OCTOBER

TRUMP

The scariest thing I can think of this Halloween is the coming election. 

I really dislike this man. He is an arrogant, narcissistic, megalomaniac who denigrates men, women, veterans, POW's, handicapped, a Gold Star family, Muslims, Latinos, blacks, immigrants, unions, the media, his opponent, her husband, his own political party, our military, and god knows who else. He is very negative and constantly puts down America, our political system, the Speaker of the House, and even Rosie O'Donnell. 

Donald Trump thinks he's a great deal-maker but he's really just a con. He thinks it's good business to short-change employees and businesses whenever he can. He's bankrupted four times! Does that sound like a good businessman? Does deducting a loss of nearly one billion dollars and possibly not paying income taxes for 20 years sound like a good businessman? Does avoiding paying taxes for roads and military and other taxes make him smart? Is that the kind of man you want in the White House picking taxpayer's pockets? I don't.

There are too many incidents for me to start mentioning so let me just say, "Google it!" 

Any time you read something I've written I don't expect you to take my word for anything. Google it. Look it up. Do some research. You have the world's encyclopedia at your fingertips. You're not a baby. Never take anyone's word for anything without verifying the information. You're a chump, if you don't. That's what people like Trump depend on. 

Nearly every woman has had a skeevy experience with an overbearing man who behaved inappropriately with her. I've experienced more than one occasion which was frightening so I know how serious this subject is.

When a man thinks he can jump a woman and take advantage of her and brags about it, he is a sleazy, little man. Trump is a sleazy little man with sweaty, little hands. He is bold and arrogant because he has money and thinks money can buy, or buy off, anything. He likes gaming the system. He's gaming you and me and if he wins the presidency we are all screwed.

How the heck anyone could think he would be a good leader and an excellent commander-in-chief I'll never understand. 

Trump projects an image of a bully. He could be playing hardball with the Sopranos but he does not belong in the White House.

This is the man who championed the birther movement even though it was a nonissue. It wouldn't have mattered if Obama had been born in a madrassa. He would have still qualified for president. His mother was an American.

Any naysayers seem to believe that Obama's mama hopped in a time machine after she gave birth to him in Kenya, then had a fake birth certificate that proved he was born in Hawaii because . . .  Well, I don't know the "because". Obama's mother could have never dreamed her son was going to be president thirteen years after her death. That's just crazy conspiracy theory crap.

Trump is the epitome of everything that is wrong with America. He is a whiny little bitch that doesn't have any concrete plans to help this country. He keeps saying in a braggadocio manner that he has the solution but he never maps out a plan to strengthen this country. He doesn't even understand how our government works. How could he govern?

Trump is too bored to prepare for the debates. What makes you think he will do the day to day duties a president has to do? He'll hire "the best" consultants to sit in for him and allow them to govern. That's why he chose uber-conservative, Mike Pense. Trump will come out and accept the credit for any successes he can tout but will quickly point blame to others if his administration fails. 

Mark my words!

Between now and the election, I might have to vent on my blog some more. 

I've got to convince my husband to vote for Hillary instead of a passive no-vote. I played the granddaughter card on him. I told him I don't want to live in a country that learns open bigotry and misogyny from a president like Trump. I want my granddaughter and other women to live in a world where women are treated with respect by everybody. Men are led by example. Our leader should have respect for everyone.

God help us all. 

That's all I've got to say about that ... for now.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Joann, Shannon, Alesha, Lon, Layla, Matt, Devan, Michelle, Kelly, 

Debbie, Chase, Barry, Diane, and Summer

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Kelly and Troy
Piette and Paul
Brittany and Corbin

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Remember to Vote

AS ALWAYS
PIO

PBS 10-13-2016 Thursday 10:38 pm EDT

OCTOBER

I think I'm going to rename my blog "the once-a-month" blog. It's becoming hit or miss here lately.

Last weekend we had company and I forgot to watch the goat. Our friends, Jason and Hanna, came to visit. Their little boy and his buddy went outside to play in the backyard. 

Our goat, Bonnie, was out back and we had a barrier to keep the goat off the carport. For some stupid reason, the goat decided to get on the back porch. Buddy thinks that's his back porch. He attacked the goat and tore her nose. By the time I realized what was happening I started hitting Buddy trying to make him let go of the goat's ear. Donny and Jason were there helping get Buddy off the goat. Blood was everywhere.

Hanna and Jason helped doctor the goat. I poured peroxide on the wound and Jason put some antibiotic on it. We left it uncovered.

Scout and Katie were able to come over the next day and clean and medicate the goat. Katie packed the tear with gauze and bandaged it with duct tape. Scout has been cleaning the wound and making sure she doesn't get an infection.

Buddy has been limping around ever since he attacked the goat. I don't know if the goat got him or if he got hurt while Jason was trying to pull him off of the goat. 

Jason's smart. He had to suffocate Buddy to make him let go. I never thought of that but I have heard that if you stick your finger up a dog's butt while it's attacking it will quit. Who the hell wouldn't? I'm glad they were here to help us.

It's always something around here.

* * *

My friend, Patricia, and I went to our class reunion. It was nice but a lot more low key than parties used to be.

When I took Patricia home we sat outside and talked for a while. Her dogs were chasing rabbits. We could see Luna, her wolf, bouncing after rabbits. Luna is huge. She is bigger than my old German Shepard named Rip used to be. Luna is beautiful.

Time seems to be speeding up and I'm not good at keeping up. Thanks for hanging in there with me and following me. Sometimes it seems like I'm too busy and too, dare I say it, happy to post anything. I'm afraid of jinxing it, whatever "it" is. 

I just want to take life easy and enjoy it from now on. I seriously doubt I'll get what I want though because like Al Bundy  from MARRIED, WITH CHILDREN said when someone said a killer was in the neighborhood and somebody might break in and kill him (or something like that), "Like I'd ever get anything I wanted!" Poor Al. Sometimes I understood him too well.

Have a happy and safe Halloween and don't sacrifice any goats or start any fights. 

OUCH!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Joann, Shannon, Alesha, Lon, Layla, Matt, Devan, Michelle, Kelly, 

Debbie, Chase, Barry, Diane, and Summer

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Kelly and Troy
Piette and Paul
Brittany and Corbin

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

RIP

AS ALWAYS

PIO

PBS 10-12-2015 Monday 09:30 pm EDT

OCTOBER

I've been through the ringer here lately. I had to go to the gynecologist for my physical and he sent me to a general practitioner who did blood work on me. I thought it was hormones. Instead, I found out I have diabetes and high cholesterol and they put me on medication. I'm trying to get plenty of exercise so I recruited a couple of friends to go walking with me. 

Donny was borderline diabetic and lost lots of weight and was able to come off of his medicine. I hope I can bring my blood sugar down and do the same if I lose weight. We'll see. 

Just about everyone in the family has had to go to the doctor here lately. Colt got busted in the head with a 2x4 and nearly had a concussion last week. He should have gone to a doctor but he came home and rested all day. 

Even old Buddy is getting into the act. We took him for his physical and to get more flea and heartworm medicine. The vet said he had a couple of abscessed teeth that needed to come out so we have to go back again for surgery. Between him, and me, and Donny, and Mama it seems like we're going to the doctor all the time.

Sometimes I get to feeling sorry for myself but I think about all the people I know who are facing bigger challenges than I am and I count my blessings. I look around me and think how thankful I am to have my husband and my mother in my life. They are two of the strongest people I know. They had a lot of health problems this year but, no matter what obstacles they face, they soldier on.

I've got several friends who are fighting their own battles which are much harder than my own. They inspire me. Still ...

I don't know who signed me up for this roster of hospitals and illnesses but I wish they'd take me off the list. I've done my time. 

Halloween certainly won't be quite as jolly this year, and Lord knows I'm not going to be happy and I'm going to be tempted on Thanksgiving. It was always my favorite holiday. I only hope I survive the holidays this year. My sweet tooth is my downfall.

A word of advice to the wise:

Y'all watch your sugar and salt intake and floss your teeth. You'll thank me when you're older.

Oh yeah . . . bah, humbug . . . I mean . . . Happy Halloween!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Joann, Shannon, Alesha, Lon, Layla, Matt, Devan, Michelle, Kelly, 

Debbie, Chase, Barry, Diane, and Summer

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Kelly and Troy
Piette and Paul

CONGRATULATIONS
Brittany and Corbin
October 11th

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

AS ALWAYS
PIO

PBS 10-13-14 Monday 11:16 pm EDT  222

PS   Sorry I'm late. On top of everything else I've been having computer problems.

Happy Halloween

Resaca Cemetery

The Family Plot

The Grave Digger

Working The Night Shift

Courtesy of Scout

OCTOBER

We've been pretty busy around here. On Saturday the boys went to Mama's and Daddy's to help them. They are mowing so Daddy doesn't have to mow again. He's still bleeding sometimes.

Daddy doesn't trust them to do the job right so he usually walks along beside them on the riding mower telling them how to mow. I wish he would quit obsessing. You have to eventually let go and turn control over to someone else if you want help. The job may not be done exactly like you do it but at least you're getting it done.

Donny and I went to the Cracker Barrel on Sunday and met some of my Facebook friends for brunch. I think he thought they were imaginary people I always talk about since I don't have any friends in real life. We met Jennie and her husband Gary. They live in Calhoun. 

We also got to meet Piette and her husband, Paul. They live in North Carolina. She was picking up some kitties that Jennie has been caring for. They're animal rescuers. They work hard to get the animals vetted and find good homes for them.

I was full of trepidation and had a hard time sleeping the night before, thinking about meeting people I only knew on Facebook, but my fears were unfounded and I was ecstatic to finally meet Jennie and Piette in person. 

Our friend Kristie was supposed to go to the Cracker Barrel with us but I wasn't able to get hold of her that day. She lives in Calhoun. Kristie's met Jennie and me, and Jennie's met Kristie and Piette. I've never met Jennie or Piette. Kristie's never met Piette. I felt like we were going to a party.

It didn't take long before we all felt comfortable talking to each other. Jennie has three daughters. Piette also has three daughters. They were commiserating with each other about the drama of raising girls. I thought it was fascinating. I have two sons and don't know much about raising girls. I always thought boys were a handful.

Jennie and I were both surprised that the other was short. I think we're both about five feet tall. I usually assume everyone is taller than me. So much for making assumptions about people on the internet.

I've heard so much about Jennie's husband, Gary, it was nice to put a face to the name. She's so funny and descriptive when she tells tales on him, like the time he came in the house and announced he and his buddy were going to go rafting down the river, despite the fact they didn't have a boat, or canoe, or any equipment. I could just imagine one of my boys coming up with a hairbrained idea like that. 

I'd love to ride down the river but I don't think I'm brave enough to risk it. The water is muddy and you can't see rocks and rubbish in the water. If I fell into that nasty water, I'd probably die from hypochondria.

Piette and Paul came by the house to visit and saw our goat, Vinnie, before heading back home . Piette gave me oodles of chocolate and tulip bulbs. She even gave me a bottle of hot sauce. She knows me so well. Piette is such a sweet lady. 

I wasn't expecting company so I hadn't done a "dash and stash". I hope I didn't frighten her away.

I used to be a Flybaby and tried to keep my house clean. I eventually fell off the bandwagon and got into my old habits of letting the clutter overwhelm me, not knowing where to start or how to catch up. You can imagine the mess around here. I've got even more clutter now, after Colt moved back home from Marietta. 

Donny couldn't get over how nice my friends were and what a good time he had meeting them. I guess he thinks my friends would have to be annoying and cantankerous like me to get along with me. Doesn't he know opposites attract? Look at us. Donny's sweet as pie, and I'm not.

I only have a few regrets. For one thing, I was so overwhelmed, I forgot to leave a tip for the waitress. She deserved a tip for taking such good care of all of us. I also forgot to take a picture of everybody while we were at the restaurant. I can't believe in this day and age I still can't remember to take pictures when something special happens. My biggest regret is because Kristie wasn't able to join us. I think she would have enjoyed brunch with everyone. It probably won't ever happen again.

On top of all that excitement, Donny's been painting the fender on Daddy's '39 Ford Deluxe. He scraped it when he tried to back into the garage. Old people!

We also took Buddy back to the vet for his annual checkup this week. He never had any checkups until last year when he nearly died. Colt went to the vet with me to handle Buddy. He growls sometimes. Colt thumped him in the nose and distracted him. He said he saw the vet grin when he did that.

They put a muzzle on him when they did the exam. I ordered one. Maybe we can give him a bath without getting bit. I don't trust Buddy all the time.

We can put the muzzle on Buddy and let him be Hannibal Lecter for Halloween. I guess that makes me Clarice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Joann, Shannon, Alesha, Lon, Layla, Matt, Devan, Michelle, Kelly, 
Debbie, Chase, Barry, Diane, and Summer

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Kelly and Troy
Piette and Paul

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

AS ALWAYS
PIO