Monday, October 24, 2011

MONDAY OCTOBER 24, 2011
7:35 AM

I did on of the things on my bucket list yesterday.

I went to a NASCAR race at Talladega.  It was an unusual experience.  I have watched the races for years, but it is a different experience being in the stands as they raced at about 200 miles an hour.  I enjoyed the race, but I would not want to be in the stands for every race.  When you watch it on TV you never miss anything.  If you do they show replays several times.  I am glad that I was able to do this bucket list item.

Friday, October 21, 2011

OCTOBER 21, 2011
5:50 PM

I have not been feeling well for about two weeks.  I have been having fever and chills.  The first part of this week I developed a rash on my front of my body.  I went to the doctor this morning.  I have shingles.  He said that the worst part was over and there was no treatment for the stage that I am now in.  I still have pain but it is not very bad.  I don't have a choice. 

I had to have a doctor in Iuka.  I was pleased with my first visit with him.  Unless something happens I will see him again in January for my annual check up.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2011
6:50 PM

I have been in Wynne today.  I left early this morning and got back about an hour ago.  I had some business to take care of and I got to visit with several of my friends in Wynne.  It was good to visit with these friends.  It was a long day but I had to take care of the business and it was good to have a little time to visit.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

TUESDAY OCTOBER 18, 2011
7:40 PM

I took my aunt to the heart doctor in Memphis today.  Everything was fine, it was just a normal time for her checkup.  While I was waiting in the waiting room I talked with four different individual who knew people from Wynne.  I knew all of the people that these individuals knew.  Non of the individuals were from Arkansas.

Another couple stopped by to visit with me as they were leaving the office.  They had heard the discussions before they went to visit with their doctor.  They stopped by to tell me that had heard the discussions earlier.  They told me that they owned property in Cherry Valley.  In fact they had visited Cross County in the last few days.

When my aunt was making her next appointment, (she goes every 6 months) I look across the waiting room and saw a young couple from Wynne that I know.  I went over and we had a good visit while my aunt completed her business.  The young lady was there for a checkup.

After that my aunt and I went to the funeral home where Amy works and picked her up and we went to dinner.  We had a good lunch and enjoyed visiting with Amy.

Monday, October 17, 2011

MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2011
2:10 PM

We have unpacked all of the boxes from our move.  (This does not include the boxes from my garage--I will unpack them when I build my new shop)  Pat completed the last of the boxes this morning.

Amy and Matt came Saturday night and left a little after lunch yesterday.  They had planned to stay most of the day, but Amy got a call to embalm a body for one of her funeral home customers.  She hated to go, and we hated to see her leave early, but when you have a chance to make money to take that opportunity.

I have not been feeling very well for the past several days, but today I feel much better.  I am going to take my aunt to the doctor in Memphis tomorrow.  We plan to meet Amy for lunch if our schedules work out.  I at least need to go to her work and leave her phone charging cord.  She left it here yesterday.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

TUESDAY OCTOBER 11, 2011
5:20 PM

Since we moved to Iuka I have been clearing out the woods around the house.  I have been clearing out the underbrush and leaving the trees.  I think that I have just about completed this project.  I might, at some time in the future, clear a little bit more but I have just about completed this project.

I have employed a man to clear the stumps and level the ground where my shop will be located.  He will also haul in fill dirt to level the location.  He will do this project some time in the next two to three weeks.  He will also move dirt to improve the drainage around the shop building.

I have also employed a man to form the floor and pour the concrete for the floor.  He will do this once the dirt work has been completed.

My winter project will be to build the shop.  I hope the get the building framed and a roof first and then complete the shop over the next several months.  I look forward to having a shop to work in and get out of the house.

Our new dog is still here.  I am going to take her to the vet in the next few days.  I want to make sure that she is OK and get her shots.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8, 2011
4:50 PM

I cleaned up the trees and branches from my garage site this week.  I burned all of the limbs and stacked the tree parts in the woods behind the house.

I hired a local man to prepare the site for the slab.  He will remove the tree stumps and level the ground.  He will have to haul in some dirt to make the floor the proper  elevation.  He will also work the dirt around the site to make the water go away from the building.  He will do the work sometime in the next three weeks.  He is busy right now.  I had another man look at the site this morning to give me a price to prepare and pour the slab.

We have an outside dog now----We did not want another dog, but we can not run her off.  She is a very calm, but we have to  keep her away from Oscar when he goes out.  We have to have Oscar on a leash when he goes outside.  We do not like this situation, but we cannot make the outside dog leave.

Monday, October 3, 2011

MONDAY OCTOBER 3, 2011
7:05 PM

I am still alive and kicking.  I have not blogged in several weeks.   I have been busy being retired.

We are unpacked now.  Pat has a few boxes to empty and arrange her office.  Every other room has no boxes and all the furniture and pictures are in place.

I have done a lot of yard work and clearing of the woods behind our home.  I usually work a little each day on the yard.  It looks much better than it did when we moved into the house. 

Last Saturday Pat's brother and I cut most of the trees for where my new garage will be.   We have to remove the stumps before I can pour a slab.  I am getting prices this week on pouring a slab for the building.  My plans are to have someone pour the slab and then my winter project will be to build my garage.  I have decided to build it 24 feet by 36 feet.  I miss not having a garage at home to do projects.

We have purchased all new appliances including a new heat and air system and a new hot water heater.  We have our fireplace installed and have even used it yesterday.

Pat and I are both invlolved in several activities at church in addition to Sunday School and regular services.  It is beginning to feel like home.

We have enjoyed being close to family.  It is also good to be able to see mother several times a week.  Mother is not much better, but she is holding her own.  She will celebrate her 93rd birthday on the 22nd of this month.  It is also my birthday, I will be 65.
I am now receiving three retirement checks, one from the school, one from the city, and social security.  I am now on Medicare.  I have purchsed a supplemental plan and a drug card to help pay the medical cost.

I have had very little contact with people in Wynne.  I subscribe to the Wynne Progress, but it gets here 12 days after in comes out in Wynne.  I do listen to KWYN on the internet some.  I listen to the news some and Yawn Patrol.  It is good to keep up with what is going on in Wynne.

I have started going to the coffee shop. They are just like Wynne coffee shops.  They complain about the goverment and have answers for all of the problems.  They are not talking about me though.

I have been going to see my Bulldogs play this year.  I am about 90 miles closer than I was in Wynne.  I usually get home a little after midnight now.   That is much better than 2:30 or 3:00 AM when I was in Wynne.

I am enjoying being retired.  I have not been bored a bit.  It is also nice not to have to deal with problems or answer the phone.  I did enjoy that part of my life, but my life has changed.

(And he stays outside and busy enough that he isn't underfoot! He told me to proof this and so I did... with a little footnote...)