Take the Long Way Home

It had been a couple of years since i'd been home. My last trip was, demoralizing, wrathful, and emotionally draining. So much so, it prompted me to swear to never again return to the place of my youth. So when a class reunion came up, it took quite a bit of coaxing to get me to throw in with my old friends. Though i had made room reservations back in January and had a car reserved, it wasn't until i found out that my Aunt and Uncle were going to be there that i knew i was really going to throw my arse in the car. I made one promise to myself for this trip and that was i'd only hang around people that made me, Happy!!!

I threw the family in the Rent-a-Wreck and headed out. I was so determined to make sure we

all had a good time that i insisted we take a little detour along the way.

Welcome to Happy, Texas. This simple divergence really set me off on the right foot. I know it seems silly, but this made me really happy. While we were there, a man out for a morning walk asked if we needed help. I told him that we were fine and just wanted to get this picture and he smiled. He took a few steps and turned back to me and said, "Welcome to Happy." I thought, Indeed.

We got to Alpine, running late as usual, and Donner got her nails done (Busy week before we left and fortunate enough to know people down home willing to stay late on Friday (Thank You Fred!!!)). We got checked into the hotel with just enough time to shower and get the boys pizza before the first night's activities.

I was completely taken aback by just how beautiful everyone was. All of these kids i had known had grown up. Suddenly, i began to feel old. It was a great night. I got to see Lavender Chick, Painted Groove Girl, Aura Mae, Kara and a litany of others that i hadn't seen in years. As an added bonus i got to visit with JENNIFER!!!!!!!!!!!! Who had some right interesting questions about Donner's benefits package. LOLOL

Here, i grabbed a photo-op with The Lavender Chick herself. She's just as charming and warm as she was when we first met. I guess i should have tried to hold her hand on that field trip in fifth grade. Alas, she's my friend and that's way better. Now, y'all go buy her Lotion cause it's just as perfect as she is and the Body Wash is something you can't live without!!!

Even my sister was a blast to hang out

with. Fun as it was, i still had a shopping list of things to accomplish in a weekend.

One of those items was to have a visit with my Aunt and Uncle. We moved

away from each other before Donner

and i got married. Therefore You might as well classify it as a moral imperrative. More on that later.

Finally, i would be remiss if i didn't give credit where credit is due, i managed to get a picture of the whole family together. Courtesy of Aura Mae, Celebrated Hair Magician, Talented Foodie, and yes it seems to be, Photographer too. It's pretty easy to carry a camera and get shots of people and events, but the hard thing to do is to get yourself in them. So, Thank You Aura Mae, you're wonderful and i appreciate you for doing this.

For most of the night, i let the guys run free with the camera, telling them only this: Don't drop it and get a picture of everyone, especially the couples. They did a pretty good job. Thank You guys. I know they probably don't get it, but by them taking pics it left me to spend more time enjoying the moment. I am surprised at just how friendly and fun it was. I wish i had gotten the chance to visit with Painted Groove Girl more and a few others, but if there is a next one, i certainly won't get so worked up about it.

One last thing, my favorite part had to be... Well some things are better left unsaid.

Until i address you again, Peace be with you, Dave

P.S. I am working to put my tortilla recipe. It's been crazy here, but when i do i certainly hope you get from it something you can use.

Potpourri for 100 Alex and a Reunion Too

In case you haven't noticed, i haven't journaled in quite a while, even for me. I've been pretty busy lately, what with the end of the school year, my container garden, and my beloved sewing machine. Then again, i guess the largest detractor from journaling are my wonderful boys on summer vacation.

Well, i found a few minutes and thought i would catch everyone up on the goings on here in the middle of nowhere.

The school year ended and the boys are moving on to their Sophomore and Junior years. The older one turned sixteen the other day and it made me a bit sad. I am going to make a terrible empty nester!!!

As for my container garden, this has been a tough year. I ended up with an infestation of Spider Mites, Leaf Miners, and Flea Beetles (I always want to spell it Beatles). I tried all of the Organic ways to rid them, but finally aquiesced and bought some Neem Oil and i'm just waiting on the Tomatos to rebound. The peppers and other veggies are blooming and growing again like i would expect them to. So far i have gotten a dozen tomatos, a couple dozen peppers, and one bhut jalokia. I haven't tried that pepper yet, but i'll let you know what happens when i do. I guess it wouldn't be fair if i didn't show you a picture of my little container garden. So, here it is.

As for the sewing part, it's that time of year when i traditionally make Donner something summery. I sure hope that's a real word, if it isn't it is now. This year is no different. I've made a few blouses and a couple pair of pants. Next up is a dress or two.

Finally, there is a class reunion over the 4th of July weekend. I come from small town America. So small in fact the reunion covers everyone that graduated during the 1980's. Now, a little tidbit, i didn't graduate from there or anywhere. I earned my GED in the Army, but we were all such a part of each other's formative years that nobody really cares. It's more about getting the people together to celebrate that part of our collective lives than who did what. I have to admit i'm a little apprehensive about going as there are only a dozen or so people i want to see, but i'll put on my brave face and go. Those few people i want to see are worth enduring the presence of those i'd rather not. The sad thing is, i'm related to a number of those i don't. Then again i learned there is a silver lining to this. I have a set of relatives, that i really enjoy, that will be there as well. I haven't seen them in something like fifteen years or so and that is just too long.

I will go to bed tonight with a guarded sense of excitement for the 4th of July weekend.

On a personal note Painted Groove Girl and Lavender Chick, I certainly hope we all find time to sit down, split a beer, and talk a little treason.

Until I write again, as always, Peace be with You, Dave

Smells like Summer

For as long as i can remember, I have been one of those people that, according to Kant, experiences transcendental episodes created in response to olfactory stimuli. In short, there are certain smells that take me to a place and/or time. Many times it's as though i am living it for the first time.

I would guess the first smell i really remember having these trance-like episodes over was, of all things, a hairspray. It was either Aqua Net or Final Net. I remember it came in a blue can with this kind of net pattern on it. I had a girlfriend that used it and to this day, i still have fond feelings associated with it. Then there is the weird. I absolutely love the smell of skunk. Now, not a heavy smell of skunk, just a light whiff of skunk in the distance. To me it is a peaceful and calming thing.

There are those smells that are straight forward and just stand for something, like; baking bread, babies, a clean bathroom, and leather. Which brings me to my favorite smell of all. I completely love the smell of a woman first thing in the morning. I'm not talking about that whole kitten breath thing. I mean it's not like i've been eating tic tacs all night myself. I'm talking about the smell on her. That warm, maternal, lovely homey smell she has right before she wakes to start her day. The scent of a woman could be a whole post all by itself and yet i doubt i'd deliver justice on the subject. It seems as though i have wandered pretty far from the path, but what can i say, it's just one of those things.

The other day i was at the store, in the produce section, and evidently my smell thing caught up with me. I was standing there with a lug of Village Farms tomatoes smelling them. I was frantically searching for a hint of that earthy smell home grown tomatoes have. While i was smelling them, the woman next to me said, "it's not there." I looked at her and smiled and said, "What's not there?" She said, "That tomato smell you're looking for."

I didn't know anyone was aware of what i was doing, but i had been smelling all of the produce before putting it in my buggy. The funny thing is, she was right. I was looking for that tomato smell.

That dirty, earthy, almost evergreen smell that homegrown tomatoes have just screams summer to me. It takes me back to when i was a kid and my grandmother would have this immense garden filled with all kinds of vegetables and i hadn't yet learned that produce without blemishes or natural odor even existed.

For about the last ten years, or so, i have been container gardening on our patio. This year is no different save the location change which got me started later than i normally would. I have two varieties of tomato, jalapenos, cayenne peppers, some orphaned strawberry plants my mother-in-law gave me, a few garlic, a bed of salad greens and one of carrots and radishes. I may add some green onions to that, but essentially that's it. It's a typical offering from me, but it's the first time in a few years i have planted all of it.

I was admiring my plants yesterday when i came across that familiar tomato smell that i've been longing for. I'm happy to report it smells like summer at my grandmother's.

There is one more plant i am growing this year. It's the Ghost Chili or Bhut Jalokia. It's supposed to be one hot mother. If a Jalapeno is 4-6 thousand Scoville units in heat, i can't imagine what 1.1 million Scovilles is going to be like from this monster. I am planning on drying them out and using them to augment the lack of heat winter jalapenos have i use in our salsa here at the house in the latter months. I'll let you know if i can still taste anything after i try one. In the meantime, it's an attractive plant and doesn't really look like a pepper plant. The leaves aren't shaped right. That is the plant i am holding in the picture above. (The first picture is of one of my tomato plants) Oh, and that piece of glass you see behind me is the top of my solar water distiller. I'm getting a couple cups a day, not quite a quart yet. I'm still tweaking it.

So, there you have it. A somewhat intimate look into one of the things that drives the person i am.

Until i find you again, Peace be with you.

Dave

Truculent with a subtle touch of recalcitrance

Today i add another ring around the oak that is my life. My leaves are tattered, my trunk is sturdy, and i don't bend like i once did, but i hope the shade i cast is comforting to my family and friends.

I saw some of those friends this past weekend in Dallas. Those few hours reaffirmed just how precious those people are. I am thankful for being entwined such that we are and I love you. I haven't the ability to articulate it any better than that. Rest assured there will always be a branch to hang a swing on.

And in response to the general state of things, i will indeed take a few minutes for myself today. I Promise.

Again, I thank all of you for the enrichment you have brought into my world.

Till we talk again, Peace be with you,

Dave

Lucha-dedos??? What the hell is that??

Well as you can see by the picture, we have taken thumb wrestling to a whole new dimension. It's funny. The other day i was making my yearly run into Albertson's (yearly, that's a joke) when i saw the stack of gumball machines. Well, to make a long story short, one of them had these luchadores masks in them for thumb wrestling and instantly i knew i had to have a couple because the boys would freak out. Naturally, i was correct and for the next couple of weeks we played with them almost daily. I'd say that's not a bad return on a dollar. Then again how do you put a price on the laughter of children and their contentment.

I am happy to report Track and Field season is over. Yee Haw!!! No more late night trips to the school to get him after meets. Oh Wait, There is Spring Football. The big one is playing Middle Linebacker and Full Back; while the little one is a Defensive End and a Tight End. This is of course for those of you who have a passion for the game. As for me, i go because my kids play.

We had a few unwelcome guests in the house the past few days. I was telling the "Mad Scientist", that's the little one, about the first one and all he could do was ask questions. Was there a fiddle on the cephalothorax and how big were the petapulps?? I told him, all i knew was that it was a brownish spider. He asked me to take a picture if another showed up. Sure i said. After all, i smashed the first one. The next day, sure as thunder, i found a second one, but my picture taking and its longevity didn't have a harmonious climax. However, around seven that evening, i took several shots of this creature pictured at left. I then blew it up on my computer and got an hour long lesson on what cephalothorax and petapulps are. Oh Yeah, and this is a Brown Recluse or Fiddleback spider. The good news is they aren't aggressive and tend not to bite unless they feel threatened, but if they do bite the results can be severe. If you are curious, do a google image for fiddleback spider bite and you'll see what i mean. As for me, i'm just waiting on the bug guy.

We are going to DFW this weekend. I have got to get me some good Chinese food and some sewing needles. Then again, there are quite a number of people i'd like to visit with. It's going to be a short weekend, but i don't believe there is any other kind.

Lastly, the western half of my beloved state has seen a rash of range fires in the last couple of weeks. The pictures and first hand accounts are heart wrenching. I know all too well the devastation range fires can wage on property, livestock, and the people involved by them. My thoughts and prayers are with these people as i will forever be a part of them and they of me. It's little consolation, at this point, but range fires are a part of natures renewal process. I pray the grasses green up quickly.

I lied, lastly, my new phone is supposed to be able to blog to blogger. I'm going to try it out on the trip this weekend. So, if you stop by and find something unusually unintelligible, chalk it up to that.

Until i speak with y'all again, May Peace be with You,

Dave

My OGGI Cup Broke.

This is an Oggi Cup, in case you didn't already know. It's just like mine, though mine was GREEN!!! Seriously, what other color would it be for me. You see Donner's car has been running poorly and i thought i'd take matters into my own hands and see if i couldn't do something about it. Afterall, i have a pair of teenage boys that need some practical experience with car maintenance. In the process of this my cup fell off and broke. I know, it's just a cup, but it made me really kinda sad. I can't really explain why, but it really hurt my feelings.

I suppose my reaction to the cup could be, in part, just one more of the things that have been weighing on me since we moved to Amarillo. I mean, my sleep is down, my pain index is up, and my disinterest in my daily life is at an all time low. I've spent days considering why all of these things are as they are and what i need to do to lift myself back into the light. I just don't know. I believe i'm stuck in a trough of depression and i'll be as i am until some triggering event comes along that snaps me out of it. I hate feeling lost, out of control, and lonely. I know it's going to take some time for me to establish a life here, but i'm just not sure i really want to. Don't get me wrong, i am thrilled for Donner and her job, and i know that it is a stepping stone to what she wants to do and all that, but i'm just trying to find my place here, all the while being supportive and fulfilling my role. I'm sure that i'll be fine in a couple weeks and that eventually my place here will be revealed. Until then, i need to be patient and soldier on.

I did find me a cup similar to an Oggi cup at the World Market that is all green. The lid doesn't fit quite the same but i guess it's good enough. Someone once told me to find something good or interesting everyday. Well, while at the World Market i also found that they make candy bars with dark chocolate and bacon. Yes, you heard that right, bacon.

What an odd pairing, but that only reaffirms my belief that there is something for everyone.

Until i write again, Peace be with you,

Dave

So, I Got Cold Feet.

You know i've never been, what a lot of people would refer to as, cold natured. I have often credited the longevity of my marriage, due to Donner being a "cover hog". The truth be told, if i lived alone, about all you'd find on my bed would be a bottom sheet and a quilt for me to sleep against. There would probably be an inordinate number of pillows as well. So, i find it odd my feet should be cold most of the time since the move to Amarillo.

I would be remiss if i didn't lay it right out that i just don't like shoes. The first thing i lose when i walk in the door are my shoes and i only put them on when i need to. As far as house shoes go, i've found them to be less than ideal. For instance, they make my feet sweat. Sweaty feet + time = smelly shoes. Smelly shoes just don't work for me. I have two teenage boys and i just don't abide smelly anything, least of all; shoes. However, i did need something for my cold feet.

I remember when i was serving in the Army, i wore chanklas (flip-flops) or moccasins in the barracks. So, i thought i'd go to the Tandy store and by me a moccasin kit. Easy Peasy, no more coldy feetsy. Much to my dismay, a moccasin kit from Tandy is about fifty dollars here in Amarillo. That annoyed me greatly. I had something in the twenty dollar range in mind. Well, i have a whole bunch of leather here around the house and the pattern for moccasins was ten bucks. The solution was clear. I bought the pattern and enlarged it and did all of the work myself. You know, kind of a skip the middle man type of thing.

Well in true Truculent style, a plain pair of black moccasins just wasn't good enough.
I put my brain to work and thought i'd make the cuff and the toe out of patent leather and add a couple tassels just for grins. That plan was all fine and good until i noticed Tandy had small stingray skins on sale for twenty bucks. So, my next idea, and probably my favorite, was to make them with patent leather cuffs and just the black beaded part of the stingray. Well, when i got the skins home, it became painfully evident i didn't have enough skin to make them that way. As they say, the eyes have it. So, what you see in the picture is what i came up with. stingray toes, patent leather cuffs and tassels and 4-6oz black bull hide for the shoe itself. I still wasn't done. I didn't like the way white insoles looked in them. I thought they needed some sprucing up as well, so i used this muted green paisley and some anti-microbial foam for insoles. What i ended up with is definitely a one of a kind pair of mocs.

Just in case you haven't been keeping score, i still ended up paying about fifty bucks for my house shoes. On the bright side though, they are uniquely mine.

As an aside to my house shoe shenanigans, This has been a long week filled with reflection and prayer. This post is for Gus, Lupe, Johnny, and Trey.

Until i see you again, Peace be with you

Dave