GRUMPY CATS AND WHACK A DOODLE DOGS....11/28/15

--Living in a tiny house with 5 people is hard. Living in a house with 5 people 2 grumpy male cats and 2 whack a doodle dogs. Puts things into the insanity level especially when the animals start their shenanigans before the sun even rises. If allowed to continue it's even been known to drive 5 people of their dang fool rockers from time to time.
--Usually all it take s is a few words and everybody mellows out. When that fails then plan b calls for rearrange furniture and start cleaning.
--Needless to say there are days when it seems I spend more time cleaning and rearranging furniture than sitting down. Which in the end maybe be good at keeping the dang fools off balance enough to quiet the male ego shenanigans. But does very little towards reaffirming my of sanity.
--Of course on the bright side the house gets a good cleaning. And I suppose the exercise does everyone allot of good.....

SLEEPY EYED DOG WALKER.... 03/16/16

--I’ll say one thing about taking dogs out to do their business in the wee hours of the morning. It sure makes for a quick wake-up.
--There's something about that early morning air that perks you right up.
--Of course the dogs are not to crazy about going out ever two hours. But it does cut down on the Shenanigans so it's a two for in my book.
--And the up side is after a brisk trip outside in the frosty air, sleep comes a little easier. So that's always a plus....

CLEARING A ROOM....04/13/15

--Over the years I’ve found only two ways to clear a room. Fill plates with food or start pushing a broom or vacuum cleaner.
--Cats kittens and scatter when you turn a vacuum cleaner on. Why I have no idea. I mean it's not like it's able to suck them up or anything. Children are about the same, you want to see how fast children can move start cleaning. you can actually feel the breeze from them leaving the room. Of course on spring cleaning conquest's I’ll usually follow them to their hideaways eventually. So they really don't escape.
--Filling plates with food usually takes a bit longer. That is if you can get everybody on the same page when it comes to who wants what.
--My children have come to expect the cleaning conquest's as soon as it start's warming up. Of course my wife just smile's when they complain about dear old dad going bonker's with the cleaning….

BREAKING THE RULE....07/29/15

--Every once in awhile I break my own dang fool rules. Why I have no idea, because usually it ends bad. Therefore the reason behind the rule. But being the hard headed forgetful old fool that I am I  do it.
--This morning I did it again. Waking up getting my coffee cup, filling it with ice then coffee really taxes what reserves I have in the morning. What in Sam hill made me think I could take the dogs out to do their business without coffee I have no idea.
--But I felt sorry for the poor fools bouncing around yapping like a couple of nuts. So I left my coffee cup on the counter and grabbed their leashes and took them out.
--Well you’d think the fact that the ground being wet would have sent red flags of in my brainpan. But what can I say I was half awake. I headed over to waffles run under the maple tree and forgot to duck the low hanging branch because I was in the middle of a yawn. Big mistake.
--It seems whacking the branch had dislodged a snail on the dang fool branch which promptly decided to take up residence in my mouth. Which probably wouldn’t have been bad but while I was gagging on the dang fool snail  I walked in to a spider web which ended up in my mouth. By the time I got that dang thing wiped out and spit out. I was seeing stars. Hooking waffles up I proceed over to jerry run.
-You'd think after darn near swallowing a snail and spider web I’d have just quit. Nope ever forward and all that. Well I wasn’t watching were I was going and promptly slipped in a pile of cat pooh one of the dimblubs left in the yard. About that time my right knee went out and I ended up on my butt.
--Needless to say I really starting to regret the whole forgo coffee idea.
--Hooking jerry up was easy. I even managed to miss two of her holes, and a dang fool spider web on the way to the house. Maybe things were looking up I figured. Really you think I would learn.
--Limping back to the house favoring my right knee going up the stairs. That’s when my left knee decided he wanted to play to. It went out and down I went.
--I sat there for a few minute's thinking about all sorts of colorful things. One of which was bouncing dogs. I came to the conclusion the dang fool probably were just happy to see me and didn't even have to go to the bathroom. Which was probably what was going on.
--Getting to the house was quite simple after all that. And of course coffee was a welcome sight. I guess sometimes a few misadventure make you appreciate that first cup more and the rules surrounding it....

GANDOLF AND THE WET FLOOR....10/05/16

--Usually when I mop Waffles and Ganddolf, find someplace and lie down until the floor dries.
--Today Gandolf, forgot the floor was wet when he took of after the mouse he'd seen.
--He caught the mouse but ended up sliding across the floor with it, and into Waffles bed where he was sleeping.
--The confusion that resulted was short and sweat, Gandolf tried to run and Waffles tried to follow. They both ended up sliding around in circles, while the mouse I imagine was getting quite dizzy in Gandolf's, mouth.
--After a bit they retreated to Waffles bed to wait for the floor to dry.
--Me I just mumbled to myself and kept mopping. It seems if it's not people tracking the floor it's whack a doodle pets. Sometimes you just can't win....

FIGHTING OVER THE MAMA….03/29/15

--As if living in a house full of cats and kittens isn’t stressful enough we also have the never-ending game of who gets to sit on my wife lap. Throw 4 children into the mix and a constant battle is usually running.
--Of course the children are older, but they still manage a few who going to get the most attention bouts from time to time.
--The cats and kittens on the other hand are just plain whack a doodle when it comes to my wife’s lap. I don’t know how many times I’ve been called to break up fights.
--Of course my wife usually falls under the notion there’s room for all. Which is fine until one of the nuts wakes up and realizes they’ve been pushed aside….

Saturday, March 28, 2015
4:36 PM

THE NEVERENDING GAME....07/26/15

--Over the years I’ve noticed a lot of things about cats. Some are pretty amazing and some  well lets just say mind numbing doesn't even begin to describe it.
--As a whole I think cats are pretty amazing animals. Dogs too for that matter. They make excellent companions’ and loyal friends.
--Trying to teach cats and dogs not to indulge in bad behavior. This is a real pain in the neck. And sometimes I think would drive a Tibetan monk to talking to himself.
--Trying to keep bad behavior at bay by keeping trigger’s out of view is ok until you forget one. Nine times out of ten you end up where you started again. Unless it's been awhile like six months to a year. Then maybe you'll be ok.
--Sharing living space with pets requires a lot of patience and understanding. And it's defiantly not for the faint of heart when you have more than one pet.....

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED....08/26/16

--When it comes to pets, I've learned to expect the unexpected. Whether it be 400lb pigs, or a duck with a cranky disposition. Or a dang fool dove who was in love with a cat named Goofy.
--Threw the years we've had our share of whack a doodles, and even today the whack a doodle strain seems to run through the little darlings who hang around the house.
--Even the wildlife that crosses our little slice of heaven. From chatterbox birds to possums who think their cats.
--I guess when it comes to what to expect I usually hang my hat on the any thing goes peg of life.....

A little bit of rain

I think I can

Cat's are not stupid

Spring poem

MOPPING UP....08/28/15

--For some reason when you grab a mop all the pets retreat to a neutral corner. I always wondered why? I mean it's not like I was asking them to push the dang fool thing.
--Even though it would be nice because usually their the reason I’ve got to drag the dang fool thing out. I’m sure the little fool's would get distracted and make a even bigger mess. So I’m more than happy when they run it means one less thing I have to navigate around. And in the kitchen I’ve already got more than enough to deal with.
--What with chair's that seem to collect pet hair, and nooks and crannies that fill up with everything else under the moon. And no matter how many times you swing that dang fool mop through you always end on you hands and knees getting the little bugger’s. Which would be ok I guess if you didn't have to use a hair infested chair to lean on to get up only to have it slide across the recently mopped floor.
--Needless to say mopping is not one of my favorite thing's to do. But in a house filled with whack a doodle pet’s, children and what not it's a fact of life. Unless you don't hairball's the size of tumble weeds roiling across the floor. Which for some godforsaken reason I seem to have a problem with.
--But I guess it could be worse, at lest when you done it does look and smell better. And in the process you get a good old workout. And if your lucky as you tiptoe out it stay's that way for a few minutes before it's gets messy again. Which usually takes as long as the dang fool floor takes to dry. Because pets aren’t stupid they know what happens when you try to walk on wet floor’s. God knows they've seen me fall enough to have a pretty good idea....

IT'S NICE TO BE NEEDED....11/16/15

--You know the other shoe has dropped and there’s something the matter with the children’s computers when for no apparent reason their in the kitchen looking like they just lost their best friend.
--Of course trying to get a handle on just what the Sam Hill happened is a bit of a pain in the neck. But with a bit of patience the story slowly takes form.
--Going over everything with them so they can figure out the problem next time, again requires a bit of patience.
--But I guess that's what being a parent is all about, being ignored until that moment when you are needed. And it's back to the trenches afterwards.
--At lest the dang fool dog still gets a good tail wagging going every morning when I come out to get the old coffee. So I guess it could be worse.....

LEFT OVER CHICKEN....05/13/15

--It's really quite amazing how good the sense of smell cats have. Try eating in a room full of cats. If there's any crumbs they'll be sure to find it.
--And of course left over chicken is the worst. There’s just something about that dang fool bird that drives cats out of there minds.
--Over the years we've had many a cats who have gone over the edge for a chance at the bones of chicken or turkey. Why I have no idea but they do.
--One cat spent the better part of the morning trying to open the icebox because he knew I’d put the leftovers away.....

MYSTERY KITTEN PAY'S A VISIT....11/03/16

--Every once in awhile a kitten comes along who goes against the grain and actually seems to like the people who spring for his/her food. Such seems to be the case with MYSTERY KITTEN.
--When I opened the door to let Waffles out to do his business , MYSTERY KITTEN came running in. At first I thought He/She came in to raid Gandolf's food dish, but when he/she passed Gandolf's food dish to go sit in my wife's chair I got the feeling something was up.
--Of course when my wife came out in the kitchen and the dang fool cat crawled into my wife's lap and started purring, I figured we had us a friendly cat, not one you had to chase to try and get a few pets in.
--My wife looked at me as she was petting the little fool and said, "You know I think she might be happy to see me..."
--Which of course the dang fool cats was she followed my wife everywhere she went. But what do you expect when your dealing with the cat lady .....

PEEK A BOO BUNNY....07/30/15

--My son's pet rabbit and I on occasion play peek a boo. Which entails me opening my sons bedroom door and trying to catch his dang fool rabbit so I can say peek a boo.
--I know you'd think a grown man could find better thing's to do with his time. Apparently I can't because each of these whack a doodle pets and I have a game we play.
--With Brownie it’s peek a boo. The first couple of times I caught him and he'd spend a few minute stomping his feet in anger to let me know he wasn't happy.
--Now of course when I open the door. He’s standing up starring at me with his mouth open as if say ha ha fool.
--Of course if the dang fool children hadn't of made me watch a video with a dang fool bunny running around playing peek a boo when they were little. I probably wouldn’t be doing it now. With four children that dang fool bunny was playing peek a boo everyday. They fell it love with him when they were babies and the friendship lasted for quite awhile.
--It got so bad they forced me to play peek a boo with them and even made me watch it so I would learn the right way to do it. Apparently I wasn’t very good.
--Many a night I heard that bunny in my sleep and the children laughing hysterically. In a way it was kind of comforting. Because I’ve always believed laughter is the best medicine.
--Over the years even on bad days I’ve mad it a point to laugh. Of course my wife was a little unnerved at first when we first got married. But now she come to expect such behavior. And usually just shakes her head and smiles…

WELL HOW ABOUT THAT....10/20/16

--When the thunder is so loud it shakes the house you know it's time to get up. When you hear the long howl and bark that follows you know Waffles is up and freaking out again.
--When it comes to Waffles there a list of things the little fool is afraid of. Sometimes I think it changes daily but usually it's pretty straight forward. Just about everything scares Waffles.
--Thunder and lighting really does a number on the little fool. Usually I go out and make a cup of coffee and try to calm the little fool down, while the storm passes.
--When it does everything's fine until the next disaster to come along. It used to be children I had to calm down when thunder boogers were out and about. Now it's whack a doodle pets. I guess the more things change the more they stay the same. Sort of males you wonder....

YOU'D THINK IT WAS CHRISTMAS....07/18/15

--Coming home from the store after food shopping is a bit tiring after the whole ordeal. But that feeling of tiredness is quickly replaced with anticipation.
--Watching the children help unpack is almost like Christmas. It seems everyone has a favorite and my wife usually makes sure to find it as she plans meals. The reaction of the children is well worth the added hassle of the whole ordeal.
--Of course the children know it was my wife who remembered. Because sometimes I seem to have a tendency to forget names let alone likes and dislikes. Which is a problem in it self at mealtime…..

FINDING THE MIDDLE GROUND.....01/07/15

--During the course of any given day it often will be a contest to find the time to get everything done. Some things fall through the cracks. And depending on what they are I find they'll come back with a vengeance to remind me of that fact.
--So every once in awhile I find myself slowly the Sam hill down and taking things one step at a time.
--Much to the dismay of my wife and children. Mostly my children, my wife has more or less accepted the fact that at certain things I’m just poking along. doing the best I can.
--The children of course have a hard time with it because they expect me to drop everything and run from one crisis to the next. Not once taking into account that perhaps what I’m doing is necessary but in fact the best that I can at the moment.
--Oh they have gotten better over the years, but they still have a habit of falling into chicken little mode from time to time.
--Need less to say it makes for long days and turbulent nights trying to find a middle ground where everybody walks happy. But that’s what makes life so interesting I guess......

HOW SOON THEY FORGET.....09/14/16

--I've always been amazed how pets can forget the most simplest things they learned when they were very young. In a lot of ways I guess their like people in that sense.
--But unlike people it's usually quite easy to get most pets back on track. All it takes is a little consistency.
--People on the other hand are a enigma, just about the time you think their back on track blamo, their right back doing what they were doing before.
--If I had my druthers, I rather tackle a whack a doodle pet than a hard headed person. They have a tendency to leave you talking to yourself, and mumbling into the night......

THE COFFEE CAT....06/23/15

--Usually after a hard night of tossing and turning all I want in the morning is a cup coffee and quiet. What I get is far from that but I try to make do. Because anything else just takes too much energy before my coffee.
--Well this morning was going pretty good I had my coffee and was watching the sun come up and thinking about a second cup. When the old cat Dinky hopped up on the table and sat next to me.
--Now usually Dinky and I have an arrangement he stay's on my wife's side of the table when she's up and very seldom crosses over to my side. Except when it's just me and him.
--Usually I don't mind because I figure it's easier to give a little when it comes to cats. Most of the time what you get back is well worth it. The rest of the time its good to remember that their cats and you have to make allowances for their shenanigans.
--He leaned up against me and went to sleep. Which I figured was kind of rude because he was sleeping on my coffee drinking arm. But having raised four children I’d learned long ago it is necessary to drink with either arm.
--I have to admit it was kind of nice to have company while trying to wake up and shake off the remnants of the long night of tossing and turning. If that was his intention I have no way of knowing. But I wouldn't be too surprised. Cats are like that I’ve found over the years. And some cats are very sensitive to the moods and feeling of the people who share their space.....

EVEN DIMBLUB’S HAVE THEIR MOMENTS…02/11/15

--The things that run through your mind, as your falling down into a snow bank after a long tiring ride in the car on a cold night are to say the lest many.
--But once you land, and realize you did keep your face somewhat free of snow. As you take a moment to thank the power that be. And then of course try to get up before the cats that are slowly advancing down the driveway for a game of climb on the mountain.
--It is then that you realize when you were shoveling the driveway you made a bowl that’s kind of hard to stand up in when your on the lip between the edge of the drive and the rest is filled with car you were trying to work your way along when the side view mirror threw you off.
--So you do the only thing you can do you crawl while sliding along the car. Mean while the cats being what they are find this totally unexpected on a cold dark night, and a welcome distraction start running towards you.
--Reaching the end of the car you figure you made when low and behold become tangled in the cats under and around your feet and down you go again. Only this time you have company. All wanting your attention at once.
--Well what can you do you sit there for a moment and give each a little pat and explain to them while you’d really like to sit here and chat the snow is starting to soak into your clothes and you’d really like to avoid that Surprising they seem to understand or maybe they don’t want to get squished if you fall again. But they back up and watch as you get to your feet.
--Making your way to the house with the cats following along you realize even furry little dim bulbs have their moments.
--Reaching the house and climbing the stairs, you pat each of the cats sitting on the rails watching as you pass by. Thanking them again for their concern…

LAZY CATS....05/14/15

--Over the years we've had out share of lazy cats. Some were little extreme.
--like the cat who had the habit of falling asleep when eating. Or the cat the cat who would fall asleep on your shoes at night. Knowing full well you would pick him up and pet him in the morning. Or the fool inside cat who ran outside one day and saw the porch steps and laid down and took a nap waiting for a rescue attempt.
--The point is we've had our share of lazy cats and I’d thought I’d seen everything until little spot came along.
--Little spot had a habit of leaning against the wall when he meowed. He would fall asleep in the cat box wake up and lean over the side and start eating again and when full fall back to sleep again. I guess it just goes to show like people cats can be quite lazy to....

SNAILS AND SLUGS.....09/20/16

--You can tell when it rains because the dang fool porch is slippery as all get out, and covered with snails and slugs.
--For some reason as long as we've lived at whack a doodle acres we've always had a overabundance of snails and slugs.
--The children would scream like fool's every time there was a breeze after it rained because the dang fool things would fall out of the trees on them.
--Of course for some reason the dang fool cats loved playing with the dang fool snail the slugs not so much. You can always find the dang fool batting the snails around. The slugs on the other hand usually caused a lot of hopping up and down trying to get the slime off.
--The children weren't much better they didn't seem to mind the snails, in fact they used to throw the dang fool things at each other, the slugs would send them screaming for the house. I guess in a lot of ways cats and children are the same......

Harold the good morning crow…12/27/14

--On morning when waiting with my children for the bus we were greeted with a rather loud crowing from the phone wire above out heads. When we looked up we saw a rather large crow walking back and forth and
bobbing his head and chattering like a nut.
--Well the children all thought this was quite funny. Especially when I started to copy him.
--The children named him Harold and every morning for quite awhile he was waiting for us while we waited for the bus. And according the children he often appeared at their school chattering away.
--Harold hung around for quite a few years and proved us with loads of morning entertainment.
--I often wonder what happened to Harold and where he headed off. I like to think he found another family who needed a good morning friend. And even now is out there providing them much needed morning entertainment…

The living room playroom....01/17/15

--When we first moved into our house we turned our living room into a sort of giant playroom. not by choice really but by necessity.
--We had a giant little tykes castle we had bought for the children to play on out side but when we put it out side it became infested with bees. Making it impossible for the children to play on.
--My wife suggested why not bring it into the living room. Since we didn't really have a lot of living room furniture, and the living room was gigantic that’s what we did. Over the course of a couple of months the children had taken over. And the rest as they say was history.
--The children enjoyed the extra play area, and my wife and I enjoyed the fact that the space was finally being used.
--Of course there were a few ideas that probably weren’t the best like filling a giant castle with plastic balls. And them having to spend countless hours picking them up. Or just plan dodging them because the children were having a contest to see who could hit who.
But over all it was rather nice. And they had many hours of playing time with there coffee table town play sets, and what not.....

Food processor baby food....01/22/15

--We first realized we were in trouble trying to fill our children up with baby food in a jar. When we were constantly making a run to the store to get more.
--My  wife came up with the idea of running what we were having for dinner though a food processor. Since basically that’s what baby food jars were filled with. And we never really used a lot of spices. That’s what we did. The children seemed to enjoy it and weren’t crying constantly because baby food from the jar wasn’t filling them up. .
--The baby doctor thought it was ok, but we sort of forgot to mention we had been doing it for awhile before we mentioned it to him.
--The children were happy and growing according to schedule and that was all that counted. Personally I really think the children liked it because the food tasted a lot better some of that stuff in baby food jars was worse than hospital food....

Raindrops and rainbows

Breakfast for dinner

Morning flinch's little friend

Early morning chill

Certified dimbblub's

Kittens little bundles of fun and mischief

Breakfast for dinner

Spring poem

WHAT'S THAT TUNE 04/01/15

--I find listening to the radio lately to be an annoyance probably because as I get older I understand less of what’s being played. Oh sure there was a time when I had the dang fool thing playing all the time.
--Then one day I caught myself singing along to a song that made hardly any sense. And also didn’t sound like something I wanted floating around in my head. Let alone the heads of my children.
--So I pulled the plug. And stopped listening to the pre packaged mishmash they call music. Even though what worked for me, it left a vacuum. I never discouraged my children when it came to music. As a result they grew up with a firm like of all types.
--As for myself if I feel in the need of a tune I’ll usually make up my own little ditty to hum along to. This has brought both nods of encouragement and wonder from my children over the years. Mostly because I’m afraid I’m not to choosy about where I start humming or singing. And have been known to brake out in song while wondering the store’s with my wife and children from time to time….

 

 

THE FINE ART OF BEING BORED....0716/15

--When the children were little it was the one thing I dreaded hearing, “I’m bored." For reason they figured it was up to my wife and I  to find something for them to do. It took awhile but slowly they learned to use their imagination and find new ways to expand their horizons and playtime.
--Of course when they went to school they found out that a imagination was often frowned upon. And most of the time discouraged. So we ended up right back where we started. And once again being the tired old fool's that we are my wife and I had reintroduce introduce the whole concept of imagination to the children. It was slow going with the children caught in the middle unfortunately. But after awhile we made progress with the whole thing.
--Now that the children are older we haven’t heard those dreaded words so much. Instead we been hearing about all the things they have to do rather than what ever it is we might be trying to get them to do. But like the old fools that we are my wife and I have once again risen to the occasion.
--The children have been pretty good sports about the whole thing. And have learned sometimes it's better to go along than try to makes excuses. The time you save not having to listen to a long winded father can be better put to more enjoyable things.....

WAFFLES AND THE LAUGHING CHILDREN......08/18/16

--For some reason it doesn't take much to spook poor little waffles. Sometimes a leaf blowing across the yard has been known to get his dander up.
--The other night we were sitting out under the maple tree, watching the star’s, and just having a good old quiet time of it. When we heard what sounded like children laughing. As soon as waffles heard it he started growing and getting excited.
--At first I figured it may have been the neighbors children. But the time was like somewhere around 3am. And it was only a couple of seconds long.
--Well every thing went quiet again, and we went back to watching the star's.
--About 10,min  later we heard it again. I figured it was time to go back in the house, because sitting outside with a over active imagination while hearing strange sounds is not a good time.
--On the way back in the house I noticed the rocking house my wife had picked for the grandchildren rocking black and forth, and the dang fool cat squash was sitting on it smiling like a fool. Especially when the dang fool thing started laughing. It was then that I remembered every time the dang fool rocked you would hear laughing children. It was one of the reason my wife had to buy the dang fool thing. She thought it was cute.
--Waffles started growling at the dang fool cat and was going to chase him but remembered it was dark out there so he stopped.
--Well we went back in side, and that was that. No more watching stars for us for awhile. To much stress on that over active imagination ......

WOLF AND BLACKY ARE THE BABY GUARDS....04/17/15

--Actually it was quite amazing to watch .When the children were outside playing, Blacky our cat would have all the cats and kittens that seemed to hang around our yard follow the children where ever they went outside. It was like a little parade with Wolf our dog bringing up the rear.
--Fencing in the yard made it easier because we didn't have to worry about the children going towards the road. And even though we had a gate Wolf wouldn't let the children play in the front yard. He usually would nudge them back towards the back yard. Or sit on them if they became to stubborn.
--And Blacky well he would pull on their pant leg’s until Wolf got there to stop them. Together they would distract the child until I got there.
--In fact when they started school I had a really hard time convincing them the school bus wasn't a big yellow monster going to eat their babies...

DANCING FOOL'S....09/15/15

--Coming into the kitchen the other day I found my wife dancing with waffles to the chime of the Christmas clock. It was a sight. I don’t know who enjoyed it more waffles or my wife.
--It reminded me of all the dancing we've done over the years. And there have been a few. With crying children suffering through teething, with each other for no reason other than it was fun.
--Of course now that the children are older it's kind of hard to get them to dance. In fact when it was tried just recently you'd of thought it was a invasion of their personal space. That needed to be fought off at all cost.
--But after a patient explanation that it was nobodies purpose to invade anybody’s personal space. It was agreed it might be fun and we were all able to enjoy a few minutes of closeness once again as a family.
--Hug's were a staple at one time. Freely given and quite often. Now it seems the more space maintained the better everyone feels. That also had to be straighten out just recently. Much to the dismay of our children.
--Now of course, were on a back swing of sorts. Hug's and dancing have once again become a staple. And I’ve noticed a resurgence of untapped closeness that hasn't been present in some time.
--The children of course probably have their own option about the whole thing. And have chosen not to share because sometimes it's just easier to humor a long winded old fool than force him to drag out his old soapbox....

SORT OF MAKES YOU WONDER….08/31/15

--I’ll say one thing for cats in some way they remind me of a lot of people.
--Sitting in my serenity chair hearing to 2 males cats starting the alpha male games I can’t help but shake my head. I mean the sun isn’t even up and already their starting with their dang fool shenanigans. I guess male pride doesn’t watch a clock.
--Myself I always figured the whole thing seemed kind of foolish.  As long as the guy in the mirror and I can see eye to eye I pretty much let the whole thing go.
--Over the years I’ve tried to convey this to my children as they would spend hours it seemed arguing about some point that really made no sense. Sometimes they understood and let it go and sometimes they just continued the argument in whispers so I wouldn’t hear….

THE BEST TEACHERS I’VE KNOWN….02/04/15

--The conversations I’ve had with my children other years have been quite the delight. I’m happy to say.
And for everything I’ve tried  to teach them, there have been twice as many things  that they and my wife of course have taught me. And I’m not ashamed to admit it. In fact if push came to shove I’d say that my wife and children have been some of the best teachers I’ve known.
--Being married with children has been nothing but one extended learning experience after another.
--Oh there have been highs and lows over the years. But mostly it seems because of the preconceived shackles of just what it takes to be a man in the today world and where your place and role should be in the natural order of things. When in doubt don’t upset the norm, seems to be the male manifesto.
--For me taking 4 children to the store to pick up something was just a everyday thing as far as I was concerned. Yes one was in a baby carrier strapped to my chest, another was riding in car seat fixed shopping cart and the other 2 were walking along side so I guess we might of made quite the parade at the time.
--From the looks I got from some of the people we met you’d of thought we were dancing  and singing about the joys of life on the other side.
--Needles to say it’s been and continues to be some of the best moments of my life. Being Married with Children…

WHEN THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE....07/24/15

--Having the whole family under one roof is nice. And of course it doesn't take long before the old shenanigans start up. My wife and I just smile at each other because even though the children won't admit it they missed each other.
--It's a shame really but hey I guess as they get older they will realize it too. Right now they have a tendency to keep a tight reign on their emotions.
--Which is like a red flag for this old fool. Because if there's one thing I love it is getting people to loosen up. Especially my own dang fool children.
--In the morning time when my children wake up I would say good morning to with a hug and whisper I missed you. The children at first were a little put off by the closeness but after a while loosened up about the whole thing.
--Over the years I guess they've come to expect such whack a doodle behavior from their father. My wife of course doesn't seem to mind either. I do notice she smiles a lot in the morning.....

Where's your mama

Albino praying mantis's

How can you smile when the sky is falling

Spring poem

WHEN THE CABINET DOOR CLOSES....04/15/15

--Funny thing about dogs cats and kittens and children for that matter. want to see how fast you can wake a house up start banging cabinet door's.
--I’ve tried to be quiet, but one always slips and the next thing you know there all under foot wanting to know what’s up. What’s for dinner and how long will it be.
--Now children are easy answer there question, give them something to chew on while they wait and their happy. They'll usually be about their way. Cats and kittens go into minesweeper mode and start scouring the flour for crumbs. No matter how many times you explain your a clumsy old man and their going to get stepped on. Dogs will sit and whine hoping for a scrap or two. And if they happen to be outside they'll bark until their blue in the face.
--My wife of course blocks it all out and goes about her merry way. While when I’m cooking it seems like a contest to see who's going to the white room first. Makes you wonder I guess....

Trying to follow directions….01/28/15

--If there's an easier way to accomplish something I'll try it. In fact when I'm doing something I'll usually keep trying to find the easier and faster way of doing it until I've found it. Don't ask me why but that's just always been the way I've done thing's.
--It drives my wife nuts watching me chop or cut up food because after 5 min I’ve probably done it 20 different ways until I find the faster way to do it. She swears it’s a wonder I don’t chop of a finger or to.
--And to be honest it probably is a wonder. Over the years I’ve tried to stick to just one way of doing thing’s, but have been unable. Now I’ve reached the point that I don’t even bother fighting it. There seems to be to many other things to worry about, and in the long run why fight it. Life’s to short ….

TRYING TO TAKE THINGS FROM A BABY....04/15/15

--There’s something about a baby that still to this day makes me wonder.
When they know they have something they know their not supposed to have they become little flexible magicians and your trying to find the bean.
--Gone is the whole I’m just learning to walk ploy. They can move like a gazelle on those wobbly feet. While your trying desperately to track them down before they get hurt. Of course while your crank your knees on every piece a furniture in the house.
--And then the little wobbly escape artists will plop down and start giggling like the joker from batman as they offer you the offending prize. Figuring they better make amends soon before you ware yourself out to much. And don't have enough strength left to warm their bottle or change them.
--Which given all the excitement of having you chase them through the house their probably due for. Yeah sometimes I still wonder how they did it...

THE ALPHA MALE GAMES....0716/15

--One thing that gets tiring with male cats is the alpha male games. For some dang fool reason you always end up with two males who want to argue about who’s the alpha male. I’m sure it's not just confined to cats but the whole male species as a whole. It seems pretty sad to me. But hey what do I know.
--One thing I do enjoy watching though is when Hansel one of the female cats who hang around our house has had enough and runs out and gives those fool males what for. Quickly sending them off with their tails between their legs.
--Now if we could figure out how to get the rest of the dang fool males to stop the games maybe their would be a little peace and quiet in the world.
--Sort of makes you wonder doesn't it?.....

SHENANIGANS IN THE WINDOW....07/16/15

--For some reason a air conditioner in the window is a red flag to the outside cats. They have another place to hang out.
--Sitting in the kitchen were often treated to the daily episode of who’s king of the air conditioner. After awhile it gets to be a tad annoying.
--But that’s life I guess when you have a bunch of dimblubs who hang around your dang fool house. If their not finding new ways to get on your nerves their not happy it seems.
--I’m sure there's a way to keep these fool games to a minimum. And next year when I hang the dang fool air conditioner I’ll have a few to try. But knowing those dang fool dimblubs they'll have figured out a few more ways to get on our nerves. Such is life I guess the games go on....

TRYING TO GET A BETTER VIEW.....04/28/15

--Backing up to get a clear view of a problem sometimes works. Until vertigo kicks in from trying to see over the top.
--Sometimes taking things a tiny piece at a time can work the problem down to size. And sometimes you just end up maintaining the status quo.
--Keeping the effort going at times like these is hard. But not impossible because giving in means letting the problem win.
--And after so long of whittling away at it you just don't want to go back. So you pick up and keep going on, because there’s no other way....

WELL HELLO THERE....08/28/15

--One of the thing's I’m finding as I get older is that just when you thought there wasn't anything else that could possibly pop up in the morning to put a kink in Your socks. Something always manages to do just that.
--Even though I appreciate the universes thoughtfulness to make sure there’s that little bit of spice to keep me on my toes. It does get a tad annoying sometimes.
--But if anything it also reminds that I do have a few spots to work on. And provides me with a opportunity to do just. I guess like all things it's mostly how you look at them that counts the most.....

WAFFLES AND THE HOUSE FULL OF CATS....04/28/15

--Waffles loves going out in the morning, if only to race the old dog down the stairs of the porch. Of the course the old dog could care less about the race. And has been know to nip waffles in the but from time to time when he starts his Shenanigans.
--This morning was a tad different waffles ran down of the porch ,and over to his run. At first I thought it was because he had to go.
--But apparently that wasn't his purpose. It seems he was in a hurry to check out the house my wife put together for him yesterday.
--He ran to his house and was promptly greeted by all the dimblub cats who hang around our house. The resulting battle was short to say the lest. The cats quickly scattered and waffles started loving up his house. Apparently he needs to learn to share....

THE FINE ART OF BEING BORED....0716/15

--When the children were little it was the one thing I dreaded hearing, “I’m bored." For reason they figured it was up to my wife and I  to find something for them to do. It took awhile but slowly they learned to use their imagination and find new ways to expand their horizons and playtime.
--Of course when they went to school they found out that a imagination was often frowned upon. And most of the time discouraged. So we ended up right back where we started. And once again being the tired old fool's that we are my wife and I had reintroduce introduce the whole concept of imagination to the children. It was slow going with the children caught in the middle unfortunately. But after awhile we made progress with the whole thing.
--Now that the children are older we haven’t heard those dreaded words so much. Instead we been hearing about all the things they have to do rather than what ever it is we might be trying to get them to do. But like the old fools that we are my wife and I have once again risen to the occasion.
--The children have been pretty good sports about the whole thing. And have learned sometimes it's better to go along than try to makes excuses. The time you save not having to listen to a long winded father can be better put to more enjoyable things.....

Planning a good day

Breakfast for dinner

A little spring chill

Bat's in the morning

STICKING WITH THE PLAN….04/06/15

--The question’s that arise during the span of a entire day are sometimes amazing and just strange. If you stop for to long and try figure out the answer to each one you probably wouldn't get much done.
--Myself I try to stay on track, and keep the thoughtful reflection down . Or at lest until later in the day when I have more time.
--Sometimes this doesn't work to well, and I am forced to spend time with the weird little whack a doodles. When that happens I try to maintain some semblance of order and not get to entrenched in the whole process.
--Of course it doesn't always work. but for the most part it does.....

TRYING TO FIND….01/24/15

--Trying to find something shouldn’t be so hard just a process of retracing your steps. Or so you would think.
--Ask my children and they will tell you because I’m the one who says if your looking for something and can’t find it. Take a break and then try again latter.
--9 times out of 10 this seems to work. And I know in my case is usually right in front of me.
--Of course when I’m really getting frustrated one of my little smart aleck will yell out hey dad why don’t you take a break. No one likes a smart aleck but of course their usually right….

THE MINDSET OF THE CHANGING SEASONS….03/21/15

--Spring cleaning takes the form of many things I’m finding. Especially as I get older.
--After all these years I’m constantly finding that along with the changing seasons, a change in mind set is needed for each of the dang things.
--Life used to be so simple. Now it seems with every fluctuation in the weather a new mind set is needed in order to function. It does tend to make life interesting to say the lest.
--Luckily the ground work was laid along time ago, before it became necessity
 So switching from one to the other isn't as bad as it used to be....

THE FINE ART OF BEING HONEST....03/16/15

--The way I figure it being honest is allot easier than trying to keep track of those endless little lies.
--While I imagine there’s a time and a place for a white lie or two. Especially when the truth would hurt someone else needlessly. Even then the potential for things spinning out of control is there .
--When it comes to dealing with other people I pretty much try to stay honest.
--When we have a yard sale you won't find an broken thing’s sitting around waiting to be passed on to the next person. Which I wish could be said for some of the yard sales I’ve been to.
--And as far as dealing with everyday businesses I don't mind paying a fair price for whatever it is I’m looking for. Which seems to be a foreign concept at some places.
--I have never understood some of the shameless games some places play trying to get more jingle out of peoples pockets.
--But I guess that’s probably the point. Not trying to understand all the dang fool games just keeping your eyes open so those little extra bites are kept to a mere announce level....

ONE STUMBLE DOES NOT A FALL MAKE.…01/01/16

--Tripping, stumbling or what ever causes you to misstep along the way. Does not a fall make. A fall comes when you throw in the towel and just don't bother getting back up.
--I know not the most clearest notion. But myself I’ve found over the years that usually when I’ll fallen. It’s because I’ve just given up.
--Of course sometimes everyone needs a little breathing room, where they need to recharge. Which is something totally different. And should not be confused with any of the above.
--When I reach that point I usually just slow everything down and concentrate and tiny steps. Making sure to keep moving, and of getting back up no matter what when I misstep.
--Because I know there is no faster way to slide into the doldrums than wallowing around feeling sorry for myself. As long as I’m moving that wont be a problem.
--For now it seems to work and when it stops working I’m sure another way will pop up as long as I don’t give up….

ROUND AND ROUND WE GO.....06/30/15

--There's nothing worse than watching a house full of whack a doodle pets go of the deep edge. Usually it start's with a growl or hiss and the next thing you know your in the middle of a furry war zone.
--Over the years we've had our share of days with pets who just can't seem to get along. They make for trying times, but like everything can be weathered with a little patience.
--Usually the dang fool weather plays into the mix for some reason. I suppose like all of us pets can be affected by the dang fool weather.
--Most of the time I try to nip in it bud as quick as possible. Sometimes were lucky and sometimes well you got to let the little fools get it out of their system.....

THE FIRST STEPS OF THE DAY.....06/30/15

--Usually during the first five minutes of the day I try my best to keep it as simple as possible. Living in a house filled with various pets and children and a loving wife sometimes this is a tad tricky.
--But like everything else I’m finding out as I get older not impossible. Warming up a cup of coffee for my wife when she wakes is something of a joy. Because the women always greets me with a smile even if she's spent most of the night dodging hot flashes and making cat infested runs to the bathroom. How she can do it I have no idea, but it sure is nice to see so early in the morning. It gives me the added boost to put the grump’s away and try harder for a good day.
--The pets of course are a enigma and are best taken with a cup of coffee. Because even though they are fun to have around their early morning shenanigans can find what nerves that wore out and poke them to no end. But coffee sure makes it bearable to say the lest. Over the years we've reached a compromise of sorts. They let me have coffee and I’ll pet them silly afterwards.
--The children well their a different breed. Sometimes it seems as if getting a smile or to in the morning is a feat left better to superman. But we've reached a compromise of sorts to when they happen to cross my path they crank up the smile machine. Because they come to understand it's the only way to keep their long winded father from dragging out the soapbox and started in on the old day talk’s.
--It's those first steps of the day that matter I’m finding after all these years. And slowly so is everybody else. We may not be the happiest campers in the park but we sure as Sam hill give it our best shot.......

HUMORING THE CAT....06/30/15

--The first thing I see when I opened my eye's is the cat staring at me.
--He gives a yawn, and gives me a look that say's come on I took the first watch, now it's your turn. Well I don't really want to get up, but if there's one thing I’ve learned.
--When cats want you to get up they don't have patience to burn. Instead of a gentle pat on the face the next one will be quite severe.
--It's best to just humor them and get up off your rear...

Yard sale watcher's

Barbq buddies

How can you smile when the sky is falling

Breakfast for dinner

AT SOME POINT….06/24/15

--It seems that at some point it finally dawned on everyone that even though spring is on the way it’s not here yet so maybe we should just take a break and go to bed and cut out the shenanigans.
--What ever the case after a week of singing the song of spring last night was pretty quiet. Of course the fact that it was a tad cold probably helped. Either way it was a quiet night which afforded me a little sleep for which I’m very grateful.
--I guess like everything else, what goes up must come down eventually….

NAMING PETS....04/06/15

--I’ve never figured out why it is with my children that they have to rush and find names for pets.
--They often try to drag me into the conquest to bestow a name. And I try to tell them I had all I could do to help naming them. To be honest my wife had more to do with that process. Because my choices were usually vetoed.
--But I guess it's a thing with children. Naming things that is. Which is ok by me I just wish they’d pick names I could remember.
--But they don't and of course I don't remember. And they spend the majority of their time reminding me of the dang fool name. I guess it's a process of growing up....

OK WERE DONE NOW....04/28/15

--I’m always amazed at the stubbornness of pets in general. They have the resolve of a child who knows the are not supposed to be doing something. But does it anyways. And the facial expressions of the whole who me thing down pat.
--My wife often looks at me like I’m simpleminded when I start about some of their antics. She often can be heard to say their just dogs cat or kittens. Like that really explains it all.
--But I swear they defiantly have a attitude problem. Like when you tell a cat to get the Sam hill of the table and it'll spend five minutes licking it themselves before they gets down. As if to say I’m getting down but only because I want to not because you yelled at me. Or when you take the dang fool dogs out to do their business. They’ll wait until you get back into the house and just pick up your coffee. And then start barking like banshees to let you know their done and want to come back in.
--Of course my wife humors me because that’s what you do with a old man who has a problem with the dang fool pets....

Ollie and Goofy a weird friendship...01/08/15

--Over the years we've had quite a few pets. For awhile it seemed like we were running a tiny zoo.
--One of the pets we had was a dove named Ollie . Everyone thought Ollie was the greatest thing. All he'd do all day was fly around his cage coo and play peek a boo with goofy our cat.
--For some reason the fool cat was fascinated with the dang bird. They would sit there and play peek a boo for hours.
--When goofy became pregnant she'd lie on top of Ollie’s cage, and Ollie would walk back and forth cooing all night long.
--The only problem I ever had with Ollie was when it came time to clean his cage. For some reason he'd go from fun loving dove, to movie extra from the birds movie. And spend most of his time trying to take a piece out of me. Of course my wife could walk over and clean his cage with no problem. The dang bird loved her.
--My wife's answer to my dilemma was ,“maybe if you tried to talk nice to him while your cleaning his cage he'd be nice in return“.
--Right you try to talk nice to a bird while he's trying to take a piece out of you was my response....

EVERYONE GETS LONELY FROM TIME TO TIME....01/01/16

--Funny thing about cats, for all their independent attitude the actually get quite upset when left alone to long. At lest it seems that way to me sometimes.
--The first few moments of everyday seems to be try and get enough coffee in the old body and wakeup. And reassure the dang fool furry little darlings that even though the are a pain in the neck something you still like having them around.
--Between sipping and petting there’s a fine line. One I’m still tiring to find. Because quite frankly a fellow could wear 3 pair of hands with all the petting going on in our house sometimes.
--And God forbid you go out and about for an length of time because the whole thing starts again.
--In a way it reminds me of when the children were younger. Everything was fine as long as the could see you. Leave the room for 2 seconds and whamo full blown banshee mode.
--But everyone gets lonely from time to time  and I suppose pets are not that much different. Be they cats dogs or lizards. Sometimes it's good to reassure each other with a petting, or a hug from time to time.
--I will say one thing there’s nothing a good old hug to set the day right. I guess that’s why we've always spent a lot of time hugging each other in our house. Of course their are those of days when the children start to worry when the pets get hugged and the end up with a pet. But their mother just reassures them that their father gets confused from time to time.
--You’d think they’d be used to it by now but apparently not....

NO STRING'S ATACHED....10/03/15

--Usually when I come across a offer that starts out with no strings attached I get nervous and start feeling for my wallet.
--Most of the time they end up shredded and in the cat box, where they'll do the most good. Rather than me trying to wade through the twisted writing to try and figure out just where in the Sam hill the catch is. Putting myself on the road to a brain aneurism.
--My wife claims if I took the time I might find out they were good ones out there. But that’s only another of her not so suttle attempts to hear me rant about the shuffle and muffle writing they usually contain. Where they shuffle the truth by muffling it with big words.
--Over the years if there’s one thing I’ve learned everything has a certain amount of strings attached. You do the best you can by trying to find the ones with lest amount of strings. It's a adventure just trying to figure out which is which.....

ARE YOU SAVING THAT....04/15/15

--One day while going though a checkout with one of my children in a baby papoose. The girl behind the checkout asked me if I was saving a slimy cheese doodle stuck to my shirt for later. I glanced down to see what in Sam hill she was taking about when my son grabbed the cheese doodle and tried to shove it in his mouth.
--After fighting with him for a couple of minutes I finally got it away from him and put the dang thing in my pocket. And then whipped the slim on my pants. I tried to smile when I answered her and said no I wasn't saving it but apparently he was."
--Of course the whole incident was just one in a cluster of the many times I’d had people point out things on my clothes. Anything from dried baby spit up to cheese doodles. After changing babies I never bothered checking my clothes before running to the store. Which seemed like a constant chore what with four babies and a teenage son we were constantly running out of things.
--Needless to say this brought a lot chuckles from checkout people over the years....

BARGINS AND BUG-A-BOO'S....06/19/15

--There's nothing like finding that hidden bargain amidst a cavalcade of high priced tidbits. Sometimes I tend to get on my wife nerves pushing the cart humming the theme song to Indiana Jones. But over the years she's learned to block the majority of my shenanigans out. Raising six children has probably helped. Even though she denies it.
--Along with the adventure of finding that little bargain you might stumble across with a lot of patience. You of course have to worry about the bug- a- boos of pitfalls. You know the bargains with a bug- a- boo hiding inside. Buy one get one free but when you do the math you realize you paid for the free one. Or the old five for a trap. Again when you do the math you find out all they did was add the little bug- a -boo's up and give you a price. You might of saved a few penny’s but the store got you to buy five of them.
--But like everything thing if your careful. And take your time you can avoid the little traps and have an adventure in the process....

Spring poem

A little bit of hot air

How can you smile when the sky is falling

Humans vrs beasts

TRYING TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE.... 03/21/16

--Sometimes its hard to be constructive when it seems the dang fool world gone in terminal tilt mode. And no amount of roiling hip shots seems to set the dang fool game right again.
--On days like that it makes it hard to even crack a smile. Or even think a cheerful thought or two.
--But like everything else its usually a matter of perception. And yeah the dang fool world probably has gone into permanent tilt mode it seems. But I know if I have any chance at all I better concentrate on my little piece of it. Or I’m going to be sucked into the whole whorl of discontent right quick.
--So even though it’s hard I paint a smile on my face, and buckle down the hatches. I start counting blessings and keep counting until the thing’s I’m grateful for are at the forefront of my mind. Leaving all the whispering little gremlins without a toe hold, cast adrift in a frosty sea filled with blessing’s.
--It makes for a good day in spite of everything, and that’s all that matters in my book.....

GUESS WHAT YOU FORGOT?....06/09/15

--Usually it's when your just about to go to sleep little things pop up to remind you what you have forgotten. Be it the cat or the children or just some plain old jobs left forgotten. Usually I deal with the major and put the minor off for later.
--Of course cats and children are a tad harder to put off. So usually sleep gets put off  while your dealing with them. And then if your lucky it’s back to bed.
--But like everything else it’s a sort of give and take thing. As long as your up and about it is amazing the types of things that pop up. Like the dogs who decide since your up maybe they need to take another trip outside. You know just to make sure everything is where they left it. Or puddles of god knows what on the kitchen floor that need to be mopped up that were left by your sleep walking children. Because you know if left for morning you'll be the one who slips in it on the way to the coffee pot.
--So if your lucky after dealing with all the whack a doodles and a bit of housework you might be able to return to bed. Of course just about the time your so comfortable your bladder reminds you it might be a good idea to make a trip to the bathroom.
--The choices are simple of course. Usually I close my eyes and say oh well and try for a little sleep. But like everything else it doesn't work. So off you go again hoping you make it there and back before anybody realizes your up and about....

Parenting where’s the manual….01/04/15

--When you buy a new appliance it usually comes with a owners manual. That tells you the do’s don’ts of  safe operation.
--When you bring a child home from the hospital there’s no manual. Your pretty much on your own.
--Oh there are books you can get, that explain the basic’s. But most of those are often filled intellectual nonsense written by people who have never raised a child. Let alone been in the same room with one.
--Mostly you do the best you can, hoping your doing it right. While listening to people point all the ways your doing it wrong. All the while trying not to get discouraged, and yet keep all the balls in the air.
--There are golden moments along the way that are pure joy, and also moments of pure misery.
--It’s the only job I know that can leave you emotionally wrung out on the one hand, and take you to a spiritual high on the other. All within the course of a single day sometimes.
--As for myself I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it for all the tea in china. Although it would be nice to find the manual, I think maybe that’s the point. It’s up to each of us that are blessed with being a parent to write our own manual’s and share it with our children so when their time comes it might make it a little for them some day..

ENCOURAGING THE LIGHT…02/06/15

--I love listening to my children talk when there excited about something that’s important to them.
--Even if I’m unsure about what it is there talking about, like a computer game or something along those lines.
--I try not to interrupt because I don't want to unintentionally dampen the fire in their eyes when they get going.
--Because quite frankly I love seeing the passion they have for what ever it maybe there talking about.
--As a parent I’ve always tried to encourage my children and support them as much as I can. Especially in their passions what ever they might be…

Thank God for Busybodies....01/26/16

-- When it comes to Busybodies, I have to say they are without a doubt constant. and I might add persistent.
--No matter how hard you try to appease them, by listening to their unsolicited advice. which they are always ready to give. They seem to have a never ending supply of ways that you can fix what your doing wrong.
--If your ever in doubt and need advice on something their always there. Most of the time I find before you realize that you needed their advise.
--My wife thinks I’m touched in the head when I say things like ,“If it wasn't for the Busybodies of the world how would we ever know if we were doing anything right.”
--So I say ,“Thank God for Busybodies it's nice to know their watching out for us“...

SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE....09/18/16

--Sometimes the difference between to points is so small, you could split the difference with out much problem. And other times even with a team of horses there's no way you can solve anything without some form of compromise.
--Right what a mouthful, but finding this stuff out at the early stage of the problem makes for a better working relationship. And keeps you on your toes long enough to progress past the problem.
--Of course being willing to give a little helps alot. Other wise your kind of stuck.
--But with patience and a lot of working together it is possible to work things out.....

EXPANDING HORIZONS.....06/20/15

--Keeping a open mind about the possibilities of life is hard when life seems to be going out of it's way to knock you down. But not impossible if we are able to keep a open mind. Sometimes it hard but not impossible.
--Expressly on those days when the only thing going right is the constancy of just about everything you encounter is going wrong.
--My wife usually looks at me like I stepped of the bridge of sanity when on those days I say something like well at lest it's being constant. And over the years we trudged through quite a few of those days. Sometimes it seems more than our fair share.
--But the one thing we've found is this to shall pass, and tomorrows another day. I know it doesn't seem like much but even a little hope is better than nothing .
--Of course that doesn't make those days any shorter, but it does keep thing's in perspective. At lest that’s the way we try to handle them. So far it's worked pretty well. And when it stops working I’m sure we'll find another way to get through those days. That’s what working together is all about......

WORKING TOGETHER…..07/08/15

--Coming home after being out and about to find that children have reached a point in their lives where they can come together and work together. Is as close to a miracle as I’ve had the joy of experiencing in quite awhile.
--Oh over the years there have been a few occasion’s where it’s happened. But they have always retreated from the prospect for fear of what I was never able to figure out.
--It’s seems lately though they’ve embraced the idea with open arms. And no longer seem to be afraid. Which my wife and I are greatly pleased by the prospect to say the lest.
--I guess it just shows what a little patience can accomplish…..

YOU JUST GOT TO LOVE THE MEMORY MACHINE….01/08/17

--It always amazes me that no matter how well you proceed on life’s little journey there’s always some wing nuts waiting in the wings getting ready to fire up the memory machine and remind you of the days when things didn’t always go just right.
--In a way I feel sorry for the little darling’s to be that preoccupied with the past that they have to carry it around and be able to quote certain pages at a moment’s notice must take a lot out of them.
--Maybe it’s just me but it seems like that energy could be put to better uses, but hey what in Sam hill do I know, I’m still wearing the same pink hat I picked up in a yard sale 30 years ago….

Listening to them..11/28/14

--They say don't be afraid, but forget what is was like without the light.
--They say don't point it's not polite. but forget what is was like to see an unusual sight.
--They say don't say this, and don't say that, But forget what it was like just starting when the world full and their were no boundary’s in sight.
--They say don't disagree, just go along. but forget it was the one's who questioned what was, that got us this far.
--Maybe it's time we stopped listening to them for a change, and started listening to our own little voices. After all they really haven’t had a good track record so far…

A little spring chill

How can you smile when the sky is falling

Cemetery poem

Baby playing with Dad and Mom

A little spring chill

Kittens everyday morning

Crazy days

A little spring chill

It's the dawning of a new day

MOVING ALONG WITH YOUR DAY….02/18/15

--To sit about and contemplate all that could go wrong, is like replaying the same old song.
--Although the tune a pear’s to  rejuvenate and make your feel better, you find instead your in for a bout of stormy weather.
--Perhaps what's needed instead is tune of your own to hum , as you move on .
--Leaving your head quite clear and full of good cheer as get along ....

CHASING OFF THE WINTER FOOLS....02/18/15

--Looking out the bathroom window, is such a spooky sight. Especially when you realize that the snow has drifted up to just below the window frame, some 5ft of the ground.
--It makes you realize that winter is far from over, and in fact when spring finally does get here .they'll probably find you sitting in your kitchen chair, recuperating from all the shoveling you've done since winter had begun.
--Looking out the front window, where your yard used to be, you realize. What used to be a drive way is now a play ground for a snow drift or two. It wouldn't be so bad if it was only one but this time they seem to have brought a friend or two in there winter fun.
--As you get dressed to go out and chase off these winter fools you take a look at the calendar and shake your head because you no darn well winter's far from done...

HIDING FROM THE TRUTH….07/02/15

--It’s a funny thing about the truth, no matter how well kept, or hidden it usually finds the light of day.
--And when it does we all seem so surprised. When if we’d really bothered to look it was right there to be seen before our eye’s.
--But that’s the funny thing about the truth no matter how well hidden given time it usually finds the light of day.
--As far as being surprised when it rear’s it head. Well that’s all in how you look at it. Contrary to the belief that most people are so addle minded to be mislead buy such blatant attempts at misdirection that they will buy anything as long as it’s packaged right.
--I feel sorry for those fellows because they apparently have no idea who their dealing with. And should spend more time getting to know their intended audience instead of finding new ways to mislead them.
--We as people are pretty open minded I’ve found and I will give anybody half a chance. Until we reach the end of our patience and put a stop to the shenanigans once and for all. Usually leaving a lot of people scratching their heads wondering what went wrong….

NICE WAYS TO START THE DAY…..02/18/15

--The pitter patter of rain drops on the roof, is said to be kind of soothing.
--A gentle breeze after the rain, is kind of nice.
--But what really relaxes me, is coffee waiting in the morning when I get up.
--Either way there all nice way’s to start the day, and waiting well that just make’s you appreciate them more when they finally do appear at the start of your day…

LITTLE REMINDER'S....08/24/15

--I love how we are given little reminder's when it's time to change direction. the trick is being open minded enough to see them for what they are and not ignoring them.
--Over the year's it's been a balancing act to say the lest. Some time’s I catch the little bugger's when they first appear. And some time’s it's not until much later.
--Getting older I’ve tried to maintain a open mind and it's usually work’s. It’s amazing really the amount of trouble you can avert if you listen the first time. I guess it just goes to show you can teach a old fool new trick's.
--Now if I could just figure out how to share the little bit of insight with the dang fool cat's I might be getting somewhere....

TRYING TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE.... 03/21/16

--Sometimes its hard to be constructive when it seems the dang fool world gone in terminal tilt mode. And no amount of roiling hip shots seems to set the dang fool game right again.
--On days like that it makes it hard to even crack a smile. Or even think a cheerful thought or two.
--But like everything else its usually a matter of perception. And yeah the dang fool world probably has gone into permanent tilt mode it seems. But I know if I have any chance at all I better concentrate on my little piece of it. Or I’m going to be sucked into the whole whorl of discontent right quick.
--So even though it’s hard I paint a smile on my face, and buckle down the hatches. I start counting blessings and keep counting until the thing’s I’m grateful for are at the forefront of my mind. Leaving all the whispering little gremlins without a toe hold, cast adrift in a frosty sea filled with blessing’s.
--It makes for a good day in spite of everything, and that’s all that matters in my book.....

GUESS WHAT YOU FORGOT?....06/09/15

--Usually it's when your just about to go to sleep little things pop up to remind you what you have forgotten. Be it the cat or the children or just some plain old jobs left forgotten. Usually I deal with the major and put the minor off for later.
--Of course cats and children are a tad harder to put off. So usually sleep gets put off  while your dealing with them. And then if your lucky it’s back to bed.
--But like everything else it’s a sort of give and take thing. As long as your up and about it is amazing the types of things that pop up. Like the dogs who decide since your up maybe they need to take another trip outside. You know just to make sure everything is where they left it. Or puddles of god knows what on the kitchen floor that need to be mopped up that were left by your sleep walking children. Because you know if left for morning you'll be the one who slips in it on the way to the coffee pot.
--So if your lucky after dealing with all the whack a doodles and a bit of housework you might be able to return to bed. Of course just about the time your so comfortable your bladder reminds you it might be a good idea to make a trip to the bathroom.
--The choices are simple of course. Usually I close my eyes and say oh well and try for a little sleep. But like everything else it doesn't work. So off you go again hoping you make it there and back before anybody realizes your up and about....

DID YOU JUST HEAR WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU HEARD......

--Every once in awhile the fates smile on this old pink hat wearing fool and I'm allowed to be right about something.
--Those are the amazing days that go into the old brainpan, with all the bells and whistles attached so there not misplaced, in the hodgepodge of memories .
--Of course like all special days they pass and it's back to the daily grind where life throws a endless barrage, whack a doodle ness, that would make a Tibetan, monk scratch his head in wonder.
--But with patience and the memories of those oh so special days the whack a doodle ness passes and life goes on. Making what once was a real head scratchier into a mere bump in the road . Sort of makes you wonder if it's all in how you look at things that helps the most.....

Special days

How can you smile when the sky is falling

Rina's song

Humans vrs beasts

Early morning chill

Sensible salting requires sensible driving…01/09/15

-Times are hard we all know that, in fact were constantly bombarded with it every step of the way in our lives.
--In the winter there are so many thing's to deal with that sometimes I get dizzy just trying to keep all the balls in the air. From trying to stay warm, to trying to gather enough jingle each month to pay the ever increasing cost of our existence on this planet. It seems like life has become one giant gamble.
--But what I’d really like to know is it really necessary to have to take your life in your hands every time you leave the house in the winter. Because lately that what it seems like.
--I'd like to meet the wack a doodle who came up with sensible salting requires sensible driving. apparently that person has never spent much time traveling the roads lately. Because maybe it's just me but as each year passes I’m seeing more and more cases where common sense have taken a flying leap. And has been replaced by a constant need for speed at all cost.
--Most of the time in the winter is spent trying to confine all our trips to the daylight because after dark has become a no mans land of rushing zombies who have no regard for rules of the road. Let alone common sense. And at lest during the day you can see what their up to…

THE DOOR TO THE DOULDRUMS.....09/16/16

--They say variety is the spice of life, sometimes it's kind of hard to find variety in the same old same old. Oh, that's not to say it can't be done it just takes a wee bit of creative thinking I guess.
--And like a lot of things you need to find the spice is the space of the day to day race. All it takes is a bit of patience and the willingness to look.
--Myself I try to keep a open mind, finding blessings along the way to hold me over until the douldrums, pass.
--It's not much but sometimes you have to make the best of what you have. Keeping in mind that tomorrow's a new day, and the sunrise is icing on the cake of life.....

The little voice…12/16/14

--It was a morning like any other or so I thought at the time.
--The schedule was quite full. First day of school, doctors appointment later in the day ,and my wife had to be at work by 7am. Since we only had one car on the road I was going to drive her to work. And because of the timing I was going to take the babies with us so the older boys could catch the bus. But just before we were ready to leave my wife looks at me and says" why don't we leave the babies home you'll be back in plenty of time for the boy's to catch the bus."
--Well I wasn't really looking forward to trying to get the babies in there car seat's anyways so I agreed.
--The trip to work was about 4 maybe 5 miles away and we were there in just about no time. I turned on my left hand blinker and started to turn into the driveway when their was a loud crash and everything went from peaceful morning to amusement ride from hell.
--The car went into a spin, there was glass flying everywhere. I held onto the wheel as best as I could to try and ride out the spin, and bring the car under some sort of control.
--It was about this time that I could hear a baby crying, and for some reason I could just barely make out it's little hand. Well I took one hand of the wheel and reached for the babies hand and held on to the little thing as best as I could.
--After what seemed like forever the car came to a stop and when my vision cleared to the point again where I could focus on the interior of the car. I looked over at my wife to find her car door open and she was no where to be found. But I could hear yelling at me that she was alright ,so I didn't panic.
--Next I looked in the back seat to check on the babies. at first glance I started to panic the back seat empty and filled with broken glass everywhere. It was then I remembered we had left the babies home.
--Getting out of the car was a trick and a half because I had to get out on my wife's side because the driver-side was bent right into the driver's seat. But after fighting with the seat belt for a bit I was finally able to get out.
--I found my wife standing next to one of her coworker's trying to get the glass out of her hair. She asked me if I was OK and I reassured her I was fine .just little shook up was all.
--I still couldn't get the crying baby out of my head so I went back to check the car again. And no there were no babies in the car. we had in fact left them home.
--Well not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I realized that if we didn't bring the babies from home with us. Then maybe there was one we hadn't known about when we left this morning. And maybe my wife was pregnant. Or maybe I'd finally broken that last string of sanity and gone over the end.
--The ambulance came and I had my wife go to the hospital to get checked out. before she got in I told her to let the hospital know she might be pregnant.
--She didn’t say anything, but assured me she would let them know.
--I got a ride home with one her coworker, so the older boys could catch the bus for school and someone would be there with the babies.
--When my wife got home from the hospital, she let me know she was fine except for a cracked rib. Oh and being pregnant.
--It was then that she asked me how in the Sam hill I knew she was pregnant.
--I just smiled and told her a little voice told me....

THING'S TO REMEMBER AT NIGHT....06/13/15

--One of the first thing’s I try very hard to remember at night is putting my glasses on. And then the list goes from there. It’s a little game I play before I get out of bed.  Next is shoes so you don’t step on anything pointy in your path. Of course like any good parent the only thing that'll short circuit the list is a cry of help.
--Over the years after many adventures of stumbling around and then realizing that perhaps glasses before shoes is a better idea. It’s amazing how much a dang fool wall will bring that fact to your attention after walking smack into it a few times more than needed.
--Of course we've also had to teach the children what in Sam hill a emergency is. And when it's a good idea to wake up dear old dad. Like a little tiny spider crawling on a wall, not really a good idea. A spider the size of a small truck chewing a whole through the wall I guess maybe.
--But seriously you get the point. Over the years I think I’ve spent more time walking back and forth than sleeping. And not all of the emergency's were really all that important. You heard a noise no that’s not an out rages ordeal a troll standing there with a head dripping blood and a big ole ax in his hand then ok you can wake me up by all means. I have to admit the children have gotten better. And now will even bring me a cup of coffee when they have to wake me up for something.                                                                                                         --Now if I can just convince the dang fool cat to start showing my wife his mouse conquest's in the middle of the night instead of me I’ll be doing something after all it‘s her cat....

WHAT A PLESENT SURPRISE….03/09/15

--To say I was shocked would be a understatement. But  that’s all I can think of right now.
--It seems either the cats’ and kittens have forgotten our morning game of hide and go seek the poo. Or it was just to dang cold for their nightly shenanigans.
--Either way I’ll take what I can get. I’ll admit their a fun loving bunch of little whack a doodles. But playing hide and go poo every morning is wearing a tad thin.
--Oh course I’m not foolish enough to think this is a truce of any sorts. I’ve been playing this game for to long. But like I said I’ll take what I can get, especially when dealing with cats and kittens….

WHAT A SUNRISE !....10/20/16

--Waking up to a room filled with orangish, red light tends to make a fella jump out of bed right quick.
-Of course when you trip over a coffee table while looking for your dang fool shoes, you tend to slow down a bit while your cursing the people who made the coffee table and the fool's who bought the thing, to take a better look around the death trap known as your living room. You quickly realize that all the light is the result of the sunrise coming through the open curtains. And once again you marvel at the beauty that is the morning sunrise.
--As you hobble out to the kitchen for that first cup of coffee you make a note to yourself sometimes even bad things can turn out all right with enough motivation. Sort of makes you what else can be accomplished with the right motivation.....

IT SHOULDN’T BE SO HARD…..

--You would think it wouldn't be so hard to get people to work together. Find a common ground and go from there.
--Of course finding a common ground is a lot easier when everyone tries. Otherwise you just end up with a bunch of people running around looking out for number one. And not getting anything done in the process.
--In a lot of ways it's kind of sad how low people can go when it comes to certain things.
--I guess that's what dreams are for, maybe someday people will realize just what in Sam Hill their missing out on......

Full moon mixup

A little spring chill

Try to have a good day

A BACKYARD FULL OF GEESE AND A YARD FULL OF WHACK A DOODLE CATS....01/01/16

--For some reason even a backyard filled with geese can't seem to get the ATENTION of the whack a doodle cats that hang around our house.
--When a whole flock made a surprise touch down in the backyard today the fool cats just sat on the porch railing staring at them and then went back to watching the door to see if any body was going to come out and feed them.
--I’m not saying these cats are lazy but the sure as Sam hill are boarding on the point of being down right past the point of being cats.
--For some reason a free meal is more appealing than going out and actually looking for food. Like an self respecting cat would do. The worse part is they are not even our cats. People just keep dropping the dang fool things off Because some where out there is a sign that says for a soft touch hang around the house of whack a doodle.
--Last summer I even found a picture book full of cats doing cat things like hunting up their food. I tried going over it with the little fools but they weren’t to impressed. Maybe I’ll try videos next or just resign myself to the fact their just whack a doodle and let it be....

SLEEPY CATS AND HYPER DOGS....04/12/15

--It seems lately we've got two schedule conflicts running through the house.
Sleepy cats and hyper dogs.
--The cats and kittens have been sleepy during the day and the dogs have been hyper as heck as soon as the sun comes up.
--Of course this has proven to be a constant source of resent for the cats and kittens. I guess nobody likes to be woken up when their trying to sleep.
--The dogs of course seem to think it's funny waking the cats and kittens up. The cats and kittens well they spend most of their time hissing and batting the heck out of the dogs. Personally I think it's just a case of spring fever....

CHICKEN BONES AND CATS…02/11/15

--As long as I live I’ll never be able to figure out the power chicken bones have over cats.
--You can have a box of sleeping cats in your kitchen walk out with a plate of chicken bones and all of a sudden your surround by a pack of hungry little gremlins all wanting a piece of what ever it is your carrying.
--All trying desperately to make their case for why you should give it to them by walking back and forth in front of you.
--After years of trial and error I’ve learned to never look down while carrying a plate of bones, because there is  something about the back and forth motion that gets me dizzy every time. And as a result I end up spilling the dang bones.
--So usually I try to just wand though as best till I can and make it to the icebox, where I can store the bones till morning. When they can be tossed in the garbage on the way out the door to the can.
--The cats of course remember the bones are there and will spend the rest of the night plotting on how to break in.
--Every once in a while you’ll hear a crash, from the kitchen and have to get up and go look only to find a bunch of cats making a be line back to their box.
--My wife of course thinks it would probably be easier to give the dang cats the bones. And just clean up the mess in the morning. But as I so very quietly like to point out of course you do your not the one who find them in his boots when their through with them…..

DO BAD SEEDS MAKE BAD FRUIT?....07/09/15

--When it comes to cats sometimes it seems like a roll of the dice as to how their kittens come out. I’ve of the smartest cats have some of the most dimblub cats. And of course it goes the other way to. To dimblubs have some of the smartest cats you every wanted to see.
--Sometimes it enough to drive you whack a doodle. Something I try very hard to stay away from. Because I have enough on my plate that keeps me teetering as it is.
--On a whole I’ve learned to love the furry little gremlins. Never expecting to much, and more than happy when they meet and even exceed my limited expectations.
--Oh of course there are days when even those expectation are to much for the furry little fools. But I guess even cats have bad days too.....

THE VALLEY OF DOOM....09/13/15

--For the most part I try to look on the bright side of thing's. When there's no bright side in sight I try to put a positive spin on thing's.
--Sometimes this is pretty easy and sometimes I really have to work hard at it. I adopted this attitude many years ago when I came to the realization that looking at the dark side of things just didn't seem to help much. In fact at times it was drowning without being underwater. Emotional drowning I guess.
--Since I adopted this attitude thing's work much better. Even though day days run hot and cold for the most part I have some pretty good days.
--One thing I really have a hard time will lately is people always looking on the dark side of thing's. The old doom and gloom, running through them and pretty much their whole outlook on life. Life is hard enough at times and doesn’t really need our help hammering ourselves willingly into the ground. Why some people can’t seem to realize this, sure makes me scratch my head in wonder at times.
--Until of course I remember my own misbegotten younger years, and my dances with the dark side. When I hard a hard time finding things to be positive about. And spent many a dark hour waiting for the other shoe to drop.
--Rather than turn away from those poor souls lost in the dark doldrums I try to reassure them. And of course say a little prayer for them. I know it isn’t much. But sometimes a life preserver is all you can offer. Until they decide they’ve had enough of dancing with the dark side. Trying for  a little change in their life.
--Hopefully they’ll see the light and be able to find their way. Where the days get better, and the night’s get easier to take.
--In the mean time I try to reassure them the best I can and keep my eyes pealed for their waving hand….

STOKING UP THE FIRE....06/12/15

--When good days are a tad slow in coming about this month. It’s good to have a backup plan for stoking the fire of inspiration. And of course having another backup plan for your original backup plan is a must.
--Over the years I’ve tried to come up with a few. And have on several occasion. But because life is always changing I’ve found that developing the ability to pick inspiration out of the air is a much needed gift. One I’m still trying to learn to do. Because even backup plans fall apart on occasion. Forcing you to use your other backup plan into play.
--There’s nothing worse than finding yourself with nothing but thin air when your so called backup plans go bust. If your not careful  you'll condemn yourself to a day filled with the doldrums. Which is like walking with cement shoes a real pain in the neck. And just a tad unbearable. This is when everyone becomes stagnant with no plan in motion. The effects are that nothing gets accomplished and no one does anything. Just sitting around biding your time.
--Of course my wife is convinced I’m a tad touched with my constant trying to put a positive spin on thing’s. But over the years I’ve noticed it’s rubbing off on her a little bit........

PAGE TURNING DELIGHTS....

--It's not very often that everyone in our little house of Whack a doodle-ness finds themselves on the same page. Let alone actually working together. But on those rare occasion when it does happen it almost restores the old faith a bit.
--I guess it takes awhile for reality to set in and people start realizing sometimes finding a middle ground in more important than all the fighting over useless shenanigans.
--Or maybe their just tired of listening to the old man climbing up on his old soapbox.
--Either way when we do find ourselves on the same page it's amazing how much more smoothly thing seem to work. Sort of makes you wonder if there's a lesson in there somewhere.....

OLD MR GLOOM AND DOOM....10/15/16

--It's amazing really but as soon as that old fool shows up on the scene the life goes right out of a fella faster that a fire in a thunder, storm. And no amount of trying to spin the news to a more positive light will get the dang fool thing started again. Forcing us to ride out the Rollercoaster ride without a dang fool lap belt hanging on for dear life all the way.
--That's why I'm very careful who I hang out with, and who I visit with. Because you just never know when and where that old fool will show up and who will be his messenger.
--Sure it makes it hard from time to time, but allot can be said for not having to spend the night hanging on by your thumbnails praying for the next sunrise.
--Usually a good dose of reality is a good thing, but when reality takes on a life of it's own and proceeds to pound you into the ground like a tent stake not such a good thing.
--But like always with patience and a whole lot of attention to detail we can avoid old Mr. doom and gloom, and his dang fool attacks on our little flame of life.....