More than you Probably Want to Know!

My Roommate and I once…

Caught our outside apartment stairs on fire while grilling out. (College days!)

Never in my life have I…

had so much alone time.

High school was…

Not a pleasant experience for me. Proof positive that your peers are your worst enemies.

When I am nervous…

I talk incessantly.

My hair…

is almost gone.

When I was 5…

I celebrated my birthday with a tonsillectomy.

By this time next year…

I'll be ready to retire, but I won't be old enough!

My favorite aunt is…

I don't have any living ones anymore, but my Aunt Kate was awesome.

I have a hard time understanding:

Where teenagers are ""coming from" these days.

You know I like you if:

I keep eye contact with you after 2 minutes of conversation.

My ideal breakfast is:

A western omelet, crisp bacon, and coffee, followed by a cream cheese danish.

If you visit my hometown:

You will be bored shitless!

If you spend the night at my house:

You will think my guest room is a storeroom, which it is.

My favorite redhead is:

Reba McIntire

My favorite brunette is:

Martina McBride

The animal I would like to see flying is:

an owl, never seen one in flight.

I shouldn’t have been:

allowed to quit college when I did.

Last night:

I Watched the movie, "Indian Summer," with a Snickers and a Coors.

I’ve been told I look like:

my dad.

If I could have any car it would be:

a Vette (red)

All I Can Say Is WOW!

This afternoon we drove out to a ranch to visit some of Prof's friends. We drove 31 miles out of town, made a right turn into their "lane" and then drove for at least 4 miles back to their ranch. We had to stop and let the sheep they raise get up and out of the lane. There weren't just a few sheep, there were hundreds! We had a nice lunch, toured their garden, and visited the pen where they kept bum lambs. (Lambs that for some reason their mothers wouldn't take care of them.) Then we headed on to Ft. Peck. There is a LARGE reservoir there, and a town. It has a theater and has a summer theater troupe that they recruit from universities in surrounding states, as well as Montana. We saw an absolutely fantastic performance of "Jesus Christ, Superstar." The players were young, vibrant and full of excitement and enthusiasm. Their artistic director came out and talked to us before the performance and said for us to watch out, that these actors would be famous some day. I believe every word of it. It was hard to sit through some of the scenes. For me, the crucifixion scene was the hardest. It represented the most horrible example of mans inhumanity to man to me. I cried! Sorry, I know it was a play, but I was so deeply moved, I cried.
After the play, we left fort Peck for the 88 mile trek back to Prof's town. Just leaving town, two mule deer came bounding out of the driver's side ditch, across the road, and one of them ran into our car. It tumbled, rolled, and got up and ran off. We stopped to survey the damage, and it wasn't bad. A scratch, and a few deer hairs, and some of what we think is mud! Maybe not! Driving home, we encountered at least 50 mule deer along the roadside. It made me nervous, but Prof was driving and said that "you get used to it." You just move slower, and watch closely, and be prepared to stop and let them cross the road. In that 88 mile span of highway, both highways being well traveled state roads, we met 7 cars. Of course it was between 10:30 and 12:30 at night, but in Indiana, you can't go a mile without seeing at least 1 car! I told Prof that if I lived here, I would just stay in town after dark. Well, so much for that idea, we came around the corner onto her street, and there was a mule deer grazing in her neighbor's yard. What a place! What a life! I love it here!
Peace and Hope!
JE

Catching Up

Yesterday, Thursday, we were going to take off and drive West to the mountains. I laid in bed the night before and figured that it would cost about $150.00 in gas alone to make the round trip. Was it worth it? I awoke to thunder rumbling across the sky in the morning. Then the lightening started flashing, more thunder, and then the rain started. This was rolling in from the west, so I suggested that maybe it wouldn't be too prudent to journey that way into the storms. The storms just kept coming. By noon, though, it was clear here, storms had passed and it was a beautiful day. I just couldn't justify spending that many dollars when I had already seen so much around this area. It seemed pretty selfish. So we just stayed in town, visited the library, and I met more of Prof's friends. We ate at the cafe again for supper. Best bacon cheeseburger I have ever eaten. (It's about that diet!) Then off to the Tastee Freeze for a cone, then home. Wilber came over for a visit, we laughed, then as all good things must come to an end, she went home, and we crashed. Again another fun Montana day.
Today, we invited to another friend's home for lunch, then on to the reservoir, and then the theater to see "Jesus Christ, Superstar." Prof got us seats on the 3rd row. Tomorrow, who knows what is going to happen. Think we're visiting another ranch. Not sure.
Peace and Hope!
JE

Info Central

1) What do you add to your coffee? just black
2) What are you reading now? Just finished "Plain Truth"
3) Do you own a gun? yes
4) Are you registered to vote? sure am!
5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? sometimes
6) What do you think of hot dogs? All beef with mustard, pickle relish and onion are great.
7) Favorite Christmas Song? "Still, Still, Still", "Silent Night," "I'll Be Home For Christmas."
8). What do you prefer to drink in the morning? coffee
9) Can you do push ups? Maybe one, on a good arthritis day
10) What was the name of your first boyfriend/girlfriend? Phyllis
11) What’s your favorite piece of jewelery? Black Hills Gold ring
12) Favorite hobby? carding, reading
13) Do you work with people who idolize you? No
14) Do you have ADD? No
15) What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? scared to take a chance
16) What’s your Middle name? Richard
17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: Will I sleep well tonight, How are the kids doing moving, will I live long enough to enjoy retirement.
18). Name 3 things you bought yesterday: Lunch, beer, wine
19) Name 3 beverages you regularly drink: iced tea, diet Coke, Coors
20) Current worry right now? Will my car last another year!
21) What side do you dress to? ????????? What does this mean?
22) Favorite place to be? Home, but I love traveling, too.
23) How did you bring in the New Year? Partying with da Hube and Co.
24) Where would you like to go? Dallas, Ft. Worth, Key West
25) Name three people who will complete this: I have no idea......
26) Whose answers do you want to read the most? any one who wants to answer it?
27) What color shirt are you wearing? None, I am ready for bed.
28). Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No. The one time I did, the pillow kept slipping off the bed. Threw them away the next day.
29) Can you whistle? not well
30) Favorite colors(s)? red, blue, forest green
31) Could you be a pirate? nope , I always wanted to be Peter Pan, except for the tights!
32) What songs do you sing in the shower? anything that comes to mind
33) Favorite girls name? Penelope Gwendolyn (not really!)
34) Favorite boy’s name? Parker Welles
35) What’s in your pocket right now? no pockets on what I have on right now.
36) Last thing that made you laugh? Listening to Prof and Kathy talk about students.
37) Best bed sheets as a child? Cowboy and Indian pillow cases.
38). Worst injury you’ve ever had? Laid open my right thumb with box cutter.
39) Do you love where you live? Yes
40) How many TVs do you have in your house? 3
41) Who is your loudest friend? Amy G
42) How many dogs do you have? none
43) Does anyone have a crush on you? Nope
44) What are the most fun things you ever did? Walking with my late wife along Lake Michigan, spending Christmases with the kids.
45) What are your favorite books? way too many to list
46) What is your favorite candy? Junior Mints
47) Favorite Team? White Sox
48). What songs do you want played at your funeral? "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me," "It Is Well With My Soul."
49) What were you doing at 12 AM? sleeping
50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? OMG! Why did I drink all that beer!

Road Trip to the "City"

Yesterday we decided to take a "road trip" to the local WalMart. We made our lists and took off. Bear in mind it is 83 miles, and 1 hour and 15 minutes drive to the City. Remember also that the speed limit on Montana roads is 70 miles per hour during the day. (65mph at night) We actually met 13 cars in that 83 miles. The road laid out in front of us like a brown and yellow ribbon. The buttes beckoned in the distance and the prairie rolled on and on. City was about like any other town with the usual fast food restaurants and a Wally World. We had pasta and breadsticks at Pizza Hut and hit the "mart." I had my film developed and put on disc, Prof made her necessary purchases, I bought beer and wine. We went to another store where I contemplated buying a "real" Stetson western hat. But, I just couldn't justify the $80. So it still sits on the store's shelf. We stopped so Prof could get her peppermint mocha, and then headed home. Again, I counted the vehicles that we met on the trek home: 8. We rolled back into town both feeling relief to be away from the crowded streets and again in the open spaces. Later we went to the H-Bar for a beer or two and one of Prof's friends showed up with his guitar and his mom and her bass. We jammed for a while, then I came home and hit the sack. Another great Montana day!

My Kind of Eye Candy!

There is all kinds of eye candy. This is my Eye Candy! Eclectic ? Yes! But, hey, this is my blog!

Lauren Bacall

Julia Roberts

Jennifer O'Neill

Liz

Lois Nettleton

See What I Mean!!!

Here I am standing atop the "Missouri Breaks" before we descended into them.

Here we were down in the "Breaks" at the marina on Hell Creek, a finger of the Ft. Peck reservoir. The darkness across the lake on the hillside is cloud shadow. Beautiful.

Here's the herd of ranch horses that were blocking the highway on the way home!

More later!

Peace and Hope JE

Tour of the Breaks

Saturday, Professor took me out to the "Missouri Breaks." This area is a geological phenomena created by glaciers and the Missouri River eons ago. It has got to be the most hauntingly beautiful spot I have ever been.
We left TMoN on a state highway. This state highway is gravel. It is two cars wide plus some just like the state highways in Area 52, but it is GRAVEL! The posted speed limit was 50 mph, but if you drove 30mph you would "washboard" all over the place. So, it was a nice scenic ride, where I got to see the changes in terrain come almost as if there was a line drawn across the state in spots. The terrain in and around TMoN is rolling, with some buttes, few trees. As we neared the Breaks, the terrain changed, becoming more rugged and dotted with pine trees. Prof has a favorite spot where she likes to pull off and take pictures. I walked with her to the "edge" of the breaks. Looking out and DOWN I saw gullies and mountains cut into the earth. The road wound on down and through these. I took many pictures, which I will post some of at a later date. We drove on down the road stopping once in a while to take pictures, or to let free-range cattle which were grazing the roadside, cross the road. We drove on and on until the highway ended at Hell Creek State Park. Hell Creek is a finger of the Ft. Peck reservoir. It is a vast span of water with a marina, boat ramps, and lots of fisherpersons. Yesterday was the ladies walleye fishing tournament. We walked all over the marina, took more pictures, and then began the trip home. On the way back, more cattle, AND we actually had to stop for a herd of horses, owned by a nearby ranch, as they ambled down the road, grazing the roadside and just taking their own sweet time moving out of the way. I got some great shots! Gotta get to a one hour photo shop! Yeah, right. Nearest one of those is in a town 92 miles away. Maybe later in the week.
We arrived back in town, took a tour of the school where Prof teaches, then onward to get ice cream at the little Tastee Freeze. Later we went to the Cafe for supper. I had finger steaks and curly fries. I can see that I will have to go back on the diet when I get home to Area 52.

I Flew!

Yes, you are reading right! I flew to Montana to visit my daughter, Professor. I had been told for the last 44 years that I couldn't, under any circumstances, fly in an airplane. I have had several MAJOR surgeries on my ears over the years, and docs have always advised me to not fly.
Recently, I changed ENT doctors. My new dr, Dr. Cindi, said that I could fly. She told me no one should fly if they have either an ear infection or a sinus infection, and since I had neither, I could fly whenever I wanted to. She gave me some advice: one hour before flight time, use a 12 hour nasal spray in each nostral, and then chew gum throughout the flight. She gave me a little pamphlet to read about flying with ear problems. Guess what sports fans, it worked. I am now blogging from Prof's computer (really Kiddo's, but he's in Area 52 with the father-figure).
TMOFN is really a different place than what I am used to. First of all, it is small. Very small. And there is no rhyme or reason to the way the town is laid out. No zoning laws against junk cars, and mobile homes like back home. But.... I like it. I could not live here, it's just too remote for me. But the area around town is rolling, and hauntingly beautiful. They haven't had rain since June 7th, so it is very dry. We went past the BLM building outside town and today's fire alert is "moderate." One thing I have noticed, the people here are very friendly. Curious, I think, because they all seem to know I was arriving, and want to catch a glimpse of me. But they are extremely polite and accepting so far.
I have met Professor's neat friend, Wilber. She is a workaholic, bounces from cooking at the cafe to working on a ranch, to farming. She also makes beautiful quilts. I have seen some of her handiwork...lovely. She is generous with her time and her hard earned bucks. And she must have patience galore because she is teaching Professor to quilt. Amazing! Wait until you see the quilt she is making me!
I neglected to tell you that IMoFN has only two paved streets. One is a state highway that passes through from East to West. The rest of the streets are dirt and stone. Some are maintained better than others, but the people here don't seem to mind. Pickup trucks are in the majority here, the streets are wide, especially downtown. It seems that they pile the large quantities of snow down the middle in the winter.
I am having a great time. It will be an interesting stay. I have been alone a lot in the past several months and having to be around people all the time will take some getting used to. Prof and I have made an agreement to let each other know if we need some space. That shouldn't be too hard; there's lots of wide open space here.

Peace and Hope
JE

Deadly Sins Blog

7 Deadly Sins Blog


I am not so sure I like the term “deadly” in terms of sin!

WRATH

1. Who did you last get angry with?
My mother-in-law when she trashed Professor, and ruined our Christmas celebration.

2. What is your weapon of choice?
.45 Magnum

3. Would you hit a member of the opposite sex?
Probably not, even if I felt like it.

4. How about of the same sex?
maybe- If the situation called for it.

5. Who was the last person who got really angry at you?
One of the gals I teach with. I really pissed her off, but didn’t realize it until many weeks later.

6. What is your pet peeve?
Whiners

7. Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily?
Usually, I just mouth off, get it off my chest, and let it go. But in the case of the MIL, never will I be kind to that woman again. This isn't a grudge, it's a vendetta!!!

SLOTH

1. What is one thing you're supposed to do daily that you don't?
Dishes, keep my shit picked up so the house looks like somebody cares.

2. What is the latest you've ever woken up?
4:30 PM the next day, after a real bad drinking binge.

3. What is the last lame excuse you made?
Tired and would not be good company when friends tried to fix me up.

4. Have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through?
Yes, that Cricut cutting devise fascinates the hell out of me.

6. When was the last time you got in a good workout?
I try to ride my bicycle some almost every day. Does that count?

7. How many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock today?
I didn't. It's a day off!

GLUTTONY

1. What is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice?
Starbucks White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha

2. Meat eaters: white meat or dark meat??
Steak, is that dark or light?

3. What is the greatest amount of alcohol you've had in one sitting/outing/event?
A 6 pack of Colt 45 Malt with a half bottle of Cutty Sark to chase it.

4. Have you ever used a professional diet company?
No.

5. Do you have an issue with your weight?
Not really, cause I’ve lost almost 30 lbs.

6. Do you prefer sweets, salty foods, or spicy?
sweets and salty depending on my mood. Spicy, but not so much as it rots my tummy.

7. Have you ever looked at a small house pet or child and thought "lunch"?
Christ no! I live in a civilized world.

LUST

1. How many people have you seen naked (not counting movies/family):
Counting the HS Phys. Ed. shower time, probably lots. Otherwise, not very many. Maybe 4.

2. How many people have seen YOU naked (not counting physicians/family):
Again with the HS showers, so who knows.

3. Have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of a member of the opposite gender during a normal conversation?
Chest yes, crotch, I don’t think so. I have some couth!

4. Have you ever kissed two people in one night?
Not that I can remember. I led/lead a very sheltered life.

5. What is your favorite body part on a person of your gender of choice?
Boobs and butts (female, of course)

6. Have you ever been propositioned by a prostitute?
No! A slutty college friend once, but that wasn't for money!

GREED

1. How many credit cards do you own?
none

2. What's your guilty pleasure store?
Kohls, Steve and Barry’s, Starbucks

3. Would you rather be rich, or famous?
Both, aren't most famous people rich?

4. Would you accept a boring job if it meant you would make megabucks?
Heck yes, I have a boring second job now for minibucks!

5. Have you ever stolen anything?
Yes. From the college bookstore. (I was a poor student, give me a break!)

6. How many MP3s are on your hard drive?
Currently I have 131 songs, but adding daily.

PRIDE

1. What's one thing you have done that you're most proud of?
Graduated from college, raised a family.(Oops! That's two.)

2. What one thing have you have done that your parents are most proud of?
Mom always was proud of me for just being a good human being.

3. What things would you like to accomplish in your life?
Comfortable retirement

4. Do you get annoyed by coming in second place?
No.

5. Have you ever entered a contest of skill, knowing you were of much higher skill than all the other competitors?
I was a better "Scrabble" player than my wife, does that count?

6. Have you ever cheated on something to get a higher score?
No.

7. What did you do today that you're proud of?
Went to church, then cleaned up my closet, and bookshelves.

ENVY

1. What item (or person) of your friends would you most want to have for your own?
Any of their cars. They all have newer ones. Maybe Alan’s motorcycle.

2. Who would you want to go on "Trading Spaces" with?
No question, my friend Julianne. She has a degree in interior design and she knows what I like. She wouldn’t do weird stuff like some of those top designers( like gluing brown paper sacks to the wall). If I got to choose one of those decorators, I would choose Frank Balik.

3. If you could be anyone else in the world, who would you be?
Someone who is rich, tall , dark and handsome and has hair.

4. Have you ever been cheated on?
Yes

5. Have you ever wished you had a physical feature different from your own?
More hair, not so chubby?

6. What inborn trait do you see in others that you wish you had for yourself?
I wish I was braver to try new things.

Missing Her

This has been a rough time. Too much time alone, not enough going on, and just being lonesome. Theses lyrics to one of my favorite Carole King hits just sums up my melancholy mood these last few weeks. (You can find this song on Carole's "Livingroom Tour" CD. Ya gotta listen to it!)

Now and Forever
You were a part of me
And the memory cuts like a knife
Didn't we find the ecstasy
Didn't we share the daylight
When you walked into my life
Now and forever
I will remember
All the promises still unbroken
And think about all the words between us
That never needed to be spoken.

We had a moment
Just one moment
That will last beyong a dream, beyond a lifetime
We are the lucky ones
Some people never get to do
All we got to do
Now and forever
I will always think of you

Didn't we come together
Didn't we live together
Didn't we cry together
Didn't we play together
Didn't we love together
And together we lit up the world

I miss the tears
I miss the laughter
I miss the day we met and all that followed after
Sometimes I wish
I could always be with you
The way we used to do
Now and forever
I will always think of you
Now and forever
I will always be with you.
________________

Will this every get any easier?

Peace and Hope

JE