Mick Jagger is a god, worthy of praise and adoration. You can't always get what you want but if you try, sometimes, you get what you need. Tell me that is not pure genius. What I have learned in my sorry life is that I am at my best when I live simply and seek those things that are essential and real. Simple stuff, like true love and actual commitment. Jez, how elusive are those things?
The Old Goat and I shared some father-son time today. I drove him to see his dying sister. It was heartbreaking. My aunt gasping for breath, with no clue of she was and who these people were who kept calling her name and asking her inane questions. My Dad cried. The whole scene broke my heart. The Old Goat actually had feelings for somebody other than himself. As we drive to see her, we talked about his childhood and about his father. He was a cruel man. Hard on his kids, eager to take any advantage open to him, not above exploiting any opening. Maybe The Old Goat was an improvement. If so, it had to be the civilizing affect of the Blessed Rebecca.
Spent an enjoyable evening with my friends Jim and Judy. They invited me to join them for dinner while they entertained guest, John and Nicky. What a treat. Great food and wonderful conversation although I think I might have imposed upon the general flow of exchange. Still, it was a much appreciated evening.
If all goes well, the tractor will be back in operation by the end of the week. Assuming we don't have heavy rains, I will spend the end of the week plowing in anticipation of planting onions and potatoes. It is also the time to turn over the parish garden. I want to get the lettuces, cabbage, brussel sprouts and broccoli in as soon as the weather permits.
I spent a couple of days battling privet. Again, assuming the tractor is back in operation this week, I will be able to chip up the slain enemy. I use the chips for middles of my rows in the garden. Mostly, I chip up the privet because I do not like it. I think the bush is a bully and deserves the crushing defeat dealt it at the hands of my chipper. I have lost no sleep over its demise.
Mostly, I am happy with my life. Of course, you don't always get what you want. But, I keep trying and, sure enough, I pretty much get what I need. Mick is a god. And the real God is in heaven, graciously looking over my sorry ass, generally protecting me from myself. Life continues to chug along in the wilds of Alabama.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Daily Hundred
The last couple of days have been good ones. I feel as if I have earned my hundred bucks each day for the work I have done around the place. One day I installed a frost-free faucet near the chicken houses. The next I staged a frontal attack on the privet in the old pig pen. After a day of struggle, I emerged victorious. It has been a while since I felt that I earned my daily hundred. Maybe it is just the season. Piddling around the greenhouse does not strike me as work. Spending a day in front of the computer is not work. Driving to or sitting in the meeting, neither is work. Busting your butt, working up a sweat in the middle of winter, getting dirty, needing a shower and a cold beer, that is work. It is on those days of real work that I feel as if I have earned my hundred.
Speaking of the greenhouse, I have blooms on my heirloom tomato plants. I intentionally and with forethought selected two of the two dozen plants to survive. The two are now three feet tall and filled with blooms. In a couple of weeks, I might actually have tomatoes. In the meantime, I am sprouting a couple of herbs, basil and lavender. I placed my order for seeds. My onions will arrive next Thursday; two hundred sweets and two hundred reds. At the same time, I will put in my potatoes.
My parish, Barney’s Church and Bar, has agreed to let me plant a parish garden. My thought is that we will put in a salad crop. That will allow us to plant early and harvest well before the heat of summer. Then, we will come back in the fall and put in a crop of greens. Barney’s has a beans and rice ministry so the garden will complement it well.
The Old Goat (TOG) and I headed out last evening for our usual Friday burger night. As we approached the fine eating establishment, TOG lost his balance and landed on his ass in the parking lot. He sustained no injury, as far as I could tell. He was a little embarrassed but nothing permanent. He does seem to have issues with his balance. We subscribed to that service that answers anytime he presses a button on his alarm bracelet. Couple of weeks ago when we arrived home after another spectacular night of burgers we found the yard at TOG’s house filled with an ambulance, a fire truck, and a sheriff’s deputy, all their blue and red lights flashing. Apparently, TOG had accidently hit the Help button. I guess it is good to know that the system works.
WitchWoman joined me in Little Rock for an agriculture meeting last week. We discovered the Capital Hotel. Better, we discovered the chef at the Capital Hotel. What food! A brunch that featured Southern favorites in a new and fresh ways, bar food featuring the best quail I have ever tasted, and a breakfast that rivaled anything that the Blessed Rebecca ever cooked. Overall, Little Rock is working hard for respect. Having Bill Clinton as a key selling point hurts but the place has some redeeming features. It may come as a surprise to many but I paid to tour the Clinton Library and Whore House. It was a three-story advertisement for Bubba and Hilary. I had to fight nausea during the entire experience. And, to think that I paid to see this shit! In sharp contrast, I enjoyed touring Heifer International. WitchWoman and I walked all over the place and enjoyed the time in Little Rock.
Speaking of the greenhouse, I have blooms on my heirloom tomato plants. I intentionally and with forethought selected two of the two dozen plants to survive. The two are now three feet tall and filled with blooms. In a couple of weeks, I might actually have tomatoes. In the meantime, I am sprouting a couple of herbs, basil and lavender. I placed my order for seeds. My onions will arrive next Thursday; two hundred sweets and two hundred reds. At the same time, I will put in my potatoes.
My parish, Barney’s Church and Bar, has agreed to let me plant a parish garden. My thought is that we will put in a salad crop. That will allow us to plant early and harvest well before the heat of summer. Then, we will come back in the fall and put in a crop of greens. Barney’s has a beans and rice ministry so the garden will complement it well.
The Old Goat (TOG) and I headed out last evening for our usual Friday burger night. As we approached the fine eating establishment, TOG lost his balance and landed on his ass in the parking lot. He sustained no injury, as far as I could tell. He was a little embarrassed but nothing permanent. He does seem to have issues with his balance. We subscribed to that service that answers anytime he presses a button on his alarm bracelet. Couple of weeks ago when we arrived home after another spectacular night of burgers we found the yard at TOG’s house filled with an ambulance, a fire truck, and a sheriff’s deputy, all their blue and red lights flashing. Apparently, TOG had accidently hit the Help button. I guess it is good to know that the system works.
WitchWoman joined me in Little Rock for an agriculture meeting last week. We discovered the Capital Hotel. Better, we discovered the chef at the Capital Hotel. What food! A brunch that featured Southern favorites in a new and fresh ways, bar food featuring the best quail I have ever tasted, and a breakfast that rivaled anything that the Blessed Rebecca ever cooked. Overall, Little Rock is working hard for respect. Having Bill Clinton as a key selling point hurts but the place has some redeeming features. It may come as a surprise to many but I paid to tour the Clinton Library and Whore House. It was a three-story advertisement for Bubba and Hilary. I had to fight nausea during the entire experience. And, to think that I paid to see this shit! In sharp contrast, I enjoyed touring Heifer International. WitchWoman and I walked all over the place and enjoyed the time in Little Rock.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
A New Year
A new year. Yeah, right. Another opportunity for a measure disaster or a timed opportunity for the world to fuck you over. Aw, that is just the negative Tom talking. I am better than that.
The Christmas holiday, the so-called Holy Days, were wildly varied. At one moment I was the subject of blistering condemnation, the next I was the source of all pleasure and satisfaction. Hard to find a median in that confusion. The bottom line is that I dislike the holiday. It encommpasses too many disappointments, too many exhilerations. The essense of the good life is to live the golden median. Christmas always violates that rule.
Spent some time with my daughter over the holiday. She is involved with a guy whom I distrust. She complains that I do not like him. Well, seems to me that he has to earn a little confidence. Same for her. Tried to talk to her about joining me on the farm but she would have nothing to do with it. I think that is a big mistake on her part.
WitchWoman was a joy to be around. It was hard to leave her to drive back to the farm. But, I did. I drove from Kansas City to Welch, stopping only for fuel.
When I arrived home, I discovered that my heater was not working. And, because the temperatures were plunging, my water lines from the well froze. I spent a very cold night. This morning, I spent hours thawing out the pipes. I gave them blow jobs. (That is, I used a blow dryer to heat up the pipes.) When they were thawed, I turned my attention to the heater. I fixed it but did not trust my effots. So, I called an expert (a high school drop-out) who verified that I had fixed the situation but still charged me $50. Tonight, I am warm and have water. It is a considerable advantage over last night.
Sassyfrass, my cat, is pregnant. She is real pregnant. Due at any time. I let her out to wander a bit this afternoon. It is almost 7 pm now, dark and cold, but she has yet to return. I am a natural worrier. I hope she did not drop the kittens in the woods. If she did, they will never survive the cold temperatures.
I worked on the herb garden again today. I will continue tomorrow. I have to get the tractor repaired before I plow the area for the millet, milo, corn and sunflowers. I still have time but would like to get it done in order to put down some nutrients before planting in early spring.
My regret is that I am not more excited about a new year. It is just routine. And, that, in itself, is a sad commentary. New starts ought to generate some genuine enthusiasm. Instead, it is just another January with some routine chores and tasks.
I know that I really dislike the cold.
The Christmas holiday, the so-called Holy Days, were wildly varied. At one moment I was the subject of blistering condemnation, the next I was the source of all pleasure and satisfaction. Hard to find a median in that confusion. The bottom line is that I dislike the holiday. It encommpasses too many disappointments, too many exhilerations. The essense of the good life is to live the golden median. Christmas always violates that rule.
Spent some time with my daughter over the holiday. She is involved with a guy whom I distrust. She complains that I do not like him. Well, seems to me that he has to earn a little confidence. Same for her. Tried to talk to her about joining me on the farm but she would have nothing to do with it. I think that is a big mistake on her part.
WitchWoman was a joy to be around. It was hard to leave her to drive back to the farm. But, I did. I drove from Kansas City to Welch, stopping only for fuel.
When I arrived home, I discovered that my heater was not working. And, because the temperatures were plunging, my water lines from the well froze. I spent a very cold night. This morning, I spent hours thawing out the pipes. I gave them blow jobs. (That is, I used a blow dryer to heat up the pipes.) When they were thawed, I turned my attention to the heater. I fixed it but did not trust my effots. So, I called an expert (a high school drop-out) who verified that I had fixed the situation but still charged me $50. Tonight, I am warm and have water. It is a considerable advantage over last night.
Sassyfrass, my cat, is pregnant. She is real pregnant. Due at any time. I let her out to wander a bit this afternoon. It is almost 7 pm now, dark and cold, but she has yet to return. I am a natural worrier. I hope she did not drop the kittens in the woods. If she did, they will never survive the cold temperatures.
I worked on the herb garden again today. I will continue tomorrow. I have to get the tractor repaired before I plow the area for the millet, milo, corn and sunflowers. I still have time but would like to get it done in order to put down some nutrients before planting in early spring.
My regret is that I am not more excited about a new year. It is just routine. And, that, in itself, is a sad commentary. New starts ought to generate some genuine enthusiasm. Instead, it is just another January with some routine chores and tasks.
I know that I really dislike the cold.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Joe ($#^%) Biden
NPR, leftist radio in the US paid for by the US taxpayer, ran a story yesterday featuring Joe Biden discussing the US withdrawal from Iraq. It drove me into a fever. I quickly accessed the NPR website, had to register, then frantically typed in my response to Biden's remarks. My input was not published because I guess it was not civil. Any criticism of O'Bama and his fellow travelers is considered incivil. Here is the truth I learned from everyday Iraqis: Joe Biden is an idiot. He is widely held in disrepute by Iraqis. He is bright bulb who proposed that we divide Iraq into three separate countries, thus guaranteeing civil war in the region well into the foreseeable future. The man did not learn a thing after thirty years of serving on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee. Poor ol' Joe is evidence that once stupid, always stupid.
Of course, I decided at the same time not to send NPR any more money. The system has biases to which they are completely blind. If Hilary Clinton ever left the national scene, NPR would collapse. Sad commentary. But, you can always read a person by whom he/she holds in esteem. Here is a woman who sleeps with Bill Clinton. Naturally, she is qualified to be Secretary of State. Only on NPR.
Of course, I decided at the same time not to send NPR any more money. The system has biases to which they are completely blind. If Hilary Clinton ever left the national scene, NPR would collapse. Sad commentary. But, you can always read a person by whom he/she holds in esteem. Here is a woman who sleeps with Bill Clinton. Naturally, she is qualified to be Secretary of State. Only on NPR.
Friday, November 18, 2011
The Old Goat
Wednesday I had to drive down to Columbus for a meeting. Yeah, a meeting. I actually got a job and now have to be places at precise times and take regular showers and shave. I'll write about my job later but right now I have something else on my mind. Wednesday was cloudy and rainy. I left early. The Old Goat, up early as usual, went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things. When he got back to his house, he lost his balance while carrying in his treasures, fell onto the rock driveway, and was unable to get up. He laid there for a quarter of an hour when, fortunately, Tinker and Squeeze drove up to visit. They found The Old Goat sprawled out on the driveway, a little bruised, and a bit dazed. Scared the holy spit out of them. When I arrived home that evening, I got the low-down from Tinker. I talked to The Old Goat. He dismissed it as nothing. I thought about it at length and realizing that since I am now a working stiff there would be many times when The Old Goat would be here without me nearby. We went to dinner as usual at the catfish place on Thursday night. While fine dining, I just let it blurt out. "Dad, it is time for you to move to assisted living." That went over real well. On Friday morning, I met with the lady that runs the assisted living in Roanoke, toured the facility, met the other staff members and several of the residents. I walked away from that meeting feeling positive. I talked to The Old Goat and he thought I had lost my mind. Yet, he agreed that he would have dinner at the assisted living facility tonight (Friday) instead of going out for our usual Hamburger Night. The food was delicious. The residents welcomed The Old Goat as if he were a nice guy. He toured the place. I think he liked it. On Monday I am meeting with the director again. This time our discussion is about payments and move in dates. These last 48 hours have been stomach-churning. Putting my Dad into an assisted living facility is something I knew was coming. Just, it come faster than I thought. Tinker is absolving himself from any responsibility for the decision. I guess that is the reason I come home afterall. If I thought Dad would be better off continuing to live out here in the country, I would not have done the things I've done in the last couple of days. But, I think I have acted in his best interest. The country can be lonely. And, he is lonely. He misses the Blessed Rebecca terribly. He only interacts with me or Tinker. Even his dog spends most of her time at my house. Television is fine but it is not a friend. The assited living place gives him the chance to interact, to engage. I think he welcomes the opportunity but, of course, he will not admit, yet. I think in time he will. Or, at least, I hope he does.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
No more politics, OK?
OK, enough of politics. Every time I mention anything about O’Bama, I get a ration from former friends about my wrong-headedness. OK, enough of politics. I won’t mention another thing about the community organizer who now is the chief executive of the national government.
Rather, I am going to talk about gardening. Fall and Winter are the times to talk about gardening. Larry, my neighbor, came up today and used his garden tiller attachment to his tractor to run over my gardens for next spring. What I will do now is plant a cover crop that will add some nitrogen to the soil until it goes under the plow next March. I have no less than ten gardens: the Kitchen Garden, the Herb Circle, the Flower Square, the Berry Run, the Strawberry Field, the Spud Ditch, the Squash Plot, the Melon Patch, the Asparagus Bed, and the Corn Bottom. All total, I have over an acre under cultivation.
God, I love this stuff. Growing stuff. Nurturing plants that produce all sorts of fruits. The temps dropped below freezing for a couple of nights. I had no choice but to yank up the tomatoes and the peppers and the eggplants. Thing about the peppers is that there were a number of peppers left on the plants. And, they were good despite the frost. So, I picked them and now am trying to figure out what to do with them. I do have a greenhouse in which I have lettuces and tomatoes. When I was a kid, I took baths in that wash-house that is now the greenhouse.
Looks like I might end up with a job with the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network (ASAN). Imagine, somebody is willing to give me a job? If it works out, I will be the Executive Director of the organization. Again, imagine that?
Rather, I am going to talk about gardening. Fall and Winter are the times to talk about gardening. Larry, my neighbor, came up today and used his garden tiller attachment to his tractor to run over my gardens for next spring. What I will do now is plant a cover crop that will add some nitrogen to the soil until it goes under the plow next March. I have no less than ten gardens: the Kitchen Garden, the Herb Circle, the Flower Square, the Berry Run, the Strawberry Field, the Spud Ditch, the Squash Plot, the Melon Patch, the Asparagus Bed, and the Corn Bottom. All total, I have over an acre under cultivation.
God, I love this stuff. Growing stuff. Nurturing plants that produce all sorts of fruits. The temps dropped below freezing for a couple of nights. I had no choice but to yank up the tomatoes and the peppers and the eggplants. Thing about the peppers is that there were a number of peppers left on the plants. And, they were good despite the frost. So, I picked them and now am trying to figure out what to do with them. I do have a greenhouse in which I have lettuces and tomatoes. When I was a kid, I took baths in that wash-house that is now the greenhouse.
Looks like I might end up with a job with the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network (ASAN). Imagine, somebody is willing to give me a job? If it works out, I will be the Executive Director of the organization. Again, imagine that?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Keeping the Election in Perspective
Interesting day. Herman Cain is the subject of sexual harassment charges. So what. That is what I say. So what. The Hermanator and Clarance Thomas together don’t make an afternoon of Bill Clinton. Case closed. Jesus, give me a break. I feel sorry for Politico who I suspect wants to be taken seriously in the future. They can just about forget it. Pathetic.
Meanwhile, O’Bama is trying to buy off the student vote with relaxed repayment plans for federal loans. Hey, anybody notice that the unemployment rate is over 9%? Who gives a whack about student loans when so many people don’t have jobs? Mark your calendar, it is the 31st of October and I am predicting that O’Bama gets his ass kicked in the November 2012 election. He is this generation’s Jimmy Carter.
Of course, leave it to the Republicans to spoil a great prediction. No party in American history has demonstrated the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like the Republicans. In 2008, how could you not defeat a mediocre state senator from Illinois who didn’t (and doesn’t) know his ass from a hole in the ground? Well, the Republicans figured out a way to lose that election. What a bunch of dumb asses. They are responsible for O’Bama. And, left to their own devices, they could very well do it again in 2012.
I have studied politics all of my adult life. There has not been a point in my life when I have been as cynical of the American political system. It is so thoroughly bankrupt. I am not sure it is capable of cleansing itself. O’Bama is the end of the line. If we actually get worse than this, there is absolutely no hope.
Don’t for a moment think that I am advocating for a Republican president. The Republicans are just as worthless as the Democrats. An election in the US today is a genuine choice between two evils. Both are awful. Maybe it is time we suspend government for a while. Surely it could not be worse than what we currently endure? Think of it, a break from presidents and congresses. No crises to endure. Of course, the cable news channels will go out of business. Without the foolishness of the government, there would be little to report. The state governments can continue because they actually provide a few services. Not many, though. It used to be that the states funded agricultural extension services. Now it is a figment of your imagination. The county agent in my county is a beef agent. She doesn’t have a clue about vegetables and could not care less. If she went away for a while, I would not be adversely affected. I never see the sheriff and have chronicled here how ineffectual law enforcement has been regarding transgressions on my land. So, if the sheriff went away for a while, I doubt if I would notice. Especially since I have loaded 30-06 standing by. It may be the appropriate time for government to just go away for awhile. Enough of your non-sense, enough of your ego-centric posturing, enough of your election-year charades. The gig is simply up. You sons of bitches are out.
Time for a new boss. (Same as the old boss…we won’t get fooled again, yeah, right.). While I am in favor of democracy, I share James Madison’s fear of it. Democracy destroys itself. “Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and, have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.” [Federalist 10] We Americans have been a great experiment. It just hasn’t worked out. Our greed and our laziness got in the way. We grew tired of keeping a sharp eye on our politicians. We let the bastards get away with murder. And they have. That is how I explain O’Bama. No rational nation would elect such an amateur to its highest office. An indifferent nation would.
Bottom line: we are screwed. Regardless of how 2012 turns out.
Meanwhile, O’Bama is trying to buy off the student vote with relaxed repayment plans for federal loans. Hey, anybody notice that the unemployment rate is over 9%? Who gives a whack about student loans when so many people don’t have jobs? Mark your calendar, it is the 31st of October and I am predicting that O’Bama gets his ass kicked in the November 2012 election. He is this generation’s Jimmy Carter.
Of course, leave it to the Republicans to spoil a great prediction. No party in American history has demonstrated the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like the Republicans. In 2008, how could you not defeat a mediocre state senator from Illinois who didn’t (and doesn’t) know his ass from a hole in the ground? Well, the Republicans figured out a way to lose that election. What a bunch of dumb asses. They are responsible for O’Bama. And, left to their own devices, they could very well do it again in 2012.
I have studied politics all of my adult life. There has not been a point in my life when I have been as cynical of the American political system. It is so thoroughly bankrupt. I am not sure it is capable of cleansing itself. O’Bama is the end of the line. If we actually get worse than this, there is absolutely no hope.
Don’t for a moment think that I am advocating for a Republican president. The Republicans are just as worthless as the Democrats. An election in the US today is a genuine choice between two evils. Both are awful. Maybe it is time we suspend government for a while. Surely it could not be worse than what we currently endure? Think of it, a break from presidents and congresses. No crises to endure. Of course, the cable news channels will go out of business. Without the foolishness of the government, there would be little to report. The state governments can continue because they actually provide a few services. Not many, though. It used to be that the states funded agricultural extension services. Now it is a figment of your imagination. The county agent in my county is a beef agent. She doesn’t have a clue about vegetables and could not care less. If she went away for a while, I would not be adversely affected. I never see the sheriff and have chronicled here how ineffectual law enforcement has been regarding transgressions on my land. So, if the sheriff went away for a while, I doubt if I would notice. Especially since I have loaded 30-06 standing by. It may be the appropriate time for government to just go away for awhile. Enough of your non-sense, enough of your ego-centric posturing, enough of your election-year charades. The gig is simply up. You sons of bitches are out.
Time for a new boss. (Same as the old boss…we won’t get fooled again, yeah, right.). While I am in favor of democracy, I share James Madison’s fear of it. Democracy destroys itself. “Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and, have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.” [Federalist 10] We Americans have been a great experiment. It just hasn’t worked out. Our greed and our laziness got in the way. We grew tired of keeping a sharp eye on our politicians. We let the bastards get away with murder. And they have. That is how I explain O’Bama. No rational nation would elect such an amateur to its highest office. An indifferent nation would.
Bottom line: we are screwed. Regardless of how 2012 turns out.
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