my sentiments, exactly.

I just finished a Larry McMurtry book called ‘When the light goes.’  It’s the continuing saga of Duane Moore, a sixty something oilman who first showed up years ago in ‘The Last Picture Show.’, both a book and a movie. At that time, he was just a teenager and Mr. McMurtry has written several books since with Duane involved.  This was a good read but I imagine it helps to know Duane from past stories. I enjoyed this one immensely. Of course, Larry McMurtry, if not my favorite author, is a close second. The only problem with me reading his books is that it makes me want to throw rocks at mine. 

The primary reason I stopped to tell you about this book is that near the end of it, Duane undergoes heart bypass surgery.  I’d like to ask Larry Mcmurtry if he has had that operation or if he knows someone who has because he hit the nail on the head when, in the book, he described Duane’s feelings this way:  

“In Duane’s view he had only survived the operation in a technical sense — someone lived and breathed within his body but was it he? He never again felt that he was quite who he had been.’

That’s exactly how I feel about my bypass surgery and it was so eloquently described. I’ve come to terms with this feeling but I’m still not comfortable about it.

monday morning at grandma’s.

Susie and I are watching our granddaughter, Riley Marie, during the holiday break. She showed up this morning and wanted to play barber. I was volunteered to be the customer.

just a little off the top, please.

It wasn’t long before she tired of being a barber and morphed into an eye doctor.  

But I just got new glasses!

God only knows what we’re facing tomorrow.

A real surprise.

On Christmas evening, we were surprised (and shocked) when our kids gave us a new television for Christmas. The screen size is 11 inches bigger than any TV we’ve ever had.

Uptown Saturday Night

We were not expecting anything like that and it brought me close to tears.  While our children have been generous at Christmas before, I’m not used to used to stuff like this. I just let it sit in the box for a couple of days and I just stared at it, savoring the moment.

I finally mounted it to the stand this morning so we could look at it and impress any neighbors that might wander in.

Unfortunately, for today at least, it will have to serve much like the Beverly Hillbillies ‘fancy eatin table’  with pot passers included.  We’re not going to eat on it. We’re just going to look at it for awhile because of limitations on our tv signal. It’s just that with our old non-digital TV, we made do with rabbit ears and so-so reception on the commercial channels.   

It seems undignified, not to mention that it probably won’t work, to attach rabbit ears to this 21st century marvel of technology.  I suppose we could subscribe to Cable but I’m about half afraid I’d turn into a couch potato, not a good thing for a man with a still fresh scar from open heart surgery. In addition, I don’t think I could justify the cost of Cable  Still, watching those football games in life like clarity is awfully appealing.  

A couple of days ago, I did purchase an omni-directional antenna from Radio Shack and I’m going to do some experimenting with that this afternoon.  I have one mounted outside on our barn in Mooresville and it does a primo job. I can’t mount an antenna outside here at the condo but I think I can mount it in a closet and supply our new TV with the signals from all 17 or so digital channels that broadcast free of charge.   I’ll let you know. If it works, that’s enough TV for us although it would be nice to have ESPN and maybe one of the news channels. Oh, yeah. The weather channel would also be nice.

pretty funny.

I’m not really a youtube browser but my daughter, Julie sent me this.

When the smaller snake jumps on the newsman, watch his reaction.

Christmas photo minus 2

An impromptu Christmas photo of the family. Unfortunately, Joe and Michele were not here to top off our Christmas.  However, later the next day, We were able, with the magic of the internet, to see and talk to them using Skype and the camera on our computers.

 The white thing in my lap is our dog Poco. We named her that after we bought her as a tiny puppy in Mexico last year. She was supposed to grow up to be a six pound maltese but instead is a twenty pounder who does look sort of  maltese-ish. I bet the people who sold her to us would really be surprised.

rick, julie, susie,riley marie, me, poco and jason

I have added a picture from Joe and Michele’s wedding in case you have forgotten or want to know what they look like.

That’s Susie and I on the right.

Also, while I’m thinking about it, here’s a better picture of the dog.

I have no idea how she sees where she’s going.

A real Christmas scene.

Just don’t tell the ACLU.

Christmas time in Loogootee, In                  Photo by Jason Grindstaff

It must be Christmas.

Susie and I  bought our traditional half gallon of eggnog today for our traditional whiskey and eggnog highball on Christmas eve. It was delicious. I really like the taste of eggnog this time of year although the thick stuff tends to linger in my throat region, clinging to my uvula like a big  ball of mucus.

I’m not sure why eggnog is only popular during the holidays. I don’t know how my body knows it’s Christmas but it does. I’ve tried drinking it at other times of the year, but it tends to nauseate me. 

By golly, I believe I’ll have another.

No Christmas picture this year.

I have been making plans to take my annual Christmas picture and put it out here. In preparation for that, Susie cut my hair yesterday. A little later, my brother-in-law Donnie, stopped in and just in passing, happened to make a remark about my hair.

‘I never noticed that you’re going bald.’

“I’m not going bald.”  I protested.

“It looks like you’ve lost most of the hair on the right side of your head.” he said.

I headed for the bathroom mirror and I heard Susie say “Thanks a lot, Donnie. He probably would never have noticed.”  

I looked in the mirror and sure enough, there was an almost bald oval just above my ear.

No Christmas picture this year.

Sometimes it pays to be old.

I was talking to my friend, Ken House, a Las Vegas area resident and RV’er, the other evening . We were discussing the Wireless Air card that many RV’ers have purchased in order to access the internet no matter where they are. He happened to mention that, because he was an AARP member, he got a twenty percent discount on his cell phone bill.  I couldn’t believe it and thought he might be mistaken.

Next day, Susie and I went to the dollar movie to see ‘The changeling’, a movie I highlyt recommend.  After it was over, we walked outside and I spied the AT&T store across the street. I thought ‘Why not? It won’t hurt to ask.’

I walked in and asked a young man about the AARP discount.

“I don’t know.” He said. “Inever heard of itbut give me your cell phone number and your AARP card and we’ll check.” 

He walked to the computer and entered the data iI had given him into some program and a few seconds later, he said “Yep, here it is.” 

“Well, I’be damned.” I said. “Why didn’t someone tell me about this when we signed up a few months ago?”

“We never heard of it.” he told me.

Whatever, I’m about 14 dollars ahead every month now. I wonder what I can do with the money.

A lot of work

This guy went to a lot of trouble.