a good time chatting and baking while I vegged out watching football. At one point (while they were busy) Debra asked if I would make a pot of hot tea for them. I said "Sure, what kind do you want?" To be honest, I never gave it a second thought, I just hopped up, made the tea, and sat down to my football game again. But evidently that impressed her friend, because she said something along the lines of "Wow - he didn't even complain - just aked what kind you want" to Debra. But I guess I've always been that way - I like doing things for my wife. I did a lot of things for my first wife, when she was alive, that I wouldn't think of doing for anyone else because I loved her. And its the same now, I do things for Debra that I wouldn't do for others, because I love her. I always said that part of a good marriage is the willingness to compromise and the willingness to do things for each other without complaint. And honestly, it makes me feel good when one of my wife's friends say - "Wow, you got a keeper!" I hope that I can continue to do that the rest of my life.

Thursday is Thanksgiving and tomorrow afternoon I will start cooking my bird and the trimmings. And no, I'm not asking Debra to help. I've cooked Thanksgiving dinner for my family most of the past 20+ years and I'm not going to stop now. She can help with some of the tasks if she wants, but this is pretty much my show and as it gets closer I actually itching to get started.

Everyone have a great day! And and great Thanksgiving Holiday!

New Title on Blog

Well, finally got around to updating the title for my blog since DKB and I have been married going on 3 weeks now and she did take my last name. She's changed her driving license, social security card, etc. It is a little bit of a pain to get it done, but its all done now.

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching and I'm going to do my annual dinner as usual. The gathering will be a little smaller than usual this year as some family members opt not to come and/or have other family obligations. They will be missed, but those family members & friends in attendance will enjoy my ugly (but falling off the bone tender) turkey with all the trimmings. I'm sure the day will still be a happy one.

I pretty much finished my Christmas shopping a few weeks ago. Come "Black Friday" (the day after Thanksgiving which marks the kickoff of the Christmas shopping season - for the uninitiated) - I will not be getting up early and fighting the mobs in any of the stores looking for bargains. Instead - I'm thinking of doing my annual Santa Ride twice this year. Once on "Black Friday" and again on 12/19. Haven't decided for sure yet though. My Santa Ride I do each year in honor of my late wife, who died in 2005 and her birthday is 12/23. Even though I've remarried, DKW is fine with this and understands why I do it. Plus I enjoy doing it and watching the reaction of folks around town.

Everyone have a great Day!

Back to Work

Well, as of October 31st, DKB and I are married and she is now actually DKW - so after I make this post - some time in the next couple of days - I will make the change to my title. The wedding went well and we had a great time on our honeymoon in Natchez. If you ever get a chance to visit, its a wonderful place for a restful vacation. We stayed at a great place called the "Bluff Top Bed and Breakfast" and ate at a bunch of great places. The best meal we had though was at a place called "Biscuits and Blues". Highly recommended if you ever get the chance. We also visited the "Old South Winery". If you stop by you can get a free tour and even samples. This is the only winery in the state of Mississippi. They make (almost exclusively) muscadine wines. Almost, because they also make a very good blueberry wine. We also toured one of the oldest cemetaries in the region. I know this sounds like an odd thing to do, but we had both read a few of (Natchez author) Greg Iles' physcological thrillers and one is titled "Turning Angel" and refers to an angel topped tomb in this cemetary. So we both wanted to see the angel featured on the book cover. If you've never read Greg Iles, start with "Mortal Fear". You won't be sorry.

Anyway, we got back last Thursday evening (Nov.5th) and have begun to settle into our new life together. Kind of short this time, but still have lots of work to catch up on. Everyone have a great day!

Last Post for a while . . . .

Today marks 4 days until DKB and I get married. My youngest son and his wife & my best man and his wife get into town this afternoon. Tomorrow, DKB is running down to the Jackson (MS) airport to pick up my daughter, who is flying in from Portland, OR. So we're going to have a pretty full house and lots to do leading up to the big event. The weather this week is going to suck, but the forecast for the big day (Saturday, October 31st) currently states ZERO percent chance of rain and a high of 70. If that holds close to true, it will be a very nice day. Keeping my fingers crossed though.

We will be departing on Sunday (11/1) for a short honeymoon and most of the guests will be gone or going by then too. My oldest son is going to watch the pets for us. Anyway, I promise new post the second week of November. Until then, I'm going to be enjoying time with my new bride.

Everyone have a great day!

Nine More Days

DKB's mom made it in earlier this week and has been hard at it making floral arrangements for the wedding and reception. She's done a bunch of lovely table displays and she even made up the bridal bouquet. Everything looks gorgeous! My friend, Larry, who is going to officiate the wedding ceremony, made it into town yesterday for an overnight visit. He was able to spend some time with DKB and her mom and we also had a nice visit. Larry has had some turmoil in his own life lately and he told me that it was nice to get away from his home for a bit and just the enjoy the company of friends.

While the wedding (10/31/09) is coming together and things are going great guns there, this has been what is quite conceivably the most difficult week I have ever had at work in the 7 years I have been in my current position. Unforeseen tasks, personnel out sick and having to take over their tasks, and unexpected additional workloads has made this the week from Heck! And to make it worse, I'm so exhausted when I get off work, I feel like a lazy bum because I'm not doing more around the house to get ready for the wedding. Ahh, well, this too shall pass. During the next week the guests start arriving for the wedding and I hope things are a bit more settled (at least as far as work is concerned) by then.

Well, back to work. Everyone have a great day!