Random Ramblings From The Road

So Good So Far...

It's really hard to decide what part of the world to live in these days, even with the advent of modern modes of transportation like commercial jet based air travel and President Eisenhower's interstate highway system.

At least for me it is.

I guess that you could say that we Americans are spoiled.

Or arrogant.

Or possibly BOTH.

Take the year 2008 for instance, and use me for an example.

January 1st found me wandering around within about a mile of the Atlantic ocean, on a little pile of sand and tree limbs that came to be affectionately known as "our little Island" here on my piece of the Internet.

But if you look at the map I'm afraid that you will find that someone long before me named the place St. Simons Island, and most of the dirt in the north, south, and easterly directions was technically called Georgia since somewhere around the 1600's when Ponce de Leon and Desoto were wandering around on wooden boats getting bitten by alligators and mosquitoes.

Then by May 1st of this same year me, my girl, my Turbo Pup, and most of the rest of my possessions could be found residing in a brick box in Eastern Tennessee not far from the banks of the Mighty Tennessee River, having been hauled over land by a few trucks in a whirlwind income induced relocation.

In 1808 or 1908 you couldn't have accomplished such a feat for any amount of money in any less time than most of a year with multiple teams of mules and horses, yet we did it (the "relocation") in only a couple of WEEKS of time in 2008.

A truly amazing accomplishment in my mind, yet many people refuse to acknowledge it can be done let alone actually do something like we did--even in the name of money or family or religion.

Now look at yesterday.

At 7 AM I could be found spinning in circles in my carport adjacent to the Mighty Tennessee River, loading Missy the Turbo Pup's lockers, sea chests, and furniture into the back seat of the car.

By 7 PM that same day I was situated far to the northeast of my previous position, dining with Pat and some of her extended family near the banks of the Youghiogheny river in Western Pennsylvania.

All it cost us to make the geographic transition was about $80 in gas and nearly eight hours of our time, something that was unheard of as recently as about 50 years ago.

But if you listen to the so called professional media, you'd be led to believe that living under the iron fisted rule of our current inept, shamelessly lying president while being forced to pay over $4.00 for gasoline would have caused me to lash myself to a telephone pole in anticipation of weathering the coming economic downturn or to rip my curtains to bits and hang myself in my living room in a search for some self induced mental relief.

Instead, I'm still sitting here, complaining about the crappy desk chair in my motel room, getting ready to wander outside with the Turbo Pup for a little early morning "business".

In another state than that in which I live, in the greatest country in the world.

Hold that thought....I have a hurried Pup to attend to...

Cross County Travel With Dangerous Animals

Someone...ANYONE...helppppp save me from this Puppy


How can this sweet little girl:



require me to maintain things like this:



To protect me from her DARK SIDE:



Pittsburgh here we come...

Jesse Jackson Wants To Chop Some Cotton Harvest Some Peanuts

You Can't Make Stuff Like This Up...


Just in case you haven't heard the story, Race Warlord Jesse "never met a microphone he wouldn't talk to" Jackson got caught speaking his mind about Presidential candidate Obama on the warm up to a FOX News interview.

Now Jesse says he's sorry, and he really didn't mean it.



But he also said this about the Illinois Senator back in September 2007.

So I have to ask, is he sorry for those comments too, or is Jesse--as I like to say--just a plain sorry Black Man?

Maybe it's that Jesse is just personally sorry if you think he needs to be?

Yeah...I thought so...

Busy, Busy BUSY

Head Spinning...Fingers Pounding Keyboard...


Between the rush design job due this afternoon, the new wooden model planked canoe kit under construction in the basement, and flying the new RC helicopter, blogging is obviously suffering.

Then there are the preparations for yet another four day weekend out of town--this time in Pittsburgh--that must be made. I'm looking forward to taking a tour Sunday morning of Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Falling Water estate there in western PA.

Time to go back to wiggling my mouse drawing steel sections and details...

Quote(s) O' The Day

More Lessons From A Great Man Who Knew Better...


"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."

"A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain."

"Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge."

"I have a higher and grander standard of principal than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't."

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."

"I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said 'I don't know' "

"I never let my schooling interfere with my education."

"It's easier to stay out than to get out"


Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Listen And Learn

Government Saving Us From Ourselves...


First there were double and triple glazed windows.

Then there were Toilets that won't flush and Shower Heads designed to limit our water use and make you run around in circles to get wet all over when bathing.

Now there is this politician induced insanity, explained to us by of all people...a politician from the great state of Texas:




Here's the EPA's Energystar Website documenting the details of what Rep. Poe says...

Anyone else but me want to SLAP someone because of Crap like this coming out of Washington?

On The Road Again

Two States Between Here and There Home...


OK, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time to head back to work this morning.

In my usual displaced professional beach-bum manner, I personally will be a day late arriving back in the 9 to 5 grind adjacent to the banks of the Mighty Tennessee River, but any way...

Let's take a look at the score card and tally up the successes of this year's Fourth of July holiday.

1. Gutters and Roofs on the house and two out buildings...

CLEAN

2. Increased Global Warming caused by frivolous discharge of weapons of varying caliber's and descriptions...

ACCOMPLISHED WITH GLEE!!

3. Turbo Pup worn out chasing rogue Coyotes and Captive Catfish...

CHECK

4. New 32" RCA LCD HD TV installed in Mom's Den...

ACCOMPLISHED (but not without having to return one TV that was dead on arrival here at the Rogers compound.)

And for those of you anti-gun and otherwise squeamish anti-hunting individuals out there that think people like me with guns are a scourge on society, be advised that not a single feather was ruffled, not a single deer or other warm blooded animal other than a couple of Armadillos was disturbed by my adventures over the past four days.

I did manage to scare the heck out of one Armadillo, probably dispatched another one to Armadillo Heaven, and I severely reduced the population of turtles hanging around our dock which decimate the fish egg and fingerling population every year.

Regarding the Coyote reference, Pat and Missy the Tubo Pup did actually have a pre-dawn encounter with a couple of large Coyotes within 50 feet of the house on Friday morning, and I'd have blasted both of them into oblivion given the chance because like the Armadillo they are recent immigrants to this part of Alabama and they're a scourge in the life of livestock farmers and homeowners everywhere.

Time to clean the guns now...bother me at your own risk...

I've Got A 22 Caliber Semi-Automatic Chain Saw

Obvious Redneck Solutions To Life's Problems...


So I'm sitting here after the fourth of July in LA (Lower Alabama) having intentionally not purchased any fireworks in favor of spending $75 on of all things, AMMUNITION for my guns, and I was starting to get desperate for things to shoot.

Then Mother Nature came along and dropped a couple of inches of rain on the area while we were at dinner in an adjacent city, and when we got home there was a big branch on a pine tree by the pool deck hanging down half broken.

When I got up this morning I realized that I was probably going to have to drag the extension ladder out of the storage building and do some climbing with a saw.

Then I had another thought, involving my Dad's 1950's vintage 22 semi-auto rifle.

Forty five shots later and the tree branch was lounging comfortably on top of a compost pile on the edge of the property.

I've yet to crack out the 30-06 rounds yet, but thus far I've wasted a good deal of 12 gauge shotgun ammo along with some 22 magnum casings and a bunch of 22 long rifle rounds.

Trespassers beware...