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Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hey Pat, glad youre back with us from Cafalornia. I was back through there in 65 and 66 and 69 on my way to hither and yon. wasnt quite as bad then as it is now, cept Berkley.  There is talk that they might secede from the onion and build a fence to keep all us out...I SAY GO AHEAD ON....

     Oh, I just forgot, I was out to Carmel and Pebbble beach back in 82. Staying in Pebble Beach and Carmel and Monterey, you dont usually encounter the idjits from san fran or La.  I did notice when I got off the plane at Monterey that the air was full of mentholatum.  Man, opened my sinuses right up. My host said it was all the eucaliptus trees. I was wanting to dig a couple o them bad boys and girls up and bring em back to Texas.

     Since I dont use the phone forr anything but calling and t ext msgs, and now an app for my HAs, oh, and the weather radar, I really dont need for it to do anything else, unless it can cook supper. Still waiting on that app, but with little success.  It will do one other thing, and that is to control a RYOBI garage door opener. It's a new opener that is 2 HP, when most others are just 1/2 HP. It is cool, but costs 250 dollars give or take...

     However, I'm a thinkink that with all the radio and microwave and TV waves and phone waves, and wireless controls, someday all of em are gonna collide and explode rendering all wireless controls useless. Then we will all have to go back to the Candlestick phone (20's and 30's ) with no dial. You just pick it up and click the cradle and say "Sarah, get me aunt Bea will you"....cant wait ! ! !

     I have a psychiatrist, Sigmund Harley Davidson....worked wonders. I could be your psychiatrist, I've seen a few TV shows about that sort of stuff, so I'm pretty much qualified. And, I have a couch! What more can you ask for? Oh, and a dog and a cat that will snuggle up to you and listen to you till you and they fall asleep.  Then when you wake up refreshed, I'll have fresh coffee perked and some cupcakes. Whatcha think? Ha, you might even feel good enough to play a  game of catch on the old ballfield, yeah, that's the ticket.

      I'm thinking sometime in March will be good for the reunion softball game and beer drinking olympics.

     I am currently on hold with my health ins company, Dewey Cheatum and Howe, been on hold for over an hour. Got to get my choice of programs in before midnight tomorrow.  "youre call is very important to us, We are experiencing a high volume of calls, so the wait time will be greater than 10 minutes..."  HOW ABOUT AN HOUR MO RONS.... Apparently my call IS NOT very important A TALL...

     My rhumatologist is currently on my plan, but not on my plan...???????

Pat, projects are real easy to conjure up, it's the actually starting and finishing that is the problem, oh and of course there's the middle of the project that is hard, but other than that, it's a breeze! Start with a small project and work your way up. Like say, look in the pantry and see if there are any chocolate chips!  If you find them, eat them to complete your project. Next time, make cookies with them. Next, rearrange your pantry. throw out  those cans of smoked oysters and sardines in mustard, instead of just rearranging them by shoving them behind the cans of sweet potatos and cranberry sauce you bought three thanksgivings ago.

     See, then just work up from there. Next open the fridge and pull out all the half open wine bottles and drink em. After a while, you wont care about your fridge or the pantry, or any other project except getting sober and curing your massive headache.   If you survive the wine cleansing, then straighten up the fridge and thrwo away all the red stuff that has turnned green and all the grreen stuff that has turned red. Or you can just throw out all the red and green stuff.

     Ok, gonna sign off for now....remember what an old indian told me oncet..."never ever trust a naked bus driver", or woids to that defect.

Keep the son and hold him in your heart, and ride boldly ride..
your frien and resident psycho...Sigmund Glockenclanger....

Post Script:  I am learning how to sing "JINGLE BELLS" in German.
"Glockenclanger Glockenclanger
hort man...something something....only got the foist 4 woids, well, three, I use one of them twicet...man, those people sure talk funny dont they, and they are my people in the old country....well, Transylvania, but I'm sure we all spoke the same language...."WHERE'S THE FOOD AND DRINK"...or woids to that defect....

Scotty Croom

glad to see all are doing well...sharon and i returned sun. pm from trip to new oprleans/french quarter...stayed near jackson square... wiuth cAFE  demond and pat o's piano bar.....place was jumping by 4pm fri. pm....

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Scotty, so glad you and Sharon had a great time in New Orleans.  One of my favorite places, but it has been years since I've been there. 

BroBeau, LOL!!! Goodness, thanks for making my day!!!   They say laughter is the best medicine, so I just got a BIG dose.   Not only should you have been a writer, but a comedian -- what a special talent you have.  You are amazing, through all your aches and pains you still manage all these wonderful humorous stories that keeps all of us in stitches and keeps the message forum "Alive" ---- all of us waiting anxiously for your next episode!

Keep on cruising and dancing.

Hugs

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Jerry Eppner

Did not see a mention here.  Many of you went to Baptist Temple.  My brother made me aware that Dr. Roy Ladd, who was the minister there for 25 years before his retirement in 1982, died November 25 at the age of 96.

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Please keep our dear classmates, Fran '64, Linda '65 and Judy '69 Webster and family in your prayers in the loss of their wonderful mother, Margy, yesterday.  I will keep you posted on funeral arrangements.  God Bless

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Fran, Linda and Judy, so sorry for the loss of your mom....She's in Gods paradise, where hopefully we will all be some day.   For now, you are all in our thoughts and prayers.  Sorry about Sheila....alzheimers, to me, is worse than any disease in the whirld. 

      My mom has it  and has for about 5 or 6 years. She will be 97 this January 15th. Her quality of life is 0....She doesnt know who anyone is, and is mostly incoherent...I certainly wouldnt wish that disease on anyone.  I was hoping she could cross over to the other side to reunite with her wonderful family, and again run barefoot down that old dirt road in that White river bottom land farm she grew up on.  160 acres full of sunshine, 160 million stars above..... 

      In me youte on DuBarry,  our windows would be open, no AC, but never seemed to notice it was missing. Anyway, mom would be in the kitchen singing in her operatic voice and just filled the air with angelic sounds.
 The Webster family has our full support and prayers, as does Sheila and her family.

     I'm thinking about MARCH 18th for the annual Waltrip Softball get together. Maybe start about 10AM till yall all want to go home..... It is Saturday after the first saturday after Daylight savings time starts. I figure all you old people need that extra hour of daylight to get home safely.
Ok, so the date is set....MARCH 18TH SATURDAY THE FIRST SATURDAY AFTER DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS.  A rain date would be the following satuday March 25th....I kind of want to stay out of April, dont want to interfere with the "fudds" get together at Goode Company.

    39 degrrees and dropping with the wind howling up here on the hill, and the dogs want to go out....figures!
So, be back sometime soon. Brrrrrrrr it's cold....

 Post Script: My moms name is Margy   

Terry Jones (Gallemore)

Beau, March 18 is on my calendar!

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

In Memory of

Margy Ray Webster

 

August 17, 1925 - December 7, 2016

Teddie Jordan

On behalf of Fran and Linda and Judy and our family, thank you classmates for your cards and messages, your visits and your hugs and your support, as we mourned and celebrated the long and wonderful loving life of Fran's mom Margy. 

She was a feisty and fun sweet lady who loved and was loved by several generations of her family, and we will miss her much. Margy was my mother in law for almost 51 years, and my girlfriend's mother for another four. Even as an oily headed  fifteen year old kid in a loud Chevy, she welcomed me to their home from the start.

We can only imagine the joyful celebration going on now as she has joined her family and loved ones in her new heavenly home. 

Thank you. 

Ronna Brand

Teddie, Fran and Linda,

I am so saddened to hear of the passing of your Mother.  I know you will miss her greatly, however, as Teddie said, she is home with her family now.

Ronna

Teddie Jordan

How 'bout you Cephus, you got a copy on this Redwood Peddler? I'll be 10-10 and listening in. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Roger I got a copy on you Red, this is the broke foot farmer....The Jordan and Webster family has every ounce of love and prayers from our hearts...Tried to get there, but my turncoat body said "nope, you aint going anywhere".... So, I sent my thoughts and prayers via airwaves...I wish my mom could move on. No, I'm not heartless, I grieved for her some years back. Alzheimers claimed another, yet her frail body is still here. Cant imagine what she could be clinging to. Hard to see her that way.... Well, we pray for her daily....

      Had three doctor appts this last week. Wednesday was for an ultra surround sound of my innards. No results back yet, I guess if it was something serious they would have called by now. Thursday was a followup on my ears with good ol doc earbone. HAs working wonderful. 

      I hear crickets, real ones, not the ones in my tinnitus old head, all the little boidies chirping and warbling. I even heard the exotic call of a cardinal down in the valley. Wind was still for a change, and lo and behold, that red boy was singing to high heaven. Man I love those boids. 

     I can hear the rooster across the valley on the next ridge. Hearing, I highly recomend it ! Well, cept when the little woman says, "when ya gonna carry the garbage out", then the batteries somehow mysteriously lose power.  I dont know, it's just one of lifes little mysteries.

     Friday, yesterday, ifin today is Saturday, and that's what rumor has it, I went to see ol doc toe jam.  Been a perpetual burn/sting on my right heel from a giant bee on steroids,  that registers at least a 10 on the richter scale of pain. They X-rayed it, using an old machine must have been the first prototype from ol doc X-ray hisownself.  They took two picturess of it, and they came up on a screen that was right in front of me, so if they were going to hide anything, TOO LATE ! ! ! !   

     Seems my heel is broken, full length vertical, about 1/8 th eench wide. They dont like us lay folks reading diagnosis into things like x-rays etc....but like I said, TOO LATE FOR THAT....I said, "why it looks like my heel is broken" ....oh no, we'll let the doctor read and determine the findings....so they usher me back to my holding cell. Directly, good ol doc toe jam comes in and says, "looks like your heel is broken vertically and separated about 1/8th eench.."   "NOOOOOOO", says I. Dang, I wish I was smart enough to be able to read a PICTURE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!         

     "How in the whirld did that happen? " I says in mock surprise.   He began to splain to me how a "too tight tendon and too tight calf muscle" can break your heel.  Seems mine did just that. Dang I've got a mean bad and nasty tough tendon that would break it's own heel.  as far as I know, I never authorized that sort of behaviour.   I told him I thought it was when I was plowing the north forty, when all of a sudden a GRIZZLY BEAH  and a MOUNTAIN LION, jumped out of the tall grass and commenced to fixing lunch out of me rat then and thar.

      Well sir doc, I said, I fought em off with a pair of my old arn workin plars, some number 9 kleins. Yesir, just bopped em on the nose and they ran off satisfied they had met their match in meaness.

      Ol doc toe jam sorta looked around me to my beloved, who just bowed her head and shook it from side to side and give off with one of those "tsk tsk tsk" sounds.  Of course I give em both a toothless grin, oh come on people, just funnin ya.  So ol doc toe jam says the nouise (brooklyn for nurse) is going to come in and fit me for a BOOT that I'm gonna wear for TWO WEEKS.....AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGG...

     I gnu I was gonna regret going to ol doc toe jam.....

oops, my beloved just called me in for breakfast....to be continued

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Ok, I'm baaaack....Now where was I?  Oh yeah, my beloved fixed us a ham and egg and cheese and jalopena samich on a croisant....oh man, it was deeeelicious. We generally fix one thing, and share it....just one way to stay involved with one and other....

    Back to ol doc toe jam....anyway he said I need to wear "DAS BOOT" otherwise I could lose my mobility and not walk at all....Always the naysayer huh doc....."OK OK, I'll wear DAS BOOT religiously...uh doc, what happens if DAS BOOT doesnt heal mah heel, eh? "  he siad we would talk about that next visit, TWO WEEKS FROM YESTERDAY...

     a side note here, doc broke back told me that "we" should let my brokee back try to heal naturally, and if in 6 months it hasnt, and it didnt, then he would do surgery....sho nuff, 6months he did surgery, so I guess I know where my heel is headed....

     So, the nuoise comes in and brings in two boots, a small one probably for a troll or druid, and a larger one obviously meant for me, a manly man, but I humor her and try on both boots. The smaller one, my toes hung over and touched the floor...."nope, dont think that one is the right one", says I..Then she puts on the larger manly man boot, and voila, perfect fit....this must have been how cinderella felt..."ew, this shoe is too small, ew, this shoe is too big, ooooo this shoe is just right..." and she and the prandsome hince rode off in the sunset on his magnificent steed.....

     HOBBLE HOBBLE HOBBLE...out of doc toe jams office....oh man, this aint gonna woik at all...Had to let the little woman drive my manly man truck from doc toe jams POB (placee of bidness).  Needed to go to HEB, and CVS forr subscriptions of medrol pack and pain killers. Thought I'd stay in the truck, but I needed to get out and move around, so I went in with St Diane.  Normally I aam several strides ahead of her, because she cant move as fast as "the cat" can. But not so today, I was woefully behind by a full car length. She slowed down for the "hobbler"...I shooed her on, "dont wait for me, I'll manaage"....and so I did.

     After trying to walk around the drugstore and HEB, it just wore me out. Was so glad to get home. We were going to go out to eat, but I, the "HOBBIT" just couldnt do any more walking in DAS BOOT...so we went home and had soup. It was homemade chicken soup, and well worth not going out t o eat.

     Finally got settled. Tried to help Diane as much as I could, but just had to sit with my foot up.   Now, we have three cats and two dogs, which each one of them snuffalupalized my new appendage cover to the max.  The cats love it because they think it is aa new scratching post....great, a velcro boot with velcro kitties...

     First time I get up to go to the loo, Annie Bob jumps on DAS BOOT of the "hobbler" and rides me like she's at Disney whirld....I know this might sound a little crass, and maybe too specific, but I thought I was going to have to pee on her head to get her off Das  Boot. I think she sensed my intentions, and vacated the premises.

      DAS BOOT is heavy and clunky enough without having a 12 pound cat riding along.  Of couse it might just strengthen my right leg some, but then I'd have to get another boot for the left side so I wont be off balance....oh hell, I'm already out of balance anyway, what's a little more offness !

     Wasnt long before Sammie the deaf and lacy the angel discovered a "Disney Ride"  DAS BOOT in their very own lair.  I kind of have to sneak around so as not to attrack the attention of the pride of lions that live with us. I have no idear how this is ever going to heal. 

       I have so many projects going, I just cant stop now ! ! ! ! ! ! !   THIS JUST BITES.....I tried to hire a guy at 25 dollars an hour to help me just one day, but seems the young folks dont want to work at all for any price.  My first real job was .60 cents and hour, and I thought I'd won the lotto ! ! !

       Ok, I'm worn out from typing and hobbling...good thing I dont type with my feet, but then again that might be a blessing for all yall...
     I really dont care where the sun is as long as it comes out, and I'm endeavoring to persevere..
your frien and resident Disney ride, HOBBIT the Hobbler, and a partridge in a pear tree...

Post Script: I HAVENT EVEN BEGUN MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING YET...oh, i dont go shopping anymore, and havent in years, BUT I COULD...or not....Diane and I have everything we need and want, and then some we'd like to give to others, so we dont need a thing for Christmas, cept my foot to heal, which it aint gonna do, oh no, what about the SPRING SOFTBALL REUNION GAME IN MARCH....this is just not working out at all....my warped and fertile mind will just have to come up with something....

Teddie Jordan

Thanks for the update buddy, Diane had told me you had those tests coming up. And you can do it with the boot, Fran just got out of one this week after two weeks. It's a little hard but will be worth the effort. But the scariest ride I've had in a long time is when she test drove her car with me as a passenger with the her big steel reinforced boot on her right foot. It's safe to say it was awkward for her to operate the accelerator, and downright scary when she couldn't get it over to the brake and had to use her left foot for that.  As I told her that's how these "old" people end up crashing through the front of Kroger. And her test drive was the fastest I've gone around a  corner since I was a teenager. Anyway she was grounded from driving until she got the boot off but is back in business now. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     I take DAS BOOT off if I just have to drive, which hopefully I wont, but there's always that chance. Doc Toe Jam told me not to drive with it on, that's one thing I will sure try to not do, drive ! ! !       Glad Fran is out of her DAS BOOT.  Mine has an airpump so I can make it snug and not wiggle. I'm sure the pride will find it and poke holes in the dang  thang rendering it non-operational.....It has, however, started to squeak when I walk, which alerts the pride, "THE RIDE IS ON"....

     I wonder how much DAS BOOT costs ?  Mine is probably a Vera Wang, or Jimmy Choo choo, Sofa Viagra, or brook shields....hmmmm, not her, Cindy Crawford, yeah..... I told em I wanted a Stacy Adams, but they looked at me like I was nuts. When is the last time you heard the name STACY ADAMS?   I think I had a pair of those once. They were around 25 or 30 dollars, which in todays money would be 250 to 300 dollars.  

     The wind up here today is going berserk!   Had a gust of 34 MPH, and sustained mostly at 19 MPH.  gonna be one heck of a cold front coming in tonight. They said it was a blue norther. I wish it would come in in the daytime, so folks could see what it looks like.  Well, I suppose they're going to feel it, and can use their imagination from there. If it snows, come on up! 

Ok, got to run, baking cupcakes, so if youre by this way, stop on in aand have a  cupcake and some coffee. I make great cupcakes and great coffee. Might even add a little RC snakebite potion to it, really warm your innards up.

    See ya....

Beau Wann, Jr.

Here's a picture of what's left of a hay fort I built for the wolf pack.  they love playing in the hay.  I put down about 5 bales in the winter, keeps em warm when they play, and also keeps the mud off their pawsI bought 8 bales, and the cows next door, saw what I put down for the pups, and thought it was for them, soooo I cut open 3 bales and put it over the fence. They were appreciative, xcept now, they will come over to our house and wait for a handout. When none is forthcoming, they go back to their round bale and munch.

     The two boulders in the middle I brought in and placed them therre with the tractor. I love boulders, so thought I should have some, so I got 5. Other three are over at the ball field.  See the teddy bear? That's Dixie Belles. She loves that bear so much, just about removed all the stuffing out of the dang thang. So we bought her another for Christmas. They are "care bears", and proceeds go to something, dont remember what, but It's a good cause I'm sure.

     Started on my medrol pack (prednisone/steroids) for my heel. It also helps all the other pains. wish I could stay on them forever, but they aree not good for you long term. Not good at all. 

    Oh, I have DAS BOOT on !   I did take it off to drive down in the valley to the gate to open it up so any delivery truck could get in and also to check the mail. So, the gates open, come on up ! ! !

    Had a gust of wind of 34 MPH, and it's steady at about 20...cant go outside, or you get blowed up into grimes county.

    ok, I'm wired, so there's no tellin how many more times I'll get on the forum....just your luck huh !

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Oh Cephus, so sorry about you breaking your ownliest foot...lol.  Don't worry about being blown into Grimes county...we are blowing toward ya I think.  I negated about taking the great grands this weekend, and wishing I hadn't (because of the weather) missing them although they opened their Xmas present last week as they are going to Colorado to snow ski. Wind is blowing hard, all the lawn chairs and swinging lawn furn. are moving, like a ghost is in 'em. Not seen this action before.

I've been tracking well production in the Permian Basin as my great grandfather left us some minerals, does anyone know of this in the Howard county? 

Otherwise, we have been celebrating Advent here in Grimes county, and having a great dinner before each service.  Let me tell ya, those German women do not let anyone down, as they have their own recipes and dishes that appear throughout Advent and throughout the year. I'm so blessed to be among all these people and that God directed me to this church. Visited my daughter and my grandson in Oakland cemetery today, sure miss them.  Todd and his wife still decorate a tree for Michael at his gravesite.  Such a blessing, little children are so hard to let go of...I taught VBS again this summer and a teenage stepped out and said she was born the day before Michael.....a teen? Has it been so long? Still think of him as the age he was.

Well, wind is just a blowin, and unbelievably it was 70's all day today, and now dropping to 30's...Makes me wonder if God is trying to tell us something.  There is climate change. Dogs are not liking this...hee, hee. O.K.church tomorrow.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Kay...we are getting the same weather here on the hill. Came in about 8:30 give or t ake...dropped 20 degrees in less than 5 mins. I've seen this before back in winter of 67. blue norther. wind has been howling something fierce first from the south all day gusts in the 30mph range, now from the north 20 to 30 mph. Pups are not liking this at all...come to think of it me neither too also...

     Kay, I always say a prayer for you and your family on the loss of your daughter and grandson.  I know you miss them....My heart just breaks when I think about it ! !  You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only option.  You dear Kay, are as strong as anyone on this earth.

    I havent had any real german food since the last time I had real german food. Methinks that was back in 84 in New Braunfels at the Faust Hotel and at Krauses and such. My grandmother use to make some german dishes, and the onliest one I can remember are her german fries.  Oh man, taters fried in about 2 inches of bacon drippins and an onion thrown in for good measure.  That was one tasty and artery clogging dish.

     I miss our other place in Leon county. I miss going through Anderson and Roans Prairie, North Zulch, Iola, Normangee and Flynn. all of em put together wouldnt be as large as Oak Forest.  Buccees needs  to put a store in between all those little towns, then there would be jobs for all citizens in the surrounding counties. I know they have one in Madisonville, but it's on 45.

      If memory serves me, didnt Frans Mother Margy graduate from Iola High? I'll have to look  back at the obituary.  Times were tough and great in small towns way back then. 

       The Buccees in Waller must employ the entire town. That place is busy 24/7.  They just added about 30 more pumps give or take. Great place to stop and get a cup O joe among other things.  Framed prints of My sisters paintings are sold there. In fact I bought one called "Easy Rider" a long horn. And she sent the original of Rhapsody in blue, a dappled grey horse, or bluish color.  All of her paintings are of real livestock. Ranchers will contact her to paint a portrait of one of their longhorns or horses, so she travels to wherever and takes pictures and then paints it! 

     She painted a portrait of Bevo, dont know which one, but one of them, and one of the coaches owns the original, methinks.  

     I must say, when I finally get DAS BOOT off, my foot feels better. I guess it could be the prednisone. Havent taken any pain meds, always take em as a last resort..

     you know, it seems like we always get this freaky weather at night. Dont like that atall ! ! !

Dont know why, but Diane and I dont seem to have much Christmas spirit this year. Our house is half decorated, and heck, we've always had it fully done by Thanksgiving. the house looks like Arnies exploded. I guess it's because we live out in rural America. In Oak Forest, most all your neighbors are celebrating and decorating, hard not to get in the spirit there. I  do miss that part of living there....not the traffic though !

    Another string of lights just burned out on our cashmere fake Christmas tree. If we decide to decorate nextt year, might have to buy a new tree. We sure miss having a big family and lots of friends. Seems everyone is scattered to the four winds nowadays. Well, we will keep em in our hearts!

    Time to go to bed I guess.  everyone else is asleep! 

Keep the sun at your six, and hopefully it will be out tomorrow, and stay warm. only suppose to get to 40 down in the flatlands. Probably get to 35 or so up here on Mt Washington !  Maybe the wind will die down. I've got so much to do that I should have done before this mess moved in, oh well...

Your frien and resident hobben dobbler, Hobbit the Hobbler  

Wayne Lake

Fran, Linda, Ted et al, so sorry for your loss.

Beau, I like the proposed date of March 18^th and look forward to the first annual (I hope) Beau and Diane’s Country Bar-B-Q/PicNic/Softball Game. l think it will be well attended and will call after Christmas to discuss logistics.

Merry Christmas to all from Lake Wobegon, where it was 23 F below zero this morning without the wind chill (don’t want to think about that), but warm inside. We have a fireplace but it is too cold to fire it up these days as the heat loss up the stack draws the cold air inside. Looks like we’re gonna’ have a white one this year for sure.  It is sort of amazing so much wildlife in this very urban area such as bald eagles, wild turkey, song birds (in summer), red fox, albino squirrel last summer, white tail deer, Canada geese and there was a coyote foraging in the snow just behind us yesterday. Any of these animals that stick around here for winter must be awful tough to survive to cold weather.

Stay Warm and Be Safe my friends, wtl

Teddie Jordan

Wayne, twenty three below, damn?

Hope you've got your fur lined jockstrap on. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

23 GREDEES BELOW 0 ???? We have a balmy 29 gredees here, hells bells, swimsuit weather! ! !  Methinks me's moving more southwardness....ok, that's just too cold...Wayne, I'm so sorry you have to suffer the slings and arrrows of outrageous fortune like 23 below zero....

     I had to take DAS BOOT off and work outside this morning AM. took me about 3 hours to complete the task, but I did. Of course it didnt do my broke heel any good, but I had no choice, had to g iterdone, and twernt nary another soul around to take up the slack.

    Got an email from my artist the sister...er, no that doesnt sound right, by sister the artist, yeah, that's the ticket....anyway she said her cardiologist recommended for her to eat BEETS, to lower her blood pressure and to help curb pain.  She said she eats the golden beets, because the red beets taste like dirt....I have to tell you, I didnt know she was  an authority on beets. BEETS????

     BEETS???? OMG ! ! !  Why does it have to  be beets?  Why couldnt just once, something be good for you that you like, that is great tasting, say like, CHOCOLATE MALTS?  or a dozen SHIPLEY DONUTS, fresh out of the deep fat fryer....I've never even hoid of golden beets, and Kat eats them raw....Well, Kat does live in Virginia, so they pretty much have all kinds of weird stuff.  I'll bet Wayne doesnt have any BEETS in the good old frozen tundra where he is currently residing at 23 below....

     Got down to 29 this morning about 4. Stayed there till way past daylight. only got to 35, and didnt stay there for very long. It is now 29 gredees....I use to love winter, but not no more nohow.! ! ! ! !  Sorry Mrs Simpson ! ! !

     Gonna make this short...had to take a pain pill and it is making me sleepy, dopey, docy and grumpy, whichever of the 9 or 10 of the 7 dwarfsssss...Seems the steroids wear off after one or two days, even though I'm still taking them. You start off with 6 or 7 at one time on the first day, and then decrease the dosage till they ar e gone.  The 2nd day and sometimes the 3rd day, I feel great, mentally and physically, but look out 4th 5th and everyday there after. 

     Oh well, I'm just ramblin...I'll be back lataon. Going Chjristmas shoping with my beloved tomorrow. I dont really shop, I just keep Diane company and carry the packages. Normally I wouldnt go, but I need to g et out among my people, or someones people.  We use to take Cooper with us, so he could keep me company whilst Diane was in the stores that wont let dogs in. Boo on them ! ! !  Cooper was such a trooper, as long as people would greet him, he was in grinnin from ear to ear.  He was an eye catcher and great ice breaker with strangers....

 Ok, I believe I was going to sing off...
Keep the sun at your back and front and sides, if it ever decides to come back, and ride boldly ride whilst you are endeavoring to persevere...

Your frien and resident Hob nobler...Hobbler the Hobbit

Post Script: WTL?   You stay safe and warm up there on the frozen tundra...yall dont have any polar bears up there do ya? Well, dont you associate with those bad boys and girls...they look pretty, but they will eat you and a cold new york minute....

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

13 degrees in Melissa this morning - hopefully going up to 32 this afternoon and back down to 22 tonight.  Lots and lots of people in my neighborhood ended up with frozen pipes and no running water (including my daughter's family).  They never listen to me about not only wrapping the pipes, but also letting faucets drip.  We had driven down to Lake Conroe for the Brawner Christmas gathering and spent the night, so their coming home to no water wasn't fun.  My son-in-law got out with a hair dryer to thaw out the pipe - he IS innovatvie at fixing broken things.

Boot must be the new fashion statement - I'm in one for 4-6 weeks because of a stress fracture in a bone on top of my foot caused by arthritis.  I have been driving with it as I've always driven with my left foot for the brake ever since my first car ('67 Mustang) had a clutch and I just never switched back with automatic transmissions.  Seems to have paid off, I guess, and I don't have to take it on/off each time I drive.  Beau, they told me that wearing the boot at ALL times (except sleeping) is important.  So, maybe you'd better wear it while you work or quit the work - you won't heal and then the next step, they said, is orthotic shoes.  I've been wearing orthotic flip flops & sandals for over 5 years because of other foot problems, but this sounds like a 'REALLY UGLY SHOE" solution.  Oh, the things we are going through as we age.  Not fun.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and I hope you all enjoy time with family this weekend. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hey Jimmie Lee...Sorry you have to wear DAS BOOT also. But you are so right about wearing it all the time. Just the 3 hours I didnt wear it sunday, I felt it, but what was I to do?  It was 29 degrees and I needed to finish the winterizing projects, which I should have finished before sunday, but you know how it is. I put it off for one reason or another. Believe me, I will wear it religiouly from now on. And if it rains, I just wont go outside.

However, I'v been hobbling around on my broken heel for months. I just thougt it was a pinched nerve or something that they wouldnt be able to see. Sort of like plantar facitis (sp). I've had it several times, but not much you can do about that at all.  Dr Gould told me to put a baseball bat beside the bed and when I get out, just put my feet on it and roll it to and fro till the pain goes away.

      Fortunately I have boots that are about the same size/height as DAS BOOT, so it makes it easier to get around having one on my left foot and DAS BOOT on my right.  Did do a little Christmas shopping today. Glad some places havve benches and or chairs for me to sit in.  I actually dont shop, as just keep Diane company and maybe help carry packages and stuff.

     Only found one present for Dianes mom, and found it at an ACE hardware in Brenham. For those of you that havent been in an ACE lately, man, it's like an old time Dry Goods store/dept store. Lots and lots of things plus a post office that is never crowded. We drive by the PO in Brenham, and it is always packed with cars lined up in parking lot and street.  I guess they dont know about the one at the ACE down the strreet.  We use the PO in Chappell Hill, it is small, but never more than one person in it if that. Something good to be said for living in small town america.

     Got down to 24 this morning. Dogs swimming pool was frozen. The tried to drink out of it, only to just lick the ice.  Of course they looked at me like, "hey pop, what did you do to the water"?  I'm glad they didnt t ry to get in and walk around. Maybe I'll have to buy them ice skates, then they can learn to skate, get very good at it, and then we can get on Ed Sullivans show, anddthen go on whirld tour and become rich and famous, and ,and....

      Or not !! ! ! ! !   Well, it sounded swell anyway.  I am wearing DAS BOOT now, and wont take it off till I'm ready to fall in, oops er, up bed.  Still sleeping in the skybed. 

     The birds seem to have come back, all it took was not mowing the front pasture/the hill. I've put out about 35 pounds of seed for the boidies and 100 pounds of  corn for the deer and other wildlife plus planted rye, radishes, winter peas and other delightful delectables.  Might just keep some of them alive during the real cold days. Going to wash out the water tank and fill it with more suitable water, just have to figure out how to drive the tractor with DAS BOOT. Oh well, I'm inovative enough, I'll figger it out.

     Glad to hear from you Jimmie Lee. When folks dont get on the forum, I always worry and wonder if everyone is ok. Glad youre ok, but hoping your f oot heals quickly and completely.  Diane is just now feeling the affects of arthritis in her hands and shoulders.  Her moms fingers and hands are crooked and warped severely from arthritis, but last wednesday was her 87/88th birthday,(dont remember how old she is) and we took them out to lunch. She said that they never hurt before until her birthday this year.

     Time to deplane....stay warm

Scotty Croom

hang in there ,jimmie....when cold weather ends,then summer,the heat will start the vwhole cycle over...merry christmas to all my waltrip family...this will bw better holidays than last year,,,see you all in the spring...