Red Sky at morning, Sailor take warning

Red Sky at night, Sailor’s delight

I thinks I first heard this little ditty from Dad.

Probably on the side of some mountain somewhere, gazing at the sky. A good time to pass on those bits of wisdom fathers often pass on to their impressionable youngsters.

Well, I’m looking at a red sky this morning. Rain is imminent. Of course I could just look up the hyper-sensitive multi color Doppler radar on wunderground.com, but who needs that. It’s gonna rain. Red Sky at Morning.

Lets be clear, I’m no sailor. I do live on the coast and I have owned several boats and watercraft of all shapes and sizes. But now, I spend my free time on dry ground and two wheels. A boat is after all a hole in the water you pour money into. Trust me on that one. The real issues is this. Today is the first day in weeks I actually don’t feel like crap! Fall type allergies have taken their toll on me recently. A bike ride should be in order…Red Sky at Morning…

Perhaps a fish fry on the patio instead. Out of the impending rain. My brother in law, who still has boats, is keeping us stocked with crappie. It would be rude not to fry some up. He did go to all that trouble with a boat and all.

jd

This has been a tough year. 

I’m not talking the personal drama, work or politics. I’m talking real issues here!

I have not taken a really good, long ride all year! I know, hard to believe but it’s true. 

Be it work, puppies, bad weather or ……, something has kept me off ole yeller most of the year.

Time to change that. Storm season is over and cooler weather is around the corner so a trip is due.

Galveston is coming up but thats not very far and only a couple of days. I know next year we’re planning on riding up to Milwaukee, but my butt needs seat time NOW! It’s a medical condition.

Really.

If my posterior does not get 3 to 4 hundered miles on the scoot every 4 to 6 weeks, I become irritable and hard to be around. Just ask the folks at work.

So what to do about it. I’m open to suggestions. Destinations are everywhere.

jd

Empty chair..indeed.   Or in Texas we say ” All hat, and no cattle “

Back in September of ’08 we had a little blow down here called Ike. It seems Katrina still gets most of the press so if you don’t remember, I understand. 

Ike came on shore just to the east of Galveston. Putting the strongest winds and highest tides…well…at my house! Luckly the levee’s did their job for most and insurace and great neighbors helped the rest.

Why on earth would I want to bring up what was arguably one of the scariest nights of my young life, not to mention that of my trusty golden retriever who rode it out with me?

Here’s why,

Ike track

Well, here it is. Political campaign overload.

The media and their pundits and the campaigns and their PAC’s are here to help us decide an election.

Every four years, it’s the same old B.S.  They act as if we are too stupid to make up our own minds, so they set out to do it for us.

The latest dribble out of the east coast media libtards is the explanation of what a Mormon is. 

It’s embarrassing.

Really, do we think NBC or CBS would produce any piece that might look favorably on a Republican candidate?  Come on..be truthfull..I thought so.

The measure of any candidate should be their ability to lead and govern. Yes, I believe character IS important but Jimmy Carter, arguably one of the most devout and moral guys to ever hold the office was certainly one of the worst Presidents in the last fifty years. So should what church you go to really rate three prime time specials on two different networks?

 Geez, to this day, does anyone really know what BHO believes in? Theologically?  His political beliefs are apparent.

I’ll be glad when its all over. Said and done. Let the best man win.  (I’m not sure that’s actually possible anymore)

Or at least the one with the best machine that can get out their voters, dead or alive.

That’s it. No more political posting till its over and done with. Then we can finally all get back to important stuff like Facebook updates and reality T.V. .

Jodon

I’m enjoying a cool and quiet morning here on the back porch, with my Community Cafe Roast and a couple of Doves as an audience, parked on the fence eyeing me and the empty feeders.

Peacefully quiet. That will change soon enough. It IS  the Fourth.      

Today, the Fourth of July is the day we celebrate our Independence. No more were we as a people, willing to stand by and be ruled and oppressed by a foreign tyrant. 

(I’ll save my comments on the similarities to our current political situation for another post)

 We praise the patriots, who at great personal risk and risk of life, spoke out and more importantly wrote down our Declaration and our Bill of Rights. And today this will be celebrated by children of all ages blowing stuff up and causing general mayhem.

It’s a safe bet that if you were to ask the average 16 year old down at the fireworks stand what today was all about, the response you would get would include beer, beach and blowing shit up. But maybe I’m being to hard on ‘em. After all, I was a kid once, a long time ago and just as excited at the possibility of going out to the STAND.

I was about 15 and back in Plainview when I was asked if I would help repaint the old fireworks stand on the dirt road that led to the airport. Hell, why not. Maybe pick up a few blackcats or bottle rockets left behind, you never know. Besides, It was July in Plainview, we were hot, bored and looking for anything to do that didn’t involve working out in the sorghum fields for the seed companies.

My partner was the artist. I was along to paint in between the lines as it were. A day in the sun, on our own, no supervision…perfect.

We spent the entire day on the shack. In the end, it was quite a site. big exploding fire crackers bursting on the sides, bottle rockets blazing across the corners and a big black cat head, sneering down from the center. Across the front, in what we thought was a cool oriental font, were the words to let every one know this was the place for pyrotechnics. We left the scene proud of our artistic accomplishment and paused down the road to look back and admire…In bold semi-asian letters we had proclaimed—-   

FIREWOKS

We laughed so hard we cried. I don’t remember ever getting paid for our handy work, but that didn’t mater much. At least we weren’t out in the fields.

Happy Independence Day

jodon

Add to that 100% humidity, Wow!