Thursday, November 22, 2012

THANKSGIVING

HELLO TO ALL,

     WELL, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD AND BAD THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME THIS YEAR.I MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS, LOST SOME OLD FRIENDS, ALMOST LOST A COUPLE OF OLD FRIENDS. WORKS BEEN GREAT, MADE A FINE LIVING, GOT SOME SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION GOING AGAIN, (ALWAYS A GOOD THING!!). BEEN HEALTHY FOR MOST OF THE YEAR. ALL IN ALL A LOT TO BE VERY THANKFUL FOR.

    PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THE HOMELESS, UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE WHO,BY THEIR OWN CHOICE OR NOT, DON'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE. MAYBE NO FOOD, MAYBE NO PLACE TO SLEEP, MAYBE THEY'RE UNHEALTHY, WHATEVER, IF YOU CAN'T HELP IN ANY OTHER WAY, SEND THEM SOME LOVE IN A PRAYER. PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER OUR TROOPS, WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT THEY'RE STILL THERE DEFENDING OUR RIGHT TO BE THANKFUL!

    ENJOY THIS HOLIDAY WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

                                                           TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                                         TVI

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

JUST ANOTHER WEEKEND HERE

HELLO TO ALL,

      JUST A FEW THINGS GOING ON HERE THIS WEEKEND. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY OWN CAR TO WORK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. FIRST TIME IN THIRTY YEARS! BECAUSE I AM A FIELD MECHANIC I DRIVE A FAIRLY LARGE TRUCK WITH A CRANE, WELDER, AIR COMPRESSOR, ETC., FOR THE COMPANY I WORK FOR, A FEW MONTHS AGO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SAVE FUEL THEY ASKED IF THE TWO OR THREE GUYS WHO LIVE THE FARTHEST FROM THE SHOP WOULD DRIVE THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES BACK AND FORTH AND THEY WOULD PAY US MILEAGE. I ACCEPTED THEIR OFFER AND HAVE BEEN DOING IT NOW SINCE JUNE. I NORMALLY CHANGE MY OWN OIL IN THE VEHICLES I DRIVE BUT HAVE NOT HAD TIME SINCE THIS STARTED. THE WIFE WORKS IN TOWN ACROSS THE STREET FROM A TIRE/GARAGE SHOP AND SHE HAS HER OIL CHANGED BY THEM, SO I'VE BEEN LETTING HER TAKE MY CAR OVER THERE. THEY CHANGED THE OIL EARLIER THIS WEEK AND TOLD HER THE BRAKES WERE BAD. SO I DROVE THE PICKUP TO WORK ON FRIDAY AND BROUGHT THE BIG TRUCK HOME TO DO THE BRAKES.

     WELL, I TOOK THE REAR TIRES OFF AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ALARMING, ROTORS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE, PLENTY OF PAD LEFT TO WEAR. LET IT DOWN JACKED UP THE FRONT AND CHECKED THE PADS AND ROTORS, THEY WERE PRETTY WORN. THE FRONT OF THE CAR HAD THE BIG DOUBLE SIDED ROTORS WITH THE VENTILATING RIBS SO I TOOK THEM DOWN TO NAPA AND HAD THEM TURNED DOWN AND BOUGHT NEW PADS. TOOK EVERYTHING HOME, REINSTALLED AND BLED THE BRAKES. NOW THE ESTIMATE FOR DOING THE BRAKES WAS $810, JOB DONE FOR $61. NOT BAD.

     THE YOUNGEST SON WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE WOODS LIKE A MANIAC A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THE FOUR WHEELER PULLING THE LITTLE TRAILER AND HIT A TREE WITH ONE OF THE TRAILER TIRES. KNOCKED A BIG CHUNK OUT OF THE RIM AND BENT THE AXLE. SO HE AND I REMOVED THE WHEEL,(MADE HIM GO FIND THE MISSING PIECE IN THE WOODS!), TOOK THE WHEEL TO WORK AND HAD THE WELDER WELD THE PIECE BACK IN IT. GOT THE TUBE FIXED AND HEATED AND STRAIGHTENED OUT THE AXLE, PUT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER AND MOVING AGAIN.

     GOT UP ON SUNDAY AND WENT OUT IN THE WOODS AND KEPT CUTTING FIREWOOD, STARTING TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE AMOUNT, BUT STILL NOT THERE YET.

     THE PIG IS GOING TO THE BUTCHER ON THE 22ND OF OCTOBER OR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, THEN I'LL HAVE TO TAKE DOWN HIS PEN AND CLEAN UP IN THERE. DOESN'T THAT SOUND FUN!!!LOL I'M GETTING A FAIRLY LARGE COMPOST PILE BUILT UP FOR TURNING INTO THE GARDEN NEXT SPRING. WE HAD PRETTY GOOD LUCK WITH WHAT WE PLANTED THIS YEAR AND JUST THE OTHER DAY WE DISCOVERED A WHOLE BUNCH OF SWEET POTATOES HAD SURVIVED UNDER THE WATERMELON PLANTS. I WANT TO MAKE THE GARDEN A LITTLE BIGGER NEXT YEAR AGAIN, AND I'M THINKING I'M GOING TO MOVE THE MELON PLANTS OUTSIDE THE MAIN GARDEN.

     THINGS ARE PROGRESSING PRETTY WELL HEADING INTO THE WINTER. FIREWOOD IS ALWAYS ON MY LIST BUT I HOPE TO GET ENOUGH CUT NOT TO HAVE TO CUT IN THE WINTER. MY BROTHER HAS SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN HIS YARD, I HAVE SEVERAL HERE THAT NEED TO BE CUT DOWN AND THE NEIGHBOR HAS 5 OR 6 MORE HE WANTS DOWN. I HAVE A STANDING OFFER FROM A FRIEND OF MINE A COUPLE OF TOWNS NORTH OF ME TO COME AND GET WOOD ANYTIME. HE LOST ABOUT 40 TREES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN "SHOP TEACHER BOB'S" GARAGE BLEW DOWN. THEY'RE ALREADY ON THE GROUND AND LIMBED, SO IT'S JUST CUTTING CHUNKS AND SPLITTING.

     WELL THAT'S ALL I CAN THINK OF FOR RIGHT NOW SO,


                                                             I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                                               TVI

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

SORRY, IT GOT AWAY FROM ME

HELLO TO ALL,

      TIME THAT IS, ALL OF A SUDDEN I REALIZED THAT I HADN'T PENNED A BLOG POST FOR A WHILE.

     I'VE BEEN BUSY TRYING TO GET CAUGHT UP AROUND THE FARM,(AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'M CALLING IT!). THE GARDEN DID FAIRLY WELL, THE PIG IS ALMOST READY HE'S ABOUT 200 LBS.I TALKED WITH THE GUY NEXT DOOR AND WE'RE GOING TO GET A FULL QUARTER OF BEEF FROM HIM   SO THE FREEZER WILL BE FULL.

     I FINALLY GOT CAUGHT UP ENOUGH TO START CUTTING WOOD. I'M STILL PRETTY FAR BEHIND BUT AT LEAST I GOT STARTED. HAD TO FIX THE LOG SPLITTER, IT HAD WATER IN IT SO I GOT IT ALL CLEANED UP AND RUNNING WELL. HAD A LEAK ON THE SUCTION HOSE, AND MY CO-OWNER REPAIRED THAT. THE SAW I BOUGHT ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO TOOK A CRAP AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW SAW. IT STILL RUNS BUT YOU HAVE TO RUN IT AT HIGH IDLE ALL THE TIME, NOT EXACTLY SAFE. I FIGURED IF I CAN GET ENOUGH WOOD CUT TO MAKE IT THROUGH WINTER, SOMETIME THIS WINTER OR NEXT SPRING I CAN PULL THE HEAD OFF AND SEE IF THE CYLINDER IS SCORED. THE REPAIRMAN SAID THE COMPRESSION IS LOW, LIKE THE MIX FOR THE GAS WAS WRONG AT SOME TIME.

     THE BARN FINALLY GOT PAINTED, ALONG WITH THE WOOD SHED AND MY WIFE'S HERB GARDEN FENCE.  THE PLACE IS LOOKING PRETTY SPIFFY NOW, ALTHOUGH THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE RESTAINED OR PAINTED. GOT SOMEONE LINED UP TO RESEAL AND PATCH THE DRIVEWAY AND THEN I SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE WINTER AS FAR AS HOUSE PROJECTS GO.

     I WAS TRYING TO PICK UP A LITTLE TAYLOR-DUNN YARD TRUCK BUT I DIDN'T GET IT. I WAS REALLY HOPING TO GET IT, PUT A DUMP BED ON IT, WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG HELP AROUND HERE, BUT I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING. I HAVE A 70'S CUSHMAN GOLF CART THAT MY WIFE JUST LOVES. IT'S ELECTRIC, ONE OF THOSE THREE WHEELED ONES. IT'S PAINTED CAMOUFLAGE RIGHT AT THE MOMENT, I'M HOPING TO FIX IT UP A LITTLE THIS WINTER. POUND OUT SOME DENTS, ADD SOME LIGHTS, TAKE OUT THE THREE 12 VOLT BATTERIES AND INSTALL SIX 6 VOLT BATTERIES. JUST PRETTY IT UP FOR HER A LITTLE BIT. THEN MAYBE WORK ON THE BIKE A LITTLE BIT.

     I'M HOPING TO PUT IN THE SLIDING DOOR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE HOUSE PROJECT WHEN WE BUILT THE PLACE, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE SHOP IS I CAN'T GET ANYTHING TOO BIG IN THERE. THE YOUNGEST SON IS GETTING READY TO DRIVE AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO START LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO FIX UP WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET IN THE SHOP AT SOME POINT. PLUS I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE GOLF CART IN THERE TOO.

     WELL I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ALL THE NEWS FROM HERE AT THE MOMENT. I'LL TRY TO KEEP UP THE POSTING BUT I NEVER KNOW FOR SURE.

                                                                  TALK TO YOU SOON,


                                                                  TVI

P.S. HERE IS A PICTURE OF A 1970 CHEVELLE FROM CRUISE NIGHT. MY BUDDY BIKER BOB HAD ONE OF THESE WHEN WE WERE KIDS. HOPE YOPU ENJOY IT BOB!! BELOW THAT IS A PICTURE OF A 1970 NOVA, LIKE THE ONE I OWNED AT THE SAME TIME.



    

Saturday, July 7, 2012

DAMN IT'S HOT!!!!!

HELLO TO ALL,

     MAN IT'S BEEN 100 PLUS DEGREES HERE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE RAIN ON THE WAY AND A COOL DOWN ALONG WITH IT, I SURE HOPE SO WE REALLY NEED THE RAIN.

     WELL I GOT UP THIS MORNING AND FIXED THE A/C ON MY PICK UP, WELL I CHARGED IT AND FOUND THE LEAK, TOOK THE TRUCK TO TOWN AND PICKED UP MY MOM'S CAR AND FIXED THE A/C ON IT TOO. DID A FEW OTHER ODDS AND ENDS AND THEN CALLED IT QUITS FOR THE DAY.

     THE TOWN IS HAVING IT'S ANNUAL CRUISE NIGHT TONIGHT AND THEN A FRIEND OF THE OLDEST BOY'S IS HAVING HIS ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY PARTY.  I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE LATE BUT IT'S USUALLY AROUND THE FOURTH.

     WELL, I GUESS THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I'LL TRY TO POST SOME PICTURES FROM CRUISE NIGHT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.


                                                                        TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                                                         TVI

Monday, July 2, 2012

WENT TO THE DRAG RACES

HELLO TO ALL,

     WENT TO THE RACES IN JOLIET SATURDAY WITH THE YOUNGEST SON. ALL THE BIG BOYS WERE THERE, FORCE,  BERNSTEIN, PEDRAGON, HIGHT, ANDERSON, BROWN. LOTS OF FAST CARS, HAD A BALL. HERE'S SOME VIDEO!!!
    

     ALSO,(FOR SHOP TEASCHER BOB) I SAW THIS LITTLE BOBBER AT A GAS STATION IN ILLINOIS LAST WEEK. IT'S A 650 SUZUKI SINGLE LUNGER! JUST THOUGHT IT WAS KINDA COOL!!!

      WELL, THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.
           



                                                         TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                                         TVI

Saturday, May 26, 2012

CUZZIN JOHNNY

HELLO TO ALL,

       IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A ROUGH MONTH HERE. THIS PAST SATURDAY MORNING MY COUSIN JOHNNY LOST HIS FIGHT WITH CANCER. IT WAS A TERRIFYINGLY SHORT FIGHT, JUST ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
\
     JOHNNY WAS JUST A FEW WEEKS YOUNGER THAN ME, SO WE KIND OF GREW UP TOGETHER. AS KIDS WE SPENT ALOT OF TIME DOING KID THINGS, YA KNOW BASKETBALL, SHOOTIN' GUNS, HANGIN' OUT AT HIS PARENTS FARM, ETC.. AS TEENAGERS WE CHASED GIRLS, PARTIED TOGETHER, GOT IN A LITTLE TROUBLE, NOTHING BIG, RODE MOTORCYCLES TOGETHER, PARTIED A LITTLE MORE, SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.

      WHEN JOHNNY GOT MARRIED AND WENT INTO THE SERVICE WE KIND OF DRIFTED APART. HE CAME BACK FROM THE SERVICE AND MOVED TO SOUTHERN INDIANA, I HAD GOTTEN MARRIED AND LIVED IN THE TOWN HE GREW UP IN. HE BECAME AN EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE, WROTE A BLOG WHERE HE COULD VENT ON POLITICS AND THE LIKE, AND STARTED GARDENING ETC.. WHEN I STARTED GARDENING AT THE NEW PLACE OUR PATHS KIND OF CROSSED AGAIN. WE'VE BEEN WRITING AND TALKING BACK AND FORTH FOR THE LAST FEW  YEARS AND WE WERE LIKE OLD FRIENDS AGAIN.

     I'M NOT A "ORGANIZED RELIGION" KIND OF GUY, BUT I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT EVERY TIME I THINK OF OLD"GRUMPY UNK" HE'LL BE AROUND WHERE I CAN TALK TO HIM, LEAN ON HIM IF I HAVE TO, AND JUST BE THERE FOR ME. MEMORIES ARE WHAT KEEP OUR DEPARTED FRIENDS NEAR, THEY'RE JUST A THOUGHT AWAY. I THINK OF MY DAD OFTEN AND WHEN I DO I KNOW HE'S LOOKIN' OVER MY SHOULDER THINKING" JUST KEEP YOUR ENDGATE UP KIDDO", A FAVORITE SAYING OF HIS.

     A FRIEND OF JOHNNY'S AND MINE DIED A FEW YEARS AGO, AND ON MY WAY DOWN TO SEE JOHNNY ON SATURDAY I WAS THINKING OF TH0SE TWO KNUCKLEHEADS RIDING MOTORCYCLES ON ALL THE BEST ROADS THERE ARE TO RIDE ON, AND I WAS A LITTLE JEALOUS. SWEEPING INTO SOME BIG TURNS INTO THE MOUNTAINS, SOME LONG STRETCHES OF STRAIGHT ROADS IN THE DESERTS, OR ALONG THE COAST HIGHWAY IN CALIFORNIA. MAN THEY GET TO RIDE THEM ALL.

     I'M GOING TO MISS JOHNNY, FOR ALL THE REASONS YOU MISS SOMEBODY WHEN THEY PASS, BUT I'M GOING TO MISS HIM MOST BECAUSE HE WAS MY FRIEND.

     YOU AND STEVE SAVE SOME RIDES FOR ME, AND YOUR BROTHER, AND SURLY, AND  "KEEP YOUR END GATE UP".  LOVE YA JOHNNY!

                                                                   TALK TO YOU ALL SOON,

                                                                                          TVI

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

I'VE BEEN THINKING AGAIN.....

HELLO TO ALL,

      FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS OR SO, THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND MEDICAL ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN FLOATING AROUND IN MY HEAD. OR AT LEAST THOUGHTS ON THESE SUBJECTS HAVE BEEN.

     I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND LIKE A CONSPIRACY THEORIST OR THE LIKE BUT, I BELIEVE THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE ROOTED IN THE DEATH OF THE SMALL FARM. WHEN PEOPLE STARTED MOVING AWAY FROM THE FARM AND INTO CITIES AND TOWNS THE FOOD SUPPLY BECAME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FOOD GROWING CORPORATIONS. WHILE I CAN UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO SUPPLY AN EVER INCREASING POPULATION, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO GROW IT FASTER AND CHEAPER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO POISON US WITH GROWTH HORMONES AND LAYER UPON LAYER OF ANTIBIOTICS. IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS THE HEALTH COMMUNITY IS CONSTANTLY TELLING US THAT ANTIBIOTICS ARE NOT WORKING ANYMORE. I BELIEVE THAT IS BECAUSE, AT LEAST IN PART,  DUE TO THE INCREASES OF THEM IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY. I'M NOT SURE THAT THE FOOD INDUSTRY EVEN KNOWS WHAT GROWTH HORMONES IN THE FOOD WE EAT CAN DUE TO US OVER A GENERATION OR TWO.

     THINGS LIKE GMO'S AND THE LIKE HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH JUST YET TO REAR THEIR UGLY HEADS IN SOME TYPE OF ILLNESSES, BUT THE DAY WILL SURELY COME WHEN THEY DO. I JUST READ AN ARTICLE ON AUTISM AND IT'S STRIKING INCREASE IN JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS. SOME WELL KNOWN DOCTORS ARE STARTING TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER AND DISCOVERING THAT NOT ONLY COULD IT BE THE VACCINES THEY'RE GIVING OUR CHILDREN BUT THE FOOD SUPPLY COULD BE ADDING TO THE DISEASE. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW DOCTORS AND RESEARCHERS WHO ARE STARTING TO COME UP WITH WELL DOCUMENTED RESEARCH THAT  THE FOOD WE ARE INGESTING COULD INDEED BE KILLING US.

     I'VE THOUGHT FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT THE ROUNDUP AND THE FERTILIZERS THAT THE BIG FARMERS ARE USING ON THEIR CROPS IS CAUSING US GRIEF, BUT ADD IN GENETIC ENGINEERING AND THE PROCESSING THAT GOES ON IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE, AND YOU CAN START TO SEE WHAT I'M SAYING. THE MORE I READ AND LISTEN TO THESE ISSUES THE MORE SCARED I BECOME FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDRENS' CHILDREN. I'M TRYING TO GROW MORE AND MORE FOOD AT MY HOUSE. WE'RE TRYING SOME PIGS THAT WE HOPE TO RAISE ORGANICALLY, AND THE GARDEN IS GOING TO GET BIGGER THIS YEAR. MY HOPE IS TO RAISE ALMOST EVERYTING WE EAT AT OUR HOUSE. AT LEAST WE'LL KNOW WHATS IN IT.

     THE GUY NEXT DOOR TO ME RAISES GRASS FED BEEF, NO GROWTH HORMONES, NO ANTIBIOTICS. WE BOUGHT MEAT FROM HIM FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND I THINK IT TASTES BETTER ON TOP OF IT'S HEALTHIER. HE'S GOING TO GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, SO I'M HOPING TO PICK UP A COUPLE OF HIS CALVES THIS FALL. WE'RE NOT LARGE MEAT EATERS, BUT WE DO INCLUDE SOME IN OUR DIET. MY WIFE HAS BEEN EATING MOSTLY VEGAN FOR A FEW YEARS AND I JUST CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO GO THAT WAY COMPLETELY, BUT I'M MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

     MY LITTLE BOUT WITH THE INFECTION LAST FALL AND WINTER HAD ME LOOKING AT OPTIONS THAT I NORMALLY WOULD NOT HAVE INVESTIGATED. THE FOOD WE EAT WAS HIGH OIN THE LIST OF THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN GIVING ME THE PROBLEM, AND WHILE I'VE RESORTED BACK TO MY OLD WAYS THERE ARE SOME THINGS I'VE MANAGED TO STAY AWAY FROM.

     THERE ARE SO MANY ARTICLES AND GOOD BOOKS TO READ ON THIS SUBJECT THAT I WOULD RECCOMEND YOU DO SOME OF YOUR OWN INVESTIGATING. YOU COULD START WITH THE DOCUMENTART "FOOD, INC.". IT'S QUITE DISTURBING, BUT VERY INTERESTING.

     WELL THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THE GARDEN GROWS AND THE PIGS DO. THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT!


                                               TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                            TVI

    

Friday, March 30, 2012

LOT'S GOING ON

HELLO TO ALL,
.
     SINCE MY LAST POST ALOT HAS BEEN GOING ON. FIRST AND FOREMOST WE HAD A HUGE RACCON IN THE BARN THAT'S BEEN EATING THE BARN CAT'S FOOD. I GOT A LIVE TRAP TO PUT OUT THERE BUT I DIDN'T GET TO IT BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW NOT TO CATCH A CAT IN IT. WELL, MY WIFE CALLED ME AT WORK AND SAID IT WAS DEAD UP IN THE RAFTERS OF THE BARN. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK I HAD TO PUSH THE THING OUT OF THE RAFTERS WITH A LONG POLE AND WHEN IT HIT THE GROUND IT FELT LIKE A WRECKING BALL HITTING THE GROUND! THIS THING WAS HUGE. IT WAS 32" FROM NOSE TO THE TIP OF THE TAIL, AND WEIGHED IN AT 35 POUNDS.I THINK IT WAS SO BIG IT FELL OFF BETWEEN THE RAFTERS AND SUFFOCATED ITSELF. OH WELL, ONE LESS VARMINT TO EAT THE CATS' FOOD.

     WE TOOK DREW TO THE BAND CONTEST FOR STATE AND THEY GOT A SILVER MEDAL. THEN THE NEXT WEEKEND I CHAPERONED THE SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM AT STATE IN BLOOMINGTON. THEY DIDN'T DO TOO HOT, BUT THEY HAD A BLAST. WHEN WE GOT OFF THE BUS THE TORNADO SIREN WAS GOING OFF SO WE HAD TO SPEND THE FIRST HOUR AT THE HOTEL IN THE STAIRWELL. A LITTLE EXCITING CONSIDERING THE DEVASTATION THAT WENT ON IN SOUTHERN INDIANA A FEW WEEKS AGO.

     AFTER THE SCIENCE OLYMPIAD DREW AND I WENT TO INDY AND SPENT PART OF THE DAY AT EITELJORG MUSEUM. THEY HAD AN EXHIBIT OF OLD MOTORCYCLES CALEED " STEEL PONIES". ALOT OF GREAT OLD BIKES AND SOME GREAT CUSTOMS WITH INDIAN THEMES. THEN WE WENT TO SEE "THE HUNGER GAMES". I HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS BUT THE MOVIE WAS PRETTY GOOD.

     BEFORE WE DROVE UP TO INDY I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE MY COUSIN WHO HAS CANCER. WE HAD A GREAT VISIT, I'M NOT SURE HE REMEMBERS ALL OF IT, HE WAS PRETTY DOPED UP BUT HIS WIFE AND 2 OF HIS KIDS WERE THERE SO WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION. I'M GOING TO GO DOWN TO SPEND A DAY OR SO WITH HIM IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS, HE JUST STARTED CHEMO THIS PAST WEDNESDAY.

     WELL, I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.

                                                                 TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                                                     TVI


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

SPRAYING TO ALL FIELDS

http://crazyuncle.blogspot.com/HELLO TO ALL,

     WELL, I'M FEELING MUCH BETTER AFTER MY LITTLE BOUT WITH THE INFECTION. PROBABLY ABOUT NINETY PERCENT RECOVERED. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK AROUND HERE A LITTLE BIT MORE EVERYDAY.

     MY MIDDLE SON CAME UP FROM NASHVILLE AND STAYED ABOUT A WEEK OR SO, AND FINISHED ALL THE TRIM UP UPSTAIRS. WE JUST NEED TO FINISH PAINTING IT AND THAT JOB IS COMPLETE. NOT BAD FOR LIVING HERE 10 YEARS OR SO, LOL. HE MADE UP A COUPLE OF THE CLOSET DOORS BEFORE HE LEFT AND THE WIFE GOT THEM PAINTED. I HUNG THEM AND PUT ON THE HARDWARE AND CATCHES IN THOSE TWO ROOMS. I HAVE TWO MORE DOORS TO MAKE AND THEN I THINK THE UPSTAIRS IS FINISHED.

     WE'RE GOING TO DO PIGS FOR 4H THIS YEAR, SO THE YOUNGEST SON AND I ARE GOING TO BUILD THE PEN THIS WEEKEND AND START ON SOME KIND OF LEAN TO TO HOUSE THEM. SEVERAL OF OUR FRIENDS DO PIGS SO WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE TO GLEAN FROM THEM IN THE PROCESS.

     ONE OF THEBLOGS I READ REGULARLY IS FROM ONE OF MY COUSINS,http://crazyuncle.blogspot.com/. WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE AND HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COLON CANCER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. HE'S ALREADY HAD THE SURGERY AND IS HOME, HE'LL START CHEMO IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. I'M HOPING TO GO SEE HIM IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS OR SO, JUST A CHEER UP VISIT. HE STARTED ANOTHER BLOG TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE'S GOING THROUGH, http://notwhatiwantedtohear.wordpress.com/ SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED CHECK IT OUT. HE'S AN EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE SO HE HAS SOME MEDICAL EXPERIENCE.

      MY WIFE AND I WENT TO A CIVIL WAR BALL A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, GOT DRESSED UP IN PERIOD CLOTHING AND DANCED TO PERIOD MUSIC AND WE HAD A BLAST. WE'VE DONE THIS A FEW TIMES BUT HAVEN'T FOR A FEW YEARS.

     WHILE I WAS HAVING MY PROBLEMS MY SONS CUT MY FIREWOOD FOR ME FOR THE WINTER AND I JUST RAN OUT. SO I BOUGHT A CORD OF WOOD FROM ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS AND I HOPE THE WEATHER WILL COOPERATE AND IT WILL BE ALL I NEED.

     WELL I THINK I'VE COVERED IT ALL.

                                     TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                    TVI

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I'VE BEEN THINKING........

HELLO TO ALL,

     I'VE BEEN THINKING LATELY(DO YOU SMELL SOMETHING BURNING?), ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE BEHAVE. PEOPLE ACT AS IF THEY ARE ENTITLED TO ACT LIKE IDIOTS.

     I THOUGHT MAYBE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE WORD "ENTITLEMENT", SO I LOOKED IT UP. THE DICTIONARY SAYS,"RIGHTS GRANTED BY LAW OR CONTRACT". HHHMMMM, SO AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY PASSED A LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN BE A LAZY PIECE OF SHIT AND I AS A WORKING MAN AM SUPPOSED TO PAY YOU TO DO THAT? OR THAT YOU CAN DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT BREAK NECK SPEEEDS, TEXTING OR TALKING ON YOUR CELL PHONE, AND THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO FLASH YOUR LIGHTS AT ME AND TELL ME TO GET OUT OF YOUR WAY AND THEN GIVE ME THE FINGER JUST BECAUSE I WASN'T FAST ENOUGH? OR HOW ABOUT JUST BEING PLAIN RUDE TO EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER ON THIS PLANET, DID I MISS THE LAW THAT SAYS IT'S O K TO ACT LIKE THIS?

     NOW, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A RANT ABOUT THE YOUNGER GENERATION,ALTHOUGH THEY DO SEEM TO HAVE MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

     I GREW UP IN THE LATE 50'S AND 60'S, AND MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME TO RESPECT NOT ONLY MY ELDERS BUT EVERYONE. MOST PEOPLE I ENCOUNTER ON A DAILY BASIS BELIEVE THEY ARE ENTITLED NOT TO HAVE TO RESPECT ANYONE, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANYTHING.

     I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS, BUT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KILL EACH OTHER OVER A PARKING SPACE, DOES IT? JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DROP F-BOMBS IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT, DOES IT? IT ISN'T WRITTEN DOWN AS A LAW OR A CONTRACT THAT WE TRY TO TREAT EACH OTHER DECENTLY, BUT DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULDN'T?

     THIS WILL PROBABLY PISS OFF THE MOTORCYLE RIDERS, BUT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO? HAVE YOU SEEN THESE OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE? THEY WILL RUN OUR DUMB ASSES OVER AND THEN TELL THE POLICEMEN THAT THEY DIDN'T SEE US BECAUSE THEY WERE TEXTING!

     WE ARE IN A VERY TOUCHY PERIOD IN SOCIETY AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM THE WAY IT IS, AND WITH PEOPLE THE WAY THEY ARE ACTING, WE SEEMED TO BE QUITE SCREWED. I TRULY FEEL SORRY FOR OUR CHILDREN, I'M TRYING TO RAISE OUR YOUNGEST SON TO HAVE RESPECT FOR EVERYTHING, HE MIGHT NOT BE LISTENING, BUT I AM TRYING.

     I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO USE MY HEAD FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN A HAT RACK, AND I'M GOING TO KEEP MY HEART INVOLVED AS WELL. IT'S JUST US, ALL I CAN ASK IS FOR US TO DO OUR BEST. WHEN YOU SEE ONE OF THESE KNUCKLEHEADS ACTING THE ASS, WHEN YOU STEP UP AFTER HIM OR HER, JUST DON'T BE A KNUCLEHEAD TOO. STEPPING IN OR UP TO THE PLATE MIGHT JUST GET YOU SHOT. BUT, AFTER IT'S OVER YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD TO THE MAYHEM.

                                                       THANKS FOR LISTENING,

                                                                 TVI


    

FINALLY FEELIN' BETTER

HELLO TO ALL,

     WHEN I POSTED LAST I WAS JUST STARTING A LONG STRANGE HEALTH ISSUE. I APPARENTLY GOT A BLOOD INFECTION. OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND I WAS WORKING ON THE WOOD SHED AND CUT MY LEG ON AN OLD SHEET OF GALVINIZED SHEETING I WAS PUTTING ON THE ROOF. A WEEK OR SO LATER, MY HANDS AND WRISTS WERE SO SWOLLEN I COULD HARDLY WORK, AND THEN IT WENT INTO MY LEGS. WELL, AFTER A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT DOCTORS AND SOME TESTS, I THINK THEY FINALLY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO MAKING ME FEEL BETTER.

     MY WIFE AND ARE NOT NOT "DOCTOR" PEOPLE. WE'RE MORE VITAMIN, HOMEOPATHIC PEOPLE. I WENT TO THE WITCH DOCTOR FIRST AND HE DIDN'T REALLY HELP THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THEN I WENT TO A "REAL" DOCTOR. HE DID X-RAYS AND BLOOD WORK. I WAITED MORE THAN A MONTH FOR THE SECOND VISIT AND HE SAYS "WELL YOU HAVE ARTHRITS AND YOU'RE OUT OF SHAPE TO DO YOUR JOB." AFTER THAT CONVERSATION I WENT BACK TO THE WITCH DOCTOR. SHOWED HIM THE BLOOD WORK AND X-RAYS, TOLD HIM ABOUT THE CUT ON MY LEG AND LET HIM HAVE AT IT, AND HE SEEMED MORE INTERESTED THE SECOND TIME AROUND.

     I'M STILL NOT FULLY RECOVERED, BUT I DO FEEL SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER. I AM FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO WORKING BACK AT THE HOUSE AGAIN,(INSTEAD OF COMING HOME AND SOAKING IN THE TUB AND GOING TO SLEEP AT 6 O'CLOCK!). MY TWO OLDER SONS, MY YOUNGEST SON AND MY WIFE HAVE STEPPED UP BIG TIME THROUGH ALL THIS. THEY CUT THE FIREWOOD, KEPT THE HOUSE RUNNING, ETC. ETC. ETC.. I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE BLESSED THROUGH ALL OF THIS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN, BOYS AND WIFE, I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN, AND THIS CLEARLY SHOWED ME THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN NEARLY PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THE SMALL THINGS WITH THESE RELATIONSHIPS.

    ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE DONE AT HOME IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WAS TO BUILD A NEW BED FOR MY YOUNGEST SON. IT'S BUILT OUT OF OLD WOODEN DOORS. I HAD A PLETHORA OF WOODEN 4 PANEL DOORS THAT WE HAD COLLECTED FOR THE HOUSE. MY WIFE FOUND A FEW PICTURES IN SOME MAGAZINES AND SHOWED THEM TO ME, AND WE BUILT HIM A NEW BED. I'LL POSTS SOME PICTURES AND THEN A COUPLE MORE WHEN IT'S ALL PAINTED. IT'S ROCK SOLID AND LOOKS PRETTY COOL TOO!

     I'M HOPING TO START DOING TRIM IN THE BOY'S BEDROOM THIS WEEKEND. WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HAVING THE MIDDLE SON COME UP FOR A WEEK OR SO AND HELP WITH THE TRIM. I HAVE A WALL TO PUT UP TO FRAME IN A CLOSET IN OUR SPARE ROOM, AND THIS SHOULD TAKE ME TO SPRING. THE OUTSIDE WORK THIS YEAR IS PAINTING THE HOUSE. OH, AND CUTTING FIRE WOOD. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING SOME ANIMALS, AND IF WE DO I'LL HAVE TO REPAIR AND PUT UP SOME NEW FENCES. I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE GARDEN JUST A LITTLE BIT BIGGER, I'D LIKE TO ADD SOME HERBS(NO NOT THAT KIND! LOL).

     WELL, I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW. NO PROGRESS ON THE BIKE, I PICKED UP A COUPLE OF PARTS OFF EBAY, BUT THAT'S IT.

                                                                     TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                                                   TVI