Deck the Halls...

Remember all the really nice days right before Thanksgiving, and the mid-50s on the Friday after Thanksgiving?  Well, a smart person would have thought that was the ideal time to put up outdoor Christmas decorations.  And then there's me -- I thought it would be ideal for that one last round of golf for the year.  Oh, I didn't skip the decorations this year, I just waited until the temps got down to the upper 30s and low 40s.  Nothing like a good 15 mph wind and a 35 degree afternoon to inspire a procrastinator like me.  Just something about hitting your fingers and thumb with the hammer when you're putting up garland.  And top that off with a cold, runny nose -- man it just doesn't get any better than that!!!

So anyhow, here are the pictures of our efforts.  I think they turned out pretty nice.  Here is a picture of the front of the house.

You may recall that we put a pergola on the back of the house this fall.  Well, I thought it needed some decorating so I went out and bought a tree to liven it up a bit.  I hadn't shopped for an artificial tree for a while so I had a case of sticker shock when I went to Lowes to see what they had.  I ended up buying a cut tree -- not quite the Charlie Brown version though.  It was a pretty nice tree, about 6 feet tall.  I figured I could throw it out back by the shed after Christmas and then sink it in the pond this spring to serve as cover for the fish.  Sounds like a plan -- I just hope I remember that this coming year when I get snagged on it while going after Walter.  I don't think I 'll tell all the other people who come up to fish.  Let them find out by themselves!!

I took some pictures of the back.  The night ones take on that "Away in a manger" look.  And I think the bow kinda makes it, don't you think? 

Two things I will learn about decorating the back deck -- I will see if the water in the tree stand freezes, and I will see if the tree keeps its needles until Christmas.  Just an experiment.

I don't think I'll take the Christmas lights down.  They'll look so festive for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.

Hooah

Lots to give thanks for...

We had a real nice Thanksgiving family get together hosted by Linda and Luke and, of course, their dog Buddy.  It was a real nice drive up to their house, sunny and temps in the upper 50s.   Brian, Melissa and the kids were also able to join us this year which was nice since we haven't seen them for a couple of years.  I enjoyed a part of the afternoon talking with Brian about different military things (he's a former Marine but I don't hold that against him !!!).  Got a real good picture of all of us.  Check it out.

  One other thing that I might mention --  there was quite a bit of wind which figured into another interesting thing -- all the wind turbine farms.  Once we got on the outside of Van Wert, there they were.  They just popped up and it was really fascinating.  They were all over the place, these giant poles and the three blades swirling around in a slow, but steady rotation.  It was kinda like some Orwellian "War of the Worlds" thing all around us.  Luke said there were 200 of them spread out all through this area.  I took some pictures, but they don't do it justice.  And it was a bit distracting driving -- we couldn't stop staring at them.

There are signs all over the place down in our area about "no wind turbines."  People say they create such a racket when the blades are turning in a stiff wind.  Well when I stopped to take these pictures, I couldn't hear anything (of course, my wife says I can't hear anyway, so you be the judge).  I saw an article in the SDN looking to sway public opinion against these turbines because they kill the earthworms all around the bases of these things.  I didn't get a shovel out to check it out, but I would doubt if any more worms are killed after their construction than might be killed by the application of fertilizers and manure to the same fields.  Anyway, check these out.

Luke told us that he heard each of these would provide the electricity to power 500 homes.   They also told us that the local schools benefited substantially from the taxes these things generate.   That's great for the local residents who have to support the schools with their taxes.  Can you say "ROLLBACK."

All in all, it was an enjoyable, interesting day.  Too bad this happens only a few times a year.  But being spread out pretty much from Columbus to western Ohio means it's hard to get everyone in the same place all at once.  Then when you add D, D, & Q being in NY, it's really hard.  So we just enjoy the times we do get and remember them until the next time.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.  (Meister Eckhart)

Hooah

I wonder what else is still working...

Yesterday was an exceptionally good day as both my lovely bride and I both turned 64 -- just now entering the prime of our lives.  We had a nice dinner and took a nice walk later in the afternoon (the sun was out and it was in the mid 50s here).  In fact, I could have probably played golf again, but thought it would still be nice this week and instead chose to watch the Browns blow a double-digit lead and lose to the Cowboys.

Anyway, I thought since Pam and I are still moving around pretty good, what else around here has held up that well.  I didn't have to look too long as I noticed a couple of objects in our bedroom that have been pretty dependable -- a couple of fans and a white noise maker.

I got all three of these things in 2005 while stationed in DC.  The black fan has run pretty much 24x7 since I bought it.  I like a soft gentle movement of air in the bedroom so it has passed the E.B. (Energizer Bunny) Test with flying colors.  The only time I turn it off is when we take the face off it and wipe down the blades and dust it.

The silver fan and the noise maker haven't been put into that much service, but they are both used every day.  The noise maker is on every night and sometimes during the day when we might have a thunder storm -- it helps settle down Bailey.  And for some reason, she really likes lying in front of the two fans.

I have never checked these items to see where they were manufactured, but wherever it was, they certainly did a pretty nice job.  I wonder if any of these companies are still in business.

Oh yeah, when I was putting this article together, I heard a little whimper in the corner of the office room, over by the old computer.  It was Barnabus.  He was my flying buddy.  He has logged about 10 years of flying with me.  He just wanted to remind me that he was still here, on duty if I needed him, ready to go at a moment's notice.  Sorry, old buddy.  You'll just have to be content to flying a desk for now.  Happens to the best of us.

And then there is one other thing I have to tell you about that has been "working" for a real long time -- my golf clubs.  I don't know if I can say they were "working" all this time -- it's more like a labor of love (most of the time).  I got the irons made way back in 1972.  They are PGA Ryder Club models.  Someone I was playing with the other day said these clubs are called "muscle back clubs" and aren't seen much these days.  At first I thought he might have said they were "knuckle head clubs" which would have matched my game some.  But he didn't.  And he also liked my putter (an old PING Answerer model) and said he saw one on the internet going for about $200. 
Like I said, these clubs are still working pretty well.  I shot a 99 the other day (pretty cold and windy) and one of the guys I was playing with shot 100.  I told him I was 10 strokes better than him.  He said how's that?  I said I shot in the 90s and you were in the 100s.  And that's how I learned golf math.

So those are some of the things I have seen in the last day or two that really have held up over the years -- just like my bride and me.

To me, old age is always ten years older than I am.

Hooah