I was pleasantly surprised to see a post at www.monkeyheartdiscourses.blogspot.com this afternoon. it has been a minute since her last but, having not posted on kdg in a bit myself, I know full well that one has to be inspired to write anything; anything at all. to write something that might be seen as mildly amusing, entertaining, thought provoking or moving requires at least the hint of an idea. without that, it ain't happnin'.
I so admire my friend, JMB, who writes a general interest column for the AGN. More often than not his piece brings a tear to my eyes. He has a way with words that was evident back in the days when he worked in sports. I expect that he has some help coming up with a topic to write on, still he has to conduct an interview and from there glean the bones on an article. Fleshing out the piece into something people might like to read is his forte. whether from a tip or from the germ of an idea hatched in ones head, without a hook any piece-- whether from JMB in the AGN, from me at kdg or ksmw at mhd , likely remains unwritten.
the post today at 'the monkey heart discourses' brought a tear to my eye. not that the piece was meant to be moving as such but in the manner it was conceived and executed. it did my heart good to see any post at all but more so that I can see that my baby girl is well on her way to picking up where she left off. full steam ahead k****cita. mucho amor, tu padre
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
just 7 days ago...
a week ago today, the bleezard of 2013, sped through little a-town pacing winds at 50-60 mph with gusts recorded to 77. and by the way, on her way out of through town, mother nature left off 19 inches of heavy, wet snow. not pretty while it was happenin' but a blessing just the same. the experts are saying the snow storm was not a drought buster, I get that, but it will give a reprieve to the thirsty parts here about for a time.
what a difference a week makes. yesterday, we saw temps in the middle seventies and today it was around there. all that snow is gone! gone, that is , with the exception of deeper drifts in shaded areas and the mountains of snow pushed into piles in parking lots across town. el grande sol, working his melty magic. right on!
mother nature can be a ferocious force while leaving life giving moisture in her wake.
momma, you come on back now. ya' hear!
aio
what a difference a week makes. yesterday, we saw temps in the middle seventies and today it was around there. all that snow is gone! gone, that is , with the exception of deeper drifts in shaded areas and the mountains of snow pushed into piles in parking lots across town. el grande sol, working his melty magic. right on!
mother nature can be a ferocious force while leaving life giving moisture in her wake.
momma, you come on back now. ya' hear!
aio
Sunday, February 24, 2013
it's gonna' be a BLEEEZARD ya'll--
the local weather gurus/alarmists are prognosticating from on high the ferocity of the snow/wind-storm heading this way. I understand there is a job to done in getting folks prepared for the possibilities, but what are they?
Possibly 3 to 8 inches of snow in the western panhandles with a possible 6-12 inches "or more" in the central and eastern panhandles. If any, or all, of those inches would fall like the past couple of snow squalls, that is straight down, most any amount wouldn't be that much of a problem. BUT, 6 to 12 inches with sustained winds at 20-30 mph with gusts of 45-55 thrown into the equation-- things could get very interesting.
my usual take on weather things is "i'll believe it when I see it". what does worry me though is how dead on the bulls eye accurate the forecasts of those recent snow storms have been. If they get it right again this time-- whoa nelly!; but we here at 7420 are as ready as we can get. hopefully, we won't lose power. should that happen we can always drag the bear skin rugs up next to the fire in the fireplace and crack open a good book. we can light the burners on the kitchen stove for some heat in that part of the house. We have plenty of provisions. so-- not to worry, we'll be fine.
I was just kidding about the bear skin rugs, but we do have many fleece blankets plus three hot boxes of the feline variety. again, we'll be fine! and like I said, "i'll believe it when I see it".
aio
Possibly 3 to 8 inches of snow in the western panhandles with a possible 6-12 inches "or more" in the central and eastern panhandles. If any, or all, of those inches would fall like the past couple of snow squalls, that is straight down, most any amount wouldn't be that much of a problem. BUT, 6 to 12 inches with sustained winds at 20-30 mph with gusts of 45-55 thrown into the equation-- things could get very interesting.
my usual take on weather things is "i'll believe it when I see it". what does worry me though is how dead on the bulls eye accurate the forecasts of those recent snow storms have been. If they get it right again this time-- whoa nelly!; but we here at 7420 are as ready as we can get. hopefully, we won't lose power. should that happen we can always drag the bear skin rugs up next to the fire in the fireplace and crack open a good book. we can light the burners on the kitchen stove for some heat in that part of the house. We have plenty of provisions. so-- not to worry, we'll be fine.
I was just kidding about the bear skin rugs, but we do have many fleece blankets plus three hot boxes of the feline variety. again, we'll be fine! and like I said, "i'll believe it when I see it".
aio
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
it's snowing!! the weather gurus have hit the nail on the head yet again. woot! and wonder of wonders, there is only a slight breeze which has allowed the snow to pile up on most any surface. in a word, beautiful but more than that, in the parched panhandle of texas, moisture in any form is welcomed in red carpet style.
a quick measure just now showed that here at 7420 there is 5 inches on the ground and it continues to snow, fairly hard.
mr. snow man, bring me a dream
make it the whitest that I've ever seen
make it pile up on roses and clover
then tell that the snow's not over
mr. snow man, bring me a dream
sorry, about that. sometimes I just can't help myself.
AND an as today is fat Tuesday-- "laissez les bon temps roulez!"
a quick measure just now showed that here at 7420 there is 5 inches on the ground and it continues to snow, fairly hard.
mr. snow man, bring me a dream
make it the whitest that I've ever seen
make it pile up on roses and clover
then tell that the snow's not over
mr. snow man, bring me a dream
sorry, about that. sometimes I just can't help myself.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
gun control is the hot topic of discussion of late. in the interval since the horror of Newtown the fury has risen to a fever pitch. Today, President Obama signed 23 executive orders whose aim is "to strengthen measures already in place" or something along those lines. if you asked a hundred people for their thoughts on gun control, you might well get a hundred different responses.
as a gun owner. and a supporter of the 2nd amendment, I do question the need to own guns like the AR-15 and high capacity magazines. Certainly that much firepower is not needed for hunting, nor for home defense. As for the "for sport" argument i can think of more productive uses for the money spent on these types of guns, magazines and ammo.
you may know the black comic, D.L. Hugely. he was on with Jay Leno last night. Hugely professes to be a gun owner but he questions the need for a "bushmaster" type weapon and a high capacity magazine for home defense. Going for a laugh, he asked, "who is invading your house-- Afghanistan?" His query, made in jest, has merit. as a homeowner you should damn well be able to dissuade or disable a home invader in 7-10 shots. if not, you may be more of a danger to self, and others, than the intruder.
The truth of the matter is, at least in my opinion, these weapons pose no degree of increased risk when in the hands of your "average joe." i have no problem with any background check the authorities want to run on me. i have nothing to hide. there is nothing in my background that would preclude me from buying, owning and using an AR-15 with an extended magazine for its intended purpose, but i am not at war with anyone.
all the rhetoric coming out of washington does concern me. i believe that no measure passed by the congress can 100% guarantee there will not be another aurora or newtown. where there is a will, there is a way; an individual, bent on doing evil, will find a way. restrict the legal purchase of these weapons and magazines and large amounts of ammunition, broaden the scope of background checks if you will mr. president. these restrictions will serve only to limit the rights of the law abiding citizens of this great country.
those bent on usurping the law will find a way. those looking to satisfy the demand for these guns, legal or no, will find a way. those who would suffer most under these broader restrictions are the ones who would pose little danger in owning said items in the first place. where there is a will....
BTW, we're locked and loaded here at 7420. Intruders, enter at your own peril, and FYI, . CHL is forthcoming.
aio
as a gun owner. and a supporter of the 2nd amendment, I do question the need to own guns like the AR-15 and high capacity magazines. Certainly that much firepower is not needed for hunting, nor for home defense. As for the "for sport" argument i can think of more productive uses for the money spent on these types of guns, magazines and ammo.
you may know the black comic, D.L. Hugely. he was on with Jay Leno last night. Hugely professes to be a gun owner but he questions the need for a "bushmaster" type weapon and a high capacity magazine for home defense. Going for a laugh, he asked, "who is invading your house-- Afghanistan?" His query, made in jest, has merit. as a homeowner you should damn well be able to dissuade or disable a home invader in 7-10 shots. if not, you may be more of a danger to self, and others, than the intruder.
The truth of the matter is, at least in my opinion, these weapons pose no degree of increased risk when in the hands of your "average joe." i have no problem with any background check the authorities want to run on me. i have nothing to hide. there is nothing in my background that would preclude me from buying, owning and using an AR-15 with an extended magazine for its intended purpose, but i am not at war with anyone.
all the rhetoric coming out of washington does concern me. i believe that no measure passed by the congress can 100% guarantee there will not be another aurora or newtown. where there is a will, there is a way; an individual, bent on doing evil, will find a way. restrict the legal purchase of these weapons and magazines and large amounts of ammunition, broaden the scope of background checks if you will mr. president. these restrictions will serve only to limit the rights of the law abiding citizens of this great country.
those bent on usurping the law will find a way. those looking to satisfy the demand for these guns, legal or no, will find a way. those who would suffer most under these broader restrictions are the ones who would pose little danger in owning said items in the first place. where there is a will....
BTW, we're locked and loaded here at 7420. Intruders, enter at your own peril, and FYI, . CHL is forthcoming.
aio
Sunday, December 16, 2012
i'm trying hard not to imagine the horror visited on the victims of the latest mass murder in newtown, ct. the details being shared in a continuous loop by cnn and foxnews are too much. such a tragedy.
i can identify, to a degree, with the shock, the empty void of loss thrust upon those families and the people of newtown.
the day was November 11, 1958; a day like so many others. my sister and i rode the bus home after school. the day, as i remember it, was sunny and warm. we walked up the lane, from where the bus stopped to let us off, to the house. coming in the front door the house was quiet and still. calling for our mom we walked through the house and out the back door. still our mom was not to be found. what we did see was the smoldering remains of one of our dads dog houses. not sure what was going on we stood around staring, not seeing, until a truck drove up close to where we were standing. our cousins dad got out. one of us asked "what happened?" he replied "that baby burned to death" and with those words the world as we had known it changed forever. our five year old sisters remains were there in the pyre. the innocent, funny sister we left in the morning was no more. she was not a victim in the sense of those in newtown but our loss, our pain was just as deep. as with newtown's slain youth, the bright promise of what might have been was gone in that instant.
our hearts ache for those in newtown, most especially for those whose lives were forever altered on friday. whether by tragic accident, or an event as awful as the one at sandy hook school, there is no making sense of it. those remaining are left to wonder why and to try to carry on. with the passing of time the scars left by tragedy fade. yet on remembering that day 54 years ago the hurt is still there. as it will always be.
people of newtown, we here at 7420, families across America and around the world are lifting you up in thoughts and prayers. may god be with you in this time of numbing sorrow.
aio
i can identify, to a degree, with the shock, the empty void of loss thrust upon those families and the people of newtown.
the day was November 11, 1958; a day like so many others. my sister and i rode the bus home after school. the day, as i remember it, was sunny and warm. we walked up the lane, from where the bus stopped to let us off, to the house. coming in the front door the house was quiet and still. calling for our mom we walked through the house and out the back door. still our mom was not to be found. what we did see was the smoldering remains of one of our dads dog houses. not sure what was going on we stood around staring, not seeing, until a truck drove up close to where we were standing. our cousins dad got out. one of us asked "what happened?" he replied "that baby burned to death" and with those words the world as we had known it changed forever. our five year old sisters remains were there in the pyre. the innocent, funny sister we left in the morning was no more. she was not a victim in the sense of those in newtown but our loss, our pain was just as deep. as with newtown's slain youth, the bright promise of what might have been was gone in that instant.
our hearts ache for those in newtown, most especially for those whose lives were forever altered on friday. whether by tragic accident, or an event as awful as the one at sandy hook school, there is no making sense of it. those remaining are left to wonder why and to try to carry on. with the passing of time the scars left by tragedy fade. yet on remembering that day 54 years ago the hurt is still there. as it will always be.
people of newtown, we here at 7420, families across America and around the world are lifting you up in thoughts and prayers. may god be with you in this time of numbing sorrow.
aio
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
to say the weather we've been having this fall, heading into winter, is unusual in the extreme may well be an understatement. yesterday was a typical panhandle day with gusting winds but it was another 70+ degree day. in fact, the first three days of december were 70 degrees or above. seventeen or more days in november made that mark. odd, you say? global warming at work? or is it that this variation was one seen before man began to keep a record of such things.
besides the warmer than it ough'ta be days, i've noted the wind on my run today, and last thursday and Friday, was doing an imitation of its southern cousin. I commented in a post while we were visiting my sister that the air was so still as to be unnatural. not unnatural for those parts. but living in little a-town there is most always one front moving out as another system moves in. these three days are unusual in that the air was as still as it was on my runs down south. rare enough to make note of but more so to enjoy the absence of resistance the wind inflicts on my runs on a regular basis.
i'm fully convinced the wind can blow all four directions at once. some of my runs are on a square or rectangular route such that i might start out running west, turn north, then south and then east. i swear on all that's holy there have been days when the wind was in my face every way I turned.
but who am I to question mother nature. if she chooses to deal some calm days to those of us who live where the air on the move is a constant, i should just shut my trap, and enjoy.
is another calm day tomorrow too much to ask? calm or windy, it's another day above the dirt I shouldn't take for granted.
aio
besides the warmer than it ough'ta be days, i've noted the wind on my run today, and last thursday and Friday, was doing an imitation of its southern cousin. I commented in a post while we were visiting my sister that the air was so still as to be unnatural. not unnatural for those parts. but living in little a-town there is most always one front moving out as another system moves in. these three days are unusual in that the air was as still as it was on my runs down south. rare enough to make note of but more so to enjoy the absence of resistance the wind inflicts on my runs on a regular basis.
i'm fully convinced the wind can blow all four directions at once. some of my runs are on a square or rectangular route such that i might start out running west, turn north, then south and then east. i swear on all that's holy there have been days when the wind was in my face every way I turned.
but who am I to question mother nature. if she chooses to deal some calm days to those of us who live where the air on the move is a constant, i should just shut my trap, and enjoy.
is another calm day tomorrow too much to ask? calm or windy, it's another day above the dirt I shouldn't take for granted.
aio
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