The Old Guy's National Anthem ... AKA what a long, strange trip it's been

Truckin' got my chips cashed in. Keep truckin', like the do-dah man Together, more or less in line, just keep truckin' on. Arrows of neon and flashing marquees out on Main Street. Chicago, New York, Detroit and it's all on the same street. Your typical city involved in a typical daydream Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings. Dallas, got a soft machine; Houston, too close to New Orleans; New York's got the ways and means; but just won't let you be, oh no. Most of the cast that you meet on the streets speak of true love, Most of the time they're sittin' and cryin' at home. One of these days they know they better get goin' Out of the door and down on the streets all alone. Truckin', like the do-dah man. Once told me "You've got to play your hand" Sometimes your cards ain't worth a dime, if you don't lay'em down, Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me; Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me What a long, strange trip it's been. What in the world ever became of sweet Jane? She lost her sparkle, you know she isn't the same Livin' on reds, vitamin C, and cocaine, All a friend can say is "Ain't it a shame?" Truckin', up to Buffalo. Been thinkin', you got to mellow slow Takes time, you pick a place to go, and just keep truckin' on. Sittin' and starin' out of the hotel window. Got a tip they're gonna kick the door in again I'd like to get some sleep before I travel, But if you got a warrant, I guess you're gonna come in. Busted, down on Bourbon Street, Set up, like a bowlin' pin. Knocked down, it get's to wearin' thin. They just won't let you be, oh no. You're sick of hangin' around and you'd like to travel; Get tired of travelin' and you want to settle down. I guess they can't revoke your soul for tryin', Get out of the door and light out and look all around. Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me; Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me What a long, strange trip it's been. Truckin', I'm a goin' home. Whoa whoa baby, back where I belong, Back home, sit down and patch my bones, and get back truckin' on. Hey now get back truckin' home

Welcome to My World

Is this reality? Probably not, but it's pretty dern close.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Well, it's been 'a few' years since my last post ...

We're getting ready to move to the hills. This is the side yard
 Here's the view from our backyard
And ... the other side

We have just under 5 acres in Bruceton Mills, WV. Sits at an elevation of 2850' and gets quite a bit of 'Winter'. These pics are from August 2017







It should be interesting. We'll be 25 miles from Morgantown and a world from civilization if we want to be.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Veteran's Day


What is a Vet?

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Serves under the flag and
Whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.



Father Denis Edward O'Brien

USMC

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Family History


Mom & Dad about 1947
 
Me, Donnie, Chip. Mike 1955


Ida Rinis ... 1927??



Pop Rinis (Rear center), Ben & Adelaide (Front)

 



November 1962

Mike, Donnie, Me, Chip

Rinis Clan: Harry, Ida, Rosalie & Ben I'm guessing .... 1939


Friday, April 13, 2012

The Case for Higher Education (beyond 4th grade)

Where these pictures came from doesn't really matter. I suppose these people used school time as nap time.

Enlarge this first picture and read the label. I've never seen a light that turns on when it gets dirty and turns off at dawn ... but then again, maybe it's the newest thing.



I guess Wal Mart is saying "We were here to serve you, now we're not"


Blow this up and check out the white horizontal box just to the right of the water heater. It's a soap dispenser. Nuff said.... 


What are these "Ordes" that she's taking?



I can't decide if this guy slept through spelling or anatomy class


                                                             

The children of spring




Guess it was a slow day at the local high school today

The Other Woman


My 1987 FXRS (Low Rider) (top left) which had 125,000 miles on it was replaced in April '07 by this 2001 FLHTC (Electra Glide) (top row center) from http://www.zepka.com/ . When I mushed the FLH in July 2009 I went back to a Low Rider. The picture on the top row right is my 2002 FXDL (Dyna Low Rider) that replaced the FLH. Just never got used to the weight of the front end and the top heavy feel of the FLH so I went back to a Low Rider (I do however, really miss the fairing's radio and wind protection). This bike definitely has an attitude. It also came from Brad at Zepka's HD. Go see them, they'll treat you right. Well it's April 2011 and time to trade in my other woman again. After riding the Low Rider for a year and a half I've decided the heavy feel of the dresser is a small price to pay for the wind & rain protection, radio, CB, intercom, fuel injection, cruise control and all around cusheyness of the FLH. So .... here's the newest. It's an 06 FLHTCUI (also from Zepkas), I'm telling you, go see them, they have your bike.


I guess I'm old now.  I just can't handle the 800+ lbs of the dresser anymore.  This is the newest. I will certainly miss the stereo, cruise control and weather protection but this is a lot easier to handle.  Feels like a mini bike.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Springtime in the WV mountains

Well it's April again and time to go to the hills . This is Big Bear Lake in Bruceton Mills where we become trailer trash on the week-ends (and we do our best to live up to the title).


Monday, March 21, 2011

Hero's Transcend All

Don't know who this is? Read the story (click this post's title) or watch the movie "Schindler's List"

Sunday, March 20, 2011

December 7, 1941


I feel sorry for the people in Japan and I wish them the best as they deal with the tsunami damage, but don't ask me to help.





Thursday, November 18, 2010

Saturday, November 13, 2010

What an idiot

Click the title and read this article. This man chose to keep his dog over having homeowner insurance. Why should the state be obligated to help him? He didn't loose his insurance because he's unemployed, he never got insurance because he wanted a dog instead. Good plan Bud. It may sound calloused but that's life. If you're that stupid ... deal with it and don't ask for taxpayer money. This guy is receiving Red Cross assistance, great. The Red Cross will help anybody without regard for race, color, religion etc but it should make a policy change when it comes to people like this and tell this guy to sleep in the bed he made. (Maybe he can share a room with the guy in my 10/17/09 post, they seem to have similar mental capacity).
As a side note ... since when does owning a pit bull automatically disqualify you from getting insurance? I can't believe that every pitbull owner in WV has no homeowners insurance. I wonder what this guy's not telling us? There's guaranteed to be more to this story.
Another case for the redneck mentality of some people. Hell, we can't even make a comment like "typical WV hillbilly", this mentality is everywhere these days.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

And , yes, I got poison ivy from this venture

Here we are in Lexington, VA using multimillion dollar satellites to find tupperware in the woods. AKA geocaching. The stick (hand carved from the neighbor's black walnut tree) is for the native wildlife that tends to crawl around in these same woods (or to keep the wife in line).

Look closely








Me with the plaque from my Alma Mater

You might be a redneck ...

If your fingernails are polished in the WV state colors .....



Now if your toenails are also done, there's no doubt (but we love her anyway)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Isn't life grand



It's been snowing off and on for a few days now. We have about 30 - 32 inches and we're supposed to get 10 - 20 more tonight. Well this is West Virginia but come on, this is the yuppie section not the hills. My yard looks like a giant ant farm with all the paths I cut. And look who's staying at work for 5 days. That's her on the left in the meeting with Gov Joe (He's the tall guy in the jeans).

Monday, August 3, 2009

Took me 43 years but I finally did it



Oh well, just a minor glitch in life. This is what falling down at 55 will do for you. It also comes complete with a bit of road rash. No other injuries but the bike is toast. Even the frame is bent. $10k damage. My new "Other Woman" is a 2002 Low Rider (it's the last picture in this post); I'll pick it up in 2 weeks when the road rash heals enough to ride. Currently it's waiting for me at Zepka's HD in Johnstown, PA. Go see them, they're good people http://www.zepka.com/. Yes, my wife thinks I'm an idiot; Yes there's a bit of rash where the hole below the pocket is located (but I spared you the displeasure of looking at my scraped butt) & yes, this is the first time I've been down since June 1966 when I got on a bike for the first time ... I did hit a deer once but didn't go down so that doesn't count.