Happy Birthday Patti!!!

LORDY LORDY LOOK WHO'S 40!!!

Today my sweetheart has joined me in the ranks of the middle aged. Welcome Patti!!! Here in a couple of years we can start getting our AARP magazines... Yee Haw!

Love you sweetheart!

It is snowing today...

Merry Christmas

When Patti and I got married, for our first Christmas we started a tradition of collecting a new dated ornaments. I admit at first it seemed insignificant when we would look at our first couple of ornaments, but now we have 11, and they take up a good part of the prelit tree we bought five years ago. I can look at each one and remember each Christmas, and the warm memories of that Christmas. Every year we put the new dated ornament on together.

1997 Our First Ornament

You had to know that at least one of them would be from you know where.

Our 1993 fiber-optic prelit tree.

We have an aluminum tree with a changing spotlight in our bedroom.

This year, Patti and I gave each other Disneyland annual passes. Dad gave us a nice card with some of the green stuff. Mom and Corky gave us a grandfather clock. Randy and Steve also got the same things. I am delighted with all of them. The best thing, I think, that we received for a gift was the ability to have family with us. Some of the fondest memories I can remember, and the most vivid ones I have are of Christmases past. Family is what is important, and having them around me is what I really want for Christmas. Making memories with the ones I love

Randy was asking about the taking of pictures on Christmas eve while we unwrap gifts, and how we never print or look at them. So why do we take them? Why would we want to? Right now... Maybe he is right, but in the event of the eventual empty chair at the dinner table, one day the pictures will be priceless. We will treasure each and every one, and be searching for more no matter how insignificant. Recently my aunt was doing that after the passing of my uncle. She was looking desperately for more memories to hold on to. . Inevitably... eventually that is what we will have for a time, memories. For now... I am going to make as many as I can.

Our new grandfather clock

Love you all!
Merry Christmas

LORDSBURG

Lordsburg from 10 miles away.

It's there... really.

A small town and a LOT of dust in the air.

Right in the center... really!

Back in town considerin' some "mexican foo"

mmmmmm!!!!
One of our landmarks... Someone famous once ate here.

You know that guy who was Obi Wan Kenobi's teacher???

Maybe it was him.

Oh yeah... and me too!

A Very Happy Birthday to Me

I just wanted to express what a good day it has been! Today I am 45 years old, and it has been a darn good day! First, I got to go to work on my birthday, not a big deal. I am thankful for my job and my career. Patti was lucky enough to get her birthday off for most of her life, being born the day after Christmas. I however was born in the beginning of November, so I get a birthday off about every 7 or 8 years. I don't know the math, but it works out about like that.

November 6th 1963. John F. Kennedy was in the last few days of his presidency before his assasination 16 days later. The song "Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs was #1 on the charts. U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam war was still a couple of years down the road. I was born at Irwin Army Medical Center, in Ft. Riley Kansas a little after 10pm.

It has been a good 45 years, and a lot of water has definately gone under the bridge Since then.

Today Patti gave me a cake to take to work and share with the people I work with. It had decorations from the movie Madagascar... Well it was cute. She also ordered a bunch of ballons for me with some healthy treats (and mm's). While I was at work I got a call from my dad and he sang "Happy Birthday," I usually don't take calls during instruction time, but when dad calls I answer. It was great... I at least didn't try to hang up on him saying "he talks to much," like Sam did last month. Ha ha.

When I got home Mom and Corky took us to dinner at the "Counrty Store" restaurant at the Flying J truckstop here in town. After dinner we went home for cake. Patti had another cake for me (chocolate), to have with Mom and Corky. Here is a picture of what is left of it.

During instruction time today I got another call, only this time it wasn't dad, it was mom. On their 30th aniversary (Oct 30th) Corky and Mom went to Silver City for Mom to get a CT scan. This was to see how her chemotherapy has been going. She had surgery to remove a tumor on Mother's day this year, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Well today she got the news that her CT scan found no trace of cancer. It has been a rough six months for her, but today makes all of that worth it. I could think of no better birthday gift in the world! I have plenty to be thankful for!

................................................................................................................................................................

1963: Headlines... Alabama Governor George Wallace vows "segregation now, segregation forever" in his inaugural speech. Alcatraz prison, off San Francisco CA, closes its doors. U.S. nuclear sub Thresher, with crew of 129, lost in Atlantic. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama during a desegregation drive, and Birmingham, Alabama police turn dogs & fire hoses on Civil Rights protesters. Astronaut Gordon Cooper completes 22.5 orbits of the earth aboard Faith-7, the last mission of NASA's Project Mercury. Alabama Governor George Wallace blocks entrance of state university to African-American students. He later backs down in the face of National Guard troops called in by President Kennedy. U.S. "Zone Improvement Plan" or ZIP codes are initiated. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech before a crowd of over 200,000 gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.. A Washington-to-Moscow "hotline" goes into effect, with an eye toward cooling Cold War tensions. Racist bombing in Birmingham, Alabama kills 4 little girls at the 16th Street Baptist Church.

New on TV was; Doctor Who, The Fugitive, General Hospital, Wild Kingdom, My FavoriteMartian, The OuterLimits, and PetticoatJunction.

At the movies was; The Birds, Bye Bye Birdie, Cleopatra, The Great Escape, The Haunting, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, From Russia With Love, Jason and the Argonauts, and The Nutty Professor

In baseball the Los Angeles Dodgers sweep the New York Yankees 4-0 to take the World Series. In football AFL Champs: San Diego, NFL Champs: Chicago, the Dallas Texans become Kansas City Chiefs, the N.Y. Titans become the N.Y. Jets and the Pro Football Hall of Fame is dedicated in Canton, OH. In Boxing 1963 World Heavyweight Champ: Charles "Sonny" Liston, who defeated Floyd Patterson in July 22nd of '63 to retain World Heavyweight crown. Liston would remain champ until February 25th, 1964 when he would be bested by Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali).

Another Trip Around the Sun

Hear 'em singing Happy Birthday

Better think about the wish I make

This year gone by ain't been a piece of cake

Every day's a revolution

Pull it together and it comes undone

Just one more candle and a trip around the sun

I'm just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning

And it's good to know it's out of my control

If there's one thing that I've learned from all this living

Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go

No, you never see it coming

Always wind up wondering where it went

Only time will tell if it was time well spent

It's another revelation

Celebrating what I should have done

With these souvenirs of my trip around the sun

I'm just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning
And it's good to know it's out of my control
If there's one thing that I've learned from all this living
Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go

Yes, I'll make a resolution

That I'll never make another one

Just enjoy this ride on my trip around the sun

Just enjoy this ride ...Until it's done.

Jimmy Buffett

AZ State Fair

Click on AZ State Fair Panorama to enlarge

Today Patti, Danneel, and I went to the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix. I have to say I was amazed with all of the rides they had. Seriously, There were more rides than I think I have ever seen in one place in my life! And I have been to major theme parks! Well anyway, we had a good time. The only thing it was lacking was large roller coasters, it had small ones though, and it is not a theme park. We went and looked at the animals, art, and other entries, but I am all about the midway. We then went to the cheesecake factory for dinner and then caught the late show (Wall-E) at the $2.00 theater. Wall-E came out this summer, but since it is not a current movie they can show it in the $2.00 Theater. That's fine since we missed almost all of the first run movies being in Lordsburg. Not that I don't love living in Lordsburg, but we do miss a lot of movies.

On sky lift above the fair

In front of one of the Farris Wheels

Patti and Danneel taking a breather.

FaMiLy FeUd ~or~ Eat at Joe's (and take me)

Over the last few years since we have discovered Joe's Crab Shack, My brother Steve and I have been awful to each other... mainly for the fun of it. Snow crab legs are about my favorite food in the whole world, and Steve has the same feelings over crab, Danneel and Linzy too. Well whenever one of us is having crab for dinner we send each other a picture text of where we are and what we are eating. We are bad to each other that way, but like I said it's fun. Usually there is a comment or picture sent back in reply. Our code word for Joe's is St. Joseph's Temple of the Immaculate Crustacean, and yes... we worship there in a gastronomical theocratical sort of way.... so to speak. Anyway, we rub it in. Steve is of Old Bay seasoning philosophy, where I am of the barbecued snow crab. Every now and then even good ol' steamed is good with a bowl of melted butter. Nothing is better!



10-10-08 From Treb

09-19-08 From Steve

08-08-08 From Steve

06-06-08 From Steve

05-03-08 From Steve

03-01-08 From Treb

02-15-08 From Treb

10-25-07 From Steve


10-05-07 From Treb

Cheese on a Stick!

At Disney's California Adventure... THANKS DANNEEL!

THE FIRST THING YOU KNOW

You look around the human race, you wonder what was God thinking.

God made the mountains, God made the sky,
God made the people, God knows why!
He fixed up the planet, as best as he could.
Then in come the people, and gum it up good!

The first thing ya know, they civilize the foothills,
and everywhere he put hills, the mountains and valleys below!
They come along and take 'em, and civilize and make 'em
a place where no civilized person would go

The first thing you know
The first thing you know

They civilize what's pretty, by puttin' up a city
where nothin' that's pretty can grow!
They muddy up the winter, and civilize it into
a place too uncivilized even for snow.

The first thing ya know...

They civilize left, they civilize right,
till nothin' is left, till nothin' is right!
They civilize freedom, till no one is free!
No one except, by coincidence, me.

The first thing ya know...

The boozer's in prison and the criminal, he isn't,
and only the rascals have dough!
When I see a parson I put my arse in,
the wagon that follows, the tail of a crow!

The first thing ya know… I pick up and blow!

Beauty in the Sky

I have to admit there is a big benefit to living in the Southwest. The beautiful sky in the evening! The different colors are usually the dust blowing around up in the athmosphere, and the clouds when were are blessed with them. Every evening you can count on some color, and when I get a chance I snap a few pictures. More often than not I just pause to appreciate the splendor.

At a Waterfall, well actually...

Here we are at a waterfall, well actually... it is at Bear Canyon Lake's spillway. The lake is on the other side of that hill. So even though the water is in fact "falling" it is not so much a water fall as it is a water spill. Well anyway, here we are, well actually... "we" are not there. Patti is there, and I am there, but "we" are not. I took part of the picture and Patti took the other part. I photoshopped the pictures together into one. Well actually... it was iPhoto4 Plus, I'm familiar with iPhoto and never really used "photoshop". It was a very scenic ride, and since we were on our way to be with friends and free food, it was worth the 111 mile drive. For your viewing enjoyment, here is a short video of Patti and Red barking out "Happy Birthday".

Congratulations Lori!

Lori Coryell got married Saturday to a guy named John Bynum. Patti and I were privileged to go to the wedding and reception in Mimbres. The reception was at Camp Thunderbird between Mimbres and Lake Roberts. I haven't been out there since we had a family reunion with the Ridling Clan. The main hall seemed larger then. Camp Thunderbird was built over the period of 8 years by 1400 boyscouts from 1947-1955. It's a cool rustic looking place, and makes a great location for weddings and reunioins. We all had a good time.

Good luck "Jinx"!

Visiting Departed Loved Ones

Recently I was in Silver City to go to a wedding and I decided to go by and visit my grandparents. I know it sounds weird since my grandparents passed away in the 90's. I have on occasion spent some time with cleanup and maintenance of their graves. Visiting their graves, I was trying to remember their voices and their laughter. I can still hear them. I hope that never goes away.



















About 40 years ago today I went to the Frisco River (San Fransisco River). I cannot remember a better time in my life. It has been almost 40 years ago and I still remember the things we did as if it happened recently. I miss them greatly, the things they used to say, and the things we used to do together. I was thinking about them today as I was mowing the grass, I used to mow their grass for $5.00 a week. I remembered the times camping with them and the good times we had together. I used to spend the night at their house regularly, almost every weekend, almost. When I became a teen I made friends my age and the time I spent with them became limited. That's okay though, It gave my other cousins a chance to have the good memories too.

We lost grandma to cancer in 1993. The hole that she left behind could not be filled for any of us, and most of all for grandad. He died from pneumonia as a complication to his emphysema three lost years later. I think about them often. I remember my grandma Woodard too. She was as close to angelic as any a mortal can get. Her homespun wisdom and love cannot be matched and the hole she left behind was immense. I can hear her in my head at times when I wonder, "what would grandma do"? I never knew my dad's father, he passed the year before I was born. However, I did have the benefit of step-grandparents for several years, who I also miss greatly. I remember talking to Patti about Don, and how he was a dyed in wool democrat and we talked about what he might say about the current political situation we are in. And I loved Helen's wit!

Patti's grandparents passed away in the 90's as well, and she often tells me about them and how she regrets that I never got the chance to meet them. Well... someday.

Uh Oh... On My Back Steps!!!

The election has made it to my back steps. Literally! I was between stops going from place to place today and noticed a motorhome parked behind my house. I doubt seriously that Senator McCain is in there, but hey... When is it going to happen again? I snapped a picture to preserve the moment. Too bad Senator Obama wasn't there, we could host a mudslingin' contest! That would be cool but I think I would have to call the cops. I don't mind it being in the neighborhood just as long as they don't throw any loud republican parties.

Where's the Rhyme, Where's the Reason

So you speak to me of sadness and the coming of the winter.

The fear that is within you now that seems to never end!
And the dreams that have escaped you,
and the hopes that you've forgotten.
You tell me that you need me now,
you want to be my friend.

And you wonder where we're going,
where's the rhyme and where's the reason.
And it's you cannot accept it is here we must begin,
to seek the wisdom of the children,
and the graceful way of flowers in the wind.


For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers,
their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day.
Like the music of the mountains and the colors of the rainbow,
they're a promise of the future and a blessing for today.


Tho' the cities start to crumble and the towers fall around us,
the sun is slowly fading and it's colder than the sea.
It is written from the desert to the mountains they shall lead us,
by the hand and by the heart they will comfort you and me.
In their innocence and trusting they will teach us to be free!


For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers,
their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day!
And the song that I am singing is a prayer to non-believers,
Come and stand beside us, we can find a better way.


John Denver

Google Image Tag

The object is to find all answers to the following questions with Google images.

1. Name - Robert.

2. Favorite Food – Bar-B-cued crab legs from Joe’s Crab Shack (no, I’m not copying you Danneel).

3. First Job - McDonald’s… You deserve a break today! Me too.

4. Nickname –Treb, Actually this is called a TREBuchet, an ancient war machine the French designed to throw large boulders at the English.

5. Where Were You Born? – Ft. Riley Kansas, Home of the 7th Cavalry and the Big Red 1.

6. Bad Habit – I may drive a little too fast at times.

7. College Degree - BS… of course Special Education WNMU.

8. Where I Want To Go - Washington DC

9. Favorite Place – Disney’s California Adventure

10. Favorite Color – Navy Blue like the Caribbean Sea.

11. Favorite Animal – The Dog. The most faithful, unconditional love incarnate.

12. Past Love – Valerie Bertinelli

13. What I am doing right now – Watching Mythbusters and bloggin’.

14. Where I Live - Lordsburg, NM, USA

15. My Favorite Object – CONTROL!!!

16. Grandmother(s) Name – Bonnell and Elsie Dot.

17. What is My Age - 44 Like Dirty Harry's Gun