Hold Your Horses...

Nothing is more fun than taking Maggie's leash and harness out of the closet.  She just about can't contain her self she gets so excited.

I stopped and talked my elderly neighbor Ed who lives down the street.  He has a little Boston Terrier named Dixie.  Ed is suffering from bouts of dementia.  He has to go in the hospital for a few days and asked if I would keep Dixie.  I was elated to be chosen to do that. Maggie is going to have a field day.  She will probably drive poor Dixie nuts.

Master Cook...

Mom and I arrived home yesterday from our trip to Helen's car parked in the front of my house.  I had almost forgotten Helen was coming.  Unfortunately, I had already eaten at the Dairy Dee.  

Helen's meal was wonderful when I ate it for supper.  She cooked barbeque spare ribs, macaroni and cheese, colored butter beans, fried okra,  deviled eggs, and cornbread.  Helen's macaroni and cheese is to die for and the spare ribs were fork tender.  

My trip yesterday went without a hitch.  I drove all the way down the interstate to Books-A-Million.  Only once did I break a little sweat and felt nervous.  The traffic on the interstate was congested to say the least.  Mom got two books by James Patterson and I got a magazine.  Railroad Model Craftsman.

The fickle winds blew yesterday.  Months ago mom had decided not to renew my subscription to the magazine I got yesterday.   I have missed it.  Out of the blue she decided to renew my subscription.  I don't know what caused her change in heart, but I was glad.  Magazines in the mail are a special treat like letters in the mail at summer camp.    

Giant Leaps for this Frog who wants to be a Prince...

Today will be another watermark day in my recovery.  Mom wants to go to the bookstore down in Auburn, Alabama.  It is about a 30 minute trip.  I offered to drive.

"You sure you will be okay?" mom asked.

"I am kind of excited about it in a way," I told her. 

It will be the farthest I have driven since these anxiety attacks began a few years ago.  Normally,  I would be mortally afraid.  But I am feeling this keen feeling of confidence that I can do this.

I kind of have ulterior motives as well.  I am looking forward to a slaw dawg down at the Dairy Dee.   A chocolate shake will be the cherry on top.  

It's Official. The S Word Beckons...

It's official.  I have surgery on my knee in a few weeks.  The neurosurgeon said there wasn't permanent damage to my nerves, but it could happen if I delay.  Dad asked me how I felt about it.  I'm not particularly worried or nervous.  Dad laughed when I told him I was looking forward to the pain pills they give you afterwards.  "Spoken like a true alcoholic," he said. 

My knee hasn't kept me from walking.  Everyday Maggie and I walk our two mile jaunt.  I just feel kind of clumsy and have fallen a few times.  Stairs are especially daunting.

I am elated today is grocery day.  I just called mom and told her I would go with her to help.  

"Don't worry, sweetheart," mom replied. "I will be fine."

"You sure?" I asked.

Mom assured me she would be okay.  It would have been a giant leap for me in my recovery to go.  There will be other days I am sure.

The Utmost in Honor...

"J.W. has been trying to call you all morning," my father said. "Answer that damn phone for once."

I asked Dad why J.W. was calling and he said J.W. wants to be the first to tell me.

Later in the day the phone rang.  I picked it up and found an excited J.W. on the other end.

"You knew my wife was pregnant didn't you?"

Yeah," I replied.

"She had a baby boy last night at 2 in the morning.  I named him after you."

I was floored.  It was about one of the most flattering things that has happened to me.

J.W.? Get ready for a fishing trip cause we are going to catch some fish. 

Hot Days and Even more Sultry Nights...

Charlie is cutting my grass in this heat and it is making me feel guilty.  Here I am in my cool home, sipping ice cold orange drink, and listening to Maggie whine.  Maggie loves Charlie and hopes he will come in soon.

George stopped by for a brief while this morning.  I had a wicked sense of humor this morning and was giving George a hard time. 

"Are all whiteboys as goofy as you?" George asked.

Mrs. Jones, George's mom, was cooking liver and onions for lunch.  I was almost tempted to invite myself.  Oh, how I love liver and onions. 

The high today is supposed to be 98 degrees.  The hottest day of the year so far.  I've got my fingers crossed that we may get a few heat induced thunderstorms this evening.  If so, I am going to stand out in the rain and raise my arms like Willem Dafoe in that heart wrenching scene in the movie Platoon. 

STOP THAT SCREWIN'!

There are a lot of stray cats in the neighborhood.  It seems my backyard is a favored location for some of these cats to fight and screw.   You know how vocal cats are when they are in an amorous mood.  Well, it is driving my dog crazy.  Maggie feels the need to referee these little kitten making sessions.  I am afraid one of these nasty horny felines will put one of Maggie's eyes out. 

In other news, George got the compressor on and has cold air again in his Buick.  I actually let George drive me down to McDonald's for a cup of coffee this morning.  I kept trying to smell his breath for alcohol.  He wasn't acting drunk.  George keeps this continual grin on his face after the sixth beer.  This morning he was scowling about work last night. 

Helen is busy in the kitchen at the moment.  Maggie keeps getting under her feet while she cooks.  "Git!" Helen keeps saying. "Go git in the den with your daddy."  Today Helen is cooking baked porkchops, cabbage, green beans, pear salad, and her biscuits.  Mom will be over about three to eat.  I am unsure if Dad will be able to get off work to eat with us.