Day 212
I remember when I was 4 years old my mom made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And I wouldn't touch it. I was aghast. How could my mother desecrate my jelly sandwich by adding that butter whatcha macallit?
The very thought of it made me cry. I crossed my arms and stuck out my lower lip in protest. I didn't care how hungry I was, I wasn't going to eat that desecration of my sweet Welch's grape jelly (no jam thank you very much).
I tried to fob the sandwich off on my brother. He ate anything. But mom used the "mother override" to prevent the transaction. I was stuck with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Eventually, hunger won out.
One bite and I was converted. I was in sandwich heaven. Who had kept this wonderful mixture of peanut and grape? Why hadn't my mother made this for me sooner?
As I am writing this I am enjoying my grape jelly with extra chunky peanut butter. So is my cat. She'll eat anything except cat food. I am tempted to put some cat food on bread and see if she'll eat it.
That is assuming I don't eat it first. By accident! I wouldn't intentionally eat a cat food sandwich. It's just that some times I forget what kind of sandwich I made. You know. You set it down to watch a cute cat video on YouTube and you forget what you put between the slices.
It happens all of the time.
Right?
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Monday, June 6, 2016
Getting Some Sleep
Day 211
I have been tired today. Not the "dragging a heavy load around all day" kind of tired. The "I really need to go back to bed and sleep" kind of tired.
I haven't been sleeping well since I went to Bay City for a Sleep Study. The study threw my sleep habit out of whack. I've only been sleeping in short, two to three hour stretches.
The study revealed, I don't achieve deep sleep during that time. For now, I just want to go back to sleeping at night...all night.
When I was young, my problem was getting out of bed in the morning. Then I took a job washing dishes at an all night diner, the 11 pm to 7 am shift. I could hardly sleep during the day. I was so tired.
Now, I can sleep 3 or 4 hours during the day no problem. I even sleep better during the day than I do at night. That's how out of whack I am.
So what is it? Is it my age? I've read somewhere that the older we get the less sleep we need. But is it we NEED less or we just GET less? I vote for the latter.
Is it worrying about money? Even if we skimp and save for retirement, we worry about money when we get older. There's an inherent fear we won't have enough, and we will be unable to make more.
Maybe I need a woman. An intimate relationship could bring more stability to my day. Then again it could add a lot of stress. Besides, I have a heart condition; too much lovin' could be a fatal thing.
It's been very windy so far this summer and I haven't done much fishing. Maybe that's my problem. I'll have to give it a try. It may not help but at least I know it won't kill me. Assuming I don't doze off and fall into the lake and drown.
I guess that's a chance I will have to take.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
I have been tired today. Not the "dragging a heavy load around all day" kind of tired. The "I really need to go back to bed and sleep" kind of tired.
The study revealed, I don't achieve deep sleep during that time. For now, I just want to go back to sleeping at night...all night.
When I was young, my problem was getting out of bed in the morning. Then I took a job washing dishes at an all night diner, the 11 pm to 7 am shift. I could hardly sleep during the day. I was so tired.
Now, I can sleep 3 or 4 hours during the day no problem. I even sleep better during the day than I do at night. That's how out of whack I am.
So what is it? Is it my age? I've read somewhere that the older we get the less sleep we need. But is it we NEED less or we just GET less? I vote for the latter.
Is it worrying about money? Even if we skimp and save for retirement, we worry about money when we get older. There's an inherent fear we won't have enough, and we will be unable to make more.
Maybe I need a woman. An intimate relationship could bring more stability to my day. Then again it could add a lot of stress. Besides, I have a heart condition; too much lovin' could be a fatal thing.
It's been very windy so far this summer and I haven't done much fishing. Maybe that's my problem. I'll have to give it a try. It may not help but at least I know it won't kill me. Assuming I don't doze off and fall into the lake and drown.
I guess that's a chance I will have to take.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Day 210
Spent my day working on another project which I hope will bear fruit. Money fruit. I'm not gonna say what it is. Seems whenever I talk about it, the fruit withers and dies on the vine. So. no talking about it this time.
Besides, if I don't talk about it and it doesn't workout, no one will know I failed again. No one but me. The funny thing is, I'm the only one who really matters. Whether I succeed or fail, it's completely on me.
I have failed so many times and succeeded so few. I guess that's true of most of us. We try and we try to make our lives a little better, a little more comfortable, a little more fun a little less debt. But it only takes one time, to make it all worth trying.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Spent my day working on another project which I hope will bear fruit. Money fruit. I'm not gonna say what it is. Seems whenever I talk about it, the fruit withers and dies on the vine. So. no talking about it this time.
Besides, if I don't talk about it and it doesn't workout, no one will know I failed again. No one but me. The funny thing is, I'm the only one who really matters. Whether I succeed or fail, it's completely on me.
I have failed so many times and succeeded so few. I guess that's true of most of us. We try and we try to make our lives a little better, a little more comfortable, a little more fun a little less debt. But it only takes one time, to make it all worth trying.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Musings From My Mind...Is He/She a Keeper?
Day 209
Most of you know, for the past eleven years, I have lived in a small town. At least, it's a lot smaller than the cities of Warren and Royal Oak, where I lived previously.
The charm of a small town is that living slows down considerably. Most people take the time to get to know there neighbors. We go fishing and hunting, canoeing and hiking. Golfing is also an option. There's almost always a festival here or in a town nearby. We have craft shows, airplane fly-ins and much more.
When my nephews and nieces from downstate want to relax and slow down for a spell, they pack up
the family and come here. Once they get here, they often go their separate ways depending on their interests. Some may go fishing, some may go to the craft show and some may go golfing. At the end of the day though, everyone gathers for dinner and conversation.
Dinners can be a large gathering, depending on how many family members and friends are visiting. Of course, I can always be counted on to show up for dinner.
Let me say here, I am an advocate of families sitting around the table for meals and discussing events of the day. But on these occasions this just isn't possible due to the sheer number of people. So the youngsters usually sit off in the living room while the older ones sit at the table.
In my brothers family there are currently two nurses with a third budding nurse currently in college. So when we're sitting at the table and these two ladies start talking and exchanging personal work experiences, things can get a little...uncomfortable. They believe deliberating on a patients abnormalities and bodily excretions is interesting to all, even during dinner. I must confess I have turned down a second helping after exposure to their confab.
When they get rolling about some of the more unpleasant things their patients have done, I like to talk about my hemorrhoids. Too intimate for casual discussion? Certainly. Improper for dinner conversation (which is immediately pointed out)? Yes, of course.
But it does tend to curtail the discussion of the medical vagaries of some patients. Bringing relief for those of us laymen who are squeamish about such mundane (or just plain gross) matters.
After dinner it has become our habit to go in for a card game. Normally we play a game called Five Crowns (if you have never played it is great fun). It's how we pass the time here in Smallville.
First rule: If you want to play, you have to put your smart phone away.
Now I enjoy many of the modern conveniences such as a laptop computer, the internet and a portable mp3 player. I also have a Kindle Fire tablet. I have a cell phone (not a smartphone). And I understand a new generation has it's own nuances. Though I will never understand texting. Why not just call someone if you wish to talk?
Along with these marvels we can now have face to face conversations over the internet using either a tablet or computer, with a camera and microphone. The future has arrived.
Back to the story. As we are playing cards and getting a bit rowdy, as we often do, my 16 year old niece is talking on an IPad (tablet) to her boyfriend. As per tradition, dating back to time immemorial, we had some fun at my nieces expense, when her cousin snatched the tablet from her and walked around introducing her new beau to the family.
It was too good to pass up this opportunity. So I loudly expressed that my hemorrhoids were flaring and would someone get my doughnut for me. Also, that it was too soft and needed to be blown up. Someone yelled that my niece was getting it and would be back to her boyfriend as soon as she had adjusted it for my comfort.
I also requested some baby wipes, as the gas I had just expelled felt a bit wet, and I might need to clean my sensitive area before continuing with the game.
We haven't had so much fun since my nephews brought their gal pals up for a weekend and I made baked beans for lunch. The boys each had double helpings as they're the best baked beans in the county.
As you might imagine, the card game was called after two hours because no one could read their cards on account of watery eyes. Also, all of the players kept leaving the game to step outside for some fresh air, when the ceiling fan kept circulating the same nasty air. I'm sure you'll understand, there was no hanky-panky under the moonlight that night.
The boys thought it was great fun but we never saw the girls again. A young love, so fickle.
About now your probably thinking me uncouth or heartless (unless your an uncle then your applauding my genius). But as I have previously remarked, it has been an uncles job, since before time, to embarrass his niece/nephew in front of her/his friends. Especially, a potential suitor.
In truth, it is simply my way to welcome a potential new member to the family, and to let him/her know, just what kind of family he/she is getting involved with. I'm only trying to break them in slowly. After all, if they think my hemorrhoids are disgusting, wait until the nurses get started.
Anyway, I figure if they stick around after all that, they might just be a keeper.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
The charm of a small town is that living slows down considerably. Most people take the time to get to know there neighbors. We go fishing and hunting, canoeing and hiking. Golfing is also an option. There's almost always a festival here or in a town nearby. We have craft shows, airplane fly-ins and much more.
When my nephews and nieces from downstate want to relax and slow down for a spell, they pack up
Dinners can be a large gathering, depending on how many family members and friends are visiting. Of course, I can always be counted on to show up for dinner.
Let me say here, I am an advocate of families sitting around the table for meals and discussing events of the day. But on these occasions this just isn't possible due to the sheer number of people. So the youngsters usually sit off in the living room while the older ones sit at the table.
In my brothers family there are currently two nurses with a third budding nurse currently in college. So when we're sitting at the table and these two ladies start talking and exchanging personal work experiences, things can get a little...uncomfortable. They believe deliberating on a patients abnormalities and bodily excretions is interesting to all, even during dinner. I must confess I have turned down a second helping after exposure to their confab.
When they get rolling about some of the more unpleasant things their patients have done, I like to talk about my hemorrhoids. Too intimate for casual discussion? Certainly. Improper for dinner conversation (which is immediately pointed out)? Yes, of course.
But it does tend to curtail the discussion of the medical vagaries of some patients. Bringing relief for those of us laymen who are squeamish about such mundane (or just plain gross) matters.
After dinner it has become our habit to go in for a card game. Normally we play a game called Five Crowns (if you have never played it is great fun). It's how we pass the time here in Smallville.
First rule: If you want to play, you have to put your smart phone away.
Now I enjoy many of the modern conveniences such as a laptop computer, the internet and a portable mp3 player. I also have a Kindle Fire tablet. I have a cell phone (not a smartphone). And I understand a new generation has it's own nuances. Though I will never understand texting. Why not just call someone if you wish to talk?
Along with these marvels we can now have face to face conversations over the internet using either a tablet or computer, with a camera and microphone. The future has arrived.
Back to the story. As we are playing cards and getting a bit rowdy, as we often do, my 16 year old niece is talking on an IPad (tablet) to her boyfriend. As per tradition, dating back to time immemorial, we had some fun at my nieces expense, when her cousin snatched the tablet from her and walked around introducing her new beau to the family.
It was too good to pass up this opportunity. So I loudly expressed that my hemorrhoids were flaring and would someone get my doughnut for me. Also, that it was too soft and needed to be blown up. Someone yelled that my niece was getting it and would be back to her boyfriend as soon as she had adjusted it for my comfort.
I also requested some baby wipes, as the gas I had just expelled felt a bit wet, and I might need to clean my sensitive area before continuing with the game.
We haven't had so much fun since my nephews brought their gal pals up for a weekend and I made baked beans for lunch. The boys each had double helpings as they're the best baked beans in the county.
As you might imagine, the card game was called after two hours because no one could read their cards on account of watery eyes. Also, all of the players kept leaving the game to step outside for some fresh air, when the ceiling fan kept circulating the same nasty air. I'm sure you'll understand, there was no hanky-panky under the moonlight that night.
The boys thought it was great fun but we never saw the girls again. A young love, so fickle.
About now your probably thinking me uncouth or heartless (unless your an uncle then your applauding my genius). But as I have previously remarked, it has been an uncles job, since before time, to embarrass his niece/nephew in front of her/his friends. Especially, a potential suitor.
In truth, it is simply my way to welcome a potential new member to the family, and to let him/her know, just what kind of family he/she is getting involved with. I'm only trying to break them in slowly. After all, if they think my hemorrhoids are disgusting, wait until the nurses get started.
Anyway, I figure if they stick around after all that, they might just be a keeper.
Ken
Friday, June 3, 2016
Under the Weather
Day 208
Feeling under the weather as they say. No stories tonight. Nursing a headache and now a queasy stomach. I may have waited too long to eat today.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Feeling under the weather as they say. No stories tonight. Nursing a headache and now a queasy stomach. I may have waited too long to eat today.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Mosquitoes...Can't Live With Them, Can't Get Rid of Them
Day 207
The weather here has been ideal over the past couple of weeks. A pleasant mix of warm temps and occasional rain (usually overnight) to help green things up. The wind has been too high for me to go out in my 2 man boat.
The only drawback to this current "utopia" is the mosquitoes. I'm sure they serve some purpose, although for the life of me I didn't know what that was, except to bite me and make me itch. If it was just a matter of donating to their blood drive I would be willing to give a drop or two. But in exchange for the gift of life giving red liquid, we get itching at best and diseases at the worst.
I went online and looked up mosquitoes and found out that they are food for other creatures and they breed in still, stagnant water. Armed with repellent, I went in search of the fertile mosquito farm.
At first, I was mystified. I traveled around my property. Then the neighbors property. I discovered that they too have noticed more than the usual numbers of the little darlings. I went to my pickup truck.
I keep my boat in the back of my truck all summer, ready to hit the lake at a moments notice.
Let me explain that I have a ten foot boat in a truck with an eight foot bed, so two feet are sticking out from under the cap, unprotected from sun and rain.
Anyway. As I was walking past my truck, I was suddenly swarmed by the tiny invaders. While waving my arms like a mad man, I noticed the several inches of rain that had collected in the boat. And the warm temperatures had caused the dead vegetation to infuse the water and stagnate.
I have seen the enemy and he is me. I was the unknowing breeder of the mosquito army.
I grabbed the Raid Backyard Fogger and gave the back of my truck a blast. Then I made a beeline for the woods and dumped the water from my boat. Miles away. I didn't want any survivors to follow me home.
I have learned my lesson and plan to periodically empty the boat during the summer after it rains. It was my good fortune to figure this out.
Thank God.
I was beginning to think the mosquitoes were coming from the protected marshlands at the back of my property.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
The weather here has been ideal over the past couple of weeks. A pleasant mix of warm temps and occasional rain (usually overnight) to help green things up. The wind has been too high for me to go out in my 2 man boat.
I went online and looked up mosquitoes and found out that they are food for other creatures and they breed in still, stagnant water. Armed with repellent, I went in search of the fertile mosquito farm.
At first, I was mystified. I traveled around my property. Then the neighbors property. I discovered that they too have noticed more than the usual numbers of the little darlings. I went to my pickup truck.
I keep my boat in the back of my truck all summer, ready to hit the lake at a moments notice.
Let me explain that I have a ten foot boat in a truck with an eight foot bed, so two feet are sticking out from under the cap, unprotected from sun and rain.
Anyway. As I was walking past my truck, I was suddenly swarmed by the tiny invaders. While waving my arms like a mad man, I noticed the several inches of rain that had collected in the boat. And the warm temperatures had caused the dead vegetation to infuse the water and stagnate.
I have seen the enemy and he is me. I was the unknowing breeder of the mosquito army.
I grabbed the Raid Backyard Fogger and gave the back of my truck a blast. Then I made a beeline for the woods and dumped the water from my boat. Miles away. I didn't want any survivors to follow me home.
I have learned my lesson and plan to periodically empty the boat during the summer after it rains. It was my good fortune to figure this out.
Thank God.
I was beginning to think the mosquitoes were coming from the protected marshlands at the back of my property.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Reading vs Writing
Day 206
"When I read...anything is possible. When I write...everything is possible."
Kenneth A. Stephenson
Until tomorrow,
Ken
"When I read...anything is possible. When I write...everything is possible."
Kenneth A. Stephenson
Until tomorrow,
Ken
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