Little Things

Over the years, I have decided if I could have a house built, there are a number of things I would insist on. Naturally, that is not going to happen. When I woke on my 40th birthday, married with 2 kids, 2 car payments and a less than great paycheck, I knew, unless something really big happened, I will likely spend my remaining years in this house. I mean, I have not stumbled across too many oriental lamps. Those I did find, seemed quite normal.

So, such as it is, strange as it is, here is my house wish list.

  1. good insulation. Don’t like cold. Don’t like heating the great outdoors.
  2. Lots&lots of electric outlets, especially in kitchen and living room. Don’t like using outlet multipliers such as extension cords.
  3. All electric outlets would be 3 feet from the floor. Might not look great but don’t like moving furniture to plug or unplug stuff.
  4. ez access to to plumbing and wiring. Why should we have to tear things up to replace a Fawcett?
  5. Should be at least 2 USB outlets in each room. Why is it no one thought of that?
  6. I know I’m asking too much, but what about a garage that doesn’t get ridiculous cold or hot. That way, when I pull out of my driveway, I am already comfy. If not that, then a hose that warms or cools car.
  7. A safe, for valuables and guns. It wouldn’t need to be big. I don’t have much of either.
  8. I don’t want trees anywhere near the house. The leaves and or needles collect on the roof. Also, I might want solar batteries later.

I suppose that’s more than enough, you can send me your bill. Just don’t expect a payment.

Daily writing prompt
Write about your dream home.

ONE LAW?

I have a list of them. May I include a group of them, as in each legal voter would be allowed one vote and no one would be permitted to vote for anyone else.

The trick is that in order for that to happen, many laws would have to be changed, mainly in registering. Honest efforts would be needed to make sure that those laws and the old laws would need to be followed.

What i would really hope for is for folks to follow the ones we have. Instead we have an army of lawyers that help those who are dishonest find ways around the spirit of the law.

Then too, there are those who openly, intentionally ignore the laws we already have without penalty. This even to the point they make no attempt to hide it.

Indeed the law ignorer in chief sits in a chair, behind a big nice desk, in an oval office, in a big white house, on Pennsylvania Ave. sometimes. When he isn’t taking a nap.

Old Joe says he needs laws to control the border while he ignores the oodles of laws that are there. If he had more laws, he would ignore them too, that is, unless he could use them to lock up those that actually seek to properly enforce the laws we have.

Daily writing prompt
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?

Photography

Used to have three cameras. Over time, I took, perhaps 2 or 3 thousand pictures.

I have lost interest for 3 reasons.

  1. Lack of subjects.
  2. Change of medium. I lliked 35 mm film. Now anyone with a phone has countless pictures. I am not saying it is worse, just different.
  3. Purpose. I am old. No one wants my pictures. When I die, I don’t guess anyone will want any of the pictures I have. I do still take a photo now and then, but once I am gone, but I doubt any will outlive me.
Daily writing prompt
Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?

It’s a Walk in the Park

Well, sort of. Sometimes I walk, sometimes I drive especially in the fall. Actually, that’s a two for. Any time I’m driving, then I am also listening to my radio or my music.

I might be listening to talk radio. Sometimes, in vein, I talk back. I might be listening to my 50s and 60s music. If alone I sing along. If my wife is with me, I don’t put her through the torture.

I really miss taking the dogs with me. I really enjoyed watching them enjoy it. No more. The dogs are gone and, given my age, I don’t want to orphan new ones.

Sometimes, in the spring, I will stop and watch a Little League game. I find them more entertaining than the major league games. It reminds me of the days my son played. In HS, he played pitcher and 3rd.

Now let me see. Is that 3 or 4. Let’s just say 2. Don’t want to be accused of cheating.

I like to draw and paint: pencil, pastels and water color. Used to like photography. It’s all so different now. Every now and then I still snap a picture, maybe while walking through the park. Sometimes, I will paint something I took a photo of. Those sunsets always look better painted. Besides, I always leave out the ugly power lines.

As an aside, you ever notice they always put those things in the middle of the most picturesque sites. I often wonder if I took an ocean cruise, they would have them in the middle of a beautiful pic out there. How do they do that?

Used to enjoy writing programs for my computer. I can code in Algol, Pascal, BASIC and to a lesser degree, C. I actually wrote a few useful programs as I have posted a year or two ago. The problem is that MS took my tools from me. I have several compilers and none are any good on the later versions of Windows.

I am sure I could get more compilers but it’s just almost completely different. Really let the air out of my balloon.

I still write books, but my mind is slowing down. Envariably, I find myself rewriting and I am having more difficulty with keeping things flowing right. Mostly, I occasionally get my old books out and try to improve them.

Then of course, in the meantime, I do battle with 5 ft. weeds. It’s not that I like to. If I don’t, they will simply take overtake everything.

It does make me think ahead. Don’t think there will be any weeds in heaven. That, in itself will will go a long way to make it heavenly. I think I will like that. Think of it. Flowers and no weeds. Come to think of it, I strongly expect there’ll likely be no power lines either.

I suspect I have not yet finished but my eyelids are getting heavy. I need a nap.

Bloganuary writing prompt
List five things you do for fun.

Different

Elvis Presley’s house is within bicycle range. However, to see it I would have to go to a part of Memphis I avoid these days. There was a time I would not have hesitated to strole down the part of Highway 51.

These days, I make sure to maintain a good 5 or 6 miles from the area, even while in a car.

The hitch is, I am a little different. I have no desire to see the place anyway. Hence all I have ever seen is what I can see over the fence. It will remain that way even if someone offered me a free guided tour. I never was a fan.

Bloganuary writing prompt
Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.

Politicians Who Seek Personal Power

In the series of books I have written about floaters, I call them controllers, sort of like Old Joe and a number of senators and representatives. This would Include city mayors who like the prestige more than the job. That includes the brass in the military more interested in their news headlines than the mission and the good of his men. And then, of course there are those George Soros district attorneys who, for personal gain, have released untold numbers of the bad guys.

Need I really continue? Is any of this new to anyone?

Bloganuary writing prompt
What do you complain about the most?

Teasing cats with lasers

I’m sure they love it too. I keep it on a Keychain and they know the sound when I pick it up. I can’t take it within hand before they look at me ready to go. And they will chase it till they drop. I am not that mean to them though. Only 3 or 4 minutes at a time.

My guess is that it’s good for them. Just wish I had a little more room for them.

Truth is, I don’t know which of us enjoys it more. No, that’s not true. I do.

Bloganuary writing prompt
What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?

I Suppose it is a Matter of Time

As with most, I like dogs, especially border collies. Then again there are those who get angry when you group border collies with dogs.

Regardless, it is something about timing. Had I been born a century earlier I’m sure I would prefer a horse. Walking is no fun.

I know it’s not a direct answer. Still, I guess things do very. A border collie would be pretty handy if I hearded sheep. Not only that, I would have a happy dog. Nothing makes a border collies happier than a few sheep.

Thing is, being 76, it would be a bad idea to get any animals. I could drop over and orphan them at any time.

Even so, we have a few felines. They keep me from floating up off my recliner while I’m napping. I guess that serves an important purpose.

Bloganuary writing prompt
What is your favorite animal?

Oddly I Had to Think About This One

I say oddly because it should have been really obvious. I spent 7 years doing it… teaching. If I didn’t have personal needs, you know. Shelter, food, clothing etc, I would teach without pay.

There is just something about seeing results. It is worth more than salary. Unfortunately, I would never be allowed to teach the complex stuff like is taught in public schools. I was limited to the more simple things like radar.

Nonetheless, I must admit, I did have a job for about 15 years just before I retired. Even more importantly, I worked for a good company and boss. Not many can say they enjoyed their twilight years at work as I did.

I was a computer operator. It was neat for me. While it was a little challenging, I was not a leader. I don’t like being a leader.

I had a difficult time figuring out what my dream job would be because it wasn’t my dream. It was for real. That made it all the better.

Bloganuary writing prompt
What’s your dream job?